Lab Name: Using ANSYS to Linear Buckling Analysis

Course title: Finite Element Method Total Marks: 20

Practical No. 7 Date of experiment performed: _____|_____|_________

Course teacher/Lab Instructor: Dr Salman Hussain Date of marking: _____|_____|_________

Student Name: ____________________________

Registration No. 21-IE- Group: ______

Marking Evaluation Sheet

Knowledge components Domain Contribution Max.

Taxonomy level Obtained marks
marks

Student has successfully demonstrated

the use of Ansys Environment and its 4
Manipulate (P2)
Elements

Student has successfully carried out

all the steps (pre-processing, solution Psychomotor 75% 6
Manipulate (P2)
and Post processing) systematically
for Stress analysis using ANSYS.

Student has shown the ability to

change the conditions of the 4
Manipulate (P2)
simulation.

Student has showed discipline and

followed the instruction provided Affective Receiving (A2) 5% 2
during the lab.

Student has understanding of the Cognitive 20% 4

Understand (A2)
software.

Total 20

Normalize
marks out of (5)
5

Signed by Course teacher/ Lab Instructor

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1. Linear Buckling Analysis
1.1. Lab Overview
In this lab, performing linear buckling analyses in Mechanical will be covered.
• Contents:
1. Background on Buckling
2. Buckling y Analysis Procedure
3. Lab Session
• The capabilities described in this section are generally applicable to ANSYS DesignSpace Entra licenses and
above.
– Some options discussed in this lab may require more advanced licenses, but these are noted accordingly.
2. Background on Buckling

• Many structures require an evaluation of their

structural stability. Thin columns, compression
members, and vacuum tanks are all examples of
structures where stability considerations are
important.
• At the onset of instability (buckling) a structure will
have a very large change in displacement {Δx} under
essentially no change in the load (beyond a small load
perturbation).

• Eigenvalue or linear buckling analysis predicts the theoretical buckling strength of an ideal linear elastic
structure.
• This method corresponds to the textbook approach of linear elastic buckling analysis.
– The eigenvalue buckling solution of a Euler column will match the classical Euler solution.
• Imperfections and nonlinear behavior prevent most real-world structures from achieving their theoretical
elastic buckling strength. Linear buckling generally yields unconservative results.
• Linear buckling will not account for:
– Material response that is inelastic.
– Nonlinear effects.
– Imperfections in the structure which are not modeled (dents etc.).
• Although unconservative, linear buckling has various advantages:
– It is computationally cheaper than a nonlinear buckling analysis and should be run as a first step to estimate
the critical load (load at the onset of buckling).
• Relative comparisons can be made of the effect of differences in design to buckling
– Linear buckling can be used as a design tool to determine what the possible buckling mode shapes may be.
• The way in which a structure may buckle can be used as a possible guide in design.
• For a linear buckling analysis, the eigenvalue problem below is solved to get the buckling load multiplier λi
and buckling modes ψi:

Assumptions:
– [K] and [S] are constant:
• Linear elastic material behavior is assumed
• Small deflection theory is used, and no nonlinearities included
• It is important to remember these assumptions related to performing linear buckling analyses in Mechanical.
2. Buckling Analysis Procedure
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• A Static Structural analysis will need to be performed prior to (or in conjunction with) a buckling analysis.
The steps in italics are specific to buckling analyses.
– Attach Geometry – Assign Material Properties – Define Contact Regions (if applicable) – Define Mesh
Controls (optional) – Include Loads and Supports – Solve Static Structural Analysis – Link a
Linear Buckling Analysis – Set Initial Conditions – Request Results – Solve the Model –
Review Results
2.1. Geometry and Material Properties
• Any type of geometry supported by Mechanical may be used in buckling analyses:
– Solid bodies
– Surface bodies (with appropriate thickness defined)
– Line bodies (with appropriate cross-sections defined)
• Only buckling modes and displacement results are available for line bodies.
– Although Point Masses may be included in the model, only inertial loads affect point masses, so the
applicability of this feature may be limited in buckling analyses
• For material properties, Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s Ratio are required as a minimum
2.2. Contact Regions
• Contact regions are available in free vibration analyses, however, contact behavior will differ for the nonlinear
contact types exactly as with modal analyses.

2.3. Loads and Supports

• At least one structural load, which causes buckling, should be applied to the model:
– All structural loads will be multiplied by the load multiplier (λ) to determine the buckling load (see below).
– Compression-only supports are not recommended.
– The structure should be fully constrained to prevent rigid-body motion. F x λ = Buckling Load
In a buckling analysis all applied loads (F) are scaled by a multiplication factor (λ)
until the critical (buckling) load is reached
• Special considerations must be given if constant and proportional loads are present.
– The user may iterate on the buckling solution adjusting the variable, adjusting the variable loads until
the load multiplier becomes 1.0 or nearly 1.0.
– Consider the example of a column with self-weight WO and an externally applied force A.
– A solution can be reached by iterating while adjusting the value of A until λ = 1.0. This insures the
self-weight = actual weight or Wo * λ = Wo.

2.4. Buckling Setup

Buckling analyses are always coupled to a structural analysis within the project schematic.
– The “Pre-Stress” object in the tree contains the results from a structural analysis.
– The Details view of the “Analysis Settings” under the Linear Buckling branch allows the user to specify the
number of buckling modes to find.

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2.5. Solving the Model
• After setting up the model the buckling
analysis can be solved along with the
static structural analysis.
– A linear buckling analysis is more
computationally expensive than a static
analysis on the same model.
– The “Solution Information” branch
provides detailed solution output.

2.6. Reviewing Results

• After the solution is complete, the
buckling modes can be reviewed:
– The Load Multiplier for each
buckling mode is shown in the Details
view as well as the graph and chart
areas. The load multiplier times the
applied loads represent the predicted
buckling load.

• Interpreting the Load Multiplier (λ):

– The tower model below has been solved twice. In
the first case a unit load is applied. In the second
an expected load applied (see next page)

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• Interpreting the Load Multiplier (λ):

• The buckling load multipliers can be reviewed in the

“Timeline” section of the results under the “Linear
Buckling” analysis branch
– It is good practice to request more than one buckling
mode to see if the structure may be able to buckle in
more than one way under a given applied load.

3. Lab Session
3.1. Goals
• The goal in this workshop is to verify linear buckling results in ANSYS Mechanical. Results will be compared
to closed form calculations from a handbook.
• Next, we will apply an expected load of 10,000 lbf to the model and determine its factor of safety.
• Finally, we will verify that the structure’s material will not fail before buckling occurs.
3.2. Assumptions
• The model is a steel pipe that is assumed to be fixed at one end and free at the other with a purely compressive
load applied to the free end. Dimensions and properties of the pipe are:
• OD = 4.5 in ID = 3.5 in. E = 30e6 psi, I = 12.7 in^4, L = 120 in.
• In this case we assume the pipe conforms to the following handbook formula where P’ is the critical load:

• For the case of a fixed / free beam the parameter K = 0.25.

• Using the formula and data from the previous page we can predict the buckling load will be:

3.3. Project Schematic

1. Double click Static Structural in the Toolbox to
create a new system.

2. Drag/drop a “Linear Buckling” system onto the

“Solution” cell of the static structural system.

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• When the schematic is correctly set up it should appear as shown here.

• The “drop target” from the previous page indicates the outcome of
the drag and drop operation. Cells A2 thru A4 from system (A) are
shared by system (B). Similarly, the solution cell A6 is transferred to
the system B setup. In fact, the structural solution drives the buckling
analysis.
• Verify that the Project units are set to “US Customary (lbm, in, s, F,
A, lbf, V).
• Verify units are set to “Display Values in Project Units”.

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3.4. Preprocessing

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3.5. Environment

3.6. Results
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 • When the solution completes note the “Load Multiplier” field now
shows a value of 6.56. Since we now have a “real world” load
applied, the load multiplier is interpreted as the buckling factor of
safety for the applied load.

• Given that we have already calculated a buckling load of 65600

lbf, the result is obviously trivial (65600 / 10000). It is shown here
only for completeness.

3.7. Verification
• A final step in the buckling analysis is added here as a “best practices” exercise.
• We have already predicted the expected buckling load and calculated the factor of safety for our expected
load. The results so far ONLY indicate results as they relate to buckling failure. To this point we can say
nothing about how our expected load will affect the stresses and deflections in the structure.
• As a final check we will verify that the expected load (10000 lbf) will not cause excessive stresses or
deflections before it is reached.

14. Review Stresses for 10,000lbf load:

a. Highlight the “Solution” branch under the “Static Structural”
environment (A6).
b. RMB > Insert > Stress > Equivalent Von Mises Stress.
c. RMB > Insert > Deformation > Total.
d. Solve.

• A quick check of the stress results shows the model as loaded is well within the mechanical limits of the
material being used (Engineering Data shows compressive yield = 36,259 psi).
• As stated, this is not a required step in a buckling analysis but should be regarded as good engineering
practice.

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 4. LAB REPORT
Prepare the Lab Report as below:
TITLE:

OBJECTIVES:

1. Explain the concept of structural stability and why it is important in engineering.

2. Outline the steps involved in a linear buckling analysis using ANSYS.
3. In a linear buckling analysis, what assumptions are made regarding material behavior and structural deformation?
4. How can the load multiplier (λ) in linear buckling analysis be interpreted in terms of structural stability?
5. Given a steel pipe with specific properties, perform a linear buckling analysis in ANSYS, and compare the results with
theoretical calculations. Explain any discrepancies.
6. Calculate the factor of safety for a specific load applied to a structure in a linear buckling analysis. Explain its
significance.
7. What is the effect of changing the Young's Modulus (E) of the material on the buckling load in a linear buckling analysis?
Values Expected Results: Observe how changing the Analysis Outcome: Interpret
material stiffness affects the critical buckling load how the material properties
Factors to (buckling strength). influence structural stability.
Change:
Young's
Modulus (E)

8. How does altering the applied force magnitude impact the factor of safety for a given structure in a linear buckling analysis?
Values Expected Results: Determine how the factor of Analysis Outcome: Assess the
safety changes as the applied load varies. impact of different loads on the
Factors to safety of the structure.
Change:
Applied
Force
(Load)

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