Static Structural Simulation of Bending of iPhone (ANSYS WORKBENCH)
Aim :
Simulate the bending of Iphone as per the given cases :
- CASE 1 : Simulate the model with the given conditions
- CASE 2 : Move the bottom fingers from their defined position to the given position X= 22.5mm & Z= 10mm and obtain the results for the simulation. Also define the S-N curve for the Aluminium Alloy material as per values given below and determine the fatigue life results for the same.
Stress, MPa Number of Cycles, N 225 10000 175 100000 143 1000000 110 10000000 80 100000000
Procedure :
- The iphone model is imported into the Ansys Workbench, the upper fingers and pushing fingers are assigned with Strutural Steel material as their behaviour is set to be rigid. The display of the iPhone is assigned with Glass material. The frame of the iPhone is assigned with Aluminium alloy NL material. The inner body of the iPhone is assigned with Polyethylene material.

- Frictionless contact type is created for each and every contacts between fingers and frame of iPhone. Bonded contact type is created between display and the frame. Translational joint was given to the bottom Fingers as it pushes the iPhone.


- Face sizing of 4mm is used for the analysis. The adaptive mesh size is turned off.

- For the Analysis Setting the simulation is set to run for 8 steps. Large deformation is turned on and the solver type is set to Direct. The stabilization limit is set to constant with an energy dissipation ratio of 0.2.
- Fixed Support was given to the Fingers and Displacement was given to the bottom Fingers along the Y-Direction.


- For CASE 2, we have to change the position of Bottom Fingers from the geometry to given location and do the simulation with rest of steps same as that of CASE 1

Result :
CASE 1 :
| Equivalent Stress | ![]() |
| Directional Deformation | ![]() |
| Life | ![]() |
| Safety Factor | ![]() |
CASE 2 :
| Equivalent Stress | ![]() |
| Directional Deformation | ![]() |
| Life | ![]() |
| Safety Factor | ![]() |
| Equivalent Stress (MPa) | Directional Deformation(mm) | Life | Min. Safety Factor | |
| CASE 1 | 396.34 | 7.9622 | 1E8 | 0.2289 |
| CASE 2 | 377.51 | 0.16953 | 1E8 | 0.2599 |
Conslusion :
Stress at the First case is more than that of Second case because load appiled at the edge near the button gaps of the frame which is the weak point caused it to bend more which leads to the higher Directional Deformation.







