Torsional-Lateral Buckling - Bifurcation Analysis With A Simple Beam Using Abaqus 6.10
Torsional-Lateral Buckling - Bifurcation Analysis With A Simple Beam Using Abaqus 6.10
Torsional-Lateral Buckling - Bifurcation Analysis With A Simple Beam Using Abaqus 6.10
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This document contains an Abaqus tutorial for performing a buckling analysis using the finite element program Abaqus/Standard, version 6.10. The analysis is performed on a simply supported beam with end moments. The beam is modelled using shell elements. Many different types of analyses are available with Abaqus. However, only one single type of analysis is covered by the guide, namely a so-called buckle analysis used to examine instability. This type of analysis solves the eigenvalue problem associated with the structure with given loads, in order to asses bifurcation load values. Abaqus has two different ways of providing input: Via a graphical user interface (the so-called CAE) or directly via an input text file. Only the first method will be described in the following. Advanced users may prefer the second option as it provides some freedom compared with the CAE.
Getting started
Run Abaqus CAE and choose Create Model Database With Standard/Explicit Model. You should now see the screen visualised in Figure 1. On the left you have the project tree and on the right you have the working area. The field right above the working area is denoted the context bar.
Figure 1 Start-up screen in Abaqus 6.10-2. The Module drop-down menu is encircled in red.
Abaqus CAE has a number of so-called modules. Each module is utilized to define some part of the model, e.g. the geometry or the boundary conditions. You work in one module at a time and can change module in the drop-down menu Module which can be found in the context bar as indicated by the red rectangle in Figure 1. The modules are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Part defines the geometry of a structural element or model to be used in the analysis. Property defines materials and cross sections. Assembly assembles a number of parts to form the global geometry of a model. Step defines the different analyses to be carried out. Interaction defines connections and interface conditions between different parts. Load defines the boundary conditions of the model. Mesh provides the discretization of the model into finite elements. Job defines the jobs to be carried out by the analysis program. Visualization is utilized for viewing and post processing the results. Sketch can be used as a simple CAD programme for making additional drawings.
2. Create a cut through the part by using the Partition Cell: Define Cutting Plane tool. Select Normal To Edge. a. Choose the bottom edge (the short edge) at one end of the solid rectangular beam. b. Select the midpoint of the chosen edge. c. Press Create Partition, then click Done in the prompt area. d. The solid is now divided into two halves along the symmetry plane. 3. Convert the solid part to a shell model by the Create Shell: From Solid tool. The tool can be found by pressing the small black triangle marked by a red circle in Figure 3. a. Select both of the solids. This can be done by holding down the shift key. Then click done twice.
Figure 3. The small black triangle needed to find the Create Shell: From Solid tool
4. To remove the two shell faces click Remove Faces. a. Select the large surface that is the beam side and press done. The face is now removed. b. Now hold down Ctrl+Alt and use Mouse Key 1 to rotate the model so that the opposite side surface becomes visible. Repeat item 4.a. for this surface. 5. Skip to the Assembly module to assemble the model. a. Use the Instance Part tool to include the part (Beam) you just created in the model. b. Keep the Instance Type as Dependent c. Click OK to finish the Create Instance box. d. The geometry has now been defined except the shell thickness. The model should appear as shown in Figure 4. Note that the beam axis is parallel to the z-axis. 6. If you have not yet saved the model, this is certainly the time to do so!
Figure 5 The midlines at both ends have been selected for application of supports in the x-direction.
2. Use the Create Boundary Condition tool to define supports for the beam in the y-direction. a. Change Name to Fix-y. b. Keep Step as Initial. c. Keep Category as Mechanical and Type for Selected Step as Displacement/Rotation. Then click Continue ... d. Select the bottom edges at both ends of the beam and click Done in the prompt area. Note that the bottom edge at either end is composed of two lines. The boundary conditions should be applied along the entire edge. e. In the Edit Boundary Condition box, check U2. Then click OK to exit the box. 3. Use the Create Boundary Condition tool to define supports for the beam in the z-direction. a. Change Name to Fix-z. b. Keep Step as Initial. c. Keep Category as Mechanical and put Type for Selected Step as Displacement/Rotation. Then click Continue ... d. Select the bottom edge at one end of the beam and click Done in the prompt area. e. In the Edit Boundary Condition box, check U3. Then click OK to exit the box. 4. Now, apply the Create Load tool to define a moment at one end for the buckle analysis. a. Change Name to Moment 1. b. Change Step to Instability. c. Keep Category as Mechanical and change Type for Selected Step to Moment. Then click Continue ... 7
d. Select the mid-points at the bottom edge and the top edge at one end of the beam. Again, use Shift to mark more points at a time. When the visualization of the model looks like the illustration on Figure 6, click Done in the prompt area. e. In the Edit Load box, set CM1 to -0.5. This produces a bending moment with a total magnitude of 1 around the global x-axis and leading to tension in the bottom flange. f. The moment is indicated by two-headed arrows pointing in the negative x-direction. 5. Again, apply the Create Load tool to define a moment at the other end of the beam. a. Change Name to Moment 2. b. Keep Step as Instability, Category as Mechanical and Type for Selected Step as Moment. Then click Continue ... c. Select the mid-points at the bottom edge and the top edge at the other end of the beam. Then click Done in the prompt area. d. In the Edit Load box, set CM1 to 0.5. This produces a bending moment with a total magnitude of 1 around the global x-axis and leading to tension in the bottom flange. e. The moment is indicated by two-headed arrows pointing in the positive x-direction. The boundary conditions defined for the model correspond to a simply supported beam which has been forked at both ends, i.e. torsional rotation is not possible at the ends of the beam. In the buckle analysis, the bending moments applied at the ends lead to a homogeneous moment along the beam. This corresponds to the boundary conditions in the classical torsionallateral instability problem.
Figure 6 Points at which the moment is applied at one end of the beam.
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