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Part 1 Seminar Notes

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 2013 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Autodesk Simulation Mechanical 2014 Part 1 Seminar Notes

Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not be
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Introduction .................................................1
Overview ............................................................................................................................ 1
Software Installation, Services, and Support .................................................................... 1
Installing and Running Autodesk Simulation Mechanical .........................................1
System Requirements ...................................................................................................2
Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Help .........................................................................2
Subscription Center .......................................................................................................4
Web Links ......................................................................................................................4
Tutorials .........................................................................................................................5
"How to" Articles ........................................................................................................5
Autodesk Simulation TV ................................................................................................5
How to Receive Technical Support ...........................................................................5
Updates..........................................................................................................................6
Background of FEA ........................................................................................................... 7
What is Finite Element Analysis?..................................................................................7
Basic FEA Concepts .....................................................................................................7
How Does Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Work?................................................. 10
The General Flow of an Analysis in Autodesk Simulation Mechanical .................... 10
Stress and Strain Review ................................................................................................ 11
Equations Used in the Solution .................................................................................. 11
Limits of Static Stress with Linear Material Models ................................................... 12
Mechanical Event Simulation (MES) Overcomes Limitations .................................. 12
Hand-Calculated Example ......................................................................................... 13
Heat Transfer Review ...................................................................................................... 13
Equations Used in the Solution .................................................................................. 13
Linear Dynamics Review ................................................................................................. 14
Equation for Dynamic Analyses ................................................................................. 14

Chapter 1: Using Autodesk Simulation Mechanical ............15

Chapter Objectives .......................................................................................................... 15
Navigating the User Interface .......................................................................................... 15
Commands ................................................................................................................. 17
Using the Keyboard and Mouse ................................................................................ 18
Introduction to the View Cube .................................................................................... 19
Additional View Controls ............................................................................................ 20
Legacy View Controls in Autodesk Simulation Mechanical ...................................... 22
Steel Yoke Example ........................................................................................................ 22
Opening and Meshing the Model............................................................................... 23
Setting up the Model................................................................................................... 24
Analyzing the Model ................................................................................................... 28
Reviewing the Results ................................................................................................ 28
Viewing the Displaced Shape .................................................................................... 29
Creating an Animation ................................................................................................ 29
Generating a Report ................................................................................................... 29

Chapter 2: Static Stress Analysis Using CAD Solid Models ....33

Chapter Objectives .......................................................................................................... 33
Archiving a Model ............................................................................................................ 33
Types of Brick Elements .................................................................................................. 34

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Generating Meshes for CAD Models .............................................................................. 35

Creating a Mesh ......................................................................................................... 36
Model Mesh Settings Options ................................................................................. 37
Tips for Modeling for FEA with CAD Solid Modelling Software ...................................... 39
Simplify CAD Solid Models with Autodesk Inventor Fusion............................................ 40
Working with Various Unit Systems ................................................................................ 41
Loading Options............................................................................................................... 42
Load Cases................................................................................................................. 44
Constraint Options ........................................................................................................... 45
Modeling Symmetry and Antisymmetry..................................................................... 46
Design Scenarios............................................................................................................. 47
Load and Constraint Group ............................................................................................. 48
Local Coordinate Systems .............................................................................................. 49
Defining Materials and Using the Material Library Manager ........................................... 50
Adding Material Libraries and Material Properties .................................................... 52
Examples of Loads and Constraints ............................................................................... 54
When to Use Displacement Boundary Elements ...................................................... 54
Using Local Coordinate Systems............................................................................... 54
Using Surface Variable Loads ................................................................................... 58

Exercise A: Frame Full to Quarter-Symmetry Model Comparison ...................... 63

Chapter 3: Results Evaluation and Presentation ..............65

Chapter Objectives .......................................................................................................... 65
Background on How Results are Calculated .................................................................. 65
How to Evaluate Results ................................................................................................. 66
Displacement Results................................................................................................. 66
Stress Results............................................................................................................. 68
Reaction Force Results .............................................................................................. 70
Inquiring on the Results at a Node............................................................................. 70
Graphing the Results.................................................................................................. 71
Presentation Options ....................................................................................................... 73
Contour Plots .............................................................................................................. 73
Image File Creation .................................................................................................... 77
Animating FEA Results .............................................................................................. 78
Using the Configure Report Utility.............................................................................. 79

Exercise B: Yoke Evaluation of Results and Generation of a Report ................. 81

Chapter 4: Midplane Meshing and Plate Elements ..............83

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Chapter Objectives .......................................................................................................... 83

Meshing Options.............................................................................................................. 83
Element Options .............................................................................................................. 87
Plate Theory and Assumptions .................................................................................. 87
Loading Options............................................................................................................... 88
Example of Defining the Element Normal Point ........................................................ 89
Result Options ................................................................................................................. 92

Exercise C: Midplane Meshing and Plate Element Orientation ............................... 93

Chapter 5: Meshing ..........................................95

Chapter Objectives .......................................................................................................... 95
Refinement Options ......................................................................................................... 95
Automatic Refinement Points..................................................................................... 95
Global Refinement Options ........................................................................................ 97

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Creating Joints ................................................................................................................. 99

Creating Bolts ................................................................................................................ 101
Mesh Convergence Testing .......................................................................................... 103
Performing a Mesh Study......................................................................................... 104

Exercise D: Yoke and Clevis Assembly .................................................................. 105

Chapter 6: Introduction to Contact .........................107

Chapter Objectives ........................................................................................................ 107
Uses for Contact ............................................................................................................ 107
Contact Options ............................................................................................................. 107
Setting up Contact Pairs........................................................................................... 107
Types of Contact ...................................................................................................... 108
Surface Contact Direction ........................................................................................ 111
Contact Example ........................................................................................................... 112
How to Model Shrink Fits: ........................................................................................ 112
Shrink Fit Example......................................................................................................... 113
Case 1 Shrink Fit / No Sliding ............................................................................... 114
Case 2 Shrink Fit / Sliding ..................................................................................... 117
Result Options ............................................................................................................... 118

Exercise E: Yoke Assembly with Contact .............................................................. 119

Chapter 7: Introduction to Linear Dynamics .................121

Chapter Objectives ........................................................................................................ 121
Modal Analysis............................................................................................................... 121
Weight ....................................................................................................................... 122
Load Stiffening ............................................................................................................... 123
Example of Natural Frequency (Modal) Analysis.......................................................... 124
Meshing the Model ................................................................................................... 125
Adding Constraints ................................................................................................... 126
Defining the Materials ............................................................................................... 126
Analyzing the Model ................................................................................................. 126
Reviewing the Results .............................................................................................. 126
Critical Buckling Analysis ............................................................................................... 127
Setting Up a Critical Buckling Analysis .................................................................... 128
Result Options ............................................................................................................... 129
Other Linear Dynamics Analyses .................................................................................. 129

Exercise F: Concrete Platform ............................................................................... 131

Chapter 8: Steady-State Heat Transfer ......................133

Chapter Objectives ........................................................................................................ 133
3-D Radiator Example ................................................................................................... 133
Meshing the Model ................................................................................................... 134
Setting up the Model................................................................................................. 135
Analyzing the Model ................................................................................................. 136
Reviewing the Results .............................................................................................. 136
Meshing Options............................................................................................................ 137
Thermal Contact ....................................................................................................... 137
Element Options ............................................................................................................ 139
Rod Elements ........................................................................................................... 139
2-D Elements ............................................................................................................ 139
Plate Elements.......................................................................................................... 140
Brick and Tetrahedral Elements............................................................................... 141

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Loading Options............................................................................................................. 143

Nodal Loads.............................................................................................................. 143
Surface Loads........................................................................................................... 145
Element Loads.......................................................................................................... 150
Body-to-Body Radiation ........................................................................................... 152
Controlling Nonlinear Iterations ................................................................................ 155
Result Options ............................................................................................................... 157

Exercise G: Infrared Detector Model ...................................................................... 159

Chapter 9: Transient Heat Transfer .........................161

Chapter Objectives ........................................................................................................ 161
When to Use Transient Heat Transfer .......................................................................... 161
Element Options ............................................................................................................ 161
Loading Options............................................................................................................. 162
Load Curves ............................................................................................................. 162
Controlling Nodal and Surface Controlled Temperatures ....................................... 163
Result Options ............................................................................................................... 164

Exercise H: Transistor Case Model ........................................................................ 165

Chapter 10: Thermal Stress .................................167

Chapter Objectives ........................................................................................................ 167
Multiphysics Overview ................................................................................................... 167
Performing a Thermal Stress Analysis .......................................................................... 168

Exercise I: Disk Brake Rotor Heat-up and Stress .................................................. 171

Appendix A Finite Element Method Using Hand Calculations ..173

Model Description and Governing Equations................................................................ 175
Hand-Calculation of the Finite Element Solution .......................................................... 177
Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Example ................................................................. 178

Appendix B Analysis Types in Autodesk

Simulation Mechanical ..........................181
Background on the Different Analysis Types ................................................................ 183
Choosing the Right Analysis Type for Your Application ............................................... 189
Combining Analysis Types for Multiphysics Scenarios................................................. 192

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Appendix C Material Model Options .........................193

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