Finite Element Modeling and Analysis
Summer 2005
Project 2
Due: Tuesday 6/14/05
This project is worth 20% of your final project grade (or 8% of your overall grade)
You are to analyze the below support bracket. You will determine the stresses using both a free mesh and a mapped mesh. You are to perform a convergence check for both meshes. The bracket is made of A36 Structural Steel. The back flat surface (50x200 mm) of the bracket is fully fixed to a wall. A bearing load is applied to the bottom halves of the circular surfaces with a sinusoidal distribution. The load is largest at the center and is reduced outward according to the sine function. In addition to the applied load the support bracket is subject to gravitational forces. What is the maximum load that the bracket can support without yielding? Use symmetry conditions in your model where appropriate.
In your report, in addition to the above, make sure to include the following:
· Snapshots of the model where appropriate.
· Description of any simplifications you made to the geometry.
· Discussion of your meshes.
§ Element type, order, density (element size, number of elements, number of nodes). Include a file in the appendix with the number of nodes etc used. The report itself should list these numbers also and not only refer back to the file in the appendix.
§ Convergence of each mesh. Create a plot showing the convergence curve.
§ Material properties. Specify reference?
· Discussion of loads and boundary conditions.
§ How were symmetry conditions applied? Be specific. Define what DOF were removed on what surfaces and explain why.
§ What restraints did you apply and where? How do your restraint(s) model the physics of the problem? What DOF were constrained? Does that agree with the stiffness of the element type used?
§ How was the gravitational load applied? Specify magnitude and direction.
§ How and where was the bearing load applied? Show a scaled image of the load distribution. What is the total force applied to the curved surface? How did you determine the maximum bearing load?
§ How were the gravitational and bearing loads combined? Explain how you “created” new results in the post processor.
· Results.
§ Indicate location and value of peak von Mises stress. Include a picture.
§ Indicate location and magnitude of the largest deflection. Include a picture.
§ What is the maximum load that can be applied to the bracket?
· Verification.
§ Verify static equilibrium. Draw a FBD of the support bracket with the reaction forces from the I-deas report file. Sum forces and make sure the bracket is in static equilibrium.
§ Hand calculations of the stresses.
· References.
· Appendix.
§ Include the data file that specifies the number of nodes, elements, and more.
§ Include the reaction report file. Only list lines of importance. Make sure you indicate what is of importance in this file.
§ Hand calculations.
§ Other files and/or images.
Geometry details of the support bracket.