This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 to solve a simple buckling problem.

It is recommended that you complete the NonLinear Tutorial prior to beginning this
tutorial

Buckling loads are critical loads where certain types of structures become unstable.
Each load has an associated buckled mode shape; this is the shape that the structure
assumes in a buckled condition. There are two primary means to perform a buckling
analysis:

1. Eigenvalue

Eigenvalue buckling analysis predicts the theoretical buckling strength of an

ideal elastic structure. It computes the structural eigenvalues for the given
system loading and constraints. This is known as classical Euler buckling
analysis. Buckling loads for several configurations are readily available from
tabulated solutions. However, in real-life, structural imperfections and
nonlinearities prevent most real-world structures from reaching their
eigenvalue predicted buckling strength; ie. it over-predicts the expected
buckling loads. This method is not recommended for accurate, real-world
buckling prediction analysis.

2. Nonlinear

Nonlinear buckling analysis is more accurate than eigenvalue analysis because

it employs non-linear, large-deflection, static analysis to predict buckling
loads. Its mode of operation is very simple: it gradually increases the applied
load until a load level is found whereby the structure becomes unstable (ie.
suddenly a very small increase in the load will cause very large deflections).
The true non-linear nature of this analysis thus permits the modeling of
geometric imperfections, load perterbations, material nonlinearities and gaps.
For this type of analysis, note that small off-axis loads are necessary to initiate
the desired buckling mode.
This tutorial will use a steel beam with a 10 mm X 10 mm cross section, rigidly
constrained at the bottom. The required load to cause buckling, applied at the top-
center of the beam, will be calculated.

1. Open preprocessor menu

/PREP7

2. Give example a Title

Utility Menu > File > Change Title ...

/title,Eigen-Value Buckling Analysis

3. Define Keypoints

Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS ...
K,#,X,Y

We are going to define 2 Keypoints for this beam as given in the

following table:

Keypoints Coordinates (x,y)

1 (0,0)
2 (0,100)
4. Create Lines

Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > In Active Coord
L,1,2

Create a line joining Keypoints 1 and 2

5. Define the Type of Element

Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete...

For this problem we will use the BEAM3 (Beam 2D elastic) element.
This element has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y
axes, and rotation about the Z axis).

6. Define Real Constants

Preprocessor > Real Constants... > Add...

In the 'Real Constants for BEAM3' window, enter the following

geometric properties:

i. Cross-sectional area AREA: 100

ii. Area moment of inertia IZZ: 833.333
iii. Total Beam Height HEIGHT: 10

This defines a beam with a height of 10 mm and a width of 10 mm.

7. Define Element Material Properties

Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Elastic > Isotropic

In the window that appears, enter the following geometric properties

for steel:

i. Young's modulus EX: 200000

ii. Poisson's Ratio PRXY: 0.3
8. Define Mesh Size

Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines > All
Lines...

For this example we will specify an element edge length of 10 mm (10

element divisions along the line).

9. Mesh the frame

Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'
LMESH,ALL
1. Define Analysis Type

Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Static

ANTYPE,0

2. Activate prestress effects

To perform an eigenvalue buckling analysis, prestress effects must be

activated.

o You must first ensure that you are looking at the unabridged solution
menu so that you can select Analysis Options in the Analysis Type
submenu. The last option in the solution menu will either be
'Unabridged menu' (which means you are currently looking at the
abridged version) or 'Abriged Menu' (which means you are looking at
the unabridged menu). If you are looking at the abridged menu, select
the unabridged version.
o Select Solution > Analysis Type > Analysis Options
o In the following window, change the [SSTIF][PSTRES] item to
'Prestress ON', which ensures the stress stiffness matrix is calculated.
This is required in eigenvalue buckling analysis.

3. Apply Constraints
 Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints

Fix Keypoint 1 (ie all DOF constrained).

4. Apply Loads

Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On
Keypoints

The eignenvalue solver uses a unit force to determine the necessary

buckling load. Applying a load other than 1 will scale the answer by a
factor of the load.

Apply a vertical (FY) point load of -1 N to the top of the beam

(keypoint 2).

The applied loads and constraints should now appear as shown in the figure
below.

5. Solve the System

Solution > Solve > Current LS

SOLVE

6. Exit the Solution processor

Close the solution menu and click FINISH at the bottom of the Main
Menu.
FINISH

Normally at this point you enter the postprocessing phase. However, with a
buckling analysis you must re-enter the solution phase and specify the
 buckling analysis. Be sure to close the solution menu and re-enter it or the
buckling analysis may not function properly.

7. Define Analysis Type

Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Eigen Buckling
ANTYPE,1

8. Specify Buckling Analysis Options

o Select Solution > Analysis Type > Analysis Options
o Complete the window which appears, as shown below. Select 'Block
Lanczos' as an extraction method and extract 1 mode. The 'Block
Lanczos' method is used for large symmetric eigenvalue problems and
uses the sparse matrix solver. The 'Subspace' method could also be
used, however it tends to converge slower as it is a more robust solver.
In more complex analyses the Block Lanczos method may not be
adequate and the Subspace method would have to be used.

9. Solve the System

Solution > Solve > Current LS

SOLVE

10. Exit the Solution processor

Close the solution menu and click FINISH at the bottom of the Main
Menu.
FINISH

Again it is necessary to exit and re-enter the solution phase. This time,
however, is for an expansion pass. An expansion pass is necessary if you want
to review the buckled mode shape(s).

11. Expand the solution

 o Select Solution > Analysis Type > Expansion Pass... and ensure that
it is on. You may have to select the 'Unabridged Menu' again to make
this option visible.
o Select Solution > Load Step Opts > ExpansionPass > Single
Expand > Expand Modes ...
o Complete the following window as shown to expand the first mode

12. Solve the System

Solution > Solve > Current LS

SOLVE

1. View the Buckling Load

To display the minimum load required to buckle the beam select

General Postproc > List Results > Detailed Summary. The value
listed under 'TIME/FREQ' is the load (41,123), which is in Newtons
for this example. If more than one mode was selected in the steps
above, the corresponding loads would be listed here as well.
/POST1
SET,LIST

2. Display the Mode Shape

o Select General Postproc > Read Results > Last Set to bring up the
data for the last mode calculated.
o Select General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape
Ensure that you have completed the NonLinear Tutorial prior to beginning this
portion of the tutorial

1. Open preprocessor menu

/PREP7

2. Give example a Title

Utility Menu > File > Change Title ...

/TITLE, Nonlinear Buckling Analysis

3. Create Keypoints

Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS

K,#,X,Y

We are going to define 2 keypoints (the beam vertices) for this

structure to create a beam with a length of 100 millimeters:

Keypoint Coordinates (x,y)

1 (0,0)
2 (0,100)

4. Define Lines

Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line
 Create a line between Keypoint 1 and Keypoint 2.
L,1,2

5. Define Element Types

Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete...

For this problem we will use the BEAM3 (Beam 2D elastic) element.
This element has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y
axis's, and rotation about the Z axis). With only 3 degrees of freedom,
the BEAM3 element can only be used in 2D analysis.

6. Define Real Constants

Preprocessor > Real Constants... > Add...

In the 'Real Constants for BEAM3' window, enter the following

geometric properties:

i. Cross-sectional area AREA: 100

ii. Area Moment of Inertia IZZ: 833.333
iii. Total beam height HEIGHT: 10

This defines an element with a solid rectangular cross section 10 x 10

millimeters.

7. Define Element Material Properties

Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Elastic > Isotropic

In the window that appears, enter the following geometric properties

for steel:

i. Young's modulus EX: 200e3

ii. Poisson's Ratio PRXY: 0.3
8. Define Mesh Size

Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Lines > All Lines...

For this example we will specify an element edge length of 1 mm (100

element divisions along the line).
ESIZE,1

9. Mesh the frame

Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'
LMESH,ALL

1. Define Analysis Type

 Solution > New Analysis > Static
ANTYPE,0

2. Set Solution Controls

o Select Solution > Analysis Type > Sol'n Control...

The following image will appear:

Ensure the following selections are made under the 'Basic' tab (as
shown above)

A. Ensure Large Static Displacements are permitted (this will

include the effects of large deflection in the results)
B. Ensure Automatic time stepping is on. Automatic time stepping
allows ANSYS to determine appropriate sizes to break the load
steps into. Decreasing the step size usually ensures better
accuracy, however, this takes time. The Automatic Time Step
feature will determine an appropriate balance. This feature also
activates the ANSYS bisection feature which will allow
recovery if convergence fails.
C. Enter 20 as the number of substeps. This will set the initial
substep to 1/20 th of the total load.
D. Enter a maximum number of substeps of 1000. This stops the
program if the solution does not converge after 1000 steps.
E. Enter a minimum number of substeps of 1.
F. Ensure all solution items are writen to a results file.

Ensure the following selection is made under the 'Nonlinear' tab (as
shown below)
 G. Ensure Line Search is 'On'. This option is used to help the
Newton-Raphson solver converge.
H. Ensure Maximum Number of Iterations is set to 1000

NOTE
There are several options which have not been changed from their
default values. For more information about these commands, type help
followed by the command into the command line.

3. Apply Constraints

Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints

Fix Keypoint 1 (ie all DOFs constrained).

4. Apply Loads

Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On
Keypoints

Place a -50,000 N load in the FY direction on the top of the beam

(Keypoint 2). Also apply a -250 N load in the FX direction on
Keypoint 2. This horizontal load will persuade the beam to buckle at
the minimum buckling load.

The model should now look like the window shown below.
5. Solve the System

Solution > Solve > Current LS

SOLVE

The following will appear on your screen for NonLinear Analyses

This shows the convergence of the solution.

1. View the deformed shape

o To view the element in 2D rather than a line: Utility Menu >
PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape and turn 'Display of element' ON
(as shown below).

o General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape... > Def +
undeformed
PLDISP,1
 o View the deflection contour plot

General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu...
> DOF solution, UY
PLNSOL,U,Y,0,1

Other results can be obtained as shown in previous linear static analyses.

As shown, you can obtain the results (such as deflection, stress and bending moment
diagrams) the same way you did in previous examples using the General
Postprocessor. However, you may wish to view time history results such as the
deflection of the object over time.

1. Define Variables
o Select: Main Menu > TimeHist Postpro. The following window
should open automatically.

If it does not open automatically, select Main Menu > TimeHist

Postpro > Variable Viewer

o Click the add button in the upper left corner of the window to add
a variable.
o Double-click Nodal Solution > DOF Solution > Y-Component of
displacement (as shown below) and click OK. Pick the uppermost
node on the beam and click OK in the 'Node for Data' window.
 o To add another variable, click the add button again. This time select
Reaction Forces > Structural Forces > Y-Component of Force.
Pick the lowermost node on the beam and click OK.
o On the Time History Variable window, click the circle in the 'X-Axis'
column for FY_3. This will make the reaction force the x-variable. The
Time History Variables window should now look like this:

2. Graph Results over Time

o Click on UY_2 in the Time History Variables window.

o Click the graphing button in the Time History Variables window.

o The labels on the plot are not updated by ANSYS, so you must change
them manually. Select Utility Menu > Plot Ctrls > Style > Graphs >
Modify Axes and re-label the X and Y-axis appropriately.
 The plot shows how the beam became unstable and buckled with a
load of approximately 40,000 N, the point where a large deflection
occured due to a small increase in force. This is slightly less than the
eigen-value solution of 41,123 N, which was expected due to non-
linear geometry issues discussed above.

The above example was solved using a mixture of the Graphical User Interface (or
GUI) and the command language interface of ANSYS. This problem has also been
solved using the ANSYS command language interface that you may want to browse.
Open the .HTML version, copy and paste the code into Notepad or a similar text
editor and save it to your computer. Now go to 'File > Read input from...' and select
the file. A .PDF version is also available for printing.