FE analysis with bar elements

E. Tarallo, G. Mastinu
POLITECNICO DI MILANO, Dipartimento di Meccanica

Contact information and reference

Ermes Tarallo
Tel: (02 2399) 8667
Email: ermes.tarallo@mail.polimi.it

References:
ABAQUS 6.9-1 documentation
www.simulia.com
Robert D.Cook, Finite Element Modeling for Stress
Analysis, 1995

Other FEM Books:

Klaus J. Bathe, Finite Element Procedures, 1996
O.C. Zienkiewicz Finite Element Method, Vol 1+2+3,
2000
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Summary

Subjects covered in this tutorial

An introduction to Abaqus / AbaqusCAE for
beginners
A guided example to construct the finite element
model
of a simple structure
Comparison analytical vs numerical solutions
Other few exercises
Lab course structure:
In each lesson one example will be presented
and explained
At the end of each lesson, few exercises will be
proposed in order to evaluate comprehension
For the final evaluation its necessary to produce
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Bar element - topic

Bar (truss in AbaqusCAE) elements are one-dimensional rods that are

assumed to deform by axial stretching only.
They are pin jointed at their nodes, and so only translational
displacements are used in the discretization (2 dof);
A bar elements is well defined by: length L, elastic modulus E and section
area A

Shape function:

1 L 1
k
E

1L L
0
L

Stiffness matrix:

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1
AE 1 1
Adx

L
L 1 1

Bar element - limitations

1. It can represent only a constant state of strain

2. In terms of generalized coordinates

u 1 2 x

du
x
2
dx

3. If axial force are applied only at nodes, the element agree exactly
with a mathematical model that represents the bar as straight line
having constant A and E between locations where axial forces are
applied
4. If axial force are distributed along all part of the length or if the bar
is tapered, then the element is only approximate
5. Distributed load can still be applied, in the form of equivalent
forces applied to nodes

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Exercise 1 data problem

Geometry: L=1 m;
A1,2=6.0x10-4 m2; A3=62x10-4 m2
Material: E=210 GPa; =0.3
Load: P=1000 kN

Build the stiffness matrix and solve the equations

(find nodal displacements)

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Exercise 1 Analytic Results

kN

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AbaqusCAE structure

AbaqusCAE is divided into the following modules:

Part Create individual parts (geometry)
Property Create and assign material properties; for beam and bar
elements it allows to create and assign the transversal section
Assembly Create and place all parts in instances (assemblies): it
allows to translate, to rotate, to duplicate each part
Step Define all analysis steps and the results you want (output): the
analysis may be static, dynamic, frequency
Interaction Define any contact information or special constraints
Load Define and place all loads (force, moment, pressure, body
gravity,) and boundary conditions (encastre, pin,)
Mesh Define nodes and elements of the discretized structure
Job Create the input file for abaqus solver; submit directly the job
for analysis (abaqus solver embedded)
Visualization View your results
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Exercise 1 Modeling geometry

Module Part
Sketch the part as 2D
planar deformable wire
Note: in module part its
possible to create 1D, 2D
and 3D geometry as like as
another CAD software
AbaqusCAE is not so
powerful: if you want to
create complex geometry,
its better to use other CAD
system (CATIA, ProE,
SolidWorks,) and import
the model in AbaqusCAE
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Exercise 1 Defining property

10

Module Property
Define material
property
Create section with
area A and material
just defined
Assign the section
defined to the relative
segment of the
structure

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Exercise 1 Assembly and CSYS

11

Module Assembly
Assembly the part!!
Even if theres only one
part it must be create
an assembly (instance)
Assembly may be
created as dependent
(the mesh will be
created on each part) or
independent (the mesh
will be created on the
assembly-instance)
Create a new CSYS
rectangular located in 3
and directed as
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Exercise 1 Step

12

Module Step
Create a step in which
its defined the
analysis type (static,
dynamic, frequency)
For this ex: static,
general

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Exercise 1 Load and boundary

13

Module Load
Define the force in 2
Define boundary
condition in 1, 2 and
3 (for bc_3 use local
CSYS)

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Exercise 1 - Mesh

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Module Mesh
Assign mesh type
(solver standardstatic, order linear,
family truss)
Define mesh seed
(partition of the
edge): seed by size
(assign dimension of
element); seed by
number (define
number of elem. on
the edge)
Create mesh of the
part (automatic
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Exercise 1 - Job

15

Module Mesh
Write input file
(launch the
solver from
external shell)

Monitor: pop-up window with

warnings, errors and process
messages
Results: load the solution of the
analysis (it brings you to module
visualization)
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Data check
(evaluate inp
file find error)
Submit: launch
solver (write
files in work
directory: see
.dat!)

Exercise 1 FEM results

U1=0.01190m
U2=0
CF1=1000kN
RF1=0
RF2=0

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Deformed shape

Undeformed shape

U1=0
U2=0
RF1=-500kN
RF2=-500kN
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U1=0.003968m
U2=0.003968m
RF1=-500kN
RF2=500kN

Excercise 2 - data

17

Geometry: L=1m, A1=400mm2, A2=225mm2, A3=100mm2

Material: E=210000 MPa, =0.3 (steel)
Load: P1=10 kN,P2=5kN
Build the stiffness matrix and solve the equations

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Exercise 2 - results

18

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Excercise 3

19

Geometry: L=1m, H=0.2 m, A=400mm 2

Material: E=210000 MPa, =0.3 (steel)
Load: P=10 kN
1. Solve the problem (find stress and max displacement)
2. Find other solutions
3. Compare max stress and displacement (look at total
weight and total cost) of each solution
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