Lecture 9

ENGG302/MECH452
Introduction to Finite
Element Analysis
Lecture 9
Dr Anas Batou
Assessment 4: modelling a composite beam
Composite beam
• The section is made up of multiple materials, example:

L
Material 1 Material 2
Reinforcements Matrix
Fixed
Composite beam
pressure p
• Can it be replaced by an equivalent beam model?
Equivalent force F
Objectives
1) Study the mechanical behaviour of the full 3D model:
- Static analysis.
- Buckling analysis
- Modal analysis
2) Construct an equivalent beam model:

Calculate the beam properties using the results of the static analysis.
3) Study the mechanical behaviour of the equivalent beam model:

- Static analysis.
- Buckling analysis
- Modal analysis
- Comparison with the results obtained with the 3D model
To do:
a) Choose the parameter for the matrix: geometry, material properties.

Slender beam (beam length> 10* largest section length)
b) Choose the parameters for the reinforcements:

- Quantity and positions.
- Geometry, material properties.
c) Construct the FE model on Abaqus and conduct a static analysis

(with a transverse load)
d) Run a buckling analysis (with now a longitudinal load)

e) Run a modal analysis.
To do:
To prescribe the pressure on the beam, use “surface traction” for both
the static analysis and the buckling analysis
To do:
2) Construct an equivalent 2D beam model:
It can be shown that:
You then have to calculate Ieq using a static analysis:
The deflection at the left end of the beam is
Calculating this deflection with the 3D model allows to determine Ieq.

To do:
You can directly prescribe Seq and Ieq for a 2D beam model:
.
To do:
Alternatively you can replace the complex section by an equivalent simple
beam section:
.
To do:
Alternatively, you can replace the complex section by an equivalent simple
beam section:
.
To do:
Alternatively, you can replace the complex section by an equivalent simple
beam section:
Be careful: it may happen that you find a negative value for b1 (or r1). It then
means that you can’t use an equivalent beam section for your case.
Solutions:
- Reduce the stiffness of the reinforcements.
- Use the other method.
To do:
3) Study the mechanical behaviour of the equivalent beam model:
a) Construct the FE model on Abaqus and conduct a static analysis

(with a transverse load)
b) Run a buckling analysis (with now a longitudinal load)
c) Run a modal analysis.
d) Compare with the results obtained with the 3D model in terms of:
- Accuracy
- Computational cost
Remark: when comparing the results, check the mode correspondence
(there are more modes for the 3D full model than for the simple 2D
model)
To do (master students only):
4) What happens if the beam is less slender?
a) Reduce the length of the beam and re-conduct the analysis
b) Interpret the results.

Assessment 4
• You have to write a report. Deadline: 13th of January.
• The choice of the composite beam is up to you:

- Choose realistic data.
- 1 student = 1 model (cases of plagiarism will be reported)
- The originality will be assessed.
- Be careful to the limitations of the student version of Abaqus if
you use it.
• The results have to be presented in a way that is compact, but

sufficiently detailed for someone who would like to replicate the
results.
Report Style
• Informative but brief.
• As a general rule, try not include unnecessary information.
• Do not detail which buttons were pressed and in what order etc;
this is not a tutorial.
• But you do want to provide enough detail for another Abaqus

user to replicate your results.
Report Style
Recommended layout:
• Introduction
• Model Development
• Geometry
• Element Selection & Material Properties
• Loading and Boundary Conditions
• Mesh Development
• Results
• Future Work
• References
Report Style
Recommended layout:
• Introduction
• Model Development
• Geometry
• Element Selection & Material Properties
• Loading and Boundary Conditions
• Mesh Development
• Results
• Future Work
• References
Length of the report:

- 10 pages max (excluding appendices) for Beng students.
- 12 pages max (excluding appendices) for Master students.
Report Style
Introduction
• Description of the problem scope.

• Description the approach that was used.
• Key results.
• 1 sentence describing future work (i.e., what you would do next
if you had more time).
Report Style
Model Development (Geometry)
• Explain your choices for the 3D model.
• Describe, with the help of figures, how the geometry of the

beam was constructed.
• Make sure that the figures clearly illustrate the dimensions of

the sketches that were used to create each part.
• What other assumptions were made for the equivalent beam

model? Can they be justified?
• Clearly describe and plot any mesh convergence studies that

were undertaken.
Report Style
Results
• Summarise the main findings from the simulation.
• All the result figures should be introduced, commented and

interpreted.
• Use this section to explore additional model validation:

• Are the results what you would expect?
• Do they justify some of the assumptions that were made during
model development?
Report Style
Future Work
• No model is every perfect.
• It’s important to state what, if you had more time and/or

resources, you would do next.
• What parts of the model development process would you

refine?
• What parts of the model development process would you leave

the same?
Report Style
And the usual stuff…
• Make sure the figures are readable and referenced correctly.
• Units!
• Make sure you refer to other literature in the correct style.
• Check your writing.

Good luck!

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ENGG302/MECH452

• The section is made up of multiple materials, example:

• Can it be replaced by an equivalent beam model?

2) Construct an equivalent beam model:

3) Study the mechanical behaviour of the equivalent beam model:

a) Choose the parameter for the matrix: geometry, material properties.

b) Choose the parameters for the reinforcements:

c) Construct the FE model on Abaqus and conduct a static analysis

d) Run a buckling analysis (with now a longitudinal load)

It can be shown that:

You then have to calculate Ieq using a static analysis:

The deflection at the left end of the beam is

Calculating this deflection with the 3D model allows to determine Ieq.

a) Construct the FE model on Abaqus and conduct a static analysis

b) Run a buckling analysis (with now a longitudinal load)

c) Run a modal analysis.

a) Reduce the length of the beam and re-conduct the analysis

b) Interpret the results.

• You have to write a report. Deadline: 13th of January.

• The choice of the composite beam is up to you:

• The results have to be presented in a way that is compact, but

• Informative but brief.

• As a general rule, try not include unnecessary information.

• But you do want to provide enough detail for another Abaqus

Length of the report:

• Description of the problem scope.

• Explain your choices for the 3D model.

• Describe, with the help of figures, how the geometry of the

• Make sure that the figures clearly illustrate the dimensions of

• What other assumptions were made for the equivalent beam

• Clearly describe and plot any mesh convergence studies that

• Summarise the main findings from the simulation.

• All the result figures should be introduced, commented and

• Use this section to explore additional model validation:

• No model is every perfect.

• It’s important to state what, if you had more time and/or

• What parts of the model development process would you

• What parts of the model development process would you leave

• Make sure the figures are readable and referenced correctly.

• Make sure you refer to other literature in the correct style.

• Check your writing.

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