1

Symmetry and Solution

Additional Notes ME 501
K. Rouch
Mechanical Engineering
University of Kentucky
Symmetry An Introduction
Structures and Parts may exhibit
symmetry
In geometry and properties
Loading and boundary conditions
ME 501 Symmetry 2
Loading and boundary conditions
(one or both)
Why is symmetry important?
Reduce Model Size
Reduce Computer Time
Types of Symmetry
Planar
Line (axis) axisymmetric
ME 501 Symmetry 3
Cyclic
Symmetry vs. Antisymmetry
Planar Symmetry & Anti-Symmetry
Mirror Image u(-x)=u(x) or u(-x)=-u(x)
x
u
ME 501 Symmetry 4
Case A. Complete Symmetry
Geometry
Material (E)
Loads (F)
ME 501 Symmetry 5
Boundary Conditions
Approach for Complete (Planar)
Symmetry
Model one-half of the structure
Replace other half by symmetry boundary
diti l f t
ME 501 Symmetry 6
conditions on plane of symmetry
(which duplicate the effect of the missing
portion)
2
Case B. Antisymmetry
Structure & BC Symmetric, Loads not
F
u(-x)=-u(x)
Sin(-a)=-sin(a)
ME 501 Symmetry 7
A
A/2
( ) ( )
What are Symmetry Boundary
Conditions?
Displacements
On all nodes in the plane of symmetry (out-of-
plane)
F
F F
F F/2
ME 501 Symmetry 8
F F/2
A/2
A
Also
Loads in symmetry plane split in half
Any members in symm plane use
geometric property (A/2)
B t f ll l f t i l t (E)
ME 501 Symmetry 9
But, use full value for material property (E)
To remember symmetry BC
OOPD = out-of-plane-displacement
B. If nodes also have rotational
DOF
Beams, plates, shells
Also fix in-plane rotations (I.P.R)
S Di R t ti
ME 501 Symmetry 10
Symm
in Y-Z
plane
Disp Rotations
2D UX=0
3D UX=0
0; 0 ( )
y z
implied 0 0 = =
0; 0
y z
0 0 = =
Application of Symmetry in FEM
Model One-half of structure
Apply symmetry BC to nodes on symmetry
plane (ANSYS)
M ll NRSEL X $ D ALL UX 0
ME 501 Symmetry 11
Manually NRSEL,X, __ $ D,ALL,UX,0
SYMBC command
1 about Y-Z (X)
2 about X-Z (Y)
3 about X-Y (Z)
Case B. Antisymmetry
Structure & BC Symmetric, Loads not
F
u(-x)=-u(x)
Sin(-a)=-sin(a)
ME 501 Symmetry 12
A
A/2
( ) ( )
3
DOF Symm Y-Z Asymm Y-Z
Disp X UX =0
Disp Y UY=0
ME 501 Symmetry 13
Disp Z UZ=0
Rot X ROTX=0
Rot Y ROTY=0
Rot Z ROTZ =0
(OOPD/IPR) (IPD/OOPR)
Symmetry about two or more
planes
ME 501 Symmetry 14
SYMBC
Even 3D
Model one-eighth of a 3D object
ME 501 Symmetry 15
Repeated Patterns

ME 501 Symmetry 16
Requires that points on plane be coupled rather than set to zero,
to allow expansion of part
What if:
Structure is Symmetric
Loading is not
Any loading can be divided into
ME 501 Symmetry 17
Symmetric
+ Components
Anti-symmetric
Not Proved here, but by
example

10
5 5
5
SYMBC
ME 501 Symmetry 18
5 5 5
ASYMBC
+
4
Another example, more general

10
7.5 7.5
7.5
SYMBC
5
ME 501 Symmetry 19
2.5 2.5
2.5 ASYMBC
+
+
Another example, more general
F
L
(F
L
+F
R
)/2
(F
L
+F
R
)/2
SYMBC
F
R
ME 501 Symmetry 20
BC same for symm and asym except symmetry
plane
(F
L
-F
R
)/2
ASYMBC
+
+ (F
L
-F
R
)/2
Why go to all this trouble?
In FEM
N/2 elements 2 load cases
2(N/2)
3
~ (N/4) computer time
ME 501 Symmetry 21
But extra user input
If 2D or 3D symmetry, can be
8(N/8)
3
~ (N/64) computer time
Multiple Load Case Results
Load Case combination
(/POST1 in ANSYS)
LCRES
ME 501 Symmetry 22
LCRES=
FACT1*LCASE1
(+-) FACT2*LCASE2
Another Approach
Use symmetric nature of structure
Develop model of portion, generate other
symmetric portion
ME 501 Symmetry 23
Full model, apply all loads
REAL, TYPE, MAT same
for original and reflected elements
Can change with EMOD
Merge nodes on symm plane
Axisymmetry
Generated by rotating cross-section
around an axis
Model the cross-section in FEM
I f i th h f ti i l d th
ME 501 Symmetry 24
In forming the shape function, include the
assumption that no variation with angle
Solution only in cross-section DOF
5
Cyclic Symmetry
Suppose a generally circular structure
repeats every
Loads also repeat in this pattern
2 / (180/ deg ) N radians N rees t
ME 501 Symmetry 25

( 2 / ) ( )
( 2 / ) ( )
u N u
F N F
u t u
u t u
+ =
+ =
L
R
Approach
Model one sector
Enforce DOF
left
= DOF
right
On the sector modeled
ME 501 Symmetry 26
(in cylindrical coordinates)
L
R
Example of 8-bladed disc
360/8 = 45 degree sector
UX
1
UX
101
= 0
Constraint Equation
L
R
1
101
ME 501 Symmetry 27
Basic Sector
Solution and Storage
To store a square matrix N X N = N
2
100 X 100 = 10,000
1000 X 1000 = 1 million (*2 double prec)
ME 501 Symmetry 28
Why store zeros?
Why operate on them?
Why store lower = upper symmetric?
Use Banded Symmetric Nature
0 0 0
0 0 0
0
X X X
X X X
X X X X X
(
(
(
(
(
0 0 0
0 0 0
0
X X X
X X X
X X X X X
(
(
(
(
ME 501 Symmetry 29
0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
X X X
X X X X
X X
(
(
(
(

0
0 0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
X X X X X
X X X
X X X X
X X
(
(
(
(
(

Skyline Method Bandwidth Method
Wavefront vs Bandwidth
By Node Number
Bandwidth
By element sequence
Wavefront
ME 501 Symmetry 30
Bandwidth
(NASTRAN)
Wavefront
(ANSYS)
6
Wavefront Method
Element Sequence
Best Poor Worst
1 2 1 6 1 6
3 4 2 7 4 9
ME 501 Symmetry 31
3 4 2 7 4 9
5 6 3 8 8 3
7 8 4 9 5 7
9 10 5 10 10 2