Cantilever Beam with Solid Elements

Modified on Thu, 14 Dec, 2023 at 9:22 AM

What is in this Article?

Terminologies

Collection	The folder containing data of an asset/model on Akselos Cloud or users’ computer
Components	Components created by the componentization process to use with Akselos Integra
Port	A mesh node or surface is used to connect two components together
Nodeset	A mesh node assigned with a certain ID number
Model ribbon	An Akselos Modeler ribbon containing tools for model assembling and management
Ribbons	The top-sided toolbars of Akselos Modeler
Property Tree	A panel at the left bottom of Akselos Modeler, where shows properties of user selection

1. Introduction

Solid elements are used in simulation to represent three-dimensional objects. The choice of solid element depends on the specific application. In general, it is a good idea to use the simplest element that is accurate enough for the task at hand. More complex elements can always be used if necessary, but they will require more computational resources.

Here are some of the benefits of using solid elements in simulation:

Accuracy: Solid elements can provide a very accurate representation of three-dimensional objects.
Versatility: Solid elements can be used to simulate a wide variety of objects and phenomena.
Efficiency: Solid elements can be used to solve complex problems with a relatively small number of elements.

Here are some of the challenges of using solid elements in simulation:

Meshing: Meshing a complex object can be a time-consuming and difficult task.
Computational resources: The solid element simulations can require a significant amount of computational resources.
Interpretation of results: Interpreting the results of a solid element simulation can be complex.

Overall, solid elements are a powerful one for simulating three-dimensional objects. They are accurate, versatile and efficient, but they can also be challenging to use.

In this tutorial, we will again simulate the cantilever beam model similar to Article - Cantilever Beam with 1D Beam Elements but with shell elements. This tutorial will guide you on how to create a cantilever beam model using beam shell components in your collection. Therefore, it is recommended that you practice the 1D Cantilever Beam Article to get familiar with the simulation process (especially applying loads and boundary conditions) before doing this tutorial.

Figure 1.1. 2D cantilever beam problem workflow

Journey 1: We have prepared the Steel-Beams collection as a sample collection which has the RB-FEA components and a complete model. In our sample collection, you are only granted it with the Read access permission, which means you just can import them to your local machine and cannot submit any changes that affect the data on the Akselos Dashboard (Read Article - Who can access your Organization data? - to know more about access types). However, you can submit the solving request for our complete model to the Cloud. The components in this collection are already trained, hence you can solve them with either RB-FEA or FEA Solver Strategy. Once you have solved the problem and received the solution, you can check the solution configurations and compare them to the theoretical results.

Journey 2: In this journey, users will be guided to solve the beam problem with the solid element from scratch. Require that users have an organization to be able to create a collection and train the RB-FEA components.

We will go through this article as Journey 2 with the sample collection - Steel-Beams.

2. Problem Description

In this tutorial, we use the solid beam elements to simulate a cantilever beam model which is clamped on 1 side and free on the other side, under a uniformly distributed load W=1000 N/m. Loads are applied on the external surface of the beam flange. The model schematic and beam cross-section are shown in the figure below.

Figure 2.1. Cantilever beam with a uniformly distributed load

The beam geometry and beam properties used in this example model are as follows:

Total length (L) is 2 (m)
Beam cross-section (mm): B = 37.5, b = 4.525, H = 65, h = 4.525
Young's modulus (E) of material is 200e9 (Pa) Poisson (ν ) is 0.3
Mass density: 7850 kg/m³

Figure 2.2. The beam Cross-section

3. Before We Start

Akselos Modeler - Our simulation is required to build and run solving for this problem.

To follow the instructions below, please notice the point below:

Journey 1: A sample collection has been prepared for you to use as a reference. Find the Steel-Beams collection here on Akselos Dashboard and import it to your local machine. In this journey, users just need to import this collection and move to Step 9 in the Implementation section.
Journey 2:
- A new collection in your Organization is required to store the model and train the RB-FEA components on Akselos Dashboard (https://dashboard.akselos.com). Read more Start building your asset with a new collection to know how to create the collection.
- The mesh file has been prepared. It is used to import to Akselos Modeler to build the model. Find and download to your local computer - solid_beam_0.5m here on Akselos Dashboard.

Note:
▶ If you have not installed Akselos Modeler yet, please see Akselos Modeler 2023 - Installing, Updating and Managing the Akselos Simulation Software to download and install the software.
▶ If you have trouble accessing to any of those pre-requisites. Please contact us at: support.akselos.com

As a reference, follow the steps below to create and import the Steel-Beams collection into Akselos Modeler:

Create Collection:

In your Organization on Akselos Dashboard, click on New Collection → Enter the name of the collection and select elasticity physics type → Click on the Create button.

Figure 3.1. Creating collection on Akselos Dashboard

Import Collection:

In Akselos Modeler, click on the Cloud tab on Ribbons → Authentication → Enter your username and (password or token) → Click on the Check button and wait for Authentication status to turn green and show Authentication successful.

Figure 3.2. Checking authentication

On the Collections tab, click on Import Collection… → On the Import Collection window, find and select Steel-Beams collection → Double-click on it or click on the Import button to pull the collection into your computer. You will receive a success message when the collection is successfully imported.

Figure 3.3. Importing ShellTutorial collection into the local machine

On the File tab, click on New Model → From Current Collection. The collection is ready to use after this step.

Figure 3.4. Opening the ShellTutorial collection

4. Implementation

In the Implementation section, we will show you a step-by-step in detail guide on how to analyze the beam problem with the solid elements in Akselos Modeler (Follow Journey 2).

Figure 4.1. 2D cantilever beam problem workflow (Journey 2)

STEP 1: Import Mesh Files

Figure 4.2. Create Model - Import Mesh files

Follow the steps below to import the component from the mesh file into Akselos Modeler:

Click on the Collections ribbon → Create → Component Type.

Figure 4.3. Opening Component Type

In the tool window, click on the Add Meshes button → Find the solid_beam_0.5m.inp file that you have downloaded from Akselos Dashboard → Click on the Create button (You will receive a success message when the mesh file is successfully imported) → Click on the Close button to exit the tool window.

Figure 4.4. Adding mesh file and creating component

Change to the Collection ribbon to check that the mesh file has been imported as a component.

Figure 4.5. Checking component

The recently imported component is the data of collection, now we have to import this component to the environment working space

Change to the Model ribbon → Click on the Add button → Component(s) → In the tool window, select the solid_beam_0.5m component → Click on the Add button. Once added successfully, the component will be shown on the Graphic Window with the random position.

Figure 4.6. Adding the T-beam-0.75 component to the Graphic Window

Figure 4.7. T-beam-0.75 component on the Graphic Window after adding successfully

After the new component appears on the Graphic Window. You also can click on the Compute Model Information button on the Right Panel to see the information of this component as shown below.

Figure 4.8. Component Information

STEP 2: Assemble Model

Figure 4.9. Create Model - Assemble Model

Follow the steps below to import the component from the mesh file into Akselos Modeler:

Before assembling, we should reset the component to its original position. To do that: Select the component on the Graphic Window → Right-click on the Graphic Window → Reset to original position.

Figure 4.10. Resetting the component to the original position

In this tutorial, the length of the beam is 4 (m) but the length of the component is 0.5 (m), so we need four same beams. You can add the same component as many times as you want or directly copy it on the Graphic Window by pressing Ctrl + clicking and dragging the component you want to make a copy with the left mouse button. Do it to have four beams.

Figure 4.11. Copy component

Figure 4.12. Four beams after copying

Each component can have four different selection modes which you can access from the Graphic Window. In this tutorial, choosing the Boundary Sets selection mode will be helpful because it will show you which surfaces you can apply a load on.

Once you choose the Boundary Sets selection mode, you will notice that the component will have the following:

Blue surfaces: the ports of components where they connect together or are constrained.
Dark gray surfaces: the surfaces of a component on which a load can be applied.

Figure 4.13. Choosing the Boundary Sets selection mode

You can connect components that share the matching port types. When you move a component around by the Move tool (select the component and drag with the left mouse button), you will see colored spheres on the ports of components. If you line up spheres of the same color and release the mouse, then components will be connected. Once components are connected, you will see a red sphere at the connected ports.

Figure 4.14. Using the Move tool to connect beams

The next step in this tutorial is to connect four beams together to make a longer beam.

Figure 4.15. The longer beam after assembling four beams together

STEP 3: Constrain Model

Figure 4.16. Model Set-Up - Constrain Model

After assembling the model, we can start applying boundary conditions at one end of the model.

A related article that is useful for you to know and implement in this section: Boundary Conditions.

To constrain one beam end, follow the steps below:

Click on a port on the Graphic Window → In the Property Tree, select (t1, t2, n) or (x, y, z) option in Constraint Type. After constraining the port, the black point will appear at the port on the Graphic Window to represent the constraint.
- n represents the normal direction of the port.
- t1 and t2 represent two tangential directions of the port.
- x, y, and z represent the displacements in the direction of the port.

Figure 4.17. Constraining a port of one beam end

STEP 4: Apply Loads

Figure 4.18. Model Set-Up - Apply Loads

Before applying the normal load on the top surface of the beam, we need to store the boundary set. Follow the steps below to do it:

On the Left Panel, right-click on Stored Selections → Create Boundary Sets Selection.

Figure 4.19. Creating Boundary Sets Selection

Click on Boundary Sets Selection 1 → select four surfaces on the Graphic Window. Which surfaces are selected will be highlighted as shown below. If you want to deselect any surface, just click on it once more with the left mouse button.

Figure 4.20. Selecting surfaces for Boundary Sets Selection

Once we have the stored selection to apply the normal load on, we will create the normal load following the steps below:

On the Left Panel, right-click on Load Cases → Create Load Case.

Figure 4.21. Creating Load Case

Right-click on Load Case 1 → Create Load.

Figure 4.22. Creating Load

Click on Load 1 → Set up the load as shown below.
- Stored Selection: Boundary Sets Selection 1
- Load Type: Normal Load
- Value: -26666.66 Pa (calculated based on the total force and contact area of the beam)

Figure 4.23. Setting up load case

After applying the load, it will be displayed the highlight surfaces and load widgets on the Graphic Window by clicking on Load 1.

Figure 4.24. Displaying load on the Graphic Window

STEP 5: Select Solver Options

Figure 4.25. Model Set-Up - Select Solver Options

To be able to proceed to solve the model, we have to set solver options on the Property Tree. With all above settings, we can solve the model with a few steps but according to the FEA method. However, the solving process may take a lot of time with this traditional method. Therefore, we will simulate the model with the RB-FEA strategy.

Choose RB-FEA for the Solver Strategy and Static Structural for the Solver Type.

Figure 4.26. Setting Solver Option

STEP 6: Create Scenarios

Figure 4.27. Model Set-Up - Create Scenarios

Set Scenario: Under Scenario on the left panel, there is Default Scenario and we use it. Click on Default Scenario → See the Property Tree and set the coefficient of Load Case 1 to 1.0.

Figure 4.28. Setting Scenario

Set Solve List: Since there is only one scenario, select the default in Solve List to check that the default scenario is turned on.

Figure 4.29. Setting Solve list

STEP 7: Save & Sync

Figure 4.30. Training - Save & Sync

Before training the RB-FEA components, we have to save the aks file to save all settings of the model and sync this collection to Akselos Dashboard.

Save aks File:
- Click on the File tab → Save.

Figure 4.31. Saving aks file

The Select destination to save the file window appears, enter the name into the File name box then click the Save button. You will receive a success message when the file is successfully saved.

Figure 4.32. Naming and saving aks file

Sync Collection:
- Click on the Collections tab → Sync with Dashboard.

Figure 4.33. Syncing collection

Click the Commit button when this window appears.

Figure 4.34. Committing for synchronization

STEP 8: Training Methodology

Figure 4.35. Training - Training Methodology

Component Training (or Component Pre-computing/Component Pre-analysis) is a crucial step of Akselos’ workflow. It uses Akselos smart algorithm to generate training datasets that cover many possibilities of models based on their parameters' settings. The training dataset, which is the output of this training process, is used to perform RB-FEA analysis.

Open Dashboard: Akselos Dashboard supports users to perform the Component Training process which is required before doing any RB-FEA solves.

Click on the Collections tab → Open Dashboard in Browser.

Figure 4.36. Opening Akselos Dashboard from Akselos Modeler

Enter your username and password to log in.

Figure 4.37. Logging in to Akselos Dashboard

Training (Pre-computing): Read Exploring Component Pre-computing setting options to know more about the options in this section.

Click on the Training button on the left panel to open the Training tab.

Figure 4.38. Opening the Training tab

Expand Advanced training options (elasticity) → Select these options as in the figure below → Tick on the model (Steel-beam-0.5.aks) → Click on the Train 1 Selected Model(s) button.

Figure 4.39. Setting for training

In Advanced training options (elasticity), we choose:

Enrichment - Global Model: Because this model is small (less than 5 million FEA degrees of freedom).
Physics Type - Elasticity: Because the model is solved with a Static Structure solver type.
Create visualization datasets: turning on this option will create datasets that can make visualization run faster by storing extra visualization data on disk.
Number of cores per "Train component" job - 1: Because this model is small. 1 core is recommended.
Train the components from the given aks file(s) only: If you have more components in your collection, turn on this option to only train the component(s) which is included in your aks file(s).
Leave the default for other options.

After submitting the training request, open the Job tab to check the job. Once the status is Success, users can move to the next step to solve the model.

Figure 4.40. Tracking the training job

STEP 9: Solve

Figure 4.41. Solve - Submit Solve

Run Solving: Change to the Solutions ribbon → Click on the Solve button. The solving request will be submitted to Akselos Cloud. You will see the status of this request on the Solution tree. You can see the results once the solving is done, which is usually within seconds with Akselos solver.

Figure 4.42. Solving model

Users also can track the job on Dashboard. Once the status is Success, the visualization datasets will be downloaded to Akselos Modeler, it takes a few seconds according to the model size.

Figure 4.43. Tracking the solving job

5. Results Verification

Figure 5.1. Validate - Solution Examination

The solution will be performed after downloading.

Figure 5.2. RB-FEA Solution of the model

On the Graphic Window, change the Solution Field to view the result that you want. In the figure below you can see the solution in the z-displacement. Max displacement z is 0.01945 (m).

Figure 5.3. Displacement in z-direction

The displacement of the model can be scaled up by using the Displacement Scale function on the Graphic Window below Solution Field. Setting the Displacement Scale to 1 shows the true deformation of the model and you can scale it up or down by choosing greater or smaller values. Check on the Show Original Model checkbox in Configure view settings in order to show the undeformed structure for the sake of comparison.

To illustrate the effect of changing the Displacement Scale factor, you can see below two examples of the same model/solution with different values of the Displacement Scale:

Figure 5.4. Model displacement with Displacement Scale = 10

Figure 5.5. Model displacement with Displacement Scale = 1 (true displacement)

Theoretical Results Comparison:

Figure 5.6. Validate - Theoretical Results Comparison

A cantilever beam is a simple structure, which can be accurately modeled based on beam theory. We now present some results for the cantilever beam considered here based on beam theory to show that the beam theory results match the RB solver results in this case.

The maximum deflection of the beam is given by the formula:

Where I is the moment of inertia. For the beam cross-section considered here, I = 514247 mm⁴.

Also, we are considering a steel beam, and hence we have Young’s modulus E = 200 GPa.

Based on these values, we obtain:

This matches the RB results very well. Note that there is a roughly 2% discrepancy between Akselos’ solution and the analytical solution, which is to be expected since the beam theoretical model is based on certain assumptions (e.g., that the cross-sections must remain orthogonal to the neutral axis) which are not satisfied exactly by the more realistic fully-3D model provided by the Akselos simulation.