An Introduction to Finite Element

Analysis with Pro/MECHANICA

Stephen Seymour, P.E.
Seymour Engineering & Consulting Group, LLC
www.seymourecg.com

Presentation Outline

Introduction to Pro/Mechanica
Capabilities and differences
Cantilever beam demo
Materials, loads, and constraints
Element types and meshing
Idealizations, connections, and
contact

Analysis definition and convergence

Reviewing results

What is Pro/Mechanica?

Pro/Mechanica is general finite

element analysis (FEA) software

tool that is directly integrated into
Pro/Engineer

Pro/Mechanica (also referred to

as Simulation) is generally
classified as a structural and
thermal Computer Aided
Engineering (CAE) tool.

Pro/Mechanica Capabilities

Static structural stress/strain/disp

Modal, prestressed modal, and mechanical vibration
Buckling
Non-linear contact / large deformation
Fatigue
Hyperelastic materials
Steady state thermal analysis
Transient thermal analysis

How Does Pro/Mechanica Differ?

Pro/Mechanica is a linear P-element

finite element solver

Most other commercial FEA packages

are H-element codes

The difference:

convergence method

P: varies element
shape functions

H: mesh refinement

How Does Pro/Mechanica Differ?

Pro/Mechanica by default is a

linear finite element solver with

some non-linear capabilities

Automated convergence via

element shape function
adaptation

Multi-pass adaptive (MPA)

Single pass adaptive (SPA)

Analysis Methodology

Cantilever Beam Demonstration

Goal: determine

the maximum
bending stresses

Solution Comparison
Analytical Solution

Analytical model

based on classic
beam theory for
slender uniform
cross section beams

Solution Comparison
Pro/Mechanica FEA Solution

Pro/Mechanica FEA

results indicate
maximum bending
stress is approximately
6000 psi

Stress varies linearly

along length of beam

as expected

Applying Material Properties

Parts

Pro/Mechanica provides a default library of materials

Ability to create custom materials with descriptions
Be careful of units!

Applying Material Properties

Assemblies

Ability to assign different materials

to different components

Material assignment can be

performed at either assembly or

individual part level

Material properties must be

assigned before meshing

Degrees of Freedom (DOF)

The primary 6 independent motions of any solid

body. 3 translation and 3 rotation

All static structural FEA problems required no rigid

motion, therefore after constraints (and idealizations)

there must be no motion

Displacement Constraints

Constraints can be defined on surfaces,

edges, or points

Constraints can be free, fixed, or prescribed

relative to the coordinate system selection

Constraint coordinate systems can be

Cartesian, cylindrical, or spherical.

Symmetry Constraints

The symmetry constraint will

simulate a symmetry type

boundary condition by
constraining motion normal
(perpendicular) to the selected
surface

Should not be used with

asymmetrical loading conditions

Should not be used with modal

analyses

Loads
Forces and Moments

Most common of all load types

Can be applied on surfaces, edges,
and points

Can reference user defined coordinate

systems

Moments must be specified with the

advanced option Total Load at Point

Loads
Other

Bearing loads
Centrifugal loads
Gravity loads
Pressure loads
Temperature loads
Thermal simulation result loads
Remember: gravity in the IPS unit
system is 386.4 in/sec2

Element Types
Solid Elements

Tetrahedral shape
3 translational DOFs at nodes
Rotational constraints not required
Shown in blue
Ideal for solid bodies with large
cross-sectional areas

Not well suited for thin bodies

Element Types
Shell Elements

2D or 3D triangles and quadrilaterals

6 translational DOFs at nodes
Shown in green
Ideally suited for parts with thin
cross-sections (i.e. tank walls, sheet
metal components, etc.)

Non-linear contact not possible for

this element type

Element Types
Beam Elements

2D or 3D point-to-point or thru
curve

6 translational DOFs at nodes

Shown in light blue with crosssection (Shown here in red for
clarity)

Well suited to represent beams

with a 10:1 slenderness ratio

Mesh

Meshing can be done either before

or during analysis

The greater the # of elementsthe

longer the solution time

Mixed element meshes are

possible

Convergence problems can

typically be resolved by refinement

in high gradient locations

Mesh Controls

Control the density of

elements within specific

regions of the model

Can be applied on volumes,

surfaces, and edges

Ability to specify regions of

exclusion where
singularities may exist

Idealizations
Masses

Mass idealizations (also known as mass

elements) are attached to a single point

(either datum or vertex) within your model

Mass idealizations by default are mass

only with no inertia. However, an

advanced mass element may also
included mass moments of inertia (MMOI)
to increase the accuracy of the solution

Be careful of mass unit!

Idealizations
Springs

Spring idealizations can simulate the

behavior of real world springs in the model

without having to solid model a spring

Spring idealizations can range from very

simple extension only springs that are

defined point-to-point.to complex springs
that can have varying linear and torsional
spring constants in all 6 degrees of
freedom

Connections

There are four main connection types:

Interface
Weld
Rigid link
Weighted link

Connections
Interface

Bonded

Merges coincident faces together

for the analysis

Free interface

Allows coincident faces to act

independently of one another

Contact

Interpenetration not allowed.

Can be frictionless or infinite friction

Connections
Welds

Three main types of welds:

End weld
Perimeter weld
Spot weld

End and perimeter welding extend the base shell

geometry

Spot welds are created using beams.

alternate material.

May specify

Connections
Rigid Link

Can be created to points, edges,

curves, and surfaces

Couples the DOF

Features with rigid links cannot have
localized displacements or rotations

Improper use of rigid links can

adversely affect results

Connections
Weighted Link

Developed primarily for distributing

mass or loads

Allow the attachment of mass

idealizations without stiffening structure

Source point must be a

datum point, target entities

can be points, edges,
surfaces

or

Analysis Definition

Once loads, constraints, and

materials have been defined it

is time to define the type of
analysis to be performed

Choose from the drop down list

the analysis type or study you
wish to perform

Some analysis types may

require additional licensing

Analysis Definition

Analysis name entered will be

subfolder name where files reside

Multiple load sets can be analyzed

independently or summed.

Select the convergence method

Choose output options
Enable/Disable the exclusions of
elements from the analysis

Convergence Options

Multi-Pass Adaptive (MPA)

Polynomial order is repeatedly increased until

specified convergence is obtained (default 10%)

Single Pass Adaptive (SPA)

First pass using order of 3. Second pass order is

increased to a max of 9 in high stress gradient areas.

Quick check

Mechanica performs a single pass at a uniform

polynomial order of 3.

Convergence Options
Multi-Pass Adaptive (MPA)

Percentage represents max

allowable change from pass

to pass

A poorly converged model is

equal to pretty picture

Converged model doesnt

imply accurate solution

GIGO principle
Poor boundary conditions

Reviewing Results
Launch The Results Viewer

There are three options for viewing

the completed results:

Select the analysis and choose

the results icon

Start the results viewer from

Pro/Mechanica or Pro/Engineer

Reviewing Results
Results Selection

Select from the drop down

the result you wish to plot

Fringe is the default display

type, but vector and graph
plots are possible

P-level is a plot of the

highest polynomial order

used for each element
throughout the domain

Reviewing Results
Results Display Location

Gives the option to plot results

on specific geometric entities

For assemblies results may be

plotted on certain components
only or in exploded view

Reviewing Results
Results Display Options

Control color display and

animation effects

Continuous tone creates smooth

result plots, but requires more
computing time and memory

To see the true deformation set

the scaling to a value of 1 and
uncheck the % box

Results

Dynamical query results

Animate deformed shape
Create section planes
Customizable legend

Conclusion

This completes the

introduction to Finite
Element Analysis (FEA)
with Pro/Mechanica

Many more features

available

Remember: always make

sure your results make
sense

GIGO principle