From the drop down menu

PREPROCESSOR -> Element Type

      ELEMENT TYPE -> Add/Edit/Delete...

            ELEMENT TYPES -> Add



Then, you will see the window, LIBRARY OF ELEMENT TYPES, choose structural Solid Quad 4node 42 and type 1 for Element type reference number. Then click OK.

Now, we have specified the structural element type.

PLANE42 is now defined and assigned to reference 1. Your Element Types window should look like the figure below.

Note: PLANE42 is used for 2-D modeling of solid structures. The element can be used either as a plane element (plane stress or plane strain) or as an axisymmetric element. The element is defined by four nodes having two degrees of freedom at each node: translations in the nodal x and y directions. For more details about this or other Element types, see ANSYS help


Alternative commands for executing the above precedure are:

ANSYS INPUT -> /prep7<CR>

ANSYS INPUT -> et,1,42 <CR>

The next step is to specify the material properties of the plate. There are 2 ways of doing this.


Method 1

PREPROCESSOR -> Material Props

      MATERIAL PROPS -> Material Models

Then, the window "Define Material Model Behavior" will appear. You should double click on each of the following:

Structural -> Linear -> Elastic -> Isotropic

After you double click on Isotropic, you will see this window.

Then enter the value for Young Modulus and Poisson Ratio given in this problem. Click OK

Note: In the cases where multiple materials are used, you can specify the properties and assign them to other material numbers (2, 3, 4, etc.)


Method 2

PREPROCESSOR -> Material Props

You should then see the following window, prompting for the units used in this analysis. Click on BIN and OK.

Following is the directory where the material property files for different types of materials are.

Then, the following window should appear.