ME471 Finite Element Project

 

General Instructions

 

ANSYS works on SUN Workstations.

Steps to follow:

 

  1. To login on the system you must enter your user name and password.
  2. This is done only for the first time of your login:

Edit file .cshrc in your home directory. Use Xterm window and type:

emacs .cshrc

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

if (-e $SOFT/ansys) then

      source $SOFT/ansys

endif

After you close the text editor and return to the prompt, type the line below for
the changes to take the effect.
 
   source .cshrc
 
You are now ready to run ANSYS. Please note that the next time
you want to run Ansys, you do not need to perform the command above

since your .cshrc file has been changed and saved.

  1. To run ANSYS

Open Xterm window and type at the prompt part a and then part b:

    1. cd /egr/courses/group/me471/groupno
    2. ansys70 –p ANSYSUH –g yes

 

  1. To run the tutorial:

In the ANSYS window, on the top menu, click on HELP -> ANSYS Tutorials

 

 

 

  1. To open a NEW FILE in ANSYS

Open the File menu and select Clear & Start New or click on the New Analysis icon in the toolbar.

  1. To Save a file in ANSYS

Click on the file menu and select Save As or click on the Save Analysis icon in the toolbar.

Save your file in the /egr/courses/group/me471/groupno/ directory.

 

Additional information:

http://www.egr.msu.edu/decs/facilities/software/ansys.php

 

Text Box: Hint: save your work in a special file after you complete the geometric description and input the material properties and element types but before you mesh the part. Then restart from this file every time you want to create a different mesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ME471 Finite Element Project

 

In this project you are asked to use a commercial finite element package (ANSYS) to perform a static stress analysis of a bracket in two different configurations and report your findings in a formal, technical report. You will be evaluated based on the completeness and quality of the report. Important guidelines are stated in the following pages.

 

Problem A. The reference design.

Analyze the L-shaped bracket as defined in the ANSYS tutorial Static Analysis of a Corner Bracket. Use the dimensions given in the tutorial, but Young’s modulus (E), and the minimum and maximum values of the linearly varying load are as listed below:

  • Material: A36 steel
  • Modulus of Elasticity: 30 ´ 106 psi
  • Poisson’s Ratio: 0.27
  • Yield strength: 48 ´ 103 psi
  • Pmax: 400 psi
  • Pmin: 40 psi

 

Perform the analysis for three different mesh sizes with different levels of refinement

  1. Coarse mesh: using an element edge length of 0.5 in the Global Element Size (see step 17.3 in the tutorial).
  2. Medium mesh: using an element edge length of 0.3
  3. Fine mesh: using an element edge length of 0.1

 

Report, in each case

2a The maximum Von Mises stress in the bracket.

2b The (x,y) location of the maximum Von Mises stress.

2c The deflection in the x and y directions of the top right hand corner (TRHC) of the

bracket, i.e., location x=6", y=1".

Problem B. A design variation.

Repeat Problem A, but now place a hole of RADIUS 0.7" at location x=5.0", y=0.0". In this

problem use only the fine mesh defined in Problem A (1c), and report on the same issues listed above in 2a-c.

 

Notes

 

  • This is a MANDATORY group project (work together with your design group). 
  • You should turn in the report on or before April 27th (please hand it to TA or put it in Bhushan Ekbote’s mail box at EB2518). If you have any questions pertaining to this project or the report, please contact design TA.
  • Use the ANSYS version running in the SUN workstations (see http://www.egr.msu.edu/decs/facilities/software/ansys.php)
  •  Save your work often!
  • File space has been provided for you in directory /egr/courses/group/me471/groupno. To avoid running out of space (and loosing your results!) make sure you start ANSYS from that directory and set the Working Directory to /egr/courses/group/me471/groupno in the first screen (After you start "Interactive …")