Static Structural Analysis on the Sphere

Static Structural Analysis on the Sphere :

Aim -

• To perform static structural analysis over the flat plate using Structural Steel Material.

Objective :

• To define appropriate materials to the Sphere and Plate.
• To define contact between the Sphere and Plate.
• To perform mesh on the Sphere and Plate.
• To define Symmetry Region along the X-Axis and Y-Axis.
• To define appropriate Boundary Conditions to the Model.
• To solve and compare the results of the three cases for Total Deformation, Von-Mises Stress, and Equivalent Elastic Strain.

Procedure :

Phase 1- Material Set-Up :

• To set up the material for the Sphere and Plate Model. First, drag and drop the static structural analysis workspace into the project schematic from the analysis system. This is shown in below Figure 1.

Figure 1-Ansys Workbench Workspace.

• After deploying the static structural analysis system in the project schematic workspace.
• Define the Engineering Data and geometry, To define the Geometry and Engineering Data, Right Click on the Engineering Data and click to edit, it will take to the Engineering Tab.
• There Right Click on the Material Tab, A window will Pop-Up stating Engineering data sources.
• Click on the Engineering Data Sources, There go and select the material to define the engineering data. This is shown in below Figures 2,3,3.

Figure 2-Right Click on the Engineering Data.

Figure 3-Right Click on the Material Tab.

Figure 4-Add these Materials to Engineering Data.

• To add >> General Materials >> Structural Steel >> Click on + Button to Add.
• To add >> General Non Linear Materials >> Structural Steel Non Linear >> Click on + Button to Add.

Phase 2-Geometry Set-Up :

• Next set up the geometry. To set up the geometry, Right-Click on the Geometry option >> Import Geometry. This is shown in below Figure 5.

Figure 5-Importing Geometry.

Figure 6-Selecting the Geometry to Import.

• Next double click on the geometry to check, Whether the model imported, is Sphere and Plate Model or not. Space Claim Workspace will open. The model will be imported in the space claim, Which is shown in below Figure 7.

Figure 7-Sphere and Plate Model in the Space Claim.

Phase 3-Model Set-Up :

• Next, define the model, Double click on the model, The Mechanical Workspace will open, There go and define the material, set up the load case for the model.
• The Model loaded in the mechanical workspace is shown in below Figure 8.

Figure 8-Model Loaded in Mechanical Workspace.

3:1 Assign Material :

• Next, define the material as Structural Steel for the Sphere alone which is shown in below Figure 9.
• Similarly, define the Structural Steel Non-Linear as material for the Plate. The material properties are shown in below Figures 10 and 11.
• To assign a material,Click on the Geometry >> Select the Plate Geometry >> Parameter Window >> Assignment >>Structural Steel Non-Linear Alloy.
• Similarly, assign for the Sphere also.

Figure 9-Assign Material to the Plate.

Figure 10-Mechanical Properties of Structural Steel.

Figure 11-Mechanical Properties of Structural Steel Non-Linear.

3:2 Define Symmetry Region :

• Here the model given to us is only half, The Sphere and Plate are `1/4th`.
• So we have to define the symmetry region for the sphere and plate.
• To create a symmetry region, Click on Model >> Prepare >> Symmetry Region, Create 2 Symmetry Regions, one for Sphere and another one for Plate.

Figure 12-Create Symmetry Region.

1) Symmetric Along Z-Axis :

• Select the face of the sphere and plate to define symmetry along Z-Axis, Which is shown in below Figure 13.
• Change the Type -Symmetric.
• Symmetry Normal-Z Axis.

Figure 13-Symmetry Along Z-Axis.

2) Symmetric Along X-Axis :

• Select the face of the sphere and plate to define symmetry along X-Axis, Which is shown in below Figure 14.
• Change the Type -Symmetric.
• Symmetry Normal-X Axis.

Figure 14-Symmetry Along X-Axis.

3:3 Define Connections :

• Create a contact between the Sphere and Plate, Which is shown in below Figure 15.
• Select the Sphere face as contact bodies and Select the Plate upper face as target bodies.
• Change the Type to Frictional and give the Frictional Coefficient as 0.74.
• Keep other parameters as it is the default.

Figure 15-Contact Defined Between Sphere and Plate.

3:4 Mesh :

• After defining the connections, We have to define mesh for the Sphere and Plate Model.
• There will be a default mesh created for the Sphere and Plate model.
• But we have to insert body sizing to refine the mesh of the Plate.
• To Insert Body Sizing >> Right Click on Mesh >> Insert >> Sizing >> Select Wire and Lever Faces.Which is shown in below Figure 16.

Figure 16-Insert Body Sizing to Refine the Mesh of Plate.

1) Body Sizing for the Sphere :

• Select the Sphere Body to refine the mesh with an element size of 1 mm, Which is shown in below Figure 17.
• Sphere Component has Meshed with Tetrahedral Elements, Which is shown in below Figure 19.

Figure 17-Selected the Sphere Geometry to Mesh with Tetrahedral Elements.

2) Body Sizing for the Plate :

• Select the Plate Body to refine the mesh with an element size of 0.5 mm, Which is shown in below Figure 18.
• Plate Component has Meshed with Hexahedral Elements, Which is shown in below Figure 19.

Figure 18-Selected the Plate Geometry to Mesh with Tetrahedral Elements.

• The final Meshed Model is shown in below Figure 19.
• No of Nodes -30385
• No of Elements-11908

Figure 19-Final Meshed Model.

3:5 Analysis Settings :

• Here for the Sphere and Plate Model, We are giving 4 steps to run the simulation.
• Auto Time Stepping-Program Controlled.
• Solver Type-Direct
• Large Deflections-ON
• Keep other parameters as it is default.

Figure 20-Analysis Settings for Sphere and Plate.

3:6 Boundary Conditions :

• After giving some parameters in the analysis settings, We have to give boundary conditions.
• Here we have to create two boundary conditions, Two Fixed Supports and the other is we have to create Joint Rotation.
• To give Fixed Support, Right Click on the Static Structural >> Insert >>Fixed Support. This is shown in below Figure 21.

Figure 21-Give Fixed Support.

1) Fixed Support :

• Here we have to give fixed support to the plate, Cause we have to fix the plate.
• Select the face of the plate and fix it, Which is shown in below Figure 22.

Figure 22-Defined Fixed Support for the Plate.

2) Displacement :

• Here we have to give displacement to the sphere along the Negative Y direction from 0 to -4 mm, We are giving a negative value, cause the sphere will be moving in the negative Y direction.
• Select the top face of the sphere and give the displacement, Which is shown in below Figure 23.

Figure 23-Defined Displacement to the Sphere.

Figure 24-Values given in the Tabular Data.

Phase 4-Request for the Outputs :

• Here we have to request outputs for the VonMisses Stress, Strain, and for Total Deformation.
• To request Output for Stress,Right Click on the Solution >> Insert >> Stress >> Equivalent Von Misses Stress.
• To request Output for Strain,Right Click on the Solution >> Insert >> Strain >> Equivalent Von Misses Strain.
• To request Output for Total Deformation,Right Click on the Solution >> Insert >> Deformation >> Total Deformation.
• This is shown in below Figure 25.

Figure 25-Requesting Outputs for the Stress, Strain, and Deformation.

• Next request output for the contact.
• To request Contact Tool >> Right Click on the Solution >> Insert >> Contact Tool >> Pressure >> Status,Which is shown in below Figures 26 and 27.

Figure 26-Requesting Output for Contact.

Figure 27-Requesting Outputs for Contact Tool.

• Similarly request the output for the Force Reaction.
• The Output requested for the Wire Bending Model is shown in below Figure 27.
• After requesting all the outputs, Run the Simulation.

Figure 27-Required Outputs Requested.

• To run the simulation, Right Click on the Solution >> Solve. This is shown in below Figure 28.

Figure 28-Solve all the Outputs Requested.

• After solving the outputs requested, the simulation results for all three cases are shown below Figures.

Equivalent Von Misses Stress :

Figure 29-Equivalent Von Misses Stress of Plate.

Figure 30-Equivalent Von Misses Stress of Plate Simulation Animation.

Equivalent Elastic Strain :

Figure 31-Equivalent Elastic Strain.

Figure 32-Equivalent Elastic Strain Simulation Animation.

Equivalent Elastic Strain of Sphere :

Figure 33-Equivalent Elastic Strain of Sphere.

Figure 34-Equivalent Elastic Strain of Sphere Simulation Animation.

Directional Deformation :

Figure 35-Directional Deformation.

Figure 36-Directional Deformation Simulation Animation.

Equivalent Plastic Strain of Plate :

Figure 37-Equivalent Plastic Strain of Plate.

Figure 38-Equivalent Plastic Strain of Plate Simulation Animation.

• Here I have designed the full sphere and plate in the CATIA V5 and done analysis on that, Which is shown in below Figure 39.

Figure 39-Full Sphere and Plate Design in Catia V5.

Figure 40-Full Sphere Simulation Animation.

Results :

Cases	Equivalent Von-Misses Stress of Plate (MPa)		Directional Deformation (mm)		Equivalent Elastic Strain (mm/mm)		Equivalent Elastic Strain of Plate (mm/mm)		Equivalent Plastic Strain of Plate (mm/mm)
	Max.	Min.	Max.	Min.	Max.	Min.	Max.	Min.	Max.	Min.
Case-1	3635.9 MPa	22.45 MPa	0.33204 mm	-3.4021 mm	1.8182e-002 mm/mm	3.9209e-008 mm/mm	1.0101e-006 mm/mm	3.9209e-008 mm/mm	2.0288 mm/mm	0. mm/mm

Table-1

• Here the material should return to its original shape after when we remove the load from the component. But here it's not returning to its original shape, So here the material is getting plastic deformation. Its permanent plastic deformation.Which is shown in above Figures 37 and 38.

Learning Outcome and Conclusion :

In this Week 4 Sphere Pressing on a Plate Challenge, I came to know about

• Learned how to give Fixed Support to the model.
• Learned to define displacement to the model.
• Learned how to assign materials to the model.
• Learned how to apply boundary conditions to the model.
• Learned how to request outputs and solve them.
• Learned about the Force Convergence.