Using Modal Analysis Page 1 of 5

Exercise: Using Modal Analysis

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Training Files:
Download the training files using the button below, if you have not done so already.

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Procedure Setup:
1. To avoid naming conflicts, it is recommended you save your work, click File > Close until no models
display, then click File > Manage Session > Erase Not Displayed.

2. Click File > Manage Session > Set Working Directory and navigate to the
PTCU\CreoParametric2\Simulate_Analysis\ModalAnalysis folder and click OK

3. Click File > Open and double-click FOLDING_TABLE_SIMULATE.ASM.

Objectives
Define and run a modal analysis.

Scenario
In this exercise, you set up a simulation model for a folding tray table. The goal is to identify the mode shapes
and frequency values as output from a modal analysis. The model is made of steel and PVC and is analyzed
in its functional position.

In this exercise, the folding tray is constrained to a fixed reference, a wall, at the bracket locations. The
clamping yoke is allowed to rotate at the supports to accommodate folding. None of the components of this
folding tray idealization are actually bonded; they are allowed to rotate independently. Therefore, a Free
instead of the default Bonded interface is defined. The components are connected at their direct contact (for
example, between the clamping yoke and the brackets or between the yoke and the table). Therefore, a
combination of the Spring and Weighted Link idealizations is used to simulate this type of interaction.

Only some of the simulation features are defined, some of the Spring and Weighted Link idealizations. There
are no loads in a Modal Analysis. You define some of the remaining Spring idealization properties, and the
connections between these Spring idealizations and the surfaces of the brackets. Also, you define the
constraints and assign material properties.

Task 1. Investigate the model properties.

1. Click File > Prepare > Model Properties. The Model Properties dialog box appears.

2. Review the units used in the model. To close the Model Properties dialog box, click Close.

3. In the model tree, expand Loads/Constraints and Constraint Set ConstraintSet1. Right-click
Constraint1 and select Edit Definition. The Constraint dialog box appears.

4. Review the constraints defined and notice that the constraint is defined to the surfaces of the
brackets that are bolted to the fixed reference. Click Cancel to close the Constraint dialog box.

5. In the model tree, expand Idealizations and Springs. Right-click Spring1 and select Edit
Definition. The Spring Definition dialog box appears.

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6. Review the spring defined and notice that the spring is defined between two collinear points in the
same part. Defining the Spring in the same part instead of connecting it to other parts is a valid
solution. We are going to use this simulation because we want the Spring to actually impose the
rotation we are looking for between the YOKE.PRT and BRACKET.PRT. In the Properties section,
click More.

7. The Spring Properties dialog box appears. Select all_trans_fixed and click Edit.

8. The Spring Property Definition dialog box appears. Note there is a high translational stiffness set;
therefore, the spring is not allowed to translate. There is no torsional stiffness set; therefore, the
spring is allowed to rotate. Click OK to close all dialog boxes.

9. In the model tree, expand Connections and Weighted Links. Right-click WeightedLink5 and
select Edit Definition. The Weighted Link Definition dialog box appears.

10. Note the references used to define this weighted link. Two surfaces from JOINT_AXIS.PRT pin
component and the end point on BRACKET.PRT are used as references. The point on the bracket
is the same on that the spring idealization reviewed is connected. Also note that all the translation
degrees of freedom are enabled. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Task 2. Define a free interface between all components in the assembly.

1. In the ribbon, select the Home tab.

2. Click Model Setup from the Set Up group. The Model Setup dialog box appears.

3. Select Free from the Default Interface drop-down list.

4. Click OK.

Task 3. Define the materials for the components in the assembly.

1. In the ribbon, select the Home tab.

2. Click Materials from the Materials group. The Materials dialog box appears.

3. Select ss.mtl from the Materials list and click Add Material .

4. Select pvc.mtl from the Materials list and click Add Material .

5. Click OK.
It is always a good practice to know the properties of the materials you are using
independent of their source (default or customized library). You can do this by right-clicking
in a material in the Materials list and selecting Properties.

6. Click Material Assignment from the Materials group. The Material Assignment dialog box
appears.

7. Press CTRL and from the model tree select JOINT_AXIS.PRT and CLAMPING_YOKE.PRT.

8. In the Properties section, select SS from the Material drop-down list, and verify that (None) is
selected in the Material Orientation field.

9. Click OK.

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10. Click Material Assignment from the Materials group. The Material Assignment dialog box
appears.

11. Press CTRL and from the model tree select DESK_PLATE.PRT and both BRACKET.PRT
components.

12. In the Properties section, select PVC from the Material drop-down list, and verify that (None) is
selected in the Material Orientation field.

13. Click OK.

Task 4. Define and run the modal analysis.

1. In the ribbon, select the Home tab.

2. Click Analyses and Studies from the Run group. The Analyses and Design Studies dialog box
appears.

3. Click File > New Modal. The Modal Analysis Definition dialog box appears.

4. Complete the dialog box as follows:

◾ In the Name field, type desk_modal.

◾ Verify that With rigid mode search is not selected.

◾ Select the Modes tab. Type 6 in the Number of Modes field.

◾ Select the Output tab. Deselect all boxes in the Calculate section.

◾ Type 2 in the Plotting Grid field.

If you have an interest just in the mode shapes and their frequencies, you can turn off
any extra computations and lower the default setting for the Plotting Grid. This
eliminates the use of extra disk space or RAM resources, and the simulation run is
faster.

◾ Select the Convergence tab. Select Single-Pass Adaptive in the Method field.

5. Click OK.

6. In the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box, select desk_modal and click Start Run . Click
Yes to run interactive diagnostics.

7. Click Display Study Status to view the summary report after the analysis is complete.
Note that the Modal Analysis has failed. In the summary report, Creo Simulate specifies the
reason for the failure. The reason is that the folding tray has a rigid body mode. In other
words, it can freely move without deformations. That is true considering the connections
defined between the components.

8. Close all dialog boxes and return to the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box.

9. Right-click desk_modal and select Edit. The Modal Analysis Definition dialog box appears.

10. Complete the dialog box as follows:

◾ Select With rigid mode search.

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◾ Keep all other settings the same.

11. Click OK.

12. In the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box, select desk_modal and click Start Run . Click
Yes to run interactive diagnostics and to remove existing files, if required.

13. Click Display Study Status to view the summary report after the analysis is complete.
Notice in the summary report the frequency values for each of the modes. Notice the
frequency of the rigid mode (Mode 1). This is reported since you have turned on the option
to search for the rigid mode.

14. Close all dialog boxes and return to the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box.

Task 5. Create result window and investigate results.

1. In the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box, select desk_modal.

2. Click Review Results . The Result Window Definition dialog box appears.

3. Complete the following:

◾ Type Mode_2 in the Name field.

◾ Type Deformed Shape at Mode 2 in the Title field.

◾ Select Mode2 from the list of modes. Deselect any other mode.

◾ Select the Quantity tab. Verify that Displacement and Magnitude are selected.

◾ Select the Display Options tab.

◾ Select Deformed and Overlay Undeformed.

◾ Type 25 in the Scaling field.

4. Click OK and Show.

Figure 1

5. Repeat this operation for other modes and inspect the results.

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6. When complete, click File > Exit Results to return to the Creo Simulate window. Click No to the
prompt to save the results window.

7. In the Analyses and Design Studies dialog box, click Close.

8. Click File > Manage Session > Erase Current.

9. Click OK in the erase confirm prompt.

This completes the exercise.

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