Types of Idealizations

Idealizations
Selecting the model type

Cylindrical Shaped Part

Interior
Pressure Load

3D model can be
used to model the
entire part.
A full 3D model
provides a good
check for all of the
idealized models run
previously.

Axisymmetric

3D Solid
Plane Stress
Plane Strain
3D Shell
Beam
Cyclic Symmetry

Cyclic Symmetry

We can eliminate
either the upper or
lower holed for
cyclic symmetry

3D Shell Model
Interior
Pressure Load

2D
Axisymmetric
model

All holes
and ribs
removed

All holes
removed

Plane Strain

Start With Simple Analysis

Interior
Pressure Load

3D Shell
Simple
geometry
early in the
design

All holes
and ribs
removed

Plane Strain

Next New Add Features

Add More Features

Fix problems if any are
found
Add some features
Do a 3D analysis
Fix problems if any are
found
Add more features
Compare results with last
step
Reduce the problem size
with symmetry

Axisymmetric

Eliminate Reentrant Corners

Start With 3D Shell Model

Load

Load

Add fillets to
eliminate
reentrant
corners

Cannot Use
Load

Axisymmetric
Plane Strain
Cyclic Symmetry
Plane Stress

Tubular Construction

Model as 3D Solid
Load

Plane Stress / 3D Solid Idealization

Beams
3D Shells
3D Solid

Loads in Plane

3D Shell / 3D Solid Idealization

3D Solid Only
Solid Too Thick

Loads out of Plane

Use of Symmetry

Symmetry
Use of symmetry to reduce the
size of the model and to constrain
it against translation

Full featured part

De-featured part
Part size reduced with symmetrical
boundary conditions
Part size reduced with asymmetrical
boundary conditions
Part size reduced with both symmetrical
and asymmetrical boundary conditions

Part to Analyze
Back Fixed in
X, Y, and Z

Analysis Results
Number of elements

370

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

26.38

Maximum Displacement 3.44x10-5

X

Von Mises Stress

14,500

4000 lbs

Full Part

Part De-featured
Back Fixed in
X, Y, and Z

4000 lbs

Analysis Results
Number of elements

94

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

3.39

De-featured Full Part

Maximum Displacement 3.33x10-5

Von Mises Stress

13,300

Symmetrical Half Part

Symmetrical Boundary Conditions

XY Plane

YZ Plane

XZ Plane

Trans X

Free

Fixed

Free

Trans Y

Free

Free

Fixed

Trans Z

Fixed

Free

Free

Rotate X

Fixed

Free

Fixed

Rotate Y

Fixed

Fixed

Free

Rotate Z

Free

Fixed

Fixed

Back Fixed in
X, Y, and Z
Y

2000 lbs
Fixed in Z

Analysis Results
Number of elements

86

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

6.16

Half Symmetrical Part

Maximum Displacement 3.34x10-5

Von Mises Stress

14,200

Asymmetrical Part

Asymmetrical Boundary Conditions

XY Plane

YZ Plane

XZ Plane

Trans X

Fixed

Free

Fixed

Trans Y

Fixed

Fixed

Free

Trans Z

Free

Fixed

Fixed

Rotate X

Free

Fixed

Free

Rotate Y

Free

Free

Fixed

Rotate Z

Fixed

Free

Free

Back Fixed in
X, Y, and Z

2000 lbs

Analysis Results
Number of elements

56

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

4.36

Bottom fixed in
X and Z

Asymmetrical Boundary Condition

Maximum Displacement 3.32x10-5

Von Mises Stress

13,300

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical

boundary conditions
Back Fixed in
X, Y, and Z

Analysis Results
Number of elements

33

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

4.69

Z
X

Maximum Displacement 3.34x10-5

Side fixed
in Z

1000 lbs

Von Mises Stress

13,400

Bottom fixed in
X and Z

Bracket Results

Symmetrical and Asymmetrical BC

Element

Passes

CPU

Disp

VM Stress

Full

370

26.38

3.44x10-5

14,500

Defea

94

3,39

3.33x10-5

13,300

Sym

86

6.16

3.34x10-5

14,200

Asym

56

4.36

3.32x10-5

13,300

AsymSym

33

4.69

3.34x10-5

13,400

Constraining Translation
Fully constrained face
Partially restrained face with a constrained
point
Symmetrical boundary condition with small
constrained region
Symmetry used to constrain translation

Chain Link
5000 lbs

5000 lbs

De-featured Part

Half Symmetry
Fix in X, Y,
and Z

5000 lbs

Analysis Results
Number of elements

35

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

1.77

Half Part Fixed Symmetry

Maximum Displacement 3.33x10-6

Von Mises Stress

32,700

Fixed Point

Analysis Results

Fix in X and Y

Number of elements

51

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

1.72

Maximum Displacement 3.34x10-6

Point
Fixed in
Z

Von Mises Stress

30,000

5000 lbs

Half Part Fixed Point

Fixed Region Boundary Condition

Fixed in X
Fixed in X,
Y, and Z
Z

Y
X

5000 lbs

Analysis Results
Number of elements

51

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

1.62

Fixed Region

Maximum Displacement 3.34x10-6

Von Mises Stress

30,000

Constrained with Symmetry

Analysis Results
Number of elements

21

Number of Passes

Edge Order

CPU Time

1.11

Fixed in X
Z

X
Y

Maximum Displacement 3.36x10-6

Bottom
fixed in
Y

Von Mises Stress

Fixed in Z

31,200

1250 lbs

Link Results

Symmetrical Boundary Conditions

Elements

Passes

CPU

Displace

VM Stress

Half Part

35

1.77

1.33x10-6

32,700

Fixed
Point

51

1.72

1.34x10-6

30,000

Fixed
Region

51

1.62

1.34x10-6

30,000

Symmetry

21

1.11

1.36x10-6

31,200

Half Part Fixed Symmetry

Half Part Fixed Point

Fixed Region

Symmetrical Boundary Conditions

10