12.

Loading & Solution

These loads account for four of the five main categories. In

this chapter, we will account for the remaining category
concentrated loads, such as nodal forces in a stress analysis.

Structural temperatures (body loads)

Gravity (inertia loads)

Pressure and convection (surface loads)

Displacement (DOF constraints)

So far, we have seen how to apply the following types of

loads:

Overview

Loading & Solution

E. Workshop

D. Multiple Load Steps

C. Solvers

B. Nodal Coordinate System

A. Force Loads

We will cover the following topics in this chapter:

...Overview

Loading & Solution

Point loads such as forces are

appropriate for line element models
such as beams, spars, and springs.

In solid and shell models, point loads

usually cause a stress singularity,
but are acceptable if you ignore
stresses in the vicinity. Remember,
you can use select logic to ignore
the elements in the vicinity of the
point load.

A force is a concentrated load (or

point load) that you can apply at a
node or keypoint.

A. Force Loads

Loading & Solution

When the nodes and elements in the vicinity of the force are
unselected, SMAX (=6141) moves to the bottom corner, which
is another singularity (because of the displacement
constraint at the corner).

In the 2-D solid model shown at bottom left, notice that

maximum stress SMAX (=12064) is reported at the location of
the force.

...Force Loads

Loading & Solution

By unselecting nodes and elements near the bottom corner,

you get the expected stress distribution with SMAX (=3946)
near the top hole.

...Force Loads

Loading & Solution

For example, suppose a cylindrical shell of radius r has an edge

load of P lb/in. To apply this load on a 2-D axisymmetric shell model
(SHELL51 elements, for example), you would specify a force of 2rP.

2rP lb

Output values (reaction forces) are also based on the full 360.

P lb/in

Input values of forces are based on the full 360.

Note that for axisymmetric models:

...Force Loads

Loading & Solution

Question: In which coordinate system are FX, FY, and FZ

interpreted?

Or the commands FK or F

Solution > -Loads- Apply > Force/Moment

Use:

direction of the force FX, FY, or FZ

force magnitude (which should be consistent with the system of

units you are using)

node or keypoint number (which you can identify by picking)

To apply a force, the following information is needed:

...Force Loads

Loading & Solution

Etc.

Reaction forces FX, FY, FZ, MX, MY, MZ

Calculated displacements UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ

Output quantities:

Etc.

Coupling and constraint equations

Displacement constraints UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, ROTY, ROTZ

Forces and moments FX, FY, FZ, MX, MY, MZ

Input quantities:

All forces, displacements, and other direction-dependent

nodal quantities are interpreted in the nodal coordinate
system.

B. Nodal Coordinate System

Loading & Solution

Y
X

Xn
Yn

Xn
Yn

Yn

Xn

Xn

By default, the nodal CS is parallel to global Cartesian, i.e, all

applied forces and displacement constraints are interpreted
in global Cartesian by default.

Yn

A nodal coordinate system is attached to every node in the

model.

...Nodal Coordinate System

Loading & Solution

To apply radial constraints

(perhaps to simulate a
rigid, press-fitted pin).

To apply radial forces.

To simulate an inclined
roller support.

For example:

If necessary, you can rotate

the nodal CS to a different
orientation.

...Nodal Coordinate System

Loading & Solution

Note: When you apply symmetry on anti-symmetry

boundary conditions, ANSYS automatically rotates
all nodes on that boundary.

4. Reactivate all nodes.

Or issue NROTAT,ALL.

3. Choose Preprocessor > Move/Modify > -Rotate Node CSTo Active CS, then press [Pick All] in the picker.

2. Activate the coordinate system (or create a local CS)

into which you want to rotate the nodes, e.g, CSYS,1.

1. Select the desired nodes.

To rotate nodes, use this four-step procedure:

...Nodal Coordinate System

Loading & Solution

Replot, and note the new direction of the loads.

Rotate all selected nodes into active system.

Now activate global Cartesian (CSYS,0).

Apply a UX displacement constraint (or an FX force) at all selected

nodes. Note the radial direction.

Rotate all selected nodes into active system.

Select nodes at radius = 0.35 and plot them.

Create local cylindrical CS at working plane origin.

Offset working plane to center of bottom circle (using average keypoint

location).

Resume rib.db.

Demo:

...Nodal Coordinate System

Loading & Solution

The solution could take anywhere from a few seconds to

several hours depending primarily on the size of the model
and the speed of your computer.

A linear static analysis with one load step requires only one
such solution, but a nonlinear or transient analysis may
require tens, hundreds, or even thousands of such solutions.

Therefore, the type of solver you choose for solution could

be important.

The function of the solver is to solve the system of linear

simultaneous equations representing the structures degrees
of freedom.

C. Solvers

Loading & Solution

JCG (Jacobi Conjugate Gradient)

ICCG (Incomplete Cholesky Conjugate Gradient)

PCG (Pre-conditioned Conjugate Gradient)

Iterative solvers

Sparse

Frontal

Direct elimination solvers

The solvers available in ANSYS can be categorized into two

types:

...Solvers

Loading & Solution

5. Calculate the DOF solution by back

substitution, then use element matrices
to calculate the element solution.

4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 for all elements until

all DOFs have been eliminated. The .tri
file now contains a triangularized matrix.

3. Eliminate any DOF that has a known

value or can be expressed in terms of
other DOFs, then write an equation to the
.tri file. The remaining DOFs constitute
the wavefront.

2. Read in degrees of freedom (DOF) for the

first element.

1. Formulate individual element matrices.

Direct elimination solvers calculate the

solution as follows:

...Solvers

Loading & Solution

Back-substitute
for solution

Assemble
and triangularize
global matrix

Formulate element
matrices

results
file

.tri
file

.emat
file

The wavefront is the number of DOF retained by the solver

during triangularization because they cannot yet be
eliminated. It swells and shrinks as the solution progresses,
and finally becomes zero when all DOF have been eliminated.

The value of wavefront directly affects solution time: the

higher the wavefront, the longer the solution time.

Reordering the elements choosing a proper order in which

elements are processed by the solver can reduce the
wavefront. ANSYS does automatic reordering at the
beginning of a solution.

...Solvers

Loading & Solution

The main difference between the

iterative solvers in ANSYS PCG,
JCG, ICCG is the type of preconditioner used.

4. Use element matrices to calculate the

element solution.

3. Start with an assumed zero value for all

DOF and iterate to convergence (based
on an input tolerance on residual force).

2. Assemble the global stiffness matrix.

1. Formulate individual element matrices.

Iterative solvers calculate the solution

as follows:

...Solvers

Loading & Solution

Iterate
to solution

Assemble
global matrix

Formulate element
matrices

results
file

.full
file

.emat
file

When robustness is required (nonlinear analysis) or

when memory is limited.

When to Use

JCG

50k 1000k+

50k 1000k+

When solution speed is crucial in multiphysics

applications. Handles models that have convergence
ICCG
difficulties with other iterative solvers (nearly indefinite
matrices).

When solution speed is crucial in "single-field" problems

(thermal, magnetics, acoustics, and multiphysics).

50k 1000k+

PCG

Low

High

Low

Low

Medium Low

High

High

10k - 500k
(more for
Medium High
shell &
beam
models)

< 50k

Model Size Memory Disk

(DOFs)
Use
Use

When solution speed is crucial (linear analysis of large

models, especially those with solid elements).

When robustness and solution speed are required

(nonlinear analysis); for linear analysis where iterative
Sparse
solvers are slow to converge (especially for illconditioned matrices, such as poorly shaped elements).

Frontal

Solver

...Solvers

Loading & Solution

The default is to use a program chosen solver [eqslv,-1],

which is usually the sparse direct solver.

Or use EQSLV command

Solution > -Analysis Type- Soln Control, then choose Soln Options
tab

To choose a solver:

...Solvers

Loading & Solution

Review results

Solve (one load step)

Apply loads

Mesh it

Import or create the model

So far, we have seen how to solve for one set of loading

conditions, i.e, one load step.

D. Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

Or apply each loading condition

separately and solve multiple load steps.

Solve for all loads together in a single

load step

If you have multiple loading conditions,

you can choose one of two ways:

...Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

By using multiple load steps, you can:

Load step file method

Multiple solve method

There are two ways to define and solve multiple load steps:

combine these responses in any desired fashion during

postprocessing, allowing you to study different what-if
scenarios. (This is called load case combination and is valid for
linear analyses only. It is covered in Chapter 14.)

isolate the structures response to each loading condition.

A load step can be defined as one set of loading conditions

for which you obtain a solution.

...Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

An extension of the single-loadstep solution, where you solve

each load step sequentially without
leaving the Solution processor.

Best suited for batch mode.

When used in interactive mode,

this method is useful only for
models that solve quickly.

Multiple Solve Method

...Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

Review results

Etc.

Solve (load step 3)

Apply different loads

Solve (load step 2)

Apply different loads

Solve (load step 1)

Apply loads

Mesh it

Import or create the model

After all load steps have been written

out, you can use one command
LSSOLVE or Solution > -Solve- From
LS Files to read in each file
sequentially and solve it.

Review results

Solve from LS files

Etc.

Write to LS file (.s03)

Apply different loads

Write to LS file (.s02)

Or use LSWRITE command.

The load step file is named

jobname.s01, .s02, .s03, etc.

Apply different loads

Write to LS file (.s01)

Apply loads

Mesh it

Import or create the model

Solution > -Load Step Opts- Write LS

File

In this case, instead of solving each

load step, you write the load step
information to a file, called the load
step file:

Load Step File Method

...Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

The advantage of the load step file method is that you can
interactively set up all load steps even for a large model and
then solve them while you are away from the computer.

Note: The loading commands on the load step file are always
in terms of nodes and elements, even if you apply loads on
the solid model.

...Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

The database contains the loads and results for the last load
step that was solved.

In postprocessing, you first read in the desired set of results

and then review them.

Results for each load step are appended to the results file and
identified as load step 1, load step 2, etc.

Loads applied in a previous load step will stay in the database

unless they are deleted. So be sure to delete any loads that are
not part of the current load step.

For both methods:

...Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

Review results for each load step separately

LSSOLVE,1,2

Write LS file 2

Delete the top pressure load

Apply pressure = 50 to 100 (tapered) on right line

Write LS file 1, then list it and show F.E. load commands

Apply pressure = 100 on top line

Fix left line in UX and bottom line in UY

Resume rib.db

Demo:

...Multiple Load Steps

Loading & Solution

W11C. Wheel

W11B. Connecting Rod

W11A. 3-D Bracket

This workshop consists of three exercises:

Refer to your Workshop Supplement for instructions.

E. Workshop

Loading & Solution