Exercise 6: Modeling a Simple Cantilever Beam Using 1 D, 2 D and 3 D Elements

The beam is made of aluminum with a Young’s modulus of 73.1 GPa and a Poisson’s ratio of
0.33. It is 1 m in length with a 10x10 cm cross section. It has a load of 5000 N applied to the
unsupported end. The 1D model will be meshed with BEAM189 elements. The 2D model
will be meshed with PLANE182 elements. 3D model will be meshed with SOLID186
elements. The goal of analysis is to determine the deflection at the end of the beam and the
stresses throughout the beam. Once all three models have been solved, the differences and
similarities among the results of the three models will be examined.

Model Attributes
Material Properties for 6061-T6 Aluminum
• Young’s modulus—7.310e10 Pa
• Poisson’s ratio—0.33
Loads
• 5000 N downward load applied to the center of the free end of the beam
Constraints
• The fixed end of the beam is fully constrained in x, y, and z

Create a new folder in your “Intro-to-ANSYS” folder named “Exercise6”

Open a new session of ANSYS using the Mechanical APDL Product Launcher
Change the Working Directory to the new “Exercise 6” folder

Change the Jobname to “Exercise 6”

Click Run to start ANSYS

Step 1: Define Geometry

1-1. Create keypoints to define the ends of the beam
• Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS
• Supply (0,0,0) as the coordinates for the 1st KP
• Supply (1,0,0) as the coordinates for the 2nd KP
1-2. Create a line to connect the two keypoints
• Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line
1-3. Save the model geometry
The solid model geometry specifies the location and length of the beam. The rest QWof the
geometry is included via the beam’s section properties including its moment of inertia.
Step 2: Define Element Types
2-1. Define the element type to use for this model
• Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete
• Choose BEAM189 as the element type for this analysis
2-2. Define the section properties for your model
• Preprocessor > Sections > Beam > Common Sections
• Ensure that a rectangle is shown

• Ensure that “Offset To” is set to “Centroid”

• Enter 0.1 for B (width)
• Enter 0.1 for H (height)
• Click “Preview” to view the defined cross section
• Click OK

Step 3: Define Material Properties

3-1. Create a linear elastic material model for 6061-T6 aluminum
• Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models
• Choose a structural, linear, elastic, isotropic material model
• Supply 7.310e10 as the value for Young’s modulus (EX)
• Supply 0.33 as the value for Poisson’s ratio (PRXY)
3-2. Save your progress
Step 4: Mesh
4-1. Create the mesh for the finite element model
• Preprocessor > Meshing > MeshTool
• Click the “Mesh” button
• Click the “Pick All” button in the Mesh Lines dialog box

4-2. Turn element numbering on

• Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering. . .
• Change “Elem/Attrib numbering” to “Element numbers”
• Click OK
4-3. Plot the finite element mesh
• Utility Menu > Plot > Elements
Note that this model only has two elements (element #1 and element #2).
4-4. Change to the isometric view
• Click the “Isometric View” button in the Pan Zoom Rotate menu
4-5. Turn element shape display on
• Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape. . .
• Turn “[/ESHAPE] Display of element shapes based on real constant descriptions” on
• Click OK
The /ESHAPE command displays elements and element results using shapes determined by
the real constants or section properties that have been defined. This allows you to view the
3D representation of lower order models.
4-6. Return to the front view
• Click the “Front View” button in the Pan Zoom Rotate menu
4-7. Turn element shape display off
• Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape. . .
• Turn “[/ESHAPE] Display of element shapes based on real constant descriptions” off
• Click OK
4-8. Turn element numbering off
• Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering. . .
• Change “Elem/Attrib numbering” to “No numbering”
• Click OK
Step 5: Apply Constraint Boundary Conditions
5-1. Constrain the fixed end of the beam
• Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Keypoints
• Click on the keypoint at the origin or specify Keypoint 1 in the text box
• Click OK
• For “Lab2 DOFs to be constrained” choose “All DOF”
• For “VALUE Displacement value” enter 0
• Click OK.

5-2. Save your constraints

Step 6: Apply Load Boundary Conditions
6-1. Apply a downward load to the free end of the beam
• Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On Keypoints
• Click on the keypoint at the free (right) end of the beam or specify Keypoint 2 in thetext
box
• Click OK
• For “Lab Direction of force/mom” choose “FY”
• For “VALUE Force/moment value” enter −5000
• Click OK
Step 7: Set the Solution Options
The default solution options can be used for this analysis.
Step 8: Solve
8-1. Select everything in your model
• Utility Menu > Select > Everything
8-2. Solve
• Solution > Solve > Current LS
8-3. Save your results
Step 9: Postprocess the Results
9-1. Change to the isometric view

• Click the “Isometric View” button in the Pan Zoom Rotate menu
9-2. Turn element shape display on
• Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape. . .
• Turn “[/ESHAPE] Display of element shapes based on real constant descriptions” on
• Click OK
9-3. Plot the vertical deformation of the beam
• General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu
• Choose “DOF Solution”
• Choose “Y-Component of displacement”
• Change “Scale Factor” to “True Scale”
• Click OK

9-3. Plot the vertical deformation of the beam

• General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu
• Choose “DOF Solution”
• Choose “Y-Component of displacement”
• Change “Scale Factor” to “True Scale”
• Click OK
Figure 4-1-3 shows that the deformations in the model are uniform through the cross
section of
the beam.
9-4. Change to the front view
• Click the “Front View” button in the Pan Zoom Rotate menu
9-5. Plot the x component of stress in the beam
• General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu
• Choose “Stress”
• Scroll down and choose “X-Component of stress”
• Click OK

9-6. Change to the isometric view

• Click the “Isometric View” button in the Pan Zoom Rotate menu
9-7. Plot the equivalent stress in the beam
• General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu
• Choose “Stress”
• Scroll down and choose “von Mises stress”
• Click OK

The 2D model will be meshed with PLANE182 elements.

Step 1: Define Geometry

1-1. Create an area to serve as the center plane of the beam
• Preprocessor >Modeling >Create >Areas>Rectangle >By Dimensions
• Enter 0 for X1
• Enter 1 for X2
• Enter −0.05 for Y1
• Enter 0.05 for Y2
• Click OK
1-2. Save the model geometry
Step 2: Define Element Types
2-1. Define the element type to use for this model
• Preprocessor >Element Type >Add/Edit/Delete
• Choose PLANE182 as the element type for this analysis
2-2. Specify plane stress behavior for your model
• For “Element behavior K3” choose “Plane stress w/thk”
• Click OK
• Close the Element Types dialog box
2-3. Define the real constants for your model
• Preprocessor >Real Constants>Add/Edit/Delete
• Click the “Add. . .” button
• Click OK
• For “Thickness THK” enter 0.1
• Click OK
In this model, the beam thickness has not been specified via the solid model geometry. Thus,
it must be defined using a real constant.
Step 3: Define Material Properties
3-1. Create a linear elastic material model for 6061-T6 aluminum
• Preprocessor >Material Props>Material Models
• Choose a structural, linear, elastic, isotropic material model
• Enter 7.310e10 as the value for Young’s modulus (EX)
• Enter 0.33 as the value for Poisson’s ratio (PRXY)
Step 4: Mesh
4-1. Create the mesh for the finite element model
• Preprocessor >Meshing>MeshTool
• In the third area of the Mesh Tool, click the “Set” button associated with “Areas”
• Click “Pick All”
• Set the “SIZE Element edge length” to 0.0125
• Click OK
• In the fourth area of the Mesh Tool, click the “Mesh” button
• Click “Pick All”
• Close the Mesh Tool
Step 5: Apply Constraint Boundary Conditions
5-1. Select the nodes at x=0
• Utility menu> Select >Entities. . .
• Ensure that “Nodes” are the entity to be selected
• Choose “By Location” as the selection method
• Ensure that “X coordinates” is set as the coordinate to select by
• Enter 0 in the “Min,Max” box
• Ensure that “From Full” is selected
• Click OK
5-2. Plot the selected nodes to confirm that the selection operation was successful
• Utility menu> Plot>Nodes
5-3. Constrain the fixed end of the beam in x
• Solution>Define Loads>Apply >Structural > Displacement >On Nodes
• Click “Pick All”
• For “Lab2 DOFs to be constrained” choose “UX”
• For “VALUE Displacement value” enter 0
5-4. Select the node at (0,0)
5-5. List the nodes to ensure that the correct node was selected
• Utility menu> List>Nodes. . .
• Click OK
5-6. Constrain the fixed end of the beam in y
• Solution>Define Loads>Apply >Structural >Displacement >On Nodes
• Click “Pick All”
• For “Lab2 DOFs to be constrained” unselect “UX” if it is still selected
• For “Lab2 DOFs to be constrained” choose “UY”
• For “VALUE Displacement value” enter 0
• Click OK
Step 6: Apply Load Boundary Conditions
6-1. Select the node at (1,0)
• Utility menu >Select >Entities. . .
• Ensure that “Nodes” are the entity to be selected
• Ensure that “By Location” is the selection method
• Change the coordinate to select by to “X coordinates”
• Enter 1 in the “Min,Max” box
• Change “Reselect” to “From Full”
• Click Apply
This selects all of the nodes at x=1.
• Change the coordinate to select by to “Y coordinates”
• Enter 0 in the “Min,Max” box
• Change “From Full” to “Reselect”
• Click OK
6-2. Apply a downward load to the center of the free end of the beam
• Solution>Define Loads>Apply >Structural >Force/Moment >On Nodes
• Click “Pick All”
• For “Lab Direction of force/mom” choose “FY”
• For “VALUE Force/moment value” enter −5000
• Click OK
6-3. List the forces to ensure that the load was correctly applied
• Utility Menu >List >Loads>Forces >On All Nodes
Step 7: Set the Solution Options
The default solution options can be used for this analysis.
Step 8: Solve
8-1. Select everything in the model
• Utility Menu>Select >Everything
8-2. Solve
• Solution>Solve>Current LS
8-3. Save your results
Step 9: Postprocess the Results
9-1. Plot the vertical deformation of the beam
• General Postproc>Plot Results >Contour Plot>Nodal Solu
• Choose “DOF Solution”
• Choose “Y-Component of displacement”
• Change the “Scale Factor” to “True Scale”
• Click OK
9-2. Plot the x component of stress in the beam
• General Postproc>Plot Results >Contour Plot>Nodal Solu
• Choose “Stress”
• Scroll down and choose “X-Component of stress”
• Click OK

The 3D model will be Solid 186 elements.

File Management
Step 1: Define Geometry
1.1. Create the beam volume
• Preprocessor >Modeling >Create >Volumes >Block >By Dimensions
• Enter 0 for X1
• Enter 1 for X2
• Enter −0.05 for Y1 and Z1
• Enter 0.05 for Y2 and Z2
• Click OK
1.2. Save the model geometry
Step 2: Define Element Types
2.1. Define the element type to use for this model
• Preprocessor >Element Type >Add/Edit/Delete
• Choose SOLID186 as the element type for this analysis
Step 3: Define Material Properties
3.1. Create a linear elastic material model for 6061-T6 aluminum
• Preprocessor >Material Props>Material Models
• Choose a structural, linear, elastic, isotropic material model
• Supply 7.310e10 as the value for Young’s modulus (EX)
• Supply 0.33 as the value for Poisson’s ratio (PRXY)
3.2. Save your progress
Step 4: Mesh
4.1. Create the mesh for the finite element model
• Preprocessor >Meshing>MeshTool
• In the third area of the Mesh Tool, click the “Set” button associated with “Areas”
• Click “Pick All”
• Set the “SIZE Element edge length” to 0.025
• Click OK
• In the fourth area of the Mesh Tool, change “Shape” to Hex
• Click the “Mesh” button
• Click “Pick All”
• Click OK
Step 5: Apply Constraint Boundary Conditions
5.1. Select the nodes at x=0
• Utility menu> Select >Entities. . .
• Ensure that “Nodes” are the entity to be selected
• Choose “By Location” as the selection method
• Ensure that “X coordinates” is set as the coordinate to select by
• Enter 0 in the “Min,Max” box
• Ensure that “From Full” is selected
• Click OK
5.2. Constrain the fixed end of the beam in x
• Solution>Define Loads>Apply >Structural >Displacement >On Nodes
• Click “Pick All”
• Click OK
• For “Lab2 DOFs to be constrained” choose “UX”
• For “VALUE Displacement value” enter 0
• Click OK
5.3. Select the nodes at (0,0)
5.4. Constrain the fixed end of the beam in y
• Solution>Define Loads>Apply >Structural >Displacement >On Nodes
• Click “Pick All”
• Click OK
• For “Lab2 DOFs to be constrained” choose “UY”
• For “VALUE Displacement value” enter 0
• Click OK
5.5. Select the node at (0,0,0)
5.6. Constrain the fixed end of the beam in z
• Solution>Define Loads>Apply >Structural >Displacement >On Nodes
• Click “Pick All”
• Click OK
• For “Lab2 DOFs to be constrained” choose “UZ”
• For “VALUE Displacement value” enter 0
• Click OK
5.7. Save your constraints
Step 6: Apply Load Boundary Conditions
6.1. Select the node at (1,0,0)
• Utility menu> Select >Entities. . .
• Ensure that “Nodes” are the entity to be selected
• Ensure that “By Location” is the selection method
• Change the coordinate to select by to “X coordinates”
• Enter 1 in the “Min,Max” box
• Change “Reselect” to “From Full”
• Click Apply
• Change the coordinate to select by to “Y coordinates”
• Enter 0 in the “Min,Max” box
• Change “From Full” to “Reselect”
• Click Apply
This selects the line of nodes at (1,0).
• Change the coordinate to select by to “Z coordinates”
• Enter 0 in the “Min,Max” box
• Ensure that you will “Reselect” entities from the currently active set
• Click OK
This selects the node at (1,0,0).
6.2. List the nodes to ensure that the correct node was selected
• Utility menu> List>Nodes. . .
• Click OK
• Close the NLIST window when you are finished reviewing the nodes
6.3. Apply a downward load to the centre of the free end of the beam
• Solution>Define Loads>Apply >Structural > Force/Moment >On Nodes
• Click “Pick All”
• For “Lab Direction of force/mom” choose “FY”
• For “VALUE Force/moment value” enter −5000
• Click OK
6.4. Save your loads
Step 7: Set the Solution Options
Step 8: Solve
8.1. Select everything in the model
• Utility Menu>Select >Everything
8.2. Solve
• Solution>Solve>Current LS
Step 9: Postprocess the Results
9.1. Plot the vertical deformation of the beam
• General Postproc>Plot Results >Contour Plot>Nodal Solu
• Choose “DOF Solution”
• Choose “Y-Component of displacement”
• Change “Scale Factor” to “True Scale”
• Click OK
9.2. Change to the isometric view
• Click the “Isometric View” button in the Pan Zoom Rotate menu
9.3. Plot the x component of stress in the beam
• General Postproc>Plot Results >Contour Plot>Nodal Solu
• Choose “Stress”
• Scroll down and choose “X-Component of stress”
• Click OK
9.5. Plot the equivalent stress in the beam
• General Postproc>Plot Results >Contour Plot>Nodal Solu
• Choose “Stress”
• Scroll down and choose “von Mises stress”
• Change the “Scale Factor” to “True Scale”
• Click OK
Maximum Stress Maximum Displacement

Theory 3.0x107 Pa 2.74 mm

1D

2D

3D