Computer Homework 5

Computer Homework # 4
2D and 3D STRESS ANALYSIS

Problem 1:

Consider the beam problem shown in the figure below. Run the beam with 3-node
triangular elements for three meshes ranging from approximately 200 to 1000 elements.
Repeat with the same number of 6-node triangular elements. Plot log(ua-ua) vs log(1/n)
where n is the number of elements, ua is the vertical displacement at point A, and ua is the
vertical displacement at point A for the finest mesh size and 6-node elements. Compare
the solution to the engineering beam solution which is given by
PL3
uA
3EI
where P is shear force applied on right hand boundary, L is length of beam, E is Young’s
modulus and I = th3/12 is the section modulus, where h is height of cross-section and t is
thickness. Also, compare the stress x at x = 24” with the engineering beam solution by
plotting x for both the beam solution and the finite element results as a function of y. The
engineering solution for stress at x=L/2 is
PL
x y
2I
Does the solution converge to the engineering solution? Why or why not – hint think of
engineering assumptions made regarding the aspect ratio of the beam. Plot color
contours of the stress x using the postprocessor. Does this correspond to what you know
about the beam solution? Check the traction boundary condition at point A. Repeat the
coarse mesh run with a 6-node triangle. How do the results compare to those for the 3-
node triangle?

y E =3x107, thickness = 1”
=0.25

12” A 3000 psi

shear

x
48”

Problem 2:

Run the following problem with a coarse mesh (about 200 elements) and a fine mesh
(over 1000 elements) with the same material properties as Problem 1.

R=0.1

2” A x

1 psi
2”
Plot y as a function of x at y=0 for 0.1 x 1.0 and compare to the analytical solution
given below.

Remarks:

Near the stress concentration, point A, you should use smaller elements to capture the
stress concentration. The stress concentration of a hole in an infinite plate gives 3.0
(Timoshenko and Goodier, Theory of elasticity, pp 78-83). According to a much more
involved formula (Howland, Trans. Royal Society (London), series A, vol. 229, p. 49,
1930), the stress concentration for a finite plate with the dimensions given is 3.14. Below
is the stress formula for an infinite plate
S a2 a4
y 2 3 4
2 x2 x
which is sufficiently accurate for comparing with the finite element solution. In the
above formula, S is the applied traction, 1 psi in this case, and a is the hole radius.
Problem 3:
Volumetric locking appears in FEM for incompressible and nearly incompressible materials
when the element is fully integrated. A perfectly incompressible material deformed elastically
would have a Poisson ratio exactly equal to 0.5, and the volume of the incompressible material
cannot change during the deformation. A good example of nearly incompressible material is
rubber, which has a Poisson ratio of nearly 0.5. Triangular and tetrahedral element are the easiest
to mesh, but they both exhibit severe volumetric locking for compressible and nearly
incompressible. Consider the simple structure with two
triangular elements in plane strain condition.
For incompressible material, the volume of each element
should keep constant. In element 1, node 3 can only move in
u direction as node 1 and 2 are fixed in space. While in
element 2, node 3 can only move in v direction. In this case,
the velocity of node 3 vanishes, that is, the finite element
model locks.
Volumetric locking always happens when there are too many constraints come from the
incompressible condition in the element, and makes the element too stiff to be deformed. Linear
triangular element in plain strain, full-integrated 4-node quadrilateral (Q4) in plain strain, linear
tetrahedral element and full8-node brick element are some commonly used elements with
volumetric locking problem. For Q4 element, we have several methods to avoid the volumetric
locking, such as hybrid method, selective reduced integration, reduced integration and
incompatible method, none of which can applied to linear triangular and tetrahedral element
(that is why we say they are “bad” elements).
In this plane strain problem, you will see the volumetric locking in linear triangular element,
and you will also explore the element technology of avoiding volumetric locking in Q4 element.
Consider the beam problem shown in the figure below. The Poisson ratio of the nearly
incompressible material is 0.499, and the Young’s modulus is 5e6 psi.

1) Firstly, we need an accurate solution to this problem. Run the beam using 4-node bilinear
plain strain quadrilateral elements with selective reduce integration (CPE4) * for 4 meshes
ranging from approximately 10 to 600 elements. Plot vs where n is the
number of elements, is the vertical displacement at point A. Find out the converged .
Compare the solution to the engineering beam solution.
2) Run the beam with 3-node linear plane triangular elements (CPE3) for 4 meshes ranging from
approximately 20 to 1200 elements. Plot vs . Discuss the convergence of .
3) Now we will fix our mesh at 8x4 * for all the remaining simulations. Run the beam using
3-node linear plane triangular elements (CPE3). Output the contour plot of pressure and . Is
there any volumetric locking?
4) Run the beam using 3-node linear plain triangular elements with hybrid formulation (CPE3H).
Output the contour plot of pressure and .
5) Run the beam using Q4 elements with selective reduce integration (CPE4). Output the contour
plot of pressure and .
6) Run the beam using Q4 elements with hybrid formulation (CPE4H). Output the contour plot
of pressure and . Compare the results with CPE4 elements (Hint: theoretically, selective
reduce integration and hybrid method are equivalent for Q4 elements)
7) Run the beam using Q4 elements with reduced integration (or one-point integration). In
Abaqus, you will use the CPE4R elements and set the hourglassing stiffness to 0. Output the
contour plot of pressure and . Provide a deformed shape of the beam, discuss it.
8) Run the beam using Q4 elements with one-point integration with hourglassing control
(stabilization). Use the CPE4R elements and set the hourglassing stiffness to 1e5. Output the
contour plot of pressure and . Provide a deformed shape of the beam, does the hourglassing
disappear?
9) Compare the vertical displacement of point A from all the simulations for 8x4 mesh with
the most accurate solution . Discuss how you will choose the element type in your future
work.

Note *: In Abaqus, the 4-node bilinear plain strain quadrilateral CPE4 use the selective reduced
integration, so it is not fully integrated and is free of volumetric locking.
* 8x4 mesh for quadrilateral and triangular elements.