Top 10 Unity Checks for von Mises

Stress Values | Finite Element

Analysis
Published on July 14, 2017

Eric Kuusisto, PEFollow

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Pushing the envelope in desig…

Introduction

Most theories for developing an acceptance criterion in Finite Element Analysis

(FEA) is based on von Mises stress values (distortional energy values), but a few
depend on strain values. DNV states that the von Mises yield function is
suitable for most capacity analysis of steel structures [1]. A non-linear FEA
may analyze the structure beyond the yield limit and try to observe a structure’s
ultimate capacity by trying to model strain-hardening effects and evaluating the
acceptance the results based on strain results. This is a more advanced analysis and
only utilized in certain situations.

Note that a von Mises stress does not

consider instability (lateral-torsional
buckling, local buckling, etc.) of the
structure the way the AISC allowable
stresses do. It is the theoretical limit to the
strain energy density of the material. In
theory, the UC for a FEA model would be
the von Mises stress over the yield strength (UC =
σvm/Fy); representing the maximum distortion
energy of that structural model.

However, that does not consider any factor of safety

which considers the degree of uncertainty. For all
von Mises results, a factor of safety should be
considered with a unity check (UC) [2]. This is
standard engineering practice to take design and risk uncertainties into account.

Below is a list of allowable von Mises strengths (Fvm) that should be utilized for a
UC value (UC = σvm/Fvm). Note that this methodology is tracking the various
safety factors for different industries and utilizes the Allowable Stress Design
(ASD) methodology.

These allowable von Mises strengths (Fvm) should be compared from FEA
results utilizing service loads, not factored ultimate loads. These references are
also intended for an elastic FEA, as brittle materials are more subject to fatigue
concerns.

1. General Factors of Safety - Machine Designer's

Reference

The first resource on von Mises acceptance criteria is a list of common general
safety factors intended for the design stage [3]. The following equations are
commonly used when designing machinery components and could come into use if
check general industrial applications. This reference is also quoted as a resource in
obtaining von Mises stress limits using FEA [2].
2. General Steel Structures - AISC

AISC Steel Construction Manual contains allowable stresses based for manual
methods of analysis. It is not intended that highly localized peak stresses from
FEA (and which may be blunted by confined yielding) must be less than the
stipulated allowable stresses [4]. For members in shear and tension, AISC
suggests the safety factor of 1.67 for a von Mises stress limit [5].
For stress concentrations and hot spots, AISC mentions highly localized peak
stresses in the section Design Basis – Allowable Stresses. According to AISC
335-89 on pg. 5-127, highly localized peak stresses determined from FEA,
which may be blunted by confined yielding, are not intended to less than the
stipulated allowable stresses [4].

3. Welded Connections - AWS

For most FEA results, the welding material is not modeled but the welded
connection is simplified by modeling the two parts with bonded contact
surfaces, per DNV standard [1]. If the weld itself is of primary concern, AWS
suggested a safety factor of 1.5 as a strength design factor with von Mises stress
limits on a weld [6].
4. Flat Plate Structures - API

API has its own guidelines for FEA von Mises stress limits. For simple structures
within the yield limit, it has a good reference for mesh sizing guidelines. For flat
plate structures, the following equation is for the serviceability strength limit
(yield) [7]:

API also allows for the von Mises safety factor allowable stress to be increased by
a factor of 1/3 for load cases with additional design environmental conditions other
than dead, live and seismic using the flat plate structures code and offshore
structures code [7] [8] [4]. The required section properties should not be less than
required for design dead, live loads and seismic without the 1/3 increase.
Note that most current editions of design standards (ASCE, AISC, ACI, IBC) no
longer allow the 1/3 stress increase [9], as it allows engineers to potentially
“double-dip”, violating the code in a non-conservative way. In lieu of using the 1/3
allowable increase, the use of updated ASD load combinations are preferred.
However, the 1/3 allowable stress increase is still permitted with API and may be
used with the von Mises unity check.

5. Hoisting Structures - API

API lists different von Mises safety factors for structures that are used with
hoisting equipment suitable for use in drilling and production operations [10]. This
increases the safety factor utilized because obviously the risk of hoisting
equipment failing carries a much higher degree of risk.
The load shall not exceed the maximum allowable von Mises strength (Fvm) as
listed below.

Note that API lists provisions for an ultimate strength (plastic) analysis to be
performed under either of the following conditions:

a) For contact areas

b) For areas of highly localized stress concentrations caused by part
geometry and other areas of high stress gradients where the average stress in the
section is less than the yield strength limit.

This is permitted by Saint Venant’s Principle, allowance of localized yielding [4],

and because FEA struggles to accurately capture stress results at the point of load
application. See my article on how to analyze acceptability of FEA models with
stress concentrations and hot spots.

A good methodology to use this API reference to build von Mises acceptability for
hoisted structures would be to use the serviceability von Mises limit (Fy) for the
nominal cross section area and the plastic von Mises limit (Fu) for stress peaks or
contact areas. It may be overly-conservative to compare localized stress peaks to
the yield von Mises limit. Always verify with hand checks.

6. Pressure Vessels - ASME

ASME provides a solution to pressure vessels that may be evaluated using a limit
load analysis [11]. Limit load analysis is based on the theory of limit analysis that
defines a lower bound to the limit load of a structure as the solution of a numerical
model with the following properties:

a) The material is elastic-perfectly plastic with specified yield strength

b) The strain-displacement relations are those of small displacement theory

c) Equilibrium is satisfied in the un-deformed configuration

The limit load is obtained by using FEA by incorporating the model and small
displacement theory to obtain a solution. The limit load is the load that causes
overall structural instability. The point is indicated by the inability to achieve an
equilibrium solution for a small increase in load (i.e. the solution will not
converge). After defining all relevant load case combinations, each load case
should be evaluated. The von Mises limit is the minimum of the following two
equations.
Note that the yield von Mises stress limit is modified with a temperature ratio for
pressure vessels above room temperature. The temperature ratio (Ry) does not
affect the tensile strength limit (Fu).

8. Ships & Steel Vessels - ABS

ABS has its own criteria for von Mises stress limits. For steel vessels, the hull is
the watertight body of a ship. Above the hull is the superstructure or deckhouse.
The pod is a reference to the podded propulsions that are installed in an increasing
number of modern ships due to the advantages of propulsion efficiency and
maneuverability of the ship. The von Mises stress limits for the pod and hull
below [12].
8. Offshore Structures & Mobile Drilling Units - ABS

ABS has another standard for offshore steel structure and the buckling and ultimate
strength behavior of its fundamental structural components [13]. ABS refers to
API RP 2A-WSD [8] codes where departures from ABS formulations are
recommended. For offshore steel structures, the von Mises stress limits are the
following:

ABS has yet another standard for mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), which
are what the barge rigs would fall into [14]. The following is the von Mises
equivalent stress criterion:
9. Shipping Containers & Portable Units - DNV

DNV is a good resource for design and analysis with FEA and for interpreting
von Mises results [1]. This standard applies to portable offshore unit’s main
structure, supports and features importing for the functionality during the transport
phase. The loads used to evaluate the FEA results must be the factored design
loads [15]. Using these factored design loads per DNV standard, the
allowable von Mises stress limit is given. Note this is the only allowable von
Mises limit I have listed that factors the loads.
10. Offshore Structures - DNV

DNV is also good references for von Mises peak or hot spot limits [16] [17]. This
specification is concerned primarily with offshore structures and ships but some of
the same concepts may be translated over when justifying peak stresses in FEA
results. The following is the von Mises stress limits for general FEA results.
Note that the modified limit for plates and stiffeners allows for a lower safety
factor and cannot be applied to girders, stingers, global strength elements, load-
bearing elements or buckling stability elements. The von Mises stress limit under
accidental loads (explosions, fire, dropped objects, crashes, etc.) for plates and
stiffeners is not applicable because those members are not seen as critical for
global structural stability during extreme load cases.

DNV also lists permissible von Mises stress limits for hot spots. Hot spots or peak
stresses are defined as local peak stresses by fine FEA meshes in areas with
pronounced geometrical changes (i.e. corners) [14]. These peak stresses may
exceed the stress limits established previously for general loads provided plastic
mechanisms are not developed in the adjacent structural parts. This is addressed in
a creation of a peak factor, ηpeak, which changes based on the mesh sized utilized
in the FEA model.

For ship-shaped drilling

units, DNV also has special
criteria for local peak
stresses with pronounced
geometrical changes
(corners, etc.) that they may
exceed the previous usage
factor. Based on a guidance
note on local peak stresses
on FEA areas where plastic
mechanisms cannot be developed in the adjacent structural parts, the von Mises
peak stress limit is provided below. This source provides no guidance on
the hotspot criteria with regard to mesh density [17].
BONUS

These allowable von Mises strengths are based on Allowable Stress Design (ASD).
This is because it is easier to track safety factors for acceptability. Another factor is
it translates better from civil/structural engineering to other professions like
mechanical, aerospace, petroleum, etc.
Today in Civil Engineering classes in college, Load Resistance Factor Design
(LRFD) is the gold standard; which purpose is to split the safety factor into the
load and strength portions for more precise control of unknowns. This works great
with traditional building and highway design, but make it trickier for cross-
discipline applications like FEA.

For this post, which compares safety factors suggested by different industry
standards, ASD methodology was used as it makes it easier to track the factor of
safety. There is not much literature on the reduced strength capacity (ϕRn)
compared to the ultimate loads (Qu) for von Mises stresses.
REFERENCES

1. DNV-RP-C208 – Determination of Structural Capacity by Non-linear

FE analysis Methods (2013). pg. 16

2. Finite Element Analysis Concepts via SolidWorks – J. Ed Akin, Rice

University (2009)

3. Machine Designer’s Reference – J. Marris, P.E. (2012). pg. 14

4. AISC 335-89 – Specification for Structural Steel Buildings Allowable

Stress Design (1989).

5. AISC Journal – Combined Shear and Tension Stress (1986). pg. 125
 6. AWS Journal – Stress Analysis and Design of Double Fillet-Welded T-
Joints(1998). pg. 94-s

7. API BULL 2V – Design of Flat Plate Structures (2004). pg. 19

8. API RP 2A-WSD – For Planning, Designing and Constructing Fixed

Offshore Platforms (2010). pg. 38

9. AISC Modern Steel Construction Journal – The One-Third Stress

Increase: Where is it now? (2003).

10. API SPEC 8C – Drilling and Production Hoisting Equipment (2012). pg.
6

11. ASME Title VIII Division 2 – Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (2009). pg.
5-12

12. ABS – Steel Vessels - Part 3: Hull Construction and Equipment (2015).
pg. 177

13. ABS – Buckling and Ultimate Strength Assessment for Offshore

Structures - Commentary Guide (2005). pg. 52

14. ABS – Mobile Offshore Drilling Units - Part 3: Hull Construction and
Equipment (2001). pg. 64

15. DNV 2.7-4 – Portable Offshore Units (2011). pg. 22

16. DNV-OS-C102 – Structural Design of Offshore Ships (2012). pg. 20

 17. DNV-OS-C107 – Structural Design of Ship-Shaped Drilling and Well
Service Units (2008). pg. 13

ABOUT

Eric Kuusisto is a registered Professional Engineer (Civil-Structural). He has

worked in a wide range of structural engineering projects, from skyscrapers to
transmission towers to oil & gas. Currently works for HALFEN USA as an
Technical Sales Representative. Please like and comment!