1

Constrained Plate Natural Frequencies and

Mode Shapes using ANSYS Modal analysis
Mohammad A Gharaibeh
11/19/2014

Goal
This Lecture aims to obtain natural frequencies and mode shapes

of a constrained isotropic plate using ANSYS Software

Problem Description
Problem:
Obtain natural frequencies and mode shapes of
squared isotropic plate with fixed boundary
conditions using ANSYS Modal analysis
Material: Aluminum
Material Parameter

SI units

English units

Youngs modulus

73.1 GPa

10.6 MSI

Density

2780 Kg/m3

2.6*10-4 lb.sec2/in4

Poissons ratio

0.3

0.3

Geometry Parameter

SI units (m)

English units (inch)

Length (a)

0.3

12

Width (b)

0.3

12

Thickness (h)

6.35*10-3

0.25

Be careful of this!!

Plate Size:

We will use
English units

ANSYS Environment
Utility Menu: File controls, plotting, selecting parameters, etc.
Input line: Allows you to type in commands directly
Toolbar: Used to open and save ANSYS jobs.
Main Menu: The place you will use a lot. Preprocessing, Solution and Postprocessing

Graphics window:
Where the model,
Postprocessing and
results will appear.

Start modeling - Preprocessing

In this step we will learn how:
Define Element Type.

Specify Material Parameters

Build the Model
Mesh
Element type defines the way how do you want to mesh your model. In FEA, it depends
on the problem type and it is very necessary to be selected carefully.

Define Element Type

Main Menu:
Preprocessor >> Element Type >> Add/Edit/Delete

Define Element Type (contd)

Element type window: Add
Library of Element type: Solid >> Brick 8 Node 185
This is SOLID185 element suitable for various 3-D modeling of solid structures

3
2

Define Element Type - Keyoption

We need to specify little more details for this element to make match our desired problem
using element KEYOPTION
Element types window: Options
SOLID185 element type options: Element technology (K2) >> Simple enhanced Strain

2
3
You can test
other options
available and
compare with
theoretical
results

Specify Material Properties - 1

Now we need to input material properties
Main Menu: Preprocessor >> Material Props >> Material Models

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Specify Material Properties - 2

From Window appears
Material Model Number 1 >> Structural >> Linear >> Elastic >> Isotropic
Then Type in your values for Youngs Modulus and Poissons ratio >> OK

Take care of
your units!

2,3,4,5

10.6e6
equals to
10.6 MSI

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Specify Material Properties - 3

Specify density
Material Model Number 1 >> Structural >> Density
Then Type in your value for Density>> OK
Close window (X)

Take care of
your units!
2.6e-4 equals
to 2.6*10-4

2
4

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Build Geometry - 1
Main Menu: Preprocessor >> Modeling >> Create >>Volumes >> Block >> By dimensions
Type in your plate dimensions in x,y and z coordinates and hit OK.
Other Modeling procedure ??
Try keypoints, lines, areas and end up with volume

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Build Geometry - 2

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Meshing

Meshing is the most essential step in FEA modeling. It means that use the element type you
specified to fill in (mesh) your solid model with nodes and elements.

Important You need nodes and elements for the finite element solution NOT just the
solid model weve just created. The solid model does NOT participate in the FEA solution.

It requires three steps:

Attribute element type and material properties to the solid model

Mesh Control specify number of divisions.
Meshing the solid model (create elements and nodes)

Meshing

Solid Model

FEA Model

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Meshing: 1- Attribution
Main Menu: Preprocessor >> Meshing >> Mesh Attributes >>Picked volumes
Click on the Solid model

Click on the
solid model

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Meshing: 1- Attribution
Main Menu: Preprocessor >> Meshing >> Mesh Attributes >>Picked volumes
When you click on the solid model its color will turn into Purple
Now, hit OK

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Meshing: 1- Attribution
Main Menu: Preprocessor >> Meshing >> Mesh Attributes >>Picked volumes
Volume attributes window: OK

Here we specify which material and/or element type to use. In our case, it should look like:

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Meshing: 2- Mesh Control

In order to specify number of divisions, we need first to observe the LINES
Utility Menu: Plot >> Lines

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Meshing: 2- Mesh Control

In order to specify number of divisions, we need first to observe the LINES
Utility Menu: Plot >> Lines

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Meshing: 2- Mesh Control

In order to specify number of divisions, we need first to observe the LINES and lines NUMBERS
Utility Menu: PlotCtrls >> Numbering

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Meshing: 2- Mesh Control

In order to specify number of divisions, we need first to observe the LINES and lines NUMBERS
Plot Number Controls window: LINE >> ON

Hit OK

Turn this ON

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Meshing: 2- Mesh Control

To changes the angle of view use Dynamic Model Mode
Or simple using keyboard and mouse
Press and hold Ctrl + Mouse right click
For zoom Mouse scroll

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Meshing: 2- Mesh Control

After plotting lines and numbers we need now to divide them
Main Menu: Preprocessor >> Meshing >> Size Cntrls >> Picked Lines
Then, click on the desired lines. In our case just select the in-plane 8 lines (top and bottom) of plate.
Hit OK

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Meshing: 2- Mesh Control

After plotting lines and numbers we need now to divide them
Element size on Picked Lines window: NDIV type in 50 (or any other number of divisions)
OK

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Meshing: 3- Mesh Creation

To create mesh (elements and nodes)
Main Menu: Preprocessor >> Meshing >> Mesh >> Volumes >> Mapped >> 4 to 6 sided
Click on the model (as done previously) >> Hit OK

To plot volumes:
Utility Menu: Plot
>> Volumes

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Meshing: 3- Mesh Creation

The FEA Model

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Constraint application
Applying constraint involves two steps:
Select required nodes based on the problem specifications 0.25 at corners
Add constraints in our case all directions (all DOF).
4

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Constraint application node selection

Utility Menu: Select >> Entities

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Constraint application node selection

Utility Menu: Select >> Entities

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Constraint application
corner 1 nodes selection
1 select nodes at
the bottom of the
plate

2 reselect nodes at
required location in
x-direction

3 reselect nodes at
required location in
y-direction

Top view

y
x
z

Side view
x
Bottom of the plate
z =0

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Apply constraints
Main Menu: Solution >> Define Loads >> Apply >> Structural >> Displacement >>
On Nodes
Pick All

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Apply constraints
In the Box appears
All DOF
Value = 0

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Apply constraints
In the Box appears
All DOF
Value = 0

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Constraint application corner 2 node selection

To select corner 2 nodes - similarly
Utility Menu: Select >> Entities

y
x

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Constraint application
corner 1 nodes selection
1 select nodes at
the bottom of the
plate

2 reselect nodes at
required location in
x-direction

3 reselect nodes at
required location in
y-direction

Top view

x
z

Side view
x
Bottom of the plate
z =0

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Apply constraints
Main Menu: Solution >> Define Loads >> Apply >> Structural >> Displacement >>
On Nodes
Pick All

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Apply constraints
In the Box appears
All DOF
Value = 0

Apply constraints

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Apply Constraints
Similar procedure can be followed to constrain corner 3 and

corner 4.
4

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Four corners constraints

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Solution of the FE model

After applying constraints (Boundary conditions) on the FE

model, it is ready for solution.

As we have done last week:
Define analysis type Modal analysis.
Solve

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Solution: 1- Define analysis type

To define the analysis type (which is here model analysis)
Main Menu: Solution >> Analysis Type >> New Analysis
Select Modal and OK

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Solution: 1- Define analysis type

More analysis options
Main Menu: Solution >> Analysis Type >> Analysis Options
Solver: Block Lanczos
Number of Modes: 20 (or else) Hit OK

Make sure to have

same number

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Solution: 1- Define analysis type

More analysis options
Main Menu: Solution >> Analysis Type >> Analysis Options
Specify frequency range that youd like to look in (make sure to be large enough)

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Solution: 2- Solve the FE model

Solution
Main Menu: Solution >> Solve >> Current LS (Load Step)
OK

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Solution: 2- Solve the FE model

Solution is DONE!
Life is Good!
Hit OK and close /Status window.

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Postprocessing step
As discussed previously ANSYS has three main analysis step:
Preprocessing
Solution
Postprocessing

DONE!
DONE!
We are here!

In PostProcessing step:
List Natural Frequencies
Select mode shape you want to see
Plot it!

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Postprocessing: 1- List Natural Frequencies

General Postprocessor: Results summary
A list of natural frequencies will appear

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Postprocessing: 1- List Natural Frequencies

If you want to save natural frequencies as an ASCII file
File >> Save

Units here are in Hz!

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Postprocessing: 2- Select mode shape needed

To select which mode shape to observe
Main Menu: General Postproc. >> Read results >> By load step
LSTEP = 1, SBSTEP = 1
>> OK

First Mode shape

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Postprocessing: 3- Plot mode shape

To plot mode shape
Main Menu: General Postproc. >> Plot results >> Contour Plot >> Nodal Solution
From tree >> DOF Solution >> Displacement vector SUM
OK

First Mode shape

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Postprocessing: 3- Plot mode shape

First Mode shape

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Postprocessing: Animate a mode shape

Utility Menu: PlotCtrls >> Animate>> Mode Shape

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Postprocessing: Animate a mode shape

Specify number of frames and delay time.
Display type >> DOF Solution >> Translation USUM
OK

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Do you want your log file?

Main Menu: Session Editor

Everything youve
done is here