|  | Carnegie 
      Mellon University Mechanical Engineering | 

 
 
  
  
  Problem 
  Description
  
  # Material : The plate is made of steel with Modulus of elasticity E = 200 GPa, 
  and Poisson's ratio = 0.25
  # Unit : SI Units ONLY. It is important to convert pressure to "Pa" 
  and all dimensions to "meters". 
  # Boundary Conditions : We will use symmetry conditions to solve this problem, 
  by considering only the top right quarter of the plate. Therefore, the boundary 
  conditions for the plate are symmetry conditions on the left and bottom parts 
  of the plate.
  # Loading : Uniform tensile Load with magnitude 1 MPa acting on both left and 
  right sides of the plate (Since we're using symmetry, we will apply pressure 
  to only the right side of the top right quarter of the plate) Because we are 
  performing a linear analysis, a uniform load/area of 1 MPa is appropriate. Stresses, 
  strains and displacements for any other magnitude of loading can be determined 
  by simply re-scaling the results from this model.(eg. To obtain results for 
  a 100MPa load, simply multiply results from this model by 100)
  # Objectives : 
   
 1. To use symmetry conditions to determine 
  magnitudes of maximum stress, minimum stress and their locations on the plate 
  after the load is applied.
# Things to hand in :
  2. To model the plate using a default mesh (coarse mesh) and using mesh size 
  control to increase element resolution (fine mesh). You will then determine 
  how element resolution affects the maximum and minimum stresses.
 
 1. 
  Contour plot
# Figure and Dimensions:
  2. Query of maximum stress
  3. Query of minimum stress
  4. Plot of stress xx and stress yy VS y along y=0
  
 
 
   
  
  
   1. 
  Specify Geometry
   
  There are several ways to create the model geometry in ANSYS. For this problem, 
  we will use two ways to create the specified object. The first method is to 
  define keypoints then create area rectangles through these keypoints. The second 
  method is to define key points and create lines. After we have the boarder of 
  the object, we will then create an area. 
  
  However, in order to see their numbers when creating keypoints, we will need 
  to turn on the keypoint numbers.
  
  ANSYS UTILITY MENU -> PlotCtrls -> Numbering...

  
  check the box next to "Keypoint numbers" to turn it on. 
  Then click OK to close the dialog box.
  
  First Method
  
  Second Method
The First Method: Merging Areas
  1.1 CREATE KEYPOINTS 
  
  In this step, we will create 6 keypoints needed to create the plate areas.
  
  PREPROCESSOR -> -Modeling - Create
  
        CREATE -> -Keypoints
  
              KEYPOINTS 
  -> In Active CS...
  
  
  
  The input box "Create Keypoints in Active Coordinate System" should 
  appear on the screen as shown in figure below. 
  
   
 
  
  Then create 6 keypoints at 6 different locations by enter the Keypoint numbers 
  and locations as following:
  
  Keypoint number 1 : (0, 0, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 2 : (0.0125, 0, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 3 : (0.025, 0, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 4 : (0.025, 0.0125, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 5 : (0.0125, 0.0125, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 6 : (0, 0.0125, 0) -> Click OK
  
  Note: Don't worry if you enter wrong numbers. You can always reassign the coordinate 
  by overwriting the old values for X, Y and Z on any keypoints with the new values. 
  ANSYS will take the latest values you input.
  
  You should now see 6 keypoints on the ANSYS Graphics window as shown in the 
  figure below.
  
   
 
  
  
  
  1.2 CREATE AREA THROUGH KEYPOINTS
  
  The next step, we will create three areas through the keypoints we have created. 
  These three areas are arranged to allow improvements in element resolution which 
  will also improve the accuracy of the analysis.
  
  PREPROCESSOR -> -Modeling - Create
  
        CREATE -> -Area -Arbitrary
  
              ARBITRARY 
  -> Through KPs
  
  
  
  The Create Area Thru KPs window pops up. Pick Keypoints to create areas 
  as followings:
  
  1. Pick Keypoint numbers 1, 5, 6 (Pick in that order).
  
  
  
Then click 
  OK.
  
  2. Pick Keypoint numbers 1, 5, 2.
  
  
  
  Click OK.
  
  3. Pick Keypoint numbers 2, 3, 4, 5. 
  
  
  Click OK.
  
  Then you would have the connected area of a rectangle with three different areas 
  in it.
  
  
  1.3 CREATE CIRCULAR AREA (HOLE)
  
  PREPROCESSOR -> -Modeling - Create
  
        CREATE -> -Area -Circle
  
              CIRCLE 
  -> Partial Annulus

  
  The PartAnnular Circ Area window should now appear on the screen. Fill in the 
  fields as shown in the figure. 
|  | ||
| Note : | ||
| WP X | = Circle center X-Coordinate | |
| WP Y | = Circle center Y-Coordinate | |
| Rad-1 | = Inner radii of the circle or cylinder. A value of zero or blank, or the same value for both Rad-1 and Rad-2, defines a solid circle or cylinder. | |
| Theta-1 | = Starting angles of the circle or faces of the cylinder. | |
| Rad-2 | = Outer radii of the circle or cylinder. | |
| Theta-2 | = Ending angles of the circle or faces of the cylinder. | |
Click OK.
  There should 
  be a circular area appears on your plate as shown :
  
  
  
  
  
  1.4 SUBTRACT THE HOLE FROM PLATE
  
  PREPROCESSOR -> -Modeling - Operate
  
        OPERATE -> -Booleans -Subtract
  
              SUBTRACT 
  -> Areas

Pick the base areas from which you want to subtract first (The two triangular areas)
First, click 
  on one triangle. Do not click OK yet.
  
   
 
Then click on another triangle.

Now click 
  OK. ANSYS will know that the two area is the base area where 
  the next input area will be subtracted from.
  
   Now 
  pick the area to be subtracted (Circular area)
  
   
 
   Click OK.
  
  You should now have a plate with a hole as shown : 
  
   
 
  
  
  1.5 MERGE GEOMETRY
  
  To connect all parts together, we will have to merge the keypoints.
  
  PREPROCESSOR -> Numbering Controls 
  
        NUMBERING CONTROLS -> Merge Items...

  
  Choose Keypoints in the label pick list. Then click OK to merge keypoints and 
  close the dialog box.

   
Second Method: Creating Area through Key Points
1.1 Create Key Points
PREPROCESSOR 
  -> -Modeling - Create
  
        CREATE -> -Keypoints
  
              KEYPOINTS 
  -> In Active CS...
  
  
Then, pick the following 8 points:
Keypoint number 1 
  : (0, 0, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 2 : (0.0025,0,0) ->Clicl Apply
  Keypoint number 3(0.0125, 0, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 4 : (0.025, 0, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 5 : (0.025, 0.0125, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 6 : (0.0125, 0.0125, 0) -> Click Apply
  Keypoint number 7 : (0, 0.0125, 0) -> Click Apply 
  Keypoint number 8 : (0, 0.0025, 0) -> Click OK
  
Then, you will see the figure below which indicates every kep points created with its label.

1.2 Create Lines--Straight Lines and Arc.
Here, we have to create straight lines as well as an arc so that we get the same area as from the previous method.
PREPROCESSOR -> Modeling
MODELING -> Lines
LINES -> Straight Lines

Then, select every line that composes the circumference of the specified object.

And so on,

Now, we will have to create an arc.
PREPROCESSOR -> Modeling
MODELING -> Arcs
ARCS -> By End KPs & Radius

The window will prompt you to pick points which are the end points of your arc. So pick point 2 and 8.

Then click OK. You will see the same window again. Now, you have to enter any point which is inside the circle. In this case, you just pick point 1.

You will then see the following window.
Enter 0.0025 for radius.

Click OK. Then you will get the connected lines needed to define an area.

We will move on to creating an area through lines.
1.3 Create Area
PREPROCESSOR -> Modeling
MODELING -> Areas
AREAS -> Arbitrary
ARBITRARY -> By Lines

Pick all lines by clicking on each of them. Remember that you can unpick the line. But we will not need to do that since we have to select every line. After you selected a line, that line will be highlighted.

Click OK. Then, you will see the figure below.

Now, we have defined an area that has the same shape as from the first method. However, when you mesh the area using Free command, the result will be different because ANSYS freely meshed the area which we have defined as the connected piece. If we look at the area created by the fisrt method, we will see that there were separated areas which will help the software determines the boundary where the meshes start and end. After you mesh the area created by the second method, you should get the following result.
