Linear elastic and elasto-plastic analysis of a steel sheet with circular and

square holes using ABAQUS

Rabee Shamass

What will you learn from this tutorial?

After you conduct all steps in this tutorial, you will be able to:
- Conduct elastic and plastic analysis
- Apply loading as prescribed displacement and as uniformly distributed load
- Change the mesh in the numerical model
- Obtain the stresses, strains, von Misses and plastic strains
- Obtain the load-displacement relationship

1
Problem Description

Assume a steel plate with the dimensions shown in the above figure. The thickness of
the plate is 4 mm. The plate assumed to be fixed at the bottom end edge. Regarding
the applied load, two case should be studied:
Case 1: Prescribe a displacement uy = 2 mm on the edge y = 400.
Case 2: Apply a uniformly distributed load on the edge y=400, whose value is the
same as the resultant of the reactions on the same edge computed in case 1 under the
assumption of linear elasticity.

In both case, first perform a linear elastic analysis, and then perform an elasto-
plastic analysis assuming perfect plasticity (i.e. no hardening), a yield stress equal to
the value σy given above.

2
 Case 1: Prescribe a displacement uy = 2 mm on the edge y = 400

1. Familiarize yourself with Abaqus interface

You interact with Abaqus/CAE through the main window. Figure below shows the
components that appear in the main window

The components are:

Title bar
The title bar indicates the version of Abaqus/CAE you are running and the name of
the current model database.
3
Menu bar
The menu bar contains all the available menus; the menus give access to all the
functionality in the product. Different menus appear in the menu bar depending on
which module you selected from the context bar.
Toolbars
The toolbars provide quick access to items that are also available in the menus.
Context bar
Abaqus/CAE is divided into a set of modules, where each module allows you to work
on one aspect of your model; the Module list in the context bar allows you to move
between these modules. Other items in the context bar are a function of the module
in which you are working; for example, the context bar allows you to retrieve an
existing part while creating the geometry of the model.
Model Tree
The Model Tree provides you with a graphical overview of your model and the
objects that it contains, such as parts, materials, steps, loads, and output requests. In
addition, the Model Tree provides a convenient, centralized tool for moving between
modules and for managing objects. If your model database contains more than one
model, you can use the Model Tree to move between models. When you become
familiar with the Model Tree, you will find that you can quickly perform most of the
actions that are found in the main menu bar, the module toolboxes, and the various
managers.
Results Tree
The Results Tree provides you with a graphical overview of your output databases and
other session- specific data such as X–Y plots. If you have more than one output
database open in your session, you can use the Results Tree to move between output
databases. When you become familiar with the Results Tree, you will find that you
can quickly perform most of the actions in the Visualization module that are found in
the main menu bar and the toolbox.

4
Toolbox area
When you enter a module, the toolbox area displays tools in the toolbox that are
appropriate for that module. The toolbox allows quick access to many of the module
functions that are also available from the menu bar.
Canvas and drawing area
The canvas can be thought of as an infinite screen or bulletin board on which you post
viewports.
Viewport
Viewports are windows on the canvas in which Abaqus/CAE displays your model.
Prompt area
The prompt area displays instructions for you to follow during a procedure; for
example, it asks you to select the geometry as you create a set.
Message area
Abaqus/CAE prints status information and warnings in the message area. To resize
the message area, drag the top edge; to see information that has scrolled out of the
message area, use the scroll bar on the right side. The message area is displayed by
default, but it uses the same space occupied by the command line interface. If you
have recently used the command line interface, you must click the tab in the
bottom left corner of the main window to activate the message area.
Command line interface
You can use the command line interface to type Python commands and evaluate
mathematical expressions using the Python interpreter that is built into
Abaqus/CAE. The interface includes primary (>>>) and secondary (...) prompts to
indicate when you must indent commands to comply with Python syntax.
The command line interface is hidden by default, but it uses the same space occupied
by the message area. Click the tab in the bottom left corner of the main window
to switch from the message area to the command line interface. Click the tab to
return to the message area.
5
What is a module?
As mentioned earlier, Abaqus/CAE is divided into functional units called modules.
Each module contains only those tools that are relevant to a specific portion of the
modeling task. For example, the Mesh module contains only the tools needed to
create finite element meshes, while the Job module contains only the tools used to
create, edit, submit, and monitor analysis jobs.

Part
The Part module allows you to create individual parts by sketching their geometry
directly in Abaqus/CAE or by importing their geometry from other geometric
modeling programs.

Property
A section definition contains information about the properties of a part or a region of
a part, such as a region’s associated material definition and cross-sectional geometry.
In the Property module you create section and material definitions and assign them
to regions of parts.
Assembly
When you create a part, it exists in its own coordinate system, independent of other
parts in the model. You use the Assembly module to create instances of your parts
6
 and to position the instances relative to each other in a global coordinate system,
thus creating an assembly. An Abaqus model contains only one assembly.
Step
You use the Step module to create and configure analysis steps and associated
output requests. The step sequence provides a convenient way to capture changes in
a model (such as loading and boundary condition changes); output requests can vary
as necessary between steps.
Interaction
In the Interaction module you specify mechanical and thermal interactions between
regions of a model or between a region of a model and its surroundings. An example
of an interaction is contact between two surfaces. Other interactions that may be
defined include constraints, such as tie, equation, and rigid body constraints.
Abaqus/CAE does not recognize mechanical contact between part instances or
regions of an assembly unless that contact is specified in the Interaction module; the
mere physical proximity of two surfaces in an assembly is not sufficient to indicate
any type of interaction between the surfaces. Interactions are step-dependent
objects, which means that you must specify the analysis steps in which they are
active.
Load
The Load module allows you to specify loads, boundary conditions, and predefined
fields. Loads and boundary conditions are step-dependent objects, which means that
you must specify the analysis steps in which they are active; some predefined fields
are step-dependent, while others are applied only at the beginning of the analysis.
Mesh
The Mesh module contains tools that allow you to generate a finite element mesh on
an assembly created within Abaqus/CAE. Various levels of automation and control
are available so that you can create a mesh that meets the needs of your analysis.
Job
Once you have finished all of the tasks involved in defining a model, you use the Job
module to analyze your model. The Job module allows you to interactively submit a
7
 job for analysis and monitor its progress. Multiple models and runs may be
submitted and monitored simultaneously.
Visualization
The Visualization module provides graphical display of finite element models and
results. It obtains model and result information from the output database; you can
control what information is written to the output database by modifying output
requests in the Step module.
Sketch
Sketches are two-dimensional profiles that are used to help form the geometry
defining an Abaqus/CAE native part. You use the Sketch module to create a sketch
that defines a planar part, a beam, or a partition or to create a sketch that might be
extruded, swept, or revolved to form a three-dimensional part.

8
2. Set up the model

Create your own directory in drive D/C. Do save on desktop. Open Abaqus CAE and create a
new model by clicking on “With Standard/Explicit Model”

From the Main menu bar: File → Set Work Director... Insert your chosen directory. This
will ensure that all the output files will be in this directory.

3. Model the geometry as a single part

Double Click on the “Parts” in the Model Tree and choose 2D Planar and the options shown
below. Name the part “Sheet”.

9
A sketch window will open and sketch tool buttons will appear. Click on “Create Lines:
Rectangle (4 Line)”

Sketch tool

Insert coordinates: 0,0 Enter 200,400 Enter

Use the resize button “Auto-Fit View” to fit the rectangle on the window.
10
So that you obtain:

Repeat the operations to create the other two rectangles, as follow:

Insert coordinates: 40,40 then Enter, 80,80 then Enter
Insert coordinates: 40,280 then Enter 80,320 then Enter

11
To daw the circle, click on “Create Circle: Center and Perimeter”. Insert 100,200 for the
centre point then insert 140,200 for the perimeter point

Click on “Cancel Procedure”.

12
And then click on “Done”.

Save the file.

4. Define Material and Section and assign Section

Double click on “Materials” in the model tree. Name the material “Steel”.
Choose “Mechanical” → “Elasticity” → “Elastic”

13
Insert the “Young’s modulus” and the “Poisson ratio” and click on “OK”.

Double click on “Sections” in the model tree. Name the section “Steel sheet” and choose
Solid from Category and Homogeneous from Type as below. Click on “Continue ...”

14
Accept material “Steel” and the thickness is 4 then click on “OK”.

Expand the model tree clicking on “Parts”, then on “Sheet” and then on “Features” and
double click on “Section Assignments”.

15
Select the sheet and then click on “Done”

Accept the settings and click on “OK”.

16
Save the model.

5. Create the Assembly

Expand “Assembly” in the model tree and double click on “Instance”. Choose “Independent
(mesh on instance)” and click on “OK”.
Note: By choosing Independent (mesh on instance), you can only mesh you model on
instance (in the assembly) not on the part

17
6. Create a Load Step
We will now create a step in the analysis.
From the model tree double click on “Steps”. This will automatically create a new step
which you can name “Prescribed top displacements” as in below:

We are going to conduct a static analysis, whereby you can accept the option “Static,
General” and click on “Continue”. The following window will appear:

Firstly, we want to conduct an elastic analysis, for which neither increments nor
iterations are needed. Hence, one single increment will be sufficient to apply the entire
action that, in this case, will be the prescribed displacements on the top line. Therefore,
18
you can accept the default settings and click “OK”.

7. Apply Boundary Conditions

To apply the boundary conditions (BCs), click on “BCs” on the model tree.
A BCs window will appear. You can name this BC as “Ux = 0; Uy = 0”, or any other name
you wish (Note: this is just a name that serves the purpose of remembering what this
condition is, we are not enforcing anything just by putting the name “Ux = 0; Uy = 0”):
Choose “Displacement/Rotation” and click on “Continue”.

Click on the bottom edge of the sheet and then on “Done”. Tick “U1” and “U2” and insert
values of zero and then on “OK”.

19
To apply prescribed displacement, apply a new BC by double clicking on “BCs” again.
Name it “Uy = 2mm” and then on “Continue”.

Select the top edge of the sheet and then click on “Done”. Tick “U2” and insert the value “2”.
Click on “OK”. Notice the arrows go upwards

20
8. Mesh the Model
Now we need to mesh the model to make it a real “finite-element” model. To this end,
from the module drop-down list choose “Mesh”.

Click on the “Seed Part Instance” button.

21
Enter an “Approximate global size” of 10 and click on “OK” first and then on “Done”.

Note: There are other methods of seeding, which are defining the local size of the mesh in
each region of the model, could have been used. You can explore the various possibilities
by clicking on the “Seed Edges” and follow the steps that appear.

Click on the “Assign Mesh Controls” button as in the figure below.

22
Choose Element Shape as “Quad” and click “OK” . Note, this setting means that
quadrangular “Quad”, quadrangular dominated “Quad-dominated” and triangular “Tri”
will be suitably combined. Other methods of meshing are not possible in this case because
of the particular feature of the geometry which does not allow a structured mesh or a
swept mesh to be created.

Click on the “Assign Element Type” button and select the sheet, then click on “Done”.

23
Choose “Quadratic” instead of “Linear”. Choose the family “Plane Stress”. Tick the reduced
integration. Notice below the name of the element CPS8R. Accept the other settings by
clicking on “OK”.

Now, to mesh the model, click on the “Mesh Part Instance” button and click on “Yes” at the
question “Ok to mesh the part instance”.

24
Save the model.

9. Run the Linear Elastic Analysis and View the Results

The model now is ready to be analysed. To this end, you need to create a job.
In the “Analysis” tree, double click on “Jobs”. Name the job: “Elastic_Analysis1” (no spaces
in the name). Click on “Continue” and accept all the other settings.

To submit the job, right click on the job “Elastic_Analysis1” and choose “Submit”.
Wait until the analysis is completed.

25
To view the results, right click on the “Elastic_Analysis1” under the job entry of the
“Analysis” menu and choose “Results”.
In this way, you will automatically open the “.odb” file, i.e. the “Output Database”.

Click on the “Plot Contours on Deformed Shape” button so that the contour plot of the von
Mises stress is shown. The von Mises stress is the default field which is shown, but this
can be easily changed.

To view the contour plot of stresses in y-direction, click on “Filed Output Dialog”. From the
main menu, choose S22 and then on “OK” as below:

26
You can also plotting stress components as shown in the following figure:

27
To plot the stresses in x-direction, choose S11.

To plot the deflection in y-direction, choose U then U2.

28
To find stresses, strains or displacements at any point of the plate (for example at a point
from the circle), click on Query information.

Click on “Node” then “Probe values”, a dialog window will appear. Change the probe from
“Element” to “Node”.

29
Roll the wheel of the mouse to zoom into the circle then close your mouse cursor to the
desire point as shown. Notice the value of the S22 stress in the Probe value window and
the node number will appear on your numerical model.

To obtain the Max. In-Plane Principle, click on “Field Output” and choose “Max. In-Plane
Principle” then “OK”.

30
Close your mouse cursor to the point of the circle and notice the stress value.

31
Notice that a magnification factor has been applied by the program automatically. To
view the true deformation click on “Common Options”, tick “Uniform” and choose the
value 1 and apply.

32
10. Run an Elasto-Plastic Analysis
To conduct an elasto-plastic analysis, double click on “Model” first to access the set of
tools for the model.

Double click on “Steel” from the “Materials” tree. Choose “Plasticity” then “Plastic”

Insert “450” as the “Yield Stress” and “0” for the “Plastic Strain”, then click on “OK”.

33
Not adding any other couples of values, the program interprets this as the assumption
that when the von Mises stresws is below the yield stress, the behaviour is elastic, and
that when plasticity occurs, the von Mises stress is constant and equal to the yield stress.

To conduct the plastic analysis, a nonlinear incremental, iterative procedure is needed. To

this end, double click on step “Prescribed Top Displacement” and click on the
“Incrementation” tab.

Change the initial and maximum increment size from “1” to “0.05”.

The type of incrementation is “Automatic” which means that starting from a user-given
34
initial value the time increment is automatically adjusted by the program typically to
maintain the rate of convergence within an acceptable range.
The Maximum and minimum increment size is 0.05 and 1e-5, respectively. This means
that in each increment of the analysis the prescribed displacement cannot be larger than
0.05*2=0.1 and smaller than 1e-5*2=2e-5.
Click on “OK” and then create a new job by double clicking on “Jobs” in the tree. Name the
job differently from the first one, for example “Plastic_Analysis1”. Click on “Continue” and
then on “OK”.
Resubmit the analysis.
You will see that the analysis takes much longer to complete. To check its progress, you
can right-click on “Plastic_Analysis1” and choose “Monitor”.
This will show the progress of the increments and iterations.
Note: Explore the “Monitor” properly and read carefully the message area.

Open the results of the analysis by right-clicking on “Plastic_Analysis1” and choosing

“Results”.
To view the equivalent plastic strain, change the variable of the contour plot to PEEQ, i.e.
the “equivalent plastic strain”, as below:

35
It is very useful in most cases to view an animation, which can be done by clicking on the
“Animate Time History” button.

11. Refine Mesh and Re-Run the Analysis

The prediction obtained with this simulation is that the highest plastic strains are
developed starting from the stress concentration on the right side of the circular hole. No
significant plastic strain is observed close to the corners of the squared holes.

36
To improve the mesh close to the square hole, an efficient way involves seed edges with
suitable numbers of elements. To this end, from the “Module” drop-down menu, select
“Mesh”, then click on “Seed Edges”:

Click on the each edge of the squares with shift key pressed to select multiple lines, then
“Done”. The number of elements is 40 with Bias ratio is 8. Choose the bias to be “double”.
Make sure that the seeding to be biased towards the corners (i.e. the arrow points to the
corners) as shown below, otherwise, flip bias. Click “OK” and accept that the mesh will be
37
deleted then “Done”.

Re-seed the circle line by clicking on “Seed edges”. Select the circle line and choose 40 as
the “Number of elements” along the edge.

Re-mesh the instance. You should obtain a mesh similar to the one below.

38
Re-run the analysis.
Opening the results, and plotting the equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ), the following
contour plot is obtained.

39
By changing the contour plot setting (clicking on the “Contour Option” button as below):

And changing the “Min/Max” setting to “Specify” with a value of 0.01, the following contour
plot is obtained:

Animate this plot and look at the concentrations of plastic strain close to the corners of
the square holes and close to the circular hole.

40
12. The load-displacement curves from the refined mesh model with elastic-plastic
analysis
The load-displacement relationship is important to understand the structural behaviour of
the plate under applied load. We need to find the loads at the top edge and the displacement
at a point from the top edge. To do that, there are a number of easy steps to do as follow:
1- Get the results by going to “Job” in the Module, then click on “Job Manager”. Choose
the job you want to obtain the results for and click on “Results”.

41
2- To obtain the applied force:
- Go to “Tools” → “XY Data” → “Manager…”

- Click “Create” → “ODB File output” → Continue

42
- Choose the Position to be “Unique Nodal”. Choose “RF2” for the reaction force (RF2
represents the reaction force in the Y-direction while RF1 represents the reaction
force in the X-direction). You must notice the coordinates of the models which is
shown at the topic right corner of the model.

- From Element/Node, click on “Edit Selection” then zoom into the top edge by
rolling the wheel of the mouse. Select the nodes at the top edge using a rectangular
window as shown below. Notice selected nodes as red nodes.
Coordinate system

43
- Click “Done” then “Save in the “XY from ODB Filed Output” dialogue.

- Return into “XY Data Manager” you will see the values of the reaction forces RF2 in
each of the selected node. The applied forced on the top edge is the summation of
the reaction forces over top nodes. To do the summation click on the “Create” and
select “Operate on XY Data”

44
- Select “sum ((A,A,…))” then highlight all reaction forces in the “XY Data” → “add to
Expression”. Divide the summation by 1000 to convert to Kn.

45
46
- Click on “Save as” and Name as “Force”.

- From the XY Data Manager”, highlight all data except for the “force” then “Delete”

47
3- To obtain the displacement at a point at the top edge, close all dialogs and start again
by:
- Tools→Manager…→Create→ODB Field output.

- Choose “Unique Nodal” in the position → U2 (U2 is the displacement in the y-

direction. Please check the coordinate system at the top right corner of the model.)
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 - In the Element/Nodes, “Edit Selection”, click any point from the top edge, then
“Done”

4- Obtain the force-displacement curve:

49
- Return to XY Data Manager”, double click on “Force”
- Highlight the second column→ right click and select “copy”. You can now past you
results into Excel file.

- Double click on “U:U2 PI ….”, Highlight the second column→ right click and select
“copy”. You can now past you results into Excel file.

- In you Excel sheet, you can insert curve as usual. The resulting is:
50
After you finish we can start working on the case 2 where you have to apply uniformly
distributed load on the top edge instead of prescribed displacement.

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 Case 2: Apply a uniformly distributed load on the edge y=400, whose value is the
same as the resultant of the reactions on the same edge computed in case 1 under the
assumption of linear elasticity

Before you start, we will create similar model. You do not have to do the whole steps
again. Instead you copy your model following steps:
- If you closed the model that you created in for case 1, you should open it again:
Open Abaqus CAE→ Create Model database “With Standard/Explicit Model”→
Click “Open” from the toolbar→ search for your .cae file in your directory.

- Go to Model tress then click on the “Model-1” → right click → Copy Model→ Name
as “Case 2” and “OK”. You will notice two identical models: The “Model-1” and
“Case 2”.

Any changes or modifications will be conducted on the “Case 2”.

1- Obtain the uniformly distributed load.

The uniformly distributed load is obtained from resultant of the reactions on the same
edge computed in the case 1
- Get the results by going to “Job” in the Module, then click on “Job Manager”. Choose
the job you want to obtain the results for (Here you need to choose
“Elastic_Analysis1” and click on “Results”.

52
53
- To obtain the applied force:
- Go to “Tools” → “XY Data” → “Manager…”

- Click “Create” → “ODB File output”→ Continue

- Choose the Position to be “Unique Nodal”. Choose “RF2” for the reaction force (RF2
represents the reaction force in the Y-direction while RF1 represents the reaction
force in the X-direction). You must notice the coordinates of the models which is
shown at the topic right corner of the model.

54
- From Element/Node, click on “Edit Selection” then zoom into the top edge by
rolling the wheel of the mouse. Select the nodes at the top edge using a rectangular
window as shown below. Notice selected nodes as red nodes.

55
- Click “Done” then “Save” in the “XY from ODB Filed Output” dialog.

- Return into “XY Data Manager” you will see the values of the reaction forces RF2 in
each of the selected node. The applied forced on the top edge is the summation of
the reaction forces over top nodes. To do the summation click on the “Create” and
select “Operate on XY Data” and “Continue…”

56
- Select “sum ((A,A,…))” then highlight all reaction forces in the “XY Data” → add to
Expression. Divide the summation by 1000 to convert to Kn.

57
58
- Click on “Save as” and Name as “Force”.

- From the XY Data Manager”, highlight all data except for the “force” then “Delete”

- Return to “XY Data Manager”, double click on “Force”. The value of the reaction
force at the top edge is then 1250.54 Kn.

59
In order to convert this into distributed load by dividing the load to the area of the cross-
section:
1250.54*1000/(200*4)=1563.175 N/mm2
where 200 is the width of the plate, 4 is the thickness, and 1000 is to convert to N.
- Go to Load→ Boundary Condition Manager→ highlight the boundary “Uy=2mm”
then “Delete” and “Dismiss”.

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- Go to “Create Load”→Name as “Distributed Load”→Choose “Pressure”→”Continue
“→click the Top edge→”Done”→ Magnitude is -1563.175→ “OK” . Notice the
direction of the pressure goes upward.

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62
- Repeat the same steps for the case 2 and create Job then submit.

63
Practice:
- Conduct linear elastic and elasto-plastic analysis for the case 2
- Obtain the von-Misses stress and S22 for a point at a point from the circle from
elasto -plastic analysis.
- Obtain the load-displacement curve from elasto-plastic analysis and compare with
the load-displacement curve obtained for the case 1.

64
65
 Results sheet

Case 1: Prescribe a displacement uy = 2 mm on the edge y = 400.

A- Linear Elastic Analysis.

Results – Von Messes (S), Stress in y-direction (S22), Stress in X-direction (S11),
Deflection in y-direction (U2). Including unites
Point S S22 S11 U2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Results- The Reaction force at the Top edge in KN

Edge Reaction force in KN

Top edge

66
B- Elasto-Plastic analysis without refined mesh
Results – Von Messes (S), Stress in y-direction (S22), Stress in X-direction (S11),
Deflection in y-direction (U2), Equivalent plastic strains (PEEQ). Including unites
Point S S22 S11 U2 PEEQ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

C- Elasto-Plastic analysis with refined mesh

Results – Von Messes (S), Stress in y-direction (S22), Stress in X-direction (S11),
Deflection in y-direction (U2), Equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ). Including unites
Point S S22 S11 U2 PEEQ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Results- Place your Load –displacement curve. The load should be found at the top
edge and the displacement is at the point 8. What is the failure load?

67
 Case 2: Apply a uniformly distributed load on the edge y=400, whose
value is the same as the resultant of the reactions on the same edge
computed in case 1 under the assumption of linear elasticity

A- Linear Elastic Analysis.

Results – Von Messes (S), Stress in y-direction (S22), Stress in X-direction (S11),
Deflection in y-direction (U2). Including unites
Point S S22 S11 U2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Results- The Reaction force at the bottom edge in KN

Edge Reaction force in KN

Bottom edge

B- Elasto-Plastic analysis without refined mesh

Results – Von Messes (S), Stress in y-direction (S22), Stress in X-direction (S11),
Deflection in y-direction (U2), Equivalent plastic strains (PEEQ). Including unites
Point S S22 S11 U2 PEEQ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

68
C- Elasto-Plastic analysis with refined mesh
Results – Von Messes (S), Stress in y-direction (S22), Stress in X-direction (S11),
Deflection in y-direction (U2), Equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ). Including unites
Point S S22 S11 U2 PEEQ
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Results- Place your Load –displacement curve. The load should be found at the bottom
edge and the displacement is at the point 8. What is the failure load?

69