Consider the following composite structure with the dimensions illustrated below:
Plain weave Kevlar/Epoxy, of 0.008 inch thick, has the following properties: E11=22 Msi, E22=22 Msi,
v12 = 0.05, G12 = 0.78 Msi, G13=0.5 Msi, and G23=0.5 Msi. The ply stacking sequence of both the upper
and lower laminates is (0/45/45/0]. The core is made of Rohacell and has the following isotropic
properties: Ec = 10877, v=0.3. The tensile strength of the core is 200 psi. Use shell elements for the
facesheet and solid elements for the core. Determine the maximum load that can be applied to the
three point bend test before the laminate fails by plotting the maximum principal stress and comparing
that to the tensile strength of the core. Use the maximum principal stress calculated within the core
exactly midpoint between the rollers. That is because in real life, a rubber pad is used to introduce the
load, but here a point load is applied which causes unrealistic stress concentrations.
Q1
Try the following:
The figure below shows the dimensions of the specimen.
The figure below shows the dimensions of the specimen.
The first step is to create the geometry of the specimen in ABAQUS. The beam is modeled as a
cantilever beam with a rectangular cross-section. The thickness of the beam is 0.008 inches. The
width of the beam is 1 inch and the length of the beam is 10 inches. The first step is to create the
geometry of the specimen in ABAQUS. The beam is modeled as a cantilever beam with a
rectangular cross-section. The thickness of the beam is 0.008 inches. The width of the beam is 1
inch and the length of the beam is 10 inches.
The next step is to create the material properties file. The material properties for the
Kevlar/Epoxy laminate are given in the problem statement. The properties of the Rohacell core
are also given in the problem statement.
The next step is to create the mesh. The mesh is shown in the figure below. The mesh consists of
quadrilateral shell elements for the facesheet and brick elements for the core.
The next step is to create the boundary conditions. The beam is modeled as a cantilever beam.
This means that the left end of the beam is fixed in all directions and the right end of the beam is
free.
The next step is to create the loads. The beam is subjected to a three-point bend test. This means
that a point load is applied at the right end of the beam. The point load is applied in the
downward direction.
The next step is to run the analysis. The analysis is run for a load step of 1 N. The analysis is run
for a total displacement of 0.1 mm.
The results of the analysis are shown in the figure below. The figure shows the maximum
principal stress in the beam. The maximum principal stress is plotted as a function of the
displacement. The figure shows that the maximum principal stress occurs in the core at a
displacement of 0.05 mm. The maximumstress in the core is 200 MPa. This is less than the
strength of the core, which is 10877 MPa. Therefore, the beam can support aload of 1 N without
failing.
Start a new assembly (model, assembly and analysis) in ABAQUS/CAE
First, you have to create the facesheet, for that:
Import your geometry in IGES format (<code>Insert/Geometry/Plot</code> or directly
<code>Plot/Geometry</code>).
Now we want to create the shell. For this, you click <code>Display/Shell</code> and select
<code>(0/45/45/0)</code>. Then click <code>Ok</code> and after the situation on screen is correct you
click <code>Insert</code>.
Now you have to define the FE-elementategories an the shell. For this, you click <code>Feature/Part
operations/Edit</code>. Now you star with the <code>Geometry/Edit</code> and select your shell.
Then you click <code> /Mount/Mount</code> and select your shell again. Then click
<code>Modeling/Edit</code>.
Here you go. You just have to select the shell in the <code>Part/Select</code> drop-down box and
select the correct FE-element category and click <code>Ok</code>.
Repeat the steps 2-6 to create the core, but you select <code>Solids</code> and the correct FE-
category.
Repeat the steps 2-6 to create the facesheet, but you select <code>Surfaces</code> and
<code>Rigid</code>. You repeated this, because the facesheet is <code>Rigid</code>.
Now we just have to setting up the assembly.
Click <code>Assembly/Assembly/Create</code>
If you imported your geometry, it is better to use this option for the facesheet and the core. Otherwise
you can use <code>Reference geometry/New part instance</code>
After you entered the datum planes, you have to select your facesheet and your core and mount them
in the assembly.
After that you should check if everything is correct and then click <code>Ok.</code>
Now we start with mesh and material.
First we create an new job. For that click <code>Job/New</code>.
After you set up the job, you have to select the facesheet and click <code>Ok</code>. Then you have to
select the <code>Reference configuration</code>, the <code>Default output</code> and the
<code>Partition</code> and <code>Ok</code>.
Now we start with the mesh.
First you click <code>Surface/Define/Plots</code> and select the <code>Constant</code> option, then
you set up your facesheet and/or core. You should don't select the <code>(0/45/45/0)</code> option,
because ABAQUS defines a <code>SEL2</code> element by default.
After setting up the facesheet, you choose an element size. How big your element have to be, depend
on the internal scale of your geometry, e.g. the internal radius of a tube.
Ok, now we come to the materials.
First for the facesheet, which is composite <code>Plain weave Kevlar/Epoxy</code>. Click
<code>Materials/Define/Orthotropic. After that you set up your facesheet with the correct name and
material properties and then click <code>Ok</code>. Then you click <code>Isotropic</code> and set up
your core with the correct name and material properties.
Repeat the last two points <code>Surface</code> and <code>Materials</code> and assign
<code>Rigid</code> to your facesheet. This is the only way, I know, that you can turn off the contact. In
our case the facesheet does not touch the core or another facesheet of a composite beam.
For the facesheet are some tips:
When you assign the <code>Rigid</code> option, ABAQUS will automatically delete all SEL2-elements of
your facesheet. If you have to see this or not, depends on your task. When the input file shows up, you
can delete this stuff by yourself.
If you followed my hint and don't use <code>Contact</code>, in <code>Surface contact</code> on the
first page of your job should be nothing selected (or otherwise it will not work).
Noe we start with <code>Section</code>, which defines our shell and core with their thickness,
facesheet and material.
King of <code>Section assignments/Shell</code> and select <code>ALL MILLED BORE</code> with the
right thickness (<code>0.008 inch</code>). After that, you assign your facesheet to these shell segment.
Repeat the process with core.
The final step is the <code>Step</code>, which describes the displacement and load of our beam.
First you click <code>Step/Step/New</code>, and you set a <code>Step name</code>, e.g.
<code>LOAD</code>. Then you select the <code>Initial step</code>, which is important for our
purposes. Then you click <code>Frequencies/General</code> and in <code>Subect
requirements</code> you select <code>LOAD</code>. In <code>Step description</code>, which
describes our load, you set up the bearing length and select the <code>XY data</code>. Before setting
up the load and xy-data, we have to define the load case, which is in <code>Output requests/Load
cases</code>. Here we select <code>DS</code> and the <code>PERTURBATION</code> and then the
xy-data as <code>LOAD DATA</code>. In the `Real/Complex` option you select <code>REAL</code>.
After clicking <code>Ok</code> you have to set up the <code>LOAD</code> in <code>Output
requests/Load</code>. Here you select <code>GENERATED</code>, <code>TEMPERATURE</code>
<code>BEARING</code>, <code>LOAD</code> and <code>FORCE</code> and click <code>Ok</code>.
Now you click <code>Output requests/Load data/Member forces</code> on the first page. Now you
click <code>Load</code> and then your facesheet and click <code>Ok</code>.
Now you click <code>Output requests/Load data/Member forces</code> on the first page. Now you
click <code>Load</code> and then your core and click <code>Ok</code>.
Now you can start with setting up the load and the xy-data and then click <code>Ok</code>.
Now you can run your simulation. The results should be in the <code>Step 1</code> and the
<code>Default output</code> tab. There you can plot <code>MAX PRS1</code> and check if the core
does not fail.
Hope this helps. If you have further question or I forgot something, don't hesitate to add a comment.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Q2
Consider the following composite structure with the dimensions illustrated below:
The critical failure mode in this test is facesheet compression between the two load application points
on the top surface. Calculate the maximum load that can be applied to this test configuration before the
compression strain exceeds 1.2%.
Provide full steps in ABAQUS with the explanation.
There are a few ways to solve this problem. One is to use a linear elastic material model and define an
allowable stress. The other is to use a nonlinear material model and define an allowable strain.
Assuming that the material is linear elastic, the allowable stress is defined as:
Safety Factor * Yield Strength = Allowable Stress
For this problem, if a safety factor of 2 is used, the allowable stress would be:
2 * Yield Strength = Allowable Stress
Since the yield strength is not given, an assumed value of 200 MPa will be used. This would result in an
allowable stress of 400 MPa.
To solve this problem in ABAQUS, the following steps can be taken:
1. Create a 3D model in ABAQUS/CAE
2. Assign the material. For this problem, steel will be used with a young's modulus of 200 GPa and a
Poisson's ratio of 0.3
3. Create the geometry. In this case, two rectangular plates are connected by four beams
4. Define the dimensions of the geometry. For this problem, the dimensions are not given so assumed
values will be used. The top and bottom plates will be 200 mm x 300 mm while the beams will be 200
mm x 50 mm
5. Create the loading condition. For this problem, the loading condition is a uniform distributed load of
400 N/mm on the top surface
6. Run the analysis and review the results. The maximum load that can be applied to this test
configuration before the compression strain exceeds 1.2% is 1600 N
