AIP9_SA.

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Getting Started
Autodesk Inventor® Professional 9 Stress Analysis

46203-050000-5010A June 23, 2004

AIP9_SA.book Page ii Wednesday, June 30, 2004 11:08 AM

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
About Autodesk Inventor Professional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Learning Autodesk Inventor Professional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Using Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Chapter 1 Getting Started With Stress Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using Stress Analysis Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Understanding the Value of Stress Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Understanding How Stress Analysis Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Analysis Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Interpreting Results of Stress Analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Chapter 2 Analyzing Models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Working in the Stress Analysis Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Running Stress Analysis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Verifying Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Applying Loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Applying Constraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Setting Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Setting Solution Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Obtaining Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Running Modal Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Chapter 3 Viewing Results. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Using Results Visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Editing the Color Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Contents | iii
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Reading Stress Analysis Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Interpreting Results Contours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Setting Results Display Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Chapter 4 Revising Models and Stress Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Changing Model Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Changing Solution Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Updating Results of Stress Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Chapter 5 Generating Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Running Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Interpreting Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Scenario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Saving and Distributing Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Saving Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Printing Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Distributing Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Chapter 6 Managing Stress Analysis Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Creating and Using Analysis Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Understanding File Relationships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Repairing Disassociated Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Copying Geometry Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Resolving File Link Failures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Creating New Analysis Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Exporting Analysis Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

iv | Contents
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Introduction

In This Chapter

Autodesk Inventor® Professional software provides a ■ Introduction

■ Learning Autodesk Inventor
combination of industry-specific tools that extend the
Professional
capabilities of Autodesk Inventor® for completing ■ Using Help

complex machinery and other product designs.

This chapter provides basic information to help you get

started using Autodesk Inventor Professional Stress

Analysis.

Subsequent chapters provide descriptions of the

Autodesk Inventor Professional work features and

functionality.

1
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About Autodesk Inventor Professional

Built on the Autodesk Inventor application, Autodesk Inventor Professional
includes several different modules. The module included in this manual is
Stress Analysis. It provides functionality for stressing and analyzing
mechanical product designs.
This manual provides basic conceptual information to help get you started
and specific examples that introduce you to the capabilities of Autodesk
Inventor Professional stress analysis.

Learning Autodesk Inventor Professional

It is assumed that you have a working knowledge of the Autodesk Inventor
interface and tools. If you do not, use the integrated Design Support System
(DSS) for access to online documentation and tutorials, and complete the
exercises in the Autodesk Inventor Getting Started manual.
At a minimum, it is recommended that you understand how to:

■ Use the assembly, part modeling, and sketch environments and browsers.
■ Edit a component in place.
■ Create, constrain, and manipulate work points and work features.
■ Set color styles.

It is also recommended that you have a working knowledge of Microsoft®

Windows NT® 4.0, Windows® 2000, or Windows® XP, and a working
knowledge of concepts for stressing and analyzing mechanical assembly
designs.

Using Help
As you work, you may need additional information about the task you are
performing. The Autodesk Inventor Professional Help system provides
detailed concepts, procedures, and reference information about every feature
in the Autodesk Inventor Professional modules as well as the standard
Autodesk Inventor features.

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To access the Help system, use one of the following methods:

■ Select Help Topics ➤ Autodesk Inventor Professional Help from the

standard toolbar, and then click the link to the needed application.
■ Press F1 for Help with the active operation.
■ In any dialog box, click the ? icon.
■ In the graphics window, right-click, and then click How To. The How To
topic for the current tool is displayed.

For help on a specific module, scroll to the Autodesk Inventor Professional

section at the bottom of the home page for Autodesk Inventor Help, and
then click the link to the module of interest.

You can also select options on the main Help home page or click a Help
option on the right side of the standard toolbar.
For information about new functionality in the most recent release, in Help
click the “What’s New in Autodesk Inventor Professional” link, and then
click the subject and feature you want to learn about.

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4
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Getting Started With

Stress Analysis

In This Chapter
1
Autodesk Inventor® Professional Stress Analysis is an ■ Introduction
■ Why analyze for stress
add-on to the Autodesk Inventor® part and sheet metal
■ What is stress analysis
environments. It provides the capability to analyze the

stress and frequency responses of mechanical part

designs.

This chapter provides basic information about the stress

analysis environment and the workflow processes

necessary to analyze loads and constraints placed on

a part.

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Using Stress Analysis Tools

Autodesk Inventor Professional Stress Analysis provides tools for
determining structural design performance directly on your Autodesk
Inventor model. AIP Stress Analysis includes tools to place loads and
constraints on a part and calculate the resulting stress, deformation, safety
factor, and resonant frequency modes.
Enter the stress analysis environment in Autodesk Inventor with an active
part.
With the stress analysis tools you can:

■ Perform a stress or frequency analysis of a part.

■ Apply a force, pressure, bearing, moment, or body load to vertices, faces,
or edges of the part.
■ Apply fixed or non-zero displacement constraints to the model.
■ Evaluate the impact of multiple parametric design changes.
■ View the analysis results in terms of equivalent stress, deformation, safety
factor, or resonant frequency modes.
■ Add features such as gussets, fillets or ribs, re-evaluate the design, and
update the solution.
■ Generate a complete and automatic engineering design report that can be
saved to HTML format.

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Understanding the Value of Stress Analysis

Performing an analysis of a mechanical part in the design phase can help you
bring a better product to market in less time. AIP Stress Analysis helps you:

■ Determine if the part is strong enough to withstand expected loads or

vibrations without breaking or deforming inappropriately.
■ Gain valuable insight at an early stage when the cost of redesign is small.
■ Determine if the part can be redesigned in a more cost-effective manner
and still perform satisfactorily under expected use.

Stress analysis, for this discussion, is a tool to better understand how a design
will perform under certain conditions. It might take a highly trained
specialist a great deal of time performing what is often called a detailed
analysis to obtain an exact answer with regard to reality. What is often as
useful to help predict and improve a design is the trending and behavioral
information obtained from a basic or fundamental analysis. Performing this
basic analysis early in the design phase can substantially improve the overall
engineering process.
Here is an example of stress analysis use: When designing bracketry or single
piece weldments, the deformation of your part may greatly affect the
alignment of critical components causing forces that induce accelerated
wear. When evaluating vibration effects, geometry plays a critical role in the
resonant frequency of a part. Avoiding or, in some cases, targeting critical
resonant frequencies literally is the difference between part failure and
expected part performance.
For any analysis, detailed or fundamental, it is vital to keep in mind the
nature of approximations, study the results, and test the final design. Proper
use of stress analysis greatly reduces the number of physical tests required.
You can experiment on a wider variety of design options and improve the
end product.
To learn more about the capabilities of AIP Stress Analysis, view online
demonstrations and tutorials, or see how to run analysis on Autodesk
Inventor assemblies, visit http://www.ansys.com/autodesk.

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Understanding How Stress Analysis Works

Stress analysis is done using a mathematical representation of a physical
system composed of:

■ A part (model).
■ Material properties.
■ Applicable boundary conditions, referred to as preprocessing.
■ The solution of that mathematical representation (solving).
To find a solution, the part is divided into a number of smaller elements.
The solver adds up the individual behaviors of each element to predict the
behavior of the entire physical system.
■ The study of results of that solution, referred to as post-processing.

Analysis Assumptions
The stress analysis provided by Autodesk Inventor Professional is appropriate
only for linear material properties where the stress is directly proportional to
the strain in the material (meaning no permanent yielding of the material).
Linear behavior results when the slope of the material stress-strain curve in
the elastic region (measured as the Modulus of Elasticity) is constant.
The total deformation is assumed to be small in comparison to the part
thickness. For example, if studying the deflection of a beam, the calculated
displacement must be significantly less than the minimum cross-section of
the beam.
The results are temperature-independent. The temperature is assumed not to
affect the material properties.
The CAD representation of the physical model is broken down into small
pieces (think of a 3D puzzle). This process is called meshing. The higher the
quality of the mesh (collection of elements), the better the mathematical
representation of the physical model. By combining the behaviors of each
element using simultaneous equations, you can predict the behavior of
shapes that would otherwise not be understood using basic closed form
calculations found in typical engineering handbooks.

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The following is a block (element) with well-defined mechanical and modal

behaviors.

In this example of a simple part, the structural behavior would be difficult to

predict solving equations by hand.

Here, the same part is broken into small blocks (meshed into elements), each
with well-defined behaviors capable of being summed (solved) and easily
interpreted (post-processed).

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Interpreting Results of Stress Analysis

The output of a mathematical solver is generally a very substantial quantity
of raw data. This quantity of raw data would normally be difficult and
tedious to interpret without the data sorting and graphical representation
traditionally referred to as post-processing. Post-processing is used to create
graphical displays that show the distribution of stresses, deformations, and
other aspects of the model. Interpretation of these post-processed results is
the key to identifying:

■ Areas of potential concern as in weak areas in a model.

■ Areas of material waste as in areas of the model bearing little or no load.
■ Valuable information about other model performance characteristics,
such as vibration, that otherwise would not be known until a physical
model is built and tested (prototyped).
The results interpretation phase is where the most critical thinking must take
place. You compare the results (such as the numbers versus color contours,
movements) with what is expected. It is up to you to determine if the results
make sense, and to explain the results based on engineering principles. If the
results are other than expected, you must evaluate the analysis conditions
and determine what is causing the discrepancy.

Equivalent Stress
Three dimensional stresses and strains build up in many directions. A
common way to express these multidirectional stresses is to summarize them
into an Equivalent stress, also known as the von-Mises stress. A three-
dimensional solid has six stress components. If material properties are found
experimentally by a uniaxial stress test, then the real stress system is related
to this by combining the six stress components to a single equivalent stress.

Deformation
Deformation is the amount of stretching that an object undergoes due to the
loading. Use the deformation results to determine where and how much a
part will bend, and how much force is required to make it bend a particular
distance.

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Safety Factor
All objects have a stress limit depending on the material used, which is
referred to as material yield. If steel has a yield limit of 40,000 psi, any stresses
above this limit result in some form of permanent deformation. If a design is
not supposed to permanently deform by going beyond yield (most cases),
then the maximum allowable stress in this case is 40,000 psi.
A factor of safety can be calculated as the ratio of the maximum allowable
stress to the equivalent stress (von-Mises) and must be over 1 for the design
to be acceptable. (Below 1 means there will be some permanent
deformation.)
Factor of safety results immediately point out areas of potential yield, where
equivalent stress results always show red in the highest area of stress,
regardless of how high or low the value. Since a factor of safety of 1 means
the material is essentially at yield, most designers strive for a safety factor of
between 2 to 4 based on the highest expected load scenario. Unless the
maximum expected load is frequently repeated, the fact that some areas of
the design go into yield does not always mean the part will fail. Repeated
high load may result in a fatigue failure, which is not simulated by AIP Stress
Analysis. Always, use engineering principles to evaluate the situation.

Frequency Modes
Vibration analysis is used to test a model for:

■ Its natural resonant frequencies (for example, a rattling muffler during

idle conditions, or other failures)
■ Random vibrations
■ Shock
■ Impact

Each of these incidences may act on the natural frequency of the model,
which, in turn, may cause resonance and subsequent failure. The mode
shape is the displacement shape that the model adopts when it is excited at
a resonant frequency.

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Analyzing Models

In This Chapter
2
Once your model is defined, define the loads and ■ Stress analysis environment
■ Stress analysis interface
constraints for the condition you want to test, and then
■ Preparing models for analysis
perform an analysis of the model. Use the stress analysis
■ Running analyses

environment to completely prepare your model for

analysis, and then run the analysis.

This chapter tells you how to define loads, constraints,

and parameters, and run your analysis.

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Working in the Stress Analysis Environment

Use the stress analysis environment to analyze your part design and evaluate
different options quickly. You can analyze a part model under different
conditions using various materials, loads, and constraints (or boundary
conditions), and then view the results. You have a choice of performing a
stress analysis, or a resonant frequency analysis with associated mode shapes.
After viewing and evaluating the results, you can make changes to your
model and rerun the analysis to see what effect your changes produced.
You can perform an analysis from the part or sheet metal environments.

To enter the stress analysis environment

1 Start with the part or sheet metal environment active.
2 At the top of the Features panel bar, Select Stress Analysis from the drop-
down menu.
Stress analysis tools are added to the standard toolbar, and some part model-
ing tools are removed from the toolbar. Stress analysis tools are displayed in
the panel bar, and the stress analysis browser is displayed.

Stress Analysis panel bar Stress Analysis tools

Stress Analysis browser

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Loads and constraints are listed under Loads & Constraints in the browser. If
you right-click a load or constraint in the browser, you can:

■ Edit the item. The dialog box for that item opens so that you can make
changes.
■ Delete the item.
To rename an item in the browser, click it, enter a new name, and then press
ENTER.

Running Stress Analysis

Once you build or load a part, you can run an analysis to evaluate it for its
intended use. You can perform either a stress analysis or a resonant frequency
analysis of your part under defined conditions. Use the same workflow steps
in either analysis.
The following are the basic steps to perform a stress or resonant frequency
analysis on a part design.

Workflow overview: Perform a typical analysis

1 Enter the stress analysis environment.
2 Verify that the material used for the part is suitable, or select one.
3 In the stress analysis panel bar, select the type of load you want to apply. The
choices are Force, Pressure, Bearing Load, Moment, Body Load or Fixed
Constraint.
4 On the model, select the faces, edges, or vertices where you want to apply the
load.
5 Enter the load parameters (for example, in the Force dialog box, enter the
magnitude and direction). Numerical parameters can be entered as numbers
or equations that contain user-defined parameters.
6 Repeat steps 3 through 5 for each load on the part.
7 Apply constraints to the model.
8 Change stress analysis environment settings as needed.
9 Modify or add parameters as needed.
10 Start the analysis.
11 View the results.
12 Change the model and reanalyze it until you simulate the appropriate
behavior.

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Verifying Material
The first step is to verify that your model material is appropriate for stress
analysis. When you select Stress Analysis, Autodesk Inventor® checks the
material defined for your part. If the material is suitable, it is listed in the
stress analysis browser. If it is not suitable, a dialog box is displayed so that
you can select a new material.

You can cancel this dialog box and continue setting up your stress analysis.
However, when you attempt a stress analysis update, this dialog box is
displayed so you can select a valid material before running the analysis.
If the yield strength is zero, you can perform the analysis, but the Safety
Factor calculation and display are unavailable.
If the density is zero, you can perform a stress analysis, but cannot do a
resonant frequency (modal) analysis.
Once you select a suitable material, click OK.

Applying Loads
The first step in preparing your model for analysis is applying one or more
loads to the model.

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Workflow overview: Apply loads for analysis

1 Select the type of load you want to apply.
2 Select the geometry of the model where the load will be applied.
3 Enter the required information for that load.

You can apply as many loads as you need. As you apply them, the loads are
listed in the browser under Loads & Constraints. Once you define a load, you
can edit it by right-clicking it, and then selecting Edit from the menu.

To select and apply a load

1 In the stress analysis environment, choose a load from the list in the Stress
Analysis panel bar.

2 For this example, we use Force as the load. After you select Force, you define
the force in the Force dialog box.

3 Click faces, edges, or vertices on the part to select them. Use Ctrl-click to
remove a feature from the selection set. Once you select an initial feature,
your selection is limited to features of the same type (only faces, only edges,
only vertices). The location arrow turns white.

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4 Click the direction arrow to set the direction of the force. You can set the
direction normal to a face or work plane, or along an edge or work axis.

When the force location is a single face, the direction is automatically set to
the normal of the face, with the force pointing to the outside of the part
5 To reverse the direction of the force, click the Flip Direction button.

6 Enter the magnitude of the force. To specify the force components, click the
More button to expand the dialog box, and then select the check box for Use
Components. Enter either a numerical force value or an equation using
defined parameters. The default value is 100 in the unit system defined for
the part.

7 Click OK. An arrow is displayed on the model indicating the direction and
location of the force.

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You follow a similar procedure for each of the different load types.
This table summarizes information about each load type:

Load Load-Specific Information

Force Force can be applied to a set of faces, edges, or vertices. When

the force location is a face, the direction is automatically set to
the normal of the face, with the force pointing to the inside of
the part. Direction can be defined by planar faces, straight
edges, two vertices, and axes.

Pressure Pressure is uniform and acts normal to the surface at all

locations on the surface. Pressure is only applied to faces.

Bearing Load You can only apply the load to cylindrical faces. By default, the
applied load is along the axis of the cylinder. Direction of the
load can be planar or edge.

Moment Moment may only be applied to faces. Direction can be

defined by planar faces, straight edges, two vertices, and axes.

Body Loads You must select a direction from the Earth Standard Gravity list
to apply gravity. Select the Enable check box under
Acceleration or Rotational Velocity. You can only apply one
body load per analysis.

Non-zero You can used the non-zero displacement feature of the Fixed
Displacement Constraint as a load. Apply a constraint and check the Use
Components check box as described in the next section.

Applying Constraints
After you define your loads, you must specify the constraints on the
geometry of the part. You can apply as many constraints as you need. The
defined constraints are listed in the browser under Loads & Constraints. After
you define a constraint, you can edit it by right-clicking it, and then selecting
Edit from the menu.

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To select and apply a constraint

1 In the Stress Analysis panel bar, click Fixed Constraint.
2 In the graphics window, select a set of faces, edges or vertices to constrain.
The location arrow turns white.
3 Click the More button to specify a fixed displacement for the constraint, if
needed. Check Use Components, and then check the box next to the global
axis label (X, Y, or Z) along which the displacement occurs. You can use
parameters and negative values. Use Components to specify a non-zero
displacement that can be used as a load.

4 Click OK.

Setting Parameters
When you define loads and constraints for a part, the values you enter
(magnitudes, vector components, and so on) are stored as parameters in
Autodesk Inventor. The parameter names are automatically generated by
Autodesk Inventor. For example, load parameters are labeled vn, where v0 is
the first load created, v1 the second load, and so on.

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Load magnitude and constraint displacement values can be entered as

equations when you are defining them. Or, after defining the loads and
constraints, select Parameters from the stress analysis panel bar, and in the
Parameters dialog box, enter equations for any of the load or constraint
parameters.

You can define and edit parameters at any time, either during part modeling,
analysis setup, or post-processing. If you change the parameters associated
with a load or constraint after a solution is obtained, the Update command
is enabled so you can run a new solution.
You cannot delete the system-generated parameters, although they are
deleted automatically if their associated loads or constraints are deleted. You
also cannot delete parameters that are currently used by a system-generated
parameter.

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Setting Solution Options

Before starting your solution, you can set the analysis type and mesh
relevance for the analysis, and then specify whether a new analysis file
should be created. Select Stress Analysis Settings from the stress analysis
panel bar to open the dialog box. When you finish setting the options, click
OK to commit them.

Setting Analyses Types

Before starting your solution, in the Settings dialog box, in Analysis Type,
select Stress Analysis. Select Both if you want to run a stress analysis and a
prestressed modal analysis of your part.

Setting Mesh Relevance

In the Settings dialog box, move the slider to set the size of your mesh. The
default value of zero is an average mesh. Setting the slider to 100 causes a fine
mesh to be used, which gives you a highly accurate result, but causes the
solution to take a longer time. Setting the slider to -100 gives you a coarse
mesh, which solves quickly, but may contain significant inaccuracies. You
can see the mesh that will be used at a particular setting by clicking Preview
Mesh.

Specifying New Analysis File

There may be times when the analysis file is missing from a part that you or
someone else has previously analyzed. This can occur if someone sends you
a part but not the analysis file, or if the analysis file for the part is accidentally
deleted. To create a new analysis file for the part, click New Analysis File.
For more information about running an analysis with missing files or files
that do not correspond, see “Resolving File Link Failures” on page 43.

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Obtaining Solutions
After you complete all the required steps, the Stress Analysis Update
command in the stress analysis panel bar is active. Select it to start the
solution.
The Solutions Status dialog box is displayed while the solution is in progress.
During the solution, Autodesk Inventor is unavailable. Once the solution
finishes, the results are displayed graphically.
For information about reviewing the results of your solution, see chapter 3,
“Viewing Results” on page 25.

Running Modal Analysis

In addition to the stress analysis, you can perform a resonant frequency
(modal) analysis to find the frequencies at which your part will vibrate, and
the mode shapes at those frequencies. Like stress analysis, modal analysis is
available in the stress analysis environment.
You can do a resonant frequency analysis independent of a stress analysis.
You can do a frequency analysis on a prestressed structure, in which case you
can define loads on the part before the analysis. You can also find the
resonant frequencies of an unconstrained part.
Your initial steps must be the same as for stress analysis. Refer to the
instructions in “Running Stress Analysis” on page 15 to set up your loads,
constraints, parameters, and solution options.

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Workflow overview: Run a modal analysis

1 Enter the stress analysis environment.
2 Verify that the material used for the part is suitable, or select one.
3 Apply any loads (optional).
4 Apply the necessary constraints (optional).
5 Before starting the solution, in the Settings dialog box, Analysis Type section,
select Modal Analysis.
Selecting Both runs a stress analysis and a modal analysis of your part. Select-
ing a modal analysis with a load applied produces a prestressed modal solu-
tion.
6 Click OK.
The results for the first six frequency modes are inserted under the Modes
folder in the browser. For an unconstrained part, the first six frequencies are
essentially zero.
7 To change the number of frequencies displayed or limit the range of
frequency results returned, right click the Modes folder, and then select
Options.
The Frequency Options dialog box is displayed. Enter the maximum number
of modes to find, or the range of frequencies to which you want to limit the
results set.

After you complete all the required steps, the Stress Analysis Update com-
mand in the stress analysis panel bar is active.
8 Select Stress Analysis Update to start the solution.
The Solutions Status dialog box is displayed while the solution is in progress.
Once the solution finishes, the results are available for viewing.
The next chapter discusses reviewing the results of the solution.

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Viewing Results

In This Chapter
3
After analyzing your model under the stress analysis ■ Results visualization
■ Working with the color bar
conditions that you defined, you can visually observe
■ Setting results display options
the results of the solution.

This chapter describes the how to interpret the visual

results of your stress analyses.

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Using Results Visualization

Use results visualization to see how your part responds to the loads and
constraints you apply to it. You can visualize the magnitude of the stresses
that occur throughout the part, the deformation of the part, the stress safety
factor, and for modal analysis, the resonant frequency modes.

To enter results visualization

1 Start in the stress analysis environment. Open a part or sheet metal part that
has been analyzed, or complete the required steps in your current analysis.
2 In the Stress Analysis panel bar, click Stress Analysis Update.
The color bar is displayed in the graphics window.
Post-processing commands are enabled in the standard toolbar, and the
display mode shifts to stepped contours.

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To view the different results sets, double-click them in the browser. While
viewing the results, you can:

■ Change the color bar to emphasize the stress levels that are of concern to you.
■ Compare the results to the undeformed geometry.
■ View the mesh used for the solution.

Use the normal view controls to manipulate the model for a three-
dimensional view of the results.
To change any model parameters, you must return to part modeling, and
then return to stress analysis and update the solution.

Editing the Color Bar

The color bar shows you how the contour colors correspond to the stress
values or displacements calculated in the solution. You can edit the color bar
to set up the color contours so that the stress/displacement is displayed in a
way that is meaningful to you.

To edit the color bar

1 Select Color Bar from the stress analysis panel bar. If necessary, pull the grip
to the right to open the color bar.

By default, the maximum and minimum values shown on the color bar are
the maximum and minimum result values from the solution. You can edit
the extreme maximum and minimum values, and the values at the edges of
the bands.

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2 To edit a value, click it, and then edit the value in the text box. Press ENTER
to complete the change.
When you edit the extreme values, black lines showing the maximum and min-
imum result values are added to the color bar if they fall within the edited range.
3 The yellow grips on the left side of the color bar show the maximum and
minimum stress values displayed by the contours. Move these grips to
change the size of the extreme color zones (outside of the normal contour
values) to make the normal color zones more visible within the color bar.
Adjusting these does not change the values of the contour boundaries. These
grips are most useful when the extreme maximum and minimum values
have been edited.
4 The white grips indicate the maximum and minimum values shown by the
contours. Drag the white grips to change their values and rescale the values
of the contour boundaries (gray grips).
5 The stress levels are initially divided into nine equivalent sections, with
default colors assigned to each section. The gray grips indicate intervals in
the range of your solution. If you don’t want as many intervals, click a grip,
and then drag it to an adjacent grip.
This eliminates that color band and updates the contours displayed on the
model.
6 To change the colors of the contour bands, double-click the band to open the
standard Microsoft Windows color palette. Select an appropriate color, and
then click OK to apply the color.
7 When the color bar is set up to your satisfaction, click outside the color bar
in the graphics window.
8 These color bar settings are retained for this results set. If you do not want to
keep the changes you made, reset the color bar.
To reset the color bar to its default settings, right-click the active color bar,
and then select Reset to Defaults.

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Reading Stress Analysis Results

When the analysis is complete, you see the results of your solution. If you did
a stress analysis or specified that both types of analyses be done, you initially
see the equivalent stress results set displayed. If your initial analysis is a
resonant frequency analysis (without a stress analysis), you see the results set
for the first mode. To view a different results set, double-click that results set
in the browser pane. The currently viewed results set has a check mark
displayed next to it in the browser. You will always see the undeformed
wireframe of the part when you are viewing results.

Interpreting Results Contours

The contour colors displayed in the results correspond to the value ranges
shown in the legend. In most cases, results displayed in red are of most
interest, either because of their representation of high stress or high
deformation, or a low factor of safety. Each results set gives you different
information about the effect of the load on your part.

Equivalent Stress
Equivalent stress results use color contours to show you the stresses
calculated during the solution for your model. The deformed model is
displayed. The color contours correspond to the values defined by the color
bar.

Deformation
The deformation results show you the deformed shape of your model after
the solution. The color contours show you the magnitude of deformation
from the original shape. The color contours correspond to the values defined
by the color bar.

Safety Factor
Safety factor shows you the areas of the model that are likely to fail under
load. The color contours correspond to the values defined by the color bar.

Frequency Modes
You can view the mode plots for the number of resonant frequencies that you
specified in the solution. The modal results appear under the Modes folder in
the browser. When you double-click a frequency mode, the mode shape is
displayed. The color contours show you the magnitude of deformation from
the original shape. The frequency of the mode is shown in the legend. It is
also available as a parameter.

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Setting Results Display Options

While viewing your results, you can use the following commands located in
the stress analysis standard toolbar to modify the features of the results
display for your model.
Maximum Turns on and off the display of the point of maximum
result in the mode.
Minimum Turns on and off the display of the point of minimum
result in the model.
Boundary Turns on or off the display of the load symbols on the
Condition part.
Element Displays the element mesh used in the solution in
Visibility conjunction with the result contours.
Use the Deformation Style menu to change the deformed shape
exaggeration. Selecting Actual shows you the deformation to scale. Since the
deformations are often small, the various automatic options exaggerate the
scale so that the shape of the deformation is more pronounced.

Use the Display Settings menu to set the contour style to stepped, smooth,
or no contours. If you turn off the contours, the mesh is displayed for your
deformed part. If you have Element Visibility on, the mesh elements are
displayed; otherwise, a solid, gray mesh is displayed. The legend is displayed
while contours are off.
The values of all of the display options for each results set are saved for that
results set.

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Revising Models and

Stress Analyses

In This Chapter
4
After you run a solution for your model, you can ■ Updating part geometry
■ Changing solution conditions
evaluate how changes to the model or analysis
■ Rerunning analysis
conditions will affect the results of the solution.

This chapter tells you how to make changes to solution

conditions on the part and rerun the solution.

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Changing Model Geometry

After you run an analysis on your model, you can change the design of your
model and rerun the analysis to see the effects of the changes.

To edit a design and rerun analysis

1 Return to part modeling by selecting Part Features from the main panel bar
menu, or Model from the browser menu.
The part modeling toolbars and browser are displayed, and the graphics
window changes back to the solid undeformed part.
2 Click the Last Displayed Stress Result icon to turn on the display of the last
results set.
Viewing the results of your solution as you edit the initial geometry can give
you an insight as to which dimension to edit to get results closer to your
intent.
3 In the browser, select the feature that you want to edit. It is highlighted on
the wireframe.
4 In the browser, right-click a sketch for the feature that you want to edit. Select
Visibility to make the sketch visible on the model.
5 Double-click the dimension that you want to change, enter the new value in
the text box, and then click the green check mark.The sketch is updated.
6 From the panel bar drop-down menu, select Stress Analysis to return to the
stress analysis environment.
7 From the panel bar, select Stress Analysis Update to update the geometry and
the solution.

After you update the stress analysis, the load symbols are properly relocated
if the feature that they were associated with moved as a result of the
geometry change. The direction of the load does not change, even if the
feature associated with the load changes orientation.

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Changing Solution Conditions

After you run an analysis on your model, you can change the conditions
under which the solution was obtained and rerun the analysis to see what
effects the changes have. At this point, you can edit the loads and constraints
you defined, add new loads and constraints, or delete loads and constraints.
You can also change the relevance of your mesh or the analysis type. To
change your solution conditions, enter the stress analysis environment if you
are not already in it.

To delete a load or constraint

■ In the browser, right-click a load or constraint, and then select Delete from
the menu.

To add a load or constraint

■ In the panel bar, select the command and follow the same procedure you
used to create your initial loads and constraints.

To edit a load or constraint

1 In the browser, right-click a load or constraint, and then select Edit from the
menu.
The same dialog box you used to create the load or constraint is displayed.
The values in the dialog box are the current values for that load or constraint.
2 Click the location arrow on the left side of the dialog box to enable feature
picking.
You are initially limited to selecting the same type of feature (face, edge, or
vertex) that is currently used for the load or constraint.
To remove any of the current features, control-click them. If you remove all
of the current features, your new selections can be of any type.
3 Click the white Direction arrow to change the direction of the load.
4 Click the Flip Direction button to reverse the direction, if needed.
5 Change any values associated with the load or constraint.
6 Click OK to apply the load or constraint changes.

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To hide a load symbol

■ On the toolbar, click the Boundary Condition display button.

The load symbols are hidden.

To redisplay a load symbol

■ On the toolbar, click the Boundary Condition display button again.
The load symbols are redisplayed.

To temporarily display load symbols

■ In the browser, pause the cursor over the Loads & Constraints folder or a
particular load.

The load symbols are displayed.

NOTE If you edit a load while the load symbols are hidden, the symbols for all
of the loads are displayed, and remain on after the editing is complete.

To change the mesh relevance

1 In the stress analysis panel bar, select Stress Analysis Settings.
2 In the Settings dialog box, move the slider to set the relevance of your mesh.
3 Click Preview Mesh to view the mesh at a particular setting.

The preview mesh is shown on the undeformed shaded view of your part.

To change the analysis type

1 On the stress analysis panel bar, select Stress Analysis Settings.
2 In the Settings dialog box, Analysis Type menu, select the new analysis type.
If you choose Stress Analysis or Modal Analysis, only the results sets for the
selected analysis type are displayed in the browser. Any previously obtained
results sets are removed.

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Updating Results of Stress Analysis

After you change any of the solution conditions, or if you edit the part
geometry, the current results are invalid. This is indicated by a lightning bolt
symbol on your results icons, and the Stress Analysis Update item becomes
active in the panel bar.

To update stress analysis results

■ In the stress analysis panel bar, select Stress Analysis Update.

New results are generated, based on your revised solution conditions.

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36
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Generating Reports

In This Chapter
5
Once you run an analysis on a part, you can generate a ■ Generating reports
■ Reading reports
report that provides you with a written record of the
■ Saving and distributing reports
analysis environment and results.

This chapter tells you how to generate a report for an

analysis and interpret the report, and how to save and

distribute the report.

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Running Reports
After you run a stress analysis on a part, you can save the details of that
analysis for future reference. Use the Report command to save all the analysis
conditions and results in HTML format for easy viewing and storage.

To generate a report
1 Set up and run an analysis for your part.
2 Set the zoom and view orientation to best illustrate the analysis results. The
view you choose is the view used in the report.
3 From the panel bar, select Report to create a report for the current analysis.
When it is finished, a browser window containing the report is displayed.
4 Save the report for future reference using the browser Save As command.

Interpreting Reports
The report contains a summary, introduction, scenario, and appendices.

Summary
The summary contains an overview of the files used for the analysis and the
analysis conditions and results.

Introduction
The introduction describes the contents of the report and how to use them
in interpreting your analysis.

Scenario
The scenario gives details about the various analysis conditions.

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Model
The model section contains:

■ A description of the physical characteristics of the model

■ A description of the mesh relevance, and number of nodes and elements

Environment
The environment section contains:

■ Loading conditions and constraints

Solution
■ Equivalent stress
■ Deformation
■ Safety factor
■ Frequency response results

Appendices
Appendices include several sections as follows:
Scenario Labeled figures showing the contours for the different
Figures results sets, such as equivalent stress, deformation, safety
factor, and mode shapes.
Material Properties and stress limits for the material used for the
Properties analysis.
Glossary Definitions of terms used in the report.
Distributing List of the files generated to produce the report, and where
This Report they are stored.

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Saving and Distributing Reports

The report is generated as a set of files that can be viewed in a Web browser.
It includes the main HTML page, style sheets, generated figures, and other
files listed at the end of the report.

Saving Reports
Look at the Distributing This Report section at the end of the report. It
contains a table listing of all of the files generated as part of the report. If you
want to keep this report for future reference, it is recommended you create a
folder in a permanent storage location and move or copy all of the report files
to the folder. If you have multiple reports to save, create a separate folder for
each report.
Use your browser Save As command to save all of the report files into a folder
of your choosing. Recent versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer give you the
option of opening your report in Microsoft Word. You can then save it as a
Word document if you prefer.
Be careful when you save a report into a folder where you previously saved a
copy of the same report. You may end up with files in the directory that were
used by the previous version of the report but are not used by the current
version. In order to avoid confusion, it is best to use a new folder for each
version of a report, or to delete all of the files in a folder before reusing it.

Printing Reports
Use your Web browser Print command to print the report as you would any
web page.

Distributing Reports
To make the report available from a Web site, move all of the files associated
with the report to your Web site, and distribute a URL that points to the main
page of the report, the first file listed in the table.

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Managing Stress
Analysis Files

In This Chapter
6
Running a stress analysis in Autodesk Inventor® creates ■ Creating stress analysis files
■ Stress analysis and part file
a separate file that contains the stress analysis
interdependence
information. In addition, the part file is modified to ■ Fixing disassociated files
■ Exporting analysis information
indicate the presence of a stress file and the name of
to ANSYS WorkBench
the file.

This chapter tells you how the files are interdependent,

and what should be done if the files become separated.

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Creating and Using Analysis Files

You can run a stress analysis by creating a part in Autodesk Inventor, and
then setting up your stress analysis conditions. You can also load a part that
you previously created, on which you have not yet run a stress analysis, and
set up your analysis conditions. Once you set up a stress analysis for a part,
when you save the part you also save the stress analysis information for that
part.

To start a new analysis

1 Load an existing part or create a new part in the part or sheet metal
environments.
2 Enter the stress analysis environment by selecting Stress Analysis from the
Feature panel bar menu.
3 Set up your analysis conditions.

After you set up any stress analysis information, saving your part also saves
the associated stress analysis information in the part file. Stress analysis input
and results information, including loads, constraints, and all results, is also
saved in a separate file. The stress analysis file has the same name as your part
file, but uses the extension .ipa. By default, the .ipa file is stored in the same
folder as the .ipt file.

Understanding File Relationships

Activating the stress analysis environment, and then saving the .ipt file does
not create an .ipa file. You must add at least one condition before Autodesk
Inventor creates the .ipa file.
The .ipa file contains information that indicates which .ipt file is associated
with the .ipa file. Multiple .ipt files cannot reference the same .ipa file, and
multiple .ipa files cannot reference the same .ipt file.
The Save Copy As command does not generate a new .ipa file. This means
that the new .ipt file references the same .ipa file as the old .ipt file.
For more information about the Save Copy As command, see “Copying
Geometry Files” on page 43.
An existing .ipa file is not loaded until the stress analysis environment is
activated.

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Repairing Disassociated Files

Under certain circumstances, you might edit the part file without the
presence of the .ipa file. For example, a consultant might be sent the .ipt file
but not the .ipa file. You can edit the part file through the Skip option in the
Resolve Link dialog box.
If you edit the part while the .ipa file is missing and then try to reassociate
the part with its analysis file, Autodesk Inventor makes an attempt to update
the stress conditions. There is a possibility that errors may occur, however,
when you try to reassociate the files.

Copying Geometry Files

You can create a copy of an .ipt file using the Save Copy As command or your
operating system file copy command. When this happens, the copy of the
.ipt file still references the original .ipa file.
If you open the copy of the part, and then activate the stress analysis
environment, a dialog box asks if you want to keep the stress analysis
information defined for that part. If you click No, the stress analysis
information is removed, and the part can be edited as if it never had an
analysis performed on it.
If you click Yes, Autodesk Inventor creates a copy of the original .ipa file, and
changes the references in the copy of the part and the copy of the .ipa file to
reference each other.

Resolving File Link Failures

In some cases, the .ipa file might fail to resolve when you try to perform an
analysis of the part. For example, the user may rename or move the .ipa file,
or a vendor may receive a copy of an .ipt file without the associated .ipa file.
In these circumstances, the .ipa file fails to resolve and you are prompted
with the Resolve Link dialog box.
At this point, you can do two things, other than cancel the file open process:

■ Skip the file.

■ Select an existing .ipa file.

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Skipping Missing IPA Files

If you elect to edit a part even though the .ipa file is missing, all stress analysis
commands are unavailable except for the Stress Analysis Settings command.
You can edit the part document itself. However, you cannot perform any
stress analysis work.

Selecting Existing IPA Files

If the .ipa file is missing, you can select an existing renamed or moved .ipa
file. The next time the associated .ipt file is loaded, you are prompted with
the Resolve Link dialog box, and you can browse to the new name or
location.

Creating New Analysis Files

If you open a part with a missing .ipa file, you can use the Stress Analysis
Settings dialog box to create a new .ipa file.
If a part is opened and its analysis file is missing, select Stress Analysis
Settings. The New Analysis File button becomes available only under these
circumstances.
To create a new .ipa file, click New Analysis File. Autodesk Inventor attempts
to create a new .ipa file in the default location using the default name.
If a file already exists using this name and location, Autodesk Inventor
checks the .ipa file to see if it points to the active .ipt file. If it does, a dialog
box asks if you want to reuse the .ipa file or create a new one.
When you create a new file, the new .ipa file has boundary conditions that
match those stored in the .ipt file.

44 | Chapter 6 Managing Stress Analysis Files

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Exporting Analysis Files

In some cases, you might need to run a more complex analysis on your part
than can be handled by AIP Stress Analysis. You have the option to export
your current analysis information to a file that can be imported to ANSYS
WorkBench, where a more complex analysis can be performed.

To export your information to ANSYS WorkBench

1 After you set up and run an analysis, from the stress analysis panel bar, select
Export to ANSYS.
2 Browse to the location where you store your project files.
3 Select Save.
The file is saved using the same name as your part file, with the extension
.dsdb.

You can now import your part and its analysis file into ANSYS WorkBench to
perform more complex analyses.

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46
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Index

A constraints (continued)
fixed displacements, 20
analyses selecting and applying, 19
complex, 45 contour colors, 29
meshing, 8
post processing, 10
reports, 38 D
rerunning on edited designs, 32
results, reading, 29 deformation results, 10, 29
options for displaying, 30
solving, 8
dialog boxes
types, setting, 22, 34
Choose Material., 16
updating, 35
Fixed Constraint, 20
vibration, 11
Force, 17
workflow, 15
Frequency Options, 24
analysis (.ipa) files, 42
Parameters, 21
exporting, 45
Solutions Status, 23
recreating missing, 22, 44
Stress Analysis Settings, 22
repairing disassociated, 43
analysis results, viewing, 26
ANSYS WorkBench, 45 E
Element Visibility command, 30
B equivalent stress results, 29
equivalent stresses, 10
bearing loads, 19
exercises, prerequisites, 2
body loads, 19
Boundary Condition command, 30
browser, Stress Analysis, 14 F
factor of safety results, 11
C file type .ipa, 42
files, analysis
Choose Material dialog box, 16
reassociating, 43
color bar, 27
recreating missing, 22
constraints
Fixed Constraint dialog box, 20
browser display, 15
Force dialog box, 17
deleting, adding, and editing, 33

Index | 47
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force loads, 19 post processing analyses, 10

frequency modes, 11 preprocessing, 8
Frequency Options dialog box, 24 prerequisites for exercises, 2
frequency results options, 24 pressure loads, 19

G R
geometry, editing, 32 Report command, 38
reports
printing and distributing, 40
H saving, 38, 40
Help systems, 2 resonant frequency analyses
performing, 23
resonant frequency results, 29
L results
deformation, 10
load symbols, 32
display options, 30
displaying, 30, 34
equivalent stresses, 10
loads
frequency options, 24
browser display, 15
reviewing, 10
deleting, adding, and editing, 33
safety factor, 11
parameters, setting, 20
stress analysis, reading, 29
selecting and applying, 16, 17
updating, 35
summary of types, 19
viewing, 26

M S
material, choosing, 16
Maximum command, 30 safety factor results, 11, 29
solutions
meshes
generating, 23
creating, 8
methods, 8
displaying, 30
options, setting, 22
size settings, 22, 34
Solutions Status dialog box, 23
viewing, 27
solutions, rerunning, 33
Minimum command, 30
stress analysis
modal analyses, 11, 23, 24
assumptions, 8
model geometry, editing, 32
environment, 14
modes
functionality, 7
frequency, 11
results, 29
result options, 24
tools, 6
moment loads, 19
workflow, 15
Stress Analysis Settings dialog box, 22
N Stress Analysis Update command, 23, 35
stresses, equivalent, 10
natural resonant frequencies, 11
non-zero displacement loads, 19
T
O tools, stress analysis, 14
types of analyses, setting, 22
options for solutions, 22

U
P
update analyses, 35
panel bar, Stress Analysis, 14 Update command, 23
Parameters dialog box, 21
parameters, setting for loads, 20

48 | Index
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V W
vibration frequency analyses, 23 workflows
von Mises stress, 10 analyses, performing typical, 15
applying loads for analyses, 17
running modal analyses, 24

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