Finite Element Analysis of Sphere Pressing on a Plate using Ansys Workbench

Objective: Perform finite element analysis on sphere pressing on a plate setup and prove that the plate is plastically deformed.

Case Setup and Execution:

Model:

Boundary Conditions:

Material:

Sphere: Structural Steel

Plate: Structural Steel NL

Symmetry: To reduce computational time in a symmetric model, we have considered only 1/4th of the model and Symmetry has been applied normal to Z & X-axis as shown below.

Contact: Frictional Contact has been applied as shown below.

Mesh:

Sphere Size of element- 2mm.

Plate Size of element- 1mm.

Analysis Settings:

Fixed Support: Fixed Support has been applied as shown below.

Displacement: Displacement has been applied as shown below.

Results:

Equivalent Stress:

Equivalent Elastic Strain:

Equivalent Stress of the plate:

Equivalent Elastic Strain of the plate:

Directional Deformation:

Equivalent Plastic Strain: Plastic Deformation has been captured.

Conclusion:

• After the sphere is returned to its original position the plate has not regained its shape which proves that the plate is plastically deformed and the same graphics is captured.