TP 19 - Distributed Loading
TP 19 - Distributed Loading
A distributed load of 1000 N/m (1 N/mm) will be applied to a solid steel beam with a
rectangular cross section as shown in the figure below. The cross-section of the beam
is 10mm x 10mm while the modulus of elasticity of the steel is 200GPa.
/PREP7
3. Create Keypoints
4. Define Lines
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line
L,K#,K#
For this problem we will use the BEAM3 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.
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear
> Elastic > Isotropic
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'
You may also wish to turn on element numbering and turn off keypoint
numbering
2. Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints
We will apply a distributed load, of 1000 N/m or 1 N/mm, over the entire
length of the beam.
o Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Pressure >
On Beams
o Click 'Pick All' in the 'Apply F/M' window.
o As shown in the following figure, enter a value of 1 in the field 'VALI
Pressure value at node I' then click 'OK'.
The applied loads and constraints should now appear as shown in the figure
below.
Note:
To have the constraints and loads appear each time you select 'Replot'
you must change some settings. Select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls >
Symbols.... In the window that appears, select 'Pressures' in the pull
down menu of the 'Surface Load Symbols' section.
Note:
As shown in the plot below, the maximum stress occurs in the middle of the
beam with a value of 750 MPa.
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.