Static Structural Analysis of Sphere pressing on a plate using Ansys

Objective - To perform the analysis to simulate a sphere pressing on a plate. Use Structural steel for sphere and Structural steel Non Linear for plate.

Procedure -

Create Static structural analysis and in engineering data select the material structural steel and Structural steel Non Linear.

Structural Steel.

Structural steel Non Linear.

Import the geometry and check in SpaceClaim for any irregularities.

To reduce computation time, only a quarter of the geometry is used to simulate the loading. The results obtained are mirrored across defined symmetric regions.

Then open Ansys mechanical and rename the geometry as Sphere and Plate then assign the structural steel material to Sphere and Structural steel Non Linear to Plate.

Contacts - one 1 contacts created in the whole setup with frictional type with friction coefficient of 0.74 and interface treatment is set to Add offset, No Ramping.

Mesh - Mesh the mode with element size of 0.6mm.

Symmetry - the simulation is carried out only on a quarter of the actual geometry eo reduce the computation time, regions of symmetry are defined along the X and the Z axis.

Analysis Settings - The simulation runs for 4 steps. So, the number of steps is set as 4, solver type is set to direct, large deflection is set to on.

Fixed Support - the plate provides fixed support to constrain the movement under load.

Displacement - the sphere is provided with a displacement of 4mm in negative y direction and also the sphere is set to retract back to its original position.

Run the simulation and results obtained.

Result - The analysis runs successfully and results obtained.

Directional Deformation in the Y axis Max - 0.33204 mm and Min - -3.3983

Equivalent Stress Max - 3571 Mpa

Equivalent Elastic Strain on plate Max - 0.017859 mm/mm

Equivalent Plastic Strain on plate Max - 2.0032 mm/mm

Equivalent Elastic Strain on sphere Max - 1.2071e-5 mm/mm

Animation - Directional Deformation in Y axis

Conclusion -

• The maximum deformation on the pate for a displacement of 4 mm by the sphere is 3.3983mm.
• The maximum stress on plate occurs near the center of the plate where the deformation is the highest.
• Similarly, the elastic strain on plate also occurs near the center of the plate, same as stress.
• The maximum equivalent plastic strain on plate occurs at the edges of the plate.
• The maximum elastic strain on the sphere is where there contact is with the plate.

Google drive link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XtQ4aU_d74bsLzmHAolu_KnVhJbgXDgx/view?usp=sharing