Lecture #4

Analytical and Numerical Methods

of Structural Analysis

FLOWCHART OF STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS
Real object
Structural
layout
Design model
Results of
analysis
Implementation
on real object

Only load-carrying structure

is kept
Assumptions and simplifications
are applied, loads are calculated
according to the problem
Structural analysis
This step is beyond the scope
of structural analysis
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FLOWCHART OF STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS
Real object
Structural
layout
Design model
Results of
analysis
Implementation
on real object

FLOWCHART OF STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS
Real object
Structural
layout
Design model
Results of
analysis
Implementation
on real object

FLOWCHART OF STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS
Real object
Structural
layout

Depending on the kind of

problem which is solved, the
design model could be either as
detailed as structural layout, or
as generalized as below:

Design model
Results of
analysis
Implementation
on real object

METHODS OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Analytical methods

Numerical methods

Best for designing

calculations, suit for
checking calculations with
certain limitations

Best for checking

calculations, practically
effete for designing
calculations

Solutions exist for partial

cases (specific objects)

Versatile and flexible

Need much work to be

developed, but only
simple software for
application

Need expensive and

complex software and
hardware
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ANALYTICAL METHODS OF
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Widely used nowadays:
methods of Mechanics of Materials;
methods for statically indeterminate structures:
method of forces;
method of displacements;
beam theory for thin-walled structures;
method of reduction coefficients.
Rarely used nowadays (mostly due to the progress
of numerical methods):
methods based on Calculus of Variations;
methods of Theory of Elasticity.
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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL

AND NUMERICAL METHODS
Aim:
Design the steel
bracket to minimize
the self-weight
displacement of the
load.

base
L 2, D2, 2

Given data:
D2=80 mm;
L2=500 mm;
L1=200 mm;
mload=0.5 kg.
Objectives:
D1, 1, 2.

L 1, D1, 1
load
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BASIC EQUATIONS OF SOLID

MECHANICS
Equilibrium
equations

This is not only the sum of

forces or moments, but applies
for elementary volume as well

Constitutive
equations

Physical law, expresses

the relation between
stress and strain

Compatibility
equations

Solid body should

remain continuous
while being deformed
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BASIC EQUATIONS OF SOLID

MECHANICS
Equilibrium
equations

Constitutive
equations

Compatibility
equations

This is not only the sum of forces

or moments, but applies for
elementary volume as well.

x xy xz

X 0,
x
y
z
xy y yz

Y 0,
x
y
z
xz yz z

Z 0,
x
y
z
where X ,Y ,Z external forces.
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BASIC EQUATIONS OF SOLID

MECHANICS
Equilibrium
equations

Constitutive
equations

Compatibility
equations

Physical law, expresses the

relation between stress and strain.

1
x x y z ,
E
1
y y x z ,
E
1
z z x y ,
E
xy
yz
xz
xy
, xz
, yz
G
G
G
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BASIC EQUATIONS OF SOLID

MECHANICS
Equilibrium
equations

Solid body should remain

continuous while being deformed.
2
2
2 x y xy 2 x 2 z 2 xz
2
,
2
,
2
2
y
x
x y z
x
x z

2 y

Constitutive
equations

Compatibility
equations

z 2

2 yz

,
2
y
y z
2

2 x
yz xz xy

,

2
x
x
y
z
y z
2 y
yz xz xy

2
y x
y
z
x z
yz xz xy
2 z

2
z x
y
z
x y

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BASIC EQUATIONS OF SOLID

MECHANICS

From analytical point of view, every design model can

be expressed as a set of three basic equations with
corresponding boundary conditions.
Equilibrium
equations
Constitutive
equations
Compatibility
equations

Boundary
conditions:
geometrical
features;
supports and
other means of
fixation;
applied
displacements
and forces.

Design
model

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WAYS TO SOLVE A SOLID MECHANICS

PROBLEM
Displacements
are set as
unknowns
Strains are
derived
Stresses are
derived
Equilibrium
equations are
solved

Compatibility
equations
Constitutive
equations
Equilibrium
equations

Stresses are
set as
unknowns
Strains are
derived

Constitutive
equations
Equilibrium
equations
Compatibility
equations

Compatibility
equations are
solved

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL

AND NUMERICAL METHODS
Analytical methods
used:
Methods of
Mechanics of
Materials;
Mohrs integral to
calculate
displacements.

base
L 2, D2, 2

Software used:
MathCAD V14.0

L 1, D1, 1
load
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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

23

EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

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METHODS OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Analytical methods

Numerical methods

Best for designing

calculations, suit for
checking calculations with
certain limitations

Best for checking

calculations, practically
effete for designing
calculations

Solutions exist for partial

cases (specific objects)

Versatile and flexible

Need much work to be

developed, but only
simple software for
application

Need expensive and

complex software and
hardware
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NUMERICAL METHODS OF
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Most widely used nowadays is
Finite Element Method (FEM).
The structural analysis using FEM is called finite
element analysis (FEA).

Generally, FEM is just a method to solve

differential equations.
The physical background of FEM is the same as in
analytical methods.
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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

The smooth field of stresses is calculated using the combination
of basic functions, which are constructed on a mesh.

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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Software work on principle GIGO: garbage in garbage out

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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Software work on principle GIGO: garbage in garbage out

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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Software work on principle GIGO: garbage in garbage out

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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

Even if the result is realistic,
you should always check it.
Its not a big problem
to create a nice picture using FEA.
The problem is to get the reliable and verified result.
Thats a difference between professional and
beginner.
FEA is a way to find a stress state,
but not the way to design or to check the strength!
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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

Object

FEM model

base

load

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

Assignment
of parameters

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS
35 finite elements
in model

Deformed
shape
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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

Optimization
took 7
minutes on
average
office PC.
990 points
were studied.

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EXAMPLE TO COMPARE ANALYTICAL AND

NUMERICAL METHODS

Analytical method

Finite element analysis

Displacement is 7.66 m
(or 8.07 m in FEA)

Displacement is 7.81 m
(or 8.22 m in FEA)

D1=67 m, 1=2 m,

D1=58 m, 1=2 m,

2= 11.23 mm

2= 13 mm

Need only simple

software for application

Need expensive and

complex software
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METHODS OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Analytical methods

Numerical methods

Best for designing

calculations, suit for
checking calculations with
certain limitations

Best for checking

calculations, practically
effete for designing
calculations

Solutions exist for partial

cases (specific objects)

Versatile and flexible

Need much work to be

developed, but only
simple software for
application

Need expensive and

complex software and
hardware
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EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATING THE DESIGN OF FINITE

ELEMENT MODEL
Shell model.
12K elements in
model, around 5
minutes to solve
on poor office PC

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EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATING THE DESIGN OF FINITE

ELEMENT MODEL
Solid model.
250K elements, around 20
minutes to solve on powerful PC
(4x4.2GHz processor,
16 GB memory).

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EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATING THE DESIGN OF FINITE

ELEMENT MODEL

Difference?

Certain there is a difference, but for some results it is negligible.

Thus, the model should be built according to problem,
as in analytical methods

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FINITE ELEMENT SOFTWARE

Widely used nowadays:
ANSYS;
Patran/Nastran;
ABAQUS;
Solidworks Simulation (former COSMOS);
And many-many others, freeware and proprietary
Any difference? Generally, no difference. FEA
packages are often customized to be more convenient
for some specific problems. But for most cases,
differences between packages and limitations have
marketing but not the technical reason.
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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD HISTORICAL

PROGRESS
1940

Theoretical aspects were developed for the

first time

1950,
1960

Theoretical background was developed, the

rise of computer power allowed to make first
specific software

1970

Large general-purpose packages appeared

(ANSYS, NASTRAN)

1980

Graphical pre- and post-processing

1990

Rise of the role of automatic meshing, and

thus the model scale

2000

Multi-disciplinary and large-scale problems

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PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF FEA

SOTWARE
Pre-processor

Construction of the model, setting

the properties, loads, constraints
etc.

Solver

Solution itself. Two main types of

solvers are iterative or sparse .

Post-precessor

Looking on results, processing of

results, generating nice figures
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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD OLD

INTERFACE

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FINITE ELEMENT METHOD MODERN

INTERFACE

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CONCLUSIONS
Analytical method does not mean by hand or on
paper, modern software can give large benefits.
Numerical methods are very exacting in terms of
software and hardware.
FEA is not a magic key that opens every door. Its
just a versatile and effective tool to calculate stresses.
Deep insight is required for successful structural
analysis, no matter is it analytics of FEA.
Generally, analytical methods are good for
designing, FEA for checking. However, in many
cases both of methods can be used for both phases of
analysis.
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CONCLUSIONS
What does it mean to be a professional in structural
analysis?
Knowledge of complex formulas? Usage of modern
software?
Neither of it is an answer. Answer is a deep
understanding of how the structure works, and
application of proper methods according to the given
problem.
Analytical and numerical methods loss their
disadvantages when they are combined together.
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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION?

BOOKS AND USEFUL LINKS
Good book about structural analysis and Ansys is
E. Madenci, I.Guven. The Finite Element Method and Applications in
Engineering Using ANSYS, 2006

Very useful links are:

Official website resource library ansys.com
Resourse for Ansys users ansys.net
Perfect forum (not for beginners, though) xansys.org
Youtube (its not a joke, search Ansys for amazing training
videos) youtube.com
Internet is boundless

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TOPIC OF THE NEXT LECTURE

Statically determinate trusses

All materials of our course are available

at department website k102.khai.edu
1. Go to the page
2. Press Structural Mechanics (lecturer Vakulenko S.V.)
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