7ME8A: FINITE ELEMENT LAB

Experiment-3
Object: Plane stress and plane strain analysis problems.

Plane Stress Problem: Stress Distribution in a Rectangle Plate with Circular Holes

Problem Definition: When a plate with a circular hole is subjected to a uniform tensile stress, a
high concentration occurs at the property of the hole along the diametric plane normal to the
direction of the applied load. Consider a rectangular plate with two circular holes, subjected to a
uniform tensile stress of 200 N/cm2 shown in Figure 3.1. The thickness of the plate, t=0.5 cm,
Young's Modulus, E=2*107 N/cm2 and Poisson's Ratio, =0.3. 2D Structural solid element
PLANE2 is used to perform the analysis. Plane Stress with thickness option is selected for
element behavior. One real constant set for thickness and one material model are defined. Solid
modeling approach is employed. Path operations are used to plot the stress distribution along
points A and B. Results are plotted using multi-window plotting capabilities.

Figure 3.1 Rectangular plate with circular holes

Procedure
1. Launch the Ansys (Mechanical APDL)
2. In the utility menu, select File > Change Jobname..
On the change Jobname dialog box, enter "Plate_1" as a new jobname and turn on New log and
error files?
Click OK
3. Utility Menu > File > Change Title..
On the change title dialog box, enter 'Stress Distribution in a Rectangular Plate with Circular
Holes' as the new title and click OK to accept the title.
4. Utility Menu > Plot > Replot
5. Main Menu > Preferences > Structural
6. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete
Add.
Structural Mass > Solid > Quad 8node 82
OK
Option.
Select Plane strs w/thk
7. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete
Experiment-3 3-2
Add
Select Type 1 PLANE82
OK
Enter 0.5 in THK
Close Real Constant dialog box
8. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models
Structural > Linear > Elastic > Isotropic
Enter 2E7 in EX
0.3 in PRXY
OK
Close the Define Material Model Behavior dialog box
9. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Rectangle > By 2 Corners
Type: WPX= 0
WPY=0
Width=21
Height=10
OK
10. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Circle > Solid > Circle
Type: WP X= 7
WP Y=5
Radius=1
Apply
Type: WP X=14
WP Y=5
Radius= 1
Click Ok
11. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Operate > Booleans > Subtract > Areas
Pick Area 1
Click Apply
Pick Area 2 and 3
Click OK to create Area 4
12. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Manual Size >Areas > Picked Areas
Pick Area no 4
Click Ok
Enter 0.5 for Element Edge Length
OK
13. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool
On the Mesh Tool dialog box, Choose Areas from Set
Click on Smart Size and set it to 1
Click on Tri form Shape
Mesh
Pick All
14. Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering.
Turn On Line Number
OK
15. Utility Menu > Plot > Lines
16. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Pressure > On
Lines
Pick lines 1 and 3
OK
Set -200 in VALUE
OK
Click on SAVE_DB
Experiment-3 3-3
17. Main Menu > Solution > Solve > Current LS
OK
Yes on the Verify
Close the /STATUS Command window
Close Note dialog box
Click on the SAVE_DB
18. Main Menu > General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Deformed Shape
Select Def + undef Edge
OK
19. Main Menu > general Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu > Nodal
Solution > Stress > X-Component Stress
OK
20. Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Device Option
Turn on Vector Mode
Click OK
21. Main Menu > General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu > Nodal
Solution > Stress > Y-Component Stress
Click OK
22. Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Device Option
Turn off Vector Mode
Click OK
23. Main Menu > General Postproc > Path Operation > Define Path > By Location
On the dialog box, enter
Define Path Name = STRES_AB
Number of points = 2
Number of Data Sets= 30
Number of Divisions =1000
Click OK
On the By Location in Global Cartesian dialog box, enter 1 for Path Point Number and (0, 5, 0)
For Location in Global CS, and click OK
Enter 2 for Path Point Number
(21, 5, 0) for Location in Global CS
OK
Close the dialog box
24. Main Menu > General Postproc > Path Operation > Map onto Path >
On the Map Results Item onto Path dialog box, select Stress from the left list box, von Mises
SEQV from the right list for the Result Item to be Mapped
Close Warning dialog box
Click OK
25. Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Multi-Window-Layout
On the Multi-Plotting dialog box, select Two (Top-Bottom) for Window Layout
OK
26. Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Erase Option > Erase Screen
Erase Between Plots must be unselected
27. Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Erase Option > Erase Between Plots
Erase Between Plots must be unselected
28. Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Window Controls > Window On or Off.
Turn off window 2
Click OK
29. Main Menu > Gnenral Postproc > Plot Results > Nodal Solu > Nodal Solution > Stress >
von Mises Stress
Click OK
30. Repeat step 28.
Experiment-3 3-4
Turn off window 1
Turn on window 2
Click OK
31. Main Menu > General Postproc > Path Operation > Plot Path Item > On Geometry
On Plot of Path Items on Geometry dialog box, select SEQV for Path Item to be Displayed, enter
25 for Scale Factor Offset and Select With Nodes for Display Options
Click OK

32. In the Utility Menu > File > Exit.

Select Save Everything
Click OK
Experiment-3 3-5

Problem: Analysis of a Long Cylindrical Pressure Vessel

Problem definition: A long cylindrical pressure vessel subjected to uniform pressure internally
or externally is a common application encountered in engineering. Since there is no axial
displacement at the ends and at the mid-section, it may be assumed that same holds at that every
cross section. Hence the problem can be solved by incorporating the principle of plane strain.
Consider a long cylindrical pressure vessel subjected to an internal pressure, P=10 kN/cm2 as
shown in Figure 3.2. Maximum deflection, maximum tangential and radial stresses induced in
the pressure vessel are determined. Given, E= 2.1*107 N/cm2 and = 0.3

Figure 3.2 Long cylindrical pressure vessel

Procedure
1. Launch the Ansys (Mechanical APDL)
2. In the utility menu, select File > Change Jobname..
On the change Jobname dialog box, enter "Pressure_Vessel" as a new jobname and turn on New
log and error files?
Click OK
3. Utility Menu > File > Change Title..
On the change title dialog box, enter ' Analysis of a Long Cylindrical Pressure Vessel' as the new
title and click OK to accept the title.
4. Utility Menu > Plot > Replot
5. Main Menu > Preferences> Structural
6. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete
Add.
Structural Mass > Solid > Quad 8node 82
OK
Option.
Select Plane strain
OK
7. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models
Structural > Linear > Elastic > Isotropic
Enter 2.1E7 in EX
0.3 in PRXY
OK
Close the Define Material Model Behavior dialog box
8. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS
On the Create Keypoints in Active Coordinate System dialog box, enter 1 for Keypoint Number
and (10, 0, 0) for X, Y, Z Location in Active CS
Click Apply
Experiment-3 3-6
On the Create Keypoints in Active Coordinate System dialog box, enter 2 for Keypoint Number
and (20, 0, 0) for X, Y, Z Location in Active CS
Click Apply
On the Create Keypoints in Active Coordinate System dialog box, enter 3 for Keypoint Number
and (0, 20, 0) for X, Y, Z Location in Active CS
Click Apply
On the Create Keypoints in Active Coordinate System dialog box, enter 4 for Keypoint Number
and (0, 10, 0) for X, Y, Z Location in Active CS
Click Apply
Close the dialog box
9. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line
Pick Keypoint 1and then 2 to create line 1
Again, pick Keypoint 3 and then 4 to create line 2
Close the menu
10. Utility Menu > Work Plane > Change Active CS to > Global Cylindrical
11. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > In Active Coord
Pick Keypoint 2 and then Keypoint 3 to create line 3
Pick Keypoint 1 and then Keypoint 4 to create line 4
12. Utility Menu > Work Plane > Change Active CS to > Global Cartesian
13. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Arbitrary > By Lines
Pick lines 1, 3, 2, and 4
Click Apply
14. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool
On the Mesh Tool dialog box, turn on Smart Size; adjust the slider control to 5
Click Mesh
Pick All
Close the mesh tool dialog box
15. Main Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering.
On the dialog box, turn on Line Number
Click OK
16. Utility Menu > Plot > Lines
17. Utility Menu > Select > Entities.
On the dialog box, select
Line form the Entity type drop-down box
By Num/Pick from the Selection Criteria drop-down box
From Full for Selection Function Setting
Click Apply
Pick lines 1 and 2
Click OK
On the Select Entities dialog box
Click Plot
Close the Select Entities dialog box
18. Utility Menu > Select > Comp/Assembly > Create Component
On the create component dialog box, type 'SymmetryLines' for Component Name, select Lines
for Component is made of
Click OK
19. Utility Menu > Select > Everything
20. Utility Menu > Plot > Replot
On the dialog box, select
Line form the Entity type drop-down box
By Num/Pick from the Selection Criteria drop-down box
From Full for Selection Function Setting
Click Apply
Experiment-3 3-7
Pick line 4
Click OK
Click Plot
Again,
On the dialog box, select
Nodes form the Entity type drop-down box
Attached to from the Selection Criteria drop-down box
Lines, All for the Attachment Criteria
From Full for Selection Function Setting
Click Apply
Plot
Close the dialog box
21. Utility Menu > Select > Comp/Assembly > Create Component
On the dialog box, type 'PressureLine' for Component Name, select Nodes for Component is
made of
Click OK
22. Utility Menu > Select > Everything
23. Utility Menu > Plot > Elements
24. Utility Menu > Select > Comp/Assembly > Select Comp/Assembly.
On the dialog box, select By Component Name for Select component /Assembly
Click OK
On the dialog box, select SYMMETRYLINES for Name, From Full Set for Type
Click OK
25. Utility Menu > Plot > Lines
26. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement >
Symmetry B.C. > On Lines
Pick All
27. Utility Menu > Select > Everything
28. Utility Menu > Plot > Elements
29. Utility Menu > Select > Comp/Assembly > Select comp/Assembly
On the dialog box, select By Component Name for Select Component/Assembly
Click OK
On the dialog box, select PRESSURELINE for Name, From Full Set for Type
Click OK
30. Utility Menu > Plot > Nodes
31. Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Pressure > On
Nodes
Pick All
On the dialog box, enter 1000 for Load PRES Value
Click OK
Close the Warning message
32. Utility Menu > Select > Everything
33. Utility Menu > Plot > Elements
Click SAVE_DB
34. Main Menu > Solution > Solve > Current LS
OK
Close the dialog box
Close the Note dialog box
35. Main Menu > General Postproc > Plot Results> Contour Plot > Nodal solu > Nodal
Solution> Stress > X-Component of Stress
OK
Experiment-3 3-8

36. Main Menu > General Postproc > Plot Results> Contour Plot > Nodal solu > Nodal
Solution> Stress > Y-Component of Stress
OK

37. Main Menu > General Postproc > Plot Results> Contour Plot > Nodal solu > Nodal
Solution> Stress > von Mises Stress
Experiment-3 3-9
OK

38. Utility Menu > Select > Entities

On the dialog box, select
Nodes from the Entity Type
Attached to from the Selection Criteria
Keypoints for Attachment Criteria
From Full for Selection Function Setting
Click Apply and Plot

Close the dialog box

39. Main Menu > General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution > Nodal Solution > DOF
Solution > Displacement Vector Sum
Click OK
Review the results and close the dialog box
40. Main Menu > General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution > Nodal Solution > DOF
Solution > X-Component of Stress
OK
Review the results and close dialog box
41. Utility Menu > File > Exit
On the dialog box, select Save Everything
Click OK

Result: Maximum Tangential Stress = 16667 N/cm2

Maximum Radial Stress = 10017 N/cm2
Maximum Von Mises Stress = 23161 N/cm2