INTRODUCTION TO

Structural Mechanics Module

Introduction to the Structural Mechanics Module
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Part number. CM021105

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Structural Mechanics Simulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Structural Mechanics Module Physics Interfaces. . . . . . . . . . 9
Physics Interface Guide by Space Dimension and Study Type . . . 15
The Fundamentals: A Static Linear Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Parametric Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Modeling Techniques for Structural Mechanics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Including Initial Strain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Modeling Thermal Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Examples in the Application Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

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4|
Introduction

The Structural Mechanics Module is tailor-made for modeling and simulating

applications and designs in the fields of structural and solid mechanics. Engineers
and scientists use it to design new structures and devices and to study the
performance of existing structures.
With this module you can perform static and dynamic analyses in for solids (2D,
2D axisymmetry, 3D), shells (2D axisymmetry, 3D), plates (2D), membranes (2D
axisymmetry, 3D), trusses (2D, 3D), beams (2D, 3D), and pipes (2D, 3D). Other
capabilities are for thermal stress, geometric nonlinearities (large deformations),
and structural contact.

Figure 1: Von Mises stresses caused by thermal expansion in a turbine stator model. From the Structural
Mechanics Module application library: Thermal Stress Analysis of a Turbine Stator Blade (turbine_stator).
This model uses both the Structural Mechanics and Heat Transfer Modules.

The Structural Mechanics physics interfaces are the backbone of the module.
These have predefined formulations for the capabilities described above. This
guide gives an overview of these physics interfaces as well as examples of the
modeling procedures used in them.

Structural Mechanics Simulations

Simulations in structural mechanics are used in a wide range of applications —
from the microscale of MEMS components to the geomechanics scale of civil

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engineering. These types of simulations are also frequently used to study the
behavior of existing structures, from microscopic biostructures to glaciers.
Structural mechanics was the first engineering field to use the concept of finite
elements as a standard tool. Over time, these verifiable and validated formulations
have been developed and are applicable to a wide range of materials. Simulations
can often replace experimental measurements. For example, finite element
simulations are used extensively in safety-critical applications within the aerospace
and nuclear industries.
A traditional use of structural analysis tools is depicted below. The device being
studied is a pipe with a bolted flange, and the purpose of the study is two-fold: to
estimate the stress in the pipe and to evaluate the performance of the bolted joint.
Figure 2 shows the deformation (exaggerated) and the von Mises stresses in the
pipe.

Figure 2: The deformation (exaggerated) and the von Mises stress in the pipe. From the Structural
Mechanics Module application library: Prestressed Bolts in a Tube Connection (tube_connection).

A less traditional application of mechanical design for a MEMS device is shown in

Figure 3. The microactuator is subjected to controlled thermal expansion by the
application of a current through parts of the structure, which induces Joule
heating. The thermal expansion then causes the actuator to deflect and the
simulation predicts the deflection as a function of the operating conditions. The

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simulation also reveals the limitations of the design, because the device will not
work properly if the legs of the actuator make contact along the free faces.

Figure 3: The total displacement in a MEMS device. From the MEMS Module application library: Thermal
Actuator (thermal_actuator_tem).

Structural analysis is also important outside of traditional structural engineering,

for example in the field of bioscience. Figure 4 shows the results of a simulation of
part of the vascular system in a young child. The purpose of the simulation is to
study what happens when surgery is performed on a child with a malformed aorta.
The aorta and its ramified blood vessels are embedded in biological tissue.
Pressure from the moving fluid is applied as a face load in the structural analysis.

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The Structural Mechanics Module includes several types of couplings for
fluid-structure interaction.

Figure 4: Displacements in the blood vessel. From the Structural Mechanics Module application library:
Fluid-Structure Interaction in a Network of Blood Vessels (blood_vessel).

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The Structural Mechanics Module Physics Interfaces

The figures below show the physics interfaces that are in the COMSOL Model
Wizard and included with the Structural Mechanics Module and its related
products. In addition to the structural mechanics capabilities, the module also has
substantial multiphysics capabilities, including AC/DC, acoustics, CFD, heat
transfer, Joule heating, piezoelectricity, and magnetostriction.

Figure 5: The 3D component physics interfaces available with the Structural Mechanics Module. Several
of the physics interfaces require additional licenses.

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Figure 6: The 2D component physics interfaces.

A short description of the main Structural Mechanics interfaces follows.

S OLID MECHANICS
The Solid Mechanics interface ( ) defines the quantities and features for stress
analysis and general linear and nonlinear solid mechanics. In 2D, plane stress,
plane strain, and generalized plane strain formulations are available. In 2D
axisymmetry, there are formulations with and without twist.

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The Linear Elastic Material node is the default material model. The elastic material
model can be expanded with features for thermal expansion, hygroscopic swelling,
viscoelasticity, damping, and initial stress and strain. The description of elastic
materials in the module includes isotropic, orthotropic, and fully anisotropic
materials. The material can be activated or deactivated based on for example time
or temperature. A number of preset study types are available for solid mechanics
(shown below). Also, see Physics Interface Guide by Space Dimension and Study Type.

Geomechanics, Nonlinear Structural Materials, Composite Materials,

Rotordynamics, and Fatigue
There are five additional modules available to enhance the Structural Mechanics
Module: the Geomechanics Module, the Nonlinear Structural Materials Module,
the Composite Materials Module, the Rotordynamics Module, and the Fatigue
Module
• With the addition of the Geomechanics Module, you can add soil plasticity,
nonlinear elasticity, creep, concrete, rocks, brittle damage, and specialized
soil models like ‘hardening soil’ and ‘modified Cam clay’ to the physics
interface.

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• With the Nonlinear Structural Materials Module, hyperelasticity, nonlinear
elasticity, plasticity, porous plasticity, creep, viscoplasticity, brittle damage,
and shape memory alloys can be modeled.
• With the Composite Material Module, you get the possibility to model
layered shells, either using the Layered Shell interface, or through a special
material model in the Shell and Membrane interfaces.
• With the Rotordynamics module you can study the dynamics of rotors,
including advanced bearing models and gears. The rotor can be modeled
either as beams, or using 3D solids. The module also includes sophisticated
bearing models. The hydrodynamic bearings can also be used in solid
mechanics and multibody dynamics models.
• Using the Fatigue Module, you can augment your stress analysis with low or
high cycle fatigue evaluation, including random vibration fatigue.
The Multibody Dynamics Module is a related product, which does not require the
Structural Mechanics Module. Here, you can study rigid and flexible bodies
connected by different types of mechanical joints, gears, cam-follower
mechanisms, springs, and dampers. You can also model lumped mechanical
systems, defined by components like mass, spring, damper, or impedance.
You will also find a subset of the structural mechanics capabilities in the MEMS
Module and the Acoustics Module.
The exact contents of the menus and windows shown in this document may vary
depending on the license or licenses you have. All illustrations assume the presence
of these additional modules, even though the examples given only require the
Structural Mechanics Module.

S HELL AND P LATE

The Shell interface ( ) is intended for the structural analysis of thin-walled
structures. The formulation used in the Shell interface is a Mindlin-Reissner type,
which means that transverse shear deformations are accounted for. It can be used
for rather thick shells as well as thin ones. It is possible to prescribe an offset in a
direction normal to a selected surface, which for example can be used when
meshing imported geometries. The Shell interface also includes other features
such as damping, thermal expansion, and initial stresses and strains. With the
Composite Materials Module, it is also possible to analyze layered shells. Through
the addition of the Nonlinear Structural Materials Module, it is possible to model
material behavior like plasticity, hyperelasticity, creep, and viscoplasticity.
The Plate interface ( ) is a 2D analogy to the 3D Shell interface. Plates are
similar to shells, but act in a single plane and usually act only with out-of-plane

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loads. The formulation and features for this physics interface are similar to those
for the Shell interface.

M EMBRANE
The Membrane interface ( ) is used for thin membranes, which can be
considered as curved plane stress elements in 3D, having in-plane as well as
out-of-plane deformation. The difference between a shell and a membrane is that
a membrane does not possess any bending stiffness. Thin films and fabric are
structures suited for modeling with the Membrane interface. In order to be stable,
a membrane must be in tension; if not, it will wrinkle. A special formulation in the
Membrane interface makes it possible to handle also wrinkling.With the Nonlinear
Structural Materials Module, hyperelasticity, nonlinear elasticity, plasticity, creep,
and viscoplasticity can be modeled in addition to the default linear elastic material.
With the Composite Materials Module, it is also possible to analyze layered
membranes.

B EAM
The Beam interface ( ) is intended for the modeling of slender structures
(beams) that can be fully described by their cross-section properties, such as area
and moment of inertia. The Beam interface defines stresses and strains using
Hermitian elements and Euler-Bernoulli or Timoshenko theory. Beam elements
are used to model both planar and three-dimensional frame structures. This
physics interface is also suitable for modeling reinforcements of solid and shell
structures. It includes a library for rectangular, box, circular, pipe, hat, H-profile,
U-profile, C-profile, and T-profile beam sections. Additional features include
damping, thermal expansion, and initial stresses and strains.

B EAM C ROSS S ECTION

A separate 2D physics interface called the Beam Cross Section interface ( ) can
be used to compute the properties of general cross sections, to be used as inputs
in beam analysis. The interface can also be used for detailed stress evaluation in
beams, given the forces and moments acting on the section. With the 3D version
of the same interface, it is also possible to plot the full 3D representation of stresses
in a beam, give the section forces.

T RUSS
The Truss interface ( ) can be used to model slender structures that can only
sustain axial forces. Trusses are modeled using Lagrange shape functions, which
allow the specification of small strains as well as Green-Lagrange strains for large
deformations. In addition to classical truss structures, the interface can be used for

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modeling cables exposed to gravity forces (sagging cables). Additional features
include damping, thermal expansion, and initial stresses and strains. The default
material model is linear elastic, and together with the Nonlinear Structural
Materials Module, it is possible to also model plasticity and shape memory alloys.

P IPE M ECHANICS
The Pipe Mechanics interface ( ) is intended for stress and deformation analysis
in pipe systems, either standalone, or together with the Pipe Flow interface. Pipes
are similar to beams, but stresses from internal pressure and temperature gradients
through the pipe wall are part of the formulation.

O THER S TRUCTURAL M ECHANICS I NTERFACES

The Thermal Stress, Solid multiphysics interface ( ) combines the Solid
Mechanics interface with the Heat Transfer in Solids interface. The temperature
field is automatically coupled to a structure’s thermal expansion, and also to any
temperature dependent material properties. Similar interfaces are available also for
shells and membranes.
The Joule Heating and Thermal Expansion multiphysics interface ( ) combines
three physics interfaces: Joule Heating, Heat Transfer in Solids, and Solid
Mechanics. It describes the conduction of electric current in a structure, the
subsequent electric heating caused by the ohmic losses, and the thermal stresses
induced by the temperature field.
The Piezoelectricity multiphysics interface ( ) combines the Solid Mechanics
and Electrostatics interfaces to model piezoelectric materials. The piezoelectric
coupling can be in stress-charge or strain-charge form. All solid mechanics and
electrostatics functionalities are also accessible through this physics interface, for
example, for modeling the surrounding linear elastic solids or air domains. For the
Layered Shell interface, the Piezoelectricity, Layered Shell interface ( ) offers
similar capabilities.
The Ferroelectroelasticity multiphysics interface ( ) combines Solid Mechanics
and Electrostatics together with the constitutive relationships required to model
nonlinear ferroelectric materials with polarization saturation and possible
hysteresis. Many piezoelectric materials exhibit such nonlinear ferroelectroelastic
behavior at large applied electric fields. This interface requires the AC/DC
module or the MEMS module.
The Magnetostriction multiphysics interface ( ) combines the Solid Mechanics
and Magnetic Fields interfaces to model magnetostrictive materials. Linear as well
as nonlinear materials models are available. This interface requires the AC/DC
module.

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A similar multiphysics interface, Magnetomechanics ( ), combines Solid
Mechanics and Magnetic Fields interfaces together with a moving mesh
functionality to model the deformation of magnetically actuated structures.

F LUID F LOW
There are several Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) multiphysics interfaces. These
interfaces combine fluid flow with structural mechanics to capture the interactions
between fluids and structures. In the Fluid-Solid Interaction ( ) interface, a
Solid Mechanics interface and a Single Phase Flow interface model the solid and
the fluid, respectively. Together with CFD Module, also turbulent flow and
two-phase flow can be studied. The FSI couplings appear on the boundaries
between the fluid and the solid. The Fluid-Structure Interaction interface uses an
arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method; it combines the fluid flow
formulated by an Eulerian description and a spatial frame with solid mechanics
formulated by a Lagrangian description and a material (reference) frame.
The Fluid-Solid Interaction, Fixed Geometry ( ) interface can be used to model
phenomena where a fluid and a deformable solid structure affect each other. Both
the fluid loading on the structure and the structural velocity transmission to the
fluid can be taken into account. The interface models situations where the
displacements of the solid are assumed to be small enough for the geometry of the
fluid domain to be considered as fixed during the simulation.
There are also similar interfaces for coupling shells and membranes to fluid flow,
as well as a special interface coupling the Pipe Flow interface to the Pipe Mechanics
interface.
The Fluid-Solid Interaction, Conjugate Heat Transfer interface ( ), combines
the FSI functionality with heat transfer in the fluid and solid domains.
There are also multiphysics interfaces targeted at porous flow, such as the
Poroelasticity, Solid ( ) interface. It combines Solid Mechanics with Darcy’s
Law, to provide a bidirectional coupling between the flow through an elastic
matrix and the deformation of the matrix.

Physics Interface Guide by Space Dimension and Study Type

The table below lists the physics interfaces available specifically with this module
in addition to those included in the basic COMSOL Multiphysics license.

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PHYSICS INTERFACE ICON TAG SPACE AVAILABLE STUDY TYPE
DIMENSION

Acoustics

Elastic Waves

Elastic Waves, Time elte 3D, 2D, 2D time dependent

Explicit axisymmetric
Fluid Flow

Fluid-Structure Interaction

Fluid-Solid Interaction2 — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; time dependent

axisymmetric
Fluid-Solid Interaction, — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; stationary, one
Fixed Geometry2 axisymmetric way; time dependent; time
dependent, one way
Fluid-Shell Interaction2 — 3D, 2D stationary; time dependent
axisymmetric
Fluid-Shell Interaction, — 3D, 2D stationary; stationary, one
Fixed Geometry2 axisymmetric way; time dependent; time
dependent, one way
Fluid-Membrane — 3D, 2D stationary; time dependent
Interaction2 axisymmetric
Fluid-Membrane — 3D, 2D stationary; stationary, one
Interaction, Fixed axisymmetric way; time dependent; time
Geometry2 dependent, one way
Fluid-Pipe Interaction, Fixed — 3D, 2D stationary; time dependent
Geometry7
Conjugate Heat Transfer, — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; time dependent;
Fluid-Solid Interaction2 axisymmetric
Fluid-Solid Interaction, — 3D, 2D, 2D time dependent; time
Two-Phase Flow, Phase axisymmetric dependent with phase
Field2, 6 initialization

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PHYSICS INTERFACE ICON TAG SPACE AVAILABLE STUDY TYPE
DIMENSION

Structural Mechanics

Solid Mechanics1 solid 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;

axisymmetric eigenfrequency, prestressed;
mode analysis; time
dependent; time dependent,
modal; time dependent,
modal reduced-order
model; frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain,
prestressed; frequency
domain, prestressed, modal;
frequency domain, modal
reduced-order model;
frequency domain, AWE
reduced-order model;
response spectrum; random
vibration (PSD); linear
buckling; bolt pretension
Thermal Stress, Solid2 — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; time dependent
axisymmetric
Thermal Stress, Shell2, 4 — 3D, 2D stationary; time dependent
axisymmetric
Thermal Stress, — 3D, 2D stationary; time dependent
Membrane2, 4 axisymmetric
Joule Heating and Thermal — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; time dependent
Expansion2 axisymmetric

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PHYSICS INTERFACE ICON TAG SPACE AVAILABLE STUDY TYPE
DIMENSION

Shell shell 3D stationary; eigenfrequency;

eigenfrequency, prestressed;
time dependent; time
dependent, modal; time
dependent, modal
reduced-order model;
frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain,
prestressed; frequency
domain, prestressed, modal;
frequency domain, modal
reduced-order model;
response spectrum; random
vibration (PSD); linear
buckling
Plate plate 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;
eigenfrequency, prestressed;
time dependent; time
dependent, modal; time
dependent, modal
reduced-order model;
frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain,
prestressed; frequency
domain, prestressed, modal;
frequency domain, modal
reduced-order model;
response spectrum; random
vibration (PSD); linear
buckling
Beam beam 3D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;
time dependent, modal;
time dependent, modal
reduced-order model;
frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain, modal
reduced-order model; time
dependent; response
spectrum; random vibration
(PSD); linear buckling

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PHYSICS INTERFACE ICON TAG SPACE AVAILABLE STUDY TYPE
DIMENSION

Beam Cross Section bcs 3D, 2D stationary

Truss truss 3D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;

eigenfrequency, prestressed;
time dependent; time
dependent, modal; time
dependent, modal
reduced-order model;
frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain,
prestressed; frequency
domain, prestressed, modal;
frequency domain, modal
reduced-order model;
response spectrum; random
vibration (PSD); linear
buckling
Membrane mbrn 3D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;
axisymmetric eigenfrequency, prestressed;
time dependent; time
dependent, modal; time
dependent, modal
reduced-order model;
frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain,
prestressed; frequency
domain, prestressed, modal;
frequency domain, modal
reduced-order model;
response spectrum; random
vibration (PSD)

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PHYSICS INTERFACE ICON TAG SPACE AVAILABLE STUDY TYPE
DIMENSION

Pipe Mechanics pipem 3D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;

time dependent, modal;
time dependent, modal
reduced-order model;
frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain, modal
reduced-order model; time
dependent; response
spectrum; random vibration
(PSD)
Piezoelectricity2,3 — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;
axisymmetric eigenfrequency, prestressed;
time dependent; time
dependent, modal;
frequency domain;
frequency domain, modal;
frequency domain,
prestressed; frequency
domain, prestressed, modal;
small-signal analysis,
frequency domain; linear
buckling
Piezoelectricity, Layered — 3D stationary; eigenfrequency;
Shell2, 3, 5 time dependent; frequency
domain
Magnetostriction2,3 — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;
axisymmetric time dependent; frequency
domain; small-signal analysis,
frequency domain;
eigenfrequency, prestressed;
frequency domain,
prestressed
Magnetomechanics2,3 — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;
axisymmetric time dependent; frequency
domain; small-signal analysis,
frequency domain;
eigenfrequency, prestressed;
frequency domain,
prestressed

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PHYSICS INTERFACE ICON TAG SPACE AVAILABLE STUDY TYPE
DIMENSION

Magnetomechanics, No — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; eigenfrequency;

Currents2,3 axisymmetric time dependent; frequency
domain; small-signal analysis,
frequency domain;
eigenfrequency, prestressed;
frequency domain,
prestressed
Ferroelectroelasticity2,9 — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; time dependent;
axisymmetric frequency domain
Electrostriction2,9 — 3D, 2D, 2D stationary; time dependent;
axisymmetric frequency domain
1
This physics interface is included with the core COMSOL package but has added functionality
for this module.
2This physics interface is a predefined multiphysics coupling that automatically adds all the
physics interfaces and coupling features required.
3
Requires the addition of the AC/DC Module.

4 Requires the addition of the Heat Transfer Module.

5 Requires the addition of the Composite Materials Module.

6 Requires
the addition of the CFD Module or the Microfluidics Module.

7 Requires the addition of the Pipe Flow Module.

8 Requires
the addition of the Porous Media Flow Module.

9
Requires the addition of the AC/DC Module or the MEMS Module.

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The Fundamentals: A Static Linear Analysis

This section summarizes the fundamentals for modeling structural mechanics

problems and applying them in COMSOL Multiphysics and the Structural
Mechanics Module. It includes instructions for creating a geometry, generating a
mesh, defining material properties and boundary conditions. After the solution is
computed, you will learn how to display and analyze the results.
The model used in this guide is an assembly of a bracket and its mounting bolts,
which are all made of steel. This type of bracket can be used to install an actuator
that is mounted on a pin placed between the two holes in the bracket arms. The
geometry and the loading are shown in Figure 7.

Figure 7: The geometry of the bracket together with the load distribution.

In this initial analysis, the mounting bolts are assumed to be fixed and securely
bonded to the bracket, so they will be replaced by boundary conditions at the bolt
holes. To model the external load from the pin, specify a surface pressure p with a
trigonometric distribution on the inner surfaces of the two holes, given by
π π
p = P 0 cos ( α ) - --- < α < ---
2 2

where P0 is the peak load intensity, and α is the angle from the direction of the
load resultant. One of the arms is loaded upward, and the other downward.

22 |
Model Wizard

The first step to build a model is to open COMSOL and then specify the type of
analysis you want to do — in this case, a stationary, solid mechanics analysis.
Note: These instructions are for Windows users but apply with minor differences
to Linux and Mac.
1 To start the software, double-click the COMSOL icon on the desktop. When
the software opens, you can choose to use the Model Wizard to create a new
COMSOL model or Blank Model to create one manually.
For this tutorial, click the Model Wizard button.
If COMSOL is already open, you can start the Model Wizard by selecting
New from the File menu and then click Model Wizard .
The Model Wizard guides you through the first steps of setting up a model. The
next window lets you select the dimension of the modeling space.
2 On the Select Space Dimension page click 3D .
3 In the Select Physics tree under Structural Mechanics, click Solid Mechanics
(solid) .
4 Click Add, then click Study .
5 In the Select Study tree under General Studies, click Stationary .
6 Click Done .

Global Definitions - Parameters

It is good modeling practice to gather constants and parameters in one place so

that you can change them easily. Using parameters will also improve the
readability of your input data.
The following parameters will be defined: the peak load intensity P0 and the y-
coordinate of the center of the pin holes, YC.
1 In the Model Builder Window, under Global Definitions, select
Parameters 1 .
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.

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3 In the table, enter the following settings:

NAME EXPRESSION VALUE DESCRIPTION

P0 2.5[MPa] 2.5E6 Pa Peak load intensity
YC -300[mm] -0.3 m Y-coordinate of hole center

The third column in the table is filled out automatically. Note that you can enter
data any unit, it will automatically be converted to the base units of your model.
You can choose unit system under the top level node in the model tree.

I m p o r t i n g t h e G eo m e t r y

The next step is to create your geometry, which also can be imported from an
external program. COMSOL Multiphysics supports a multitude of CAD
programs and file formats. In this example, import a file in the COMSOL
Multiphysics geometry file format (.mphbin).
Note: The location of the files used in this exercise varies based on your
installation. For example, if the installation is on your hard drive, the file path
might be similar to
C:\Program Files\COMSOL60\Multiphysics\applications\
Structural_Mechanics_Module\Tutorials.

1 On the Home toolbar click Import .

Note: On Linux and Mac, the Home toolbar refers to the specific set of controls
near the top of the Desktop.
2 In the Settings window for Import, locate the Import section.
3 From the Source list, choose COMSOL Multiphysics file.
4 Click Browse .
5 Browse to the folder Structural_Mechanics_Module\Tutorials under the
COMSOL installation directory and double-click the file bracket.mphbin.

24 |
6 Below the filename, click Import .

It is possible to automatically create a free tetrahedral mesh on the whole

component. Such a strategy may however not be optimal for the large flat regions.
For this reason, you will partition the geometry so that you can create a better
mesh.
For a small linear problem like this, it would still be more efficient just to use a
rather fine tetrahedral mesh, but the approach shown here is useful for more
general cases.
1 In the Geometry toolbar, select Block .

2 In the Settings window for Block, locate the Selections of Resulting Entities
section.
3 Find the Cumulative selection subsection. Click New.
4 In the New Cumulative Selection
dialog box, type Partition Block in the
Name text field.
5 Click OK.

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6 Locate the Size and Shape section, and enter the values shown below.

7 Click Build Selected

You have now created a block which encompasses the part of the geometry which
has a more complex geometry, and thus requires free tetrahedral mesh. Now
mirror this block twice, so that all four fillets are covered.

8 In the Geometry toolbar, click Transforms and choose Mirror .

9 In the Settings window for Mirror, locate the Input section. From the Input
objects list, choose Partition Block.
10Select the Keep input objects check box.

26 |
11Locate the Selections of Resulting Entities section. Find the Cumulative
Selection subsection. From the Contribute to list, choose Partition Block. Click
Build Selected .

Since the x-y plane happens to be the default mirror plane, you did not have to
change any settings to specify it.
Create the second mirror copy.
12In the Geometry toolbar, click Transforms and choose Mirror .
13In the Settings window for Mirror, locate the Input section.
14From the Input objects list, choose Partition Block.
15Select the Keep input objects check box.
16Locate the Normal Vector to Plane of Reflection section. In the x text field,
type 1. In the z text field, type 0.
17Locate the Selections of Resulting Entities section. From the Contribute to list,
choose Partition Block.

| 27
18Click Build Selected .

28 |
Partition objects
1 In the Geometry toolbar, click Booleans
and Partitions and choose Partition
Objects .
2 In the Settings for Partition Objects,
locate the Partition Objects section. In
Objects to partition, select imp1.

Note: There are many ways to select

geometric entities. When you know the
geometric entity to add, as in these
exercises, you can click the Paste Selection
button and enter the information in
the Selection text field. In this case, ‘imp1’
is the whole bracket, so quickest way to
select it is to click on it in the graphics
window.
For more information about selecting
geometric entities in the Graphics window,
see the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference
Manual.

3 In the Tool objects subsection, select the

Activate Selection toggle button. From the Tool objects list, select Partition
Block.
4 Click Build Selected .

| 29
The solid geometry has new been partitioned into nine separate domains, five of
which are thin objects with a constant thickness.

Form Union (fin)

1 In the Model Builder under Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 right-click
Form Union (fin) and choose Build All (or click the button on the
Settings window).
2 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
The Form Union node determines how the parts of an assembly will be considered
in the analysis. By using the default setting, Form a union, any adjacent domains
will be bonded, and the interior boundaries assume continuity. If Form an
assembly were selected instead, different parts would not be connected to each
other, and then structural contact could be modeled. In this case, the node would
also be renamed to Form Assembly, so that you can see which state the model is
in by just looking at the geometry sequence.

Definitions - Functions and Selections

Here you want to define expressions for the load applied to the load-carrying
holes. Assume the load distribution to be defined by a trigonometric function.

30 |
Analytic 1 (an1)
1 On the Home toolbar, click Functions and under Local choose Analytic .

2 In the Settings window for Analytic, type

load in the Function Name text field.
3 Locate the Definition section. In the
Expression text field, type
F*cos(atan2(py,abs(px))) (or copy
and paste this text).
4 In the Arguments text field, type F, py,
px.
5 Locate the Units section. In the Function
text field, type Pa.
6 In the table, enter Pa, m, and m as shown
in the figure.
Regardless of whether the model is treated
as a single entity or as an assembly, you still
may need to access different parts of it for
definitions, such as multiple specifications of
similar boundary conditions. There are
different ways in which you can create selections, for example by explicit selection
of objects or by geometrical location. A box selection is independent of the
geometry, and allows you to change the geometry topology while still keeping the
desired selection.

| 31
In this example, one selection contains the bolt domains, while other selections
contain the boundaries of the pin holes that carry load.

Explicit 1
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Explicit . An Explicit node is added under
Definitions>Selections.

2 In the Settings window for Explicit, in the Label text field, type Bolt 1. You
can also click any node in the model builder tree and press F2 to rename, or
right-click and select Rename.
3 On the Graphics toolbar, click Wireframe Rendering in order to see also
hidden boundaries better.
4 Locate the Input Entities section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
5 Select Boundary 41 only.
6 Select the Group by continuous tangent check box. Boundary 40 is
automatically added to the selection list.

32 |
Explicit 2, Explicit 3, and Explicit 4
Repeat the steps completed for Explicit 1 to add a total of four Explicit nodes .
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Explicit three times.
2 In the Model Builder click the next Explicit node to open the Settings
window. Edit the Settings window as indicated in the table below.
3 Use the table as a guide, and in the Graphics window, select the boundaries as
indicated. Click to select the Group by continuous tangent check box for each
node.

DEFAULT NODE NEW NODE LABEL SELECT THIS BOUNDARY

LABEL

Explicit 2 Bolt 2 43
Explicit 3 Bolt 3 55
Explicit 4 Bolt 4 57

The node sequence under Definitions should look like

this at this point:
You will now create a selection containing all the bolt
holes.

Union 1
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click
Union .
2 In the Settings window for Union, in the
Label text field enter Bolt Holes.
3 Locate the Geometric Entity Level
section. From the Level list, choose
Boundary.
4 Locate the Color section. On Windows,
select the eighth color in the first row of
the palette (orange). On other platforms,
choose Color 8 from the Color list.
5 Locate the Input Entities section. Under
Selections to add, click the Add
button .
6 In the Add dialog box, in the Selections
to add list, choose Bolt 1, Bolt 2, Bolt 3,
and Bolt 4.
7 Click OK.

| 33
Create selections for the two holes carrying the load.

Explicit 5
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Explicit .
2 In the Settings window for Explicit, in the Label text field, type Left Pin
Hole.
3 Locate the Input Entities section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
4 Select Boundary 4 only.
5 Select the Group by continuous tangent check box.
6 Locate the Color section. On Windows, select the ninth color in the first row
of the palette (green). On other platforms, choose Color 9 from the Color list.

Explicit 6
Repeat the steps above, but use the label Right Pin Hole, select boundary 75,
and use Color 12 (a red color). Now the sequence under Definitions should look
like this:

Union 2
Add a selection that combines the pin hole boundaries on both sides.
1 In the Definitions toolbar, click Union .
2 In the Settings window for Union, type Pin Holes in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Geometric Entity Level section. From the Level list, choose
Boundary.
4 Locate the Input Entities section. Under Selections to add, click Add .
5 In the Add dialog box, in the Selections to add list, choose Left Pin Hole and
Right Pin Hole.
6 Click OK.

34 |
Adjacent 1
Add one more selection to be used during mesh generation.
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Adjacent .
2 In the Settings window for Adjacent, in the Label text field, type Bolt Hole
Edges.
3 Locate the Input Entities section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Boundary.
4 Under Input Selections, click the Add button .
5 In the Add dialog box, select Bolt Holes in the Input selections list
6 Click OK.
7 Locate the Output Entities section. From the Geometric entity level list, choose
Adjacent Edges.
8 On the Graphics toolbar, click Wireframe Rendering to reset the graphics
to a view with hidden surfaces.

Mate rials

COMSOL Multiphysics is equipped with built-in material properties for a number

of common materials. Here, choose structural steel. The material is automatically
assigned to all domains.
1 On the Home toolbar click Add Material to open the Add Material window.
2 In the Add Material window under Built-In, click Structural steel.
3 Click the Add to Component button .
4 On the Home toolbar click Add Material again to close the window.

Solid Mechanics

Now it is time to define the physics settings, such as material models, loads and
constraints. Initially, the analysis was specified to be stationary using the classical
equations associated with solid mechanics.
By default, the Solid Mechanics interface assumes that the materials are linear
elastic, which is appropriate for this example. All that is left to do is to define the
constraints and loads.

| 35
Fixed Constraint 1
Assume that the boundaries of the bolt holes are perfectly constrained.
1 On the Physics toolbar click Boundaries and choose Fixed Constraint.

2 In the Settings window for Fixed Constraint locate the Boundary Selection
section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Bolt Holes.

36 |
Boundary Load 1
Apply a boundary load to the bracket holes. The load is acting in the direction
normal to the boundaries. To achieve that, use the built-in boundary coordinate
system.
1 On the Physics toolbar click Boundaries and choose Boundary Load .
2 Locate the Boundary Selection section. From the Selection list, choose Pin
Holes.
3 Locate the Coordinate System Selection section. From the Coordinate system
list, choose Boundary System 1 (sys1). The input of the load is now interpreted
in this coordinate system, and you can directly access the normal to the
boundaries.
4 Locate the Force section. Specify the FA vector as:

0 t1
0 t2
load(-P0,Y-YC,Z)*(sign(X)*Z>0) n

Note that the coordinate names in the second column of the table were updated
to reflect the chosen coordinate system.
The previously defined function ‘load()’ is called in order to provide the load
distribution. Note how Boolean expressions like Z>0 can be used to limit the part
of the hole where the load is active. Also, the sign of the X-coordinate is used to
flip where the load is applied. It would also have been possible to include that part
of the logic in the function ‘load()’ by supplying the X coordinate as a fourth
argument. Or, you could simply have used one Boundary Load feature for each
hole, and selected only the loaded part of the hole in each of them.

Me sh 1

Start by creating an edge mesh around the bolt holes to make sure that they are
properly resolved.

Edge 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click Boundary and chose Edge.
2 In the Settings window for Edge, locate the Edge Selection section. From the
Selection list, choose Bolt Hole Edges.

Distribution 1
1 In the Model Builder, Right-click Edge 1 and choose Distribution .

| 37
2 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Distribution section. In the
Number of elements text field, type 8.
Create a mesh which is swept through the thin flat parts, and then use a free
tetrahedral mesh for the remaining more complex parts of the geometry. Note
that the transition between the two types of elements is automatic. A layer of
pyramid elements will be generated there.

Swept 1
1 On the Mesh toolbar, click Swept .
2 In the Settings window for Swept, locate the Domain Selection section. From
the Geometric entity level list, choose Domain, and select domains 1, 4, 5, 6,
and 9.
3 Click to expand the Source faces section. Select Boundaries 1, 33, 37, 50, and
72.
4 In the Model Builder, right-click Swept 1 and choose Size .

Size 1
1 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section. Click the
Custom button.
2 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. Select the Maximum element size
check box. In the associated text field, type 8[mm].
3 Click Build Selected to generate the swept mesh in the thin parts.

38 |
Free Tetrahedral 1
1 On the Mesh toolbar, click Free Tetrahedral
The default selection is Remaining, that is all not yet meshed domains.
2 In the Model Builder, right-click Free Tetrahedral 1 and choose Size .
3 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section. From the
Predefined list, choose Finer.
4 Click Build All .
You should now have a mesh which looks similar to this:

| 39
DISPLAYING PHYSICS SYMBOLS I N THE GRAPHICS WINDOW
When working with the physics features,
the current selection is shown in the
Graphics window. You can add symbols to
describe the type of condition applied to
the selection.
The symbols indicate only the type of
settings applied to the model and not the
actual magnitude or direction. If you are
interested in visualizing an actual applied
load, a solution must be computed first.
You turn the physics symbols on by
selecting Enable physics symbols in the
settings for a physics interface.

When physics symbols are enabled for the

interface, a Physics Symbols section will be
shown in the settings for each node in the
Model Builder tree that has an associated
symbol. You can then control the state of
the physics symbols for individual
boundary conditions.

40 |
You can click the Wireframe Rendering button to see the symbols everywhere.

Study

To check the actual load distribution, you can compute the initial value. For a
large model, this is much faster than computing the actual solution, but the
approach will only work as long as the loads are independent of the solution. The
steps below show how to visualize the load distribution in the current geometry.
1 On the Study toolbar click Get
Initial Value .
The Study node automatically defines
a solver sequence for the simulation
based on the selected physics
interface (Solid Mechanics) and study
type (Stationary). If a mesh had not
been created yet, the Study node
automatically generates it at the same
time as the solver sequence.
If you expand the Study 1 node and
its subnodes, you can see the details
of the generated solver sequence.

| 41
Note: In practice, do not rely only on the standard mesh settings. For most real
life problems, suitable meshing parameters should be set up from the Mesh
toolbar, just as in this example.

Results

Among the default plots that are generated, there is a group containing arrow
plots of the applied loads.

Boundary Loads (solid)

1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>Applied Loads (solid) node,
then click Boundary Loads (solid).
2 In the Boundary Loads (solid) toolbar, click Plot . This step may not be
necessary, depending on your settings for automatic update of plots in the
Results node.
From the Graphics window you can now check that the applied loads have the
intended distributions and magnitudes.

42 |
Study

Solve the model. On the Home or Study toolbar, click Compute . Solving the
problem will take a few seconds.

Results

Stress (solid)
1 Expand the Stress (solid) node, and then click Volume 1. The default plot
displays the von Mises stress distribution together with an exaggerated
(automatically scaled) picture of the deformation. The high stress values are
located in the vicinity of the mounting bolts and at the fillets in the transition
between the plates.
2 In the settings window for Surface, locate the Expression setting.
3 From the Unit list, choose MPa. Note that you can present results in any unit,
independent of the model units.
4 In the Graphics window toolbar, click next to Scene Light, then choose
Ambient Occlusion. Note how the plot changes when you turn this option on
and off.
5 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.

| 43
Now, enhance the plot with load arrows. The easiest way of doing that is to copy
from the default load plot, and then adapt the arrow plot slightly.
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Boundary Loads (solid) node under
Applied Loads (solid).
2 Right-click Boundary Load 1 and choose Copy.
3 Right-click Stress (solid) and choose Paste Arrow Surface.
4 In the Settings window for Arrow Surface, locate the Coloring and Style
section. From the Arrow base list, choose Head.
5 Select the Scale factor check box. In the associated text field, type 1E-8.
6 Click to expand the Inherit Style section. From the Plot list, choose Volume 1.
7 Clear the Arrow scale factor, Color, and Color and data range check boxes.
8 Expand the Boundary Load 1 node, then click Color Expression.
9 In the Settings window for Color Expression, locate the Coloring and Style
section. Clear the Color legend check box.
10Click the Show Grid button in the Graphics toolbar to switch off the grid.

Total Displacement
Add a plot group to display the displacement of the bracket.
1 On the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot
Group .

44 |
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Total Displacement in the
Label text field. Click anywhere on the Desktop for the setting to take effect.
3 On the Total Displacement toolbar, click Surface . Or, right-click Total
Displacement and choose Surface.
4 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section. Note that the
displacement magnitude, solid.disp, was selected as the default result.
5 From the Unit list, choose mm (or enter mm in the text field).
6 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, choose
SpectrumLight.
7 On the Total Displacement toolbar, click Plot . You can also click Plot on
the Settings window for Surface
Add a marker indicating the position of the maximum displacement.
1 Right-click Surface 1 and choose Marker.
2 In the Settings window for Marker, locate the Display section.
3 From the Display list, choose Max.
4 Locate the Text Format section. In the Display precision text field, type 2.

Total Displacement
1 In the Model Builder window, click Total Displacement.
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, locate the Color Legend section.
3 From the Position list, choose Bottom.
4 On the Total Displacement toolbar, click Plot .

| 45
You may have noticed that in the default plot group, the stress was displayed in a
volume plot, whereas a surface plot is used here for the displacements. For a solid
geometry in 3D, the visual difference are small. Each of these plots have their
merits, though. In a large model, a volume plot can take noticeably longer time to
generate, since the expression to be visualized is evaluated not only on the surface,
but also in the interior. If you want to plot only parts of the structure, the volume
plot is easier to work with, since you can select domains, rather than boundaries.
Also, for some expressions, an evaluation in the domain is more accurate than
when the same expression is evaluated only on the boundaries.

Principal Stress
Create a third plot to display the principal stresses.
1 On the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot
Group .
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Principal Stress in the
Label text field.

Principal Stress
1 On the Principal Stress toolbar, click More Plots and choose Principal Stress
Volume .
2 In the Settings window for Principal
Stress Volume, locate the Positioning
section. Enter values as follows and
replace the defaults:
- Find the X grid points subsection. In
the Points text field, type 30.
- Find the Y grid points subsection. In
the Points text field, type 60.
- Find the Z grid points subsection. In
the Points text field, type 15.
3 Click Plot . You will notice that only a
few arrows at the constrained bolt holes
are visible.
4 Locate the Coloring and Style section.
From the Arrow length list, choose
Logarithmic.

46 |
5 On the Principal Stress toolbar, click Plot .

The principal stresses are color coded so that red is the first principal stress, green
the second, and blue the third.

Derived Values

A final check is to compute the total reaction force along the x, y, and z directions.
Use a surface integration over the constrained boundaries.

Evaluation Group 1
1 In the Results toolbar, click Evaluation Group .

2 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Evaluation Group 1.

3 In the Settings window for Evaluation Group, type Evaluation Group:
Reactions in the Label text field.

| 47
Surface Integration - Bolt 1
1 On the Evaluation Group: Reactions toolbar click Integration and choose
Surface Integration . Alternatively, in the Model Builder, right-click
Evaluation Group: Reactions and choose Integration>Surface Integration .
2 In the Settings window for Surface Integration type Bolt 1.
3 Locate the Selection section. From the Selection list, choose Bolt 1.
4 Locate the Expressions section. Click Replace Expression in the upper-right
corner of the Expressions section. From the menu, choose
Component 1>Solid Mechanics>Reactions>
Reaction force (spatial frame) - N>All expressions in this group.
This will add all three components of the reaction force vector in the Expression
column.

48 |
5 In the table in the Expressions section, fill in the Descriptions column as shown
below.

Bolt 2, Bolt 3, and Bolt 4

1 Right-click Bolt 1 and choose Duplicate. Repeat this two more times; adding a
total of four Surface Integration nodes. Adjust the settings according to the
table below.

NODE LABEL SELECTION DESCRIPTION FIELDS

Bolt 2 Bolt 2 Bolt 2, X etc.

Bolt 3 Bolt 3 Bolt 3, X etc.
Bolt 4 Bolt 4 Bolt 4, X etc.

Now, the evaluation group in the Model Builder should look like this:

2 In the Evaluation Group: Reactions toolbar, click Evaluate . All reaction

forces in the evaluation group are now displayed.

You can use the individual reaction forces to check the capacity of the bolts.
Verifying that the sum of all reaction forces matches the applied loads is also a
good sanity check for an analysis.

| 49
Parametric Study

In the previous section, a bracket loaded by an actuator was analyzed. This section
extends this analysis to study the effect of the actuator’s position. This is equivalent
to changing the direction of the applied load. You will use a load-angle parameter
to set up a parametric study.
COMSOL Multiphysics has two ways to perform parametric studies — a
Parametric Sweep node or an Auxiliary sweep from the Stationary Solver node. In
this example, either method can be used. An Auxiliary sweep is used here, but the
continuation solver is not used. The continuation solver uses the solution from the
previous parameter as an initial guess to calculate the current parameter value, and
is the preferred option for nonlinear problems. Using the Parametric Sweep node
is preferable for applications requiring, for example, geometric parameterization.

Load the Model

Either continue working on the existing model or open a saved version of the
model from the Application Libraries. Browse to the
Structural_Mechanics_Module\Tutorials folder. Double-click to open
bracket_static.mph.

Definitions — Parameters and Selections

1 In the Model Builder expand the Global Definitions node, then click
Parameters 1 .
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 In the table, add the following settings:

NAME EXPRESSION VALUE DESCRIPTION

theta0 0[deg] 0 rad Load direction angle

D e f init ions — Lo ca l C o o r d i n a t e S yst em

You will now create a local coordinate system that will rotate with the load
orientation.

50 |
Cylindrical System 2 (sys2)
1 On the Definitions toolbar, click Coordinate Systems and choose
Cylindrical System .
2 In the Settings window for Cylindrical System, locate the Settings section.
3 Find the Origin subsection. In the table, enter the following settings:

X (M) Y (M) Z (M)

0 YC 0

4 Find the Longitudinal axis subsection. In the table, enter the following settings:

X Y Z
1 0 0

5 Find the Direction of axis ϕ=0 subsection. In the table, enter the following
settings:

X Y Z
0 sin(theta0) cos(theta0)

The orientation of the coordinate system now depends on the parameter theta0.

| 51
Definitions - Functions

Change the expression for the load distribution.

Analytic 1 (load)
1 In the Model Builder under Component 1 (comp1)>Definitions click
Analytic 1 (load).
2 In the Settings window for Analytic, locate the Definition section. In the
Expression text field, replace the previous expression by F*cos(p).
3 In the Arguments text field, type F, p.
4 Locate the Units section. In the table (which just shrunk to two rows to match
the current arguments), replace the previous contents on the second row with
rad.

Solid Mechanics

Change the boundary load to consider the parameterized direction.

Boundary Load 1
1 In the Model Builder expand the Solid Mechanics (solid) node, then click
Boundary Load 1.
2 Locate the Coordinate System Selection section. From the Coordinate system
list, choose Cylindrical System 2 (sys2).

52 |
Locate the Force section. Specify the FA vector as

load(P0*sign(X),sys2.phi)*(sign(X)*(abs(sys2.phi)-pi/2)<0) r
0 phi
0 a

Note how the Boolean expression sign(X)*abs(sys2.phi)>pi/2)<0 is used to

filter the load so that it is applied only to half of the bolt hole, as well as in opposite
directions in the left and right bolt holes. The loaded area does however rotate
with the coordinate system, which is controlled by the parameter theta0.
Now add an auxiliary sweep parameter.

Study - Auxiliary Sweep

Parametric studies can be set up from scratch or, as in this example, added to an
existing study. This model computes the stress in the bracket for different load
orientations. Start by selecting the sweep parameter, in this case the load direction
angle. Then run the analysis.

Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder expand the Study 1 node and click Step 1: Stationary.
2 In the Settings window for Stationary, click to expand the Study Extensions
section. Select the Auxiliary sweep check box.
3 Under the table, click Add .
4 Choose theta0 (Load direction angle) from the list. In the table, enter
the additional settings:

PARAMETER NAME PARAMETER VALUE LIST PARAMETER UNIT

theta0 range(0,10,160) deg

| 53
5 From the Run continuation for list, choose No parameter, since you are
analyzing a set of independent loads.

6 On the Settings window for Stationary click Compute .

Results

The default plot shows the solution for the last parameter value (160[deg]). You
can easily change the parameter value to compare solutions for different load cases.

Stress (solid)
1 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, click the Plot First button to
plot the first solution at load angle 0.

54 |
2 Locate the Data section. From the Parameter value (theta0 (deg)) list, choose
90. Click Plot .

3 Repeat this and choose 130. Click Plot .

The stress distribution when at the angle 130 is shown below.

| 55
You will now create a plot showing how the reaction forces vary with the load
angle.

Evaluation Group: Reactions

1 In the Model Builder, click Evaluation Groups: Reactions.
2 In the Evaluation Groups: Reactions toolbar, click Evaluate .
3 In the Table window, on the toolbar in the Evaluation Group: Reactions tab,
click Table Graph .

1D Plot Group 5
1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click 1D Plot Group 5.
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Reaction Force, X-component
in the Label text field.
3 Locate the Plot Settings section. Select the y-axis label check box.
4 In the associated text field, type Reaction Force (N).

56 |
Table Graph 1
1 In the Model Builder window click
Table Graph 1.
2 In the Settings window for Table
Graph, locate the Data section.
3 From the Plot columns list, choose
Manual.
4 In the Columns list, choose
Bolt 1, X (N), Bolt 2, X (N),
Bolt 3, X (N), and Bolt 4, X (N).
5 Locate the Coloring and Style
section. In the Width text field,
type 2.
6 Find the Line markers subsection.
From the Marker list, choose Cycle.
7 Click to expand the Legends section.
Select the Show legends check box.
8 In the Reaction Force, X-component
toolbar, click Plot to show the
variation of the four X-direction
reaction forces as function of the load
angle parameter.

| 57
The graph should look like this:

You will now create similar plots for the reaction forces in the other two directions.
When you already have a plot which is similar to the one you are going to create,
it is usually more efficient to duplicate an existing plot, and then change its
properties, than to start from new plot.

Reaction Force, X-component 1

1 Right-click Reaction Force, X-component, and choose Duplicate .
2 Click Reaction Force, X-component 1. In the Settings window for 1D Plot
Group, change to Reaction Force, Y-component in the Label text field.

Table Graph 1
1 Under Reaction Force, Y-component click Table Graph 1.
2 In the Settings window for Table Graph, locate the Data section.
3 In the Columns list, choose Bolt 1, Y (N), Bolt 2, Y (N), Bolt 3, Y (N), and Bolt
4, Y (N).

58 |
4 In the Reaction Force, Y-component toolbar, click Plot .

Repeat the steps above to create a similar graph also of the Z-direction reaction
forces.

| 59
Modeling Techniques for Structural Mechanics
The next set of tutorials build on the previous examples to demonstrate the
following structural mechanics modeling techniques: How can I model thermal
stress? How can I add an initial strain to the simulation? To get started, go to
Including Initial Strain or Modeling Thermal Expansion.

60 |
Including Initial Strain

Initial stresses and strains can be specified in a subnode to a material model. You
can define a stress/strain distribution with constant values or as an expression
which can, for example, be space or time dependent. The initial stresses and strains
can also come from another physics interface in the same study, or even be results
from another study.
In this example, you add a pin geometry to the bracket assembly. Then you specify
an initial strain to simulate that the pin is slightly too short in the axial direction,
and then you investigate its effect on the assembly.

Definitions - Parameters

Parameters defining the original length of the pin, L0, and the current length, L,
are used to calculate the initial strain. The prestrain is the only load acting on the
structure, which is fixed at the bolt holes.

Parameters
1 Browse to the Structural_Mechanics_Module\Tutorials folder and
double-click to open bracket_basic.mph.
2 On the Home toolbar click Parameters and select Parameters 1 .
In the Parameters table, define a strain value that corresponds to a reduction of
the pin length from 215 mm to 214 mm.
3 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
4 In the table, enter the following settings:

NAME EXPRESSION VALUE DESCRIPTION

L0 215[mm] 0.21500 m Initial pin length

L 214[mm] 0.21400 m Current pin length
InitStrain (L-L0)/L0 -0.0046512 Pin strain

G e o me t r y

Next, the pin geometry is added to the bracket assembly. This is done by
importing it into the existing geometry.

| 61
Note: The location of the files used in this exercise varies based on your
installation. For example, if the installation is on your hard drive, the file path
might be similar to C:\Program
Files\COMSO6056\Multiphysics\applications\Structural_Mechanics_
Module\Tutorials.

Import
1 On the Home toolbar click Import . An Import 2 node is added to the
Model Builder.
2 In the Settings window for Import, locate the Import section. From the Source
list, choose COMSOL Multiphysics file.
3 Click Browse . and go to the model folder
Structural_Mechanics_Module\Tutorials and double-click the file
bracket_pin.mphbin.
4 Below the filename, click Import .

Form Union (fin)

1 In the Model Builder under Geometry 1 click Form Union (fin) .
2 In the Settings window for Form Union/Assembly, locate the Form Union/
Assembly section.
3 From the Action list, choose Form an assembly.

62 |
4 Click the Build Selected button .
The effect of this operation is that the bracket and pin are now independent
objects. The adjacent boundaries are not shared.

S o l i d M e c h a n i c s ( s o l id )

If you expand the Solid Mechanics (solid) node, you

can see that a Continuity node has been automatically
added. This means that the flanges of the pin will be
bonded to the bracket arms. Since the boundaries of
the pin are geometrically adjacent to the bracket, this
was automatically identified. You can check, and if
needed, modify its definition under the Definitions branch in the Model Builder
window.

Linear Elastic Material 1: Adding Initial Stress and Strain

The initial strain is specified under the Linear Elastic Material node.
1 In the Model Builder window, under Solid Mechanics (solid), click Linear
Elastic Material 1. On the Physics toolbar click Attributes and select Initial
Stress and Strain .

As an alternative, you can right-click on the Linear Elastic Material 1 node, and
select Initial Stress and Strain from the context menu.
2 In the Settings window for Initial Stress and Strain, locate the Domain Selection
section. From the Selection list, choose Manual.

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3 To the right of the Selection list, click
the Clear Selection button . Then
select only Domain 2 (the pin).
The prestrain direction is the axial
direction of the bolt, which coincides with
the global x-direction.

4 Under the Initial Stress and Strain

section, enter InitStrain in the first
component of the ε0 table.

Add a Study and Comp ute

1 On the Home toolbar click Add Study to open the Add Study window. Go
to the Add Study window.
2 Find the Studies subsection. In the Select Study tree under General Studies click
Stationary .
3 In the Add study window, click Add Study .
4 On the Home toolbar, click Add Study again to close the Add Study window.
5 On the Home toolbar, click Compute .

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The default plot shows the von Mises stress in the bracket.

The results show how the pin compresses the bracket arms, and that the largest
stresses are found in the region where the bracket arms are joined to the
supporting plates.

Results

You can also plot a principal strain to visualize the resulting strain in the structure.
As the pin is stiff in comparison to the bracket, the total strain in the pin is almost
the same as the initial strain given as input.

3D Plot Group 2
1 On the Home toolbar, click Add Plot Group and choose 3D Plot
Group .
2 In the Settings window for 3D Plot Group, type Third Principal Strain in
the Label text field (replace the default).

Third Principal Strain

1 On the Third Principal Strain toolbar click Surface (or right-click the Third
principal strain node and choose Surface).

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2 In the Settings window for Surface, click Replace Expression in the
upper-right corner of the Expression section. From the menu, choose
Component 1>Solid Mechanics>Strain>Principal strains>solid.ep3 - Third
principal strain.
3 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Scale list, choose Linear
symmetric.
4 In the Graphics window toolbar, click next to Clipping, then choose
Add Clip Plane.
5 In the Graphics window toolbar, click next to Clipping Active, then
deselect Show Gizmos.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.

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Modeling Thermal Expansion

In this example, a temperature field is applied to the bracket and pin assembly and
the thermal stresses are calculated.
COMSOL Multiphysics contains physics interfaces for structural analysis as well as
thermal analysis. You can define the analyses separately and then simulate the
thermal-structure interaction by coupling them using the appropriate variables
and terms in the structural analysis equations, or you can add a predefined
multiphysics interface at the beginning of the setup. In principle, you have three
different options:
• Start the analysis by adding a Thermal Stress, Solid multiphysics interface.
This will add a Solid Mechanics interface, a Heat Transfer in Solids interface,
and a Thermal Expansion multiphysics coupling.
• Add a Solid Mechanics interface, a Heat Transfer in Solids interface, and a
Thermal Expansion multiphysics coupling manually.
• Add a Solid Mechanics interface and a Heat Transfer in Solids interface.
Under the Linear Elastic Material, add a Thermal Expansion subnode, and
make sure that it picks up the computed temperature.
These different types of approaches are relevant for many other multiphysics
simulations too.
If you know from the beginning of your simulation project that you are going to
perform a coupled analysis, adding the multiphysics interface is the recommended
approach. Not only is it more convenient, but doing so will also in general change
some settings in the involved physics interfaces to better suit the combined
analysis. An example of this is that when you add the Thermal Stress, Solid
multiphysics interface, the Solid Mechanics interface will assume that a
time-dependent analysis is quasistatic from the structural point of view, so that
inertial terms are ignored. This, in turn, will affect the time-stepping algorithm
chosen in a time-dependent solver.

Select Physics, Choose the Study, and Load the

G e o me t r y

1 Click the Model Wizard button.

If COMSOL is already open, you can start the Model Wizard by selecting
New from the File menu and then click Model Wizard .
2 On the Select Space Dimension page click 3D .

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3 In the Select Physics tree under Structural Mechanics, expand the folder
Thermal Structure Interaction , and click Thermal Stress, Solid
4 Click Add, then click Study .
5 In the Select Study tree under General Studies, click Stationary .
6 Click Done .
7 On the Home toolbar click Import .
8 In the Settings window for Import locate the Import section.
9 From the Source list, choose COMSOL Multiphysics file.
10Click Browse .
11Browse to the folder Structural_Mechanics_Module\Tutorials under the
COMSOL installation directory and double-click the file bracket.mphbin.
12Below the filename, click Import .

Form Union (fin)

1 In the Model Builder under Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 click Form
Union (fin) . On the Settings window, click Build Selected (or right-click
and select the same option).

Thermal Stress

When you add a Thermal Stress, Solid multiphysics interface, a Solid Mechanics
interface, a Heat Transfer in Solids interface, and a Multiphysics node are added
to the Model Builder.

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Under the Multiphysics node there is one subnode: Thermal Expansion. When
you click this node, you see that the coupling is set up automatically after adding
the multiphysics interface.

Note: The thermal expansion contribution requires both a coefficient of thermal

expansion (CTE) and a volume reference temperature, which is the temperature
at which there are no thermal strains. The default is that the volume reference
temperature is obtained from Default Model Inputs, since this is a quantity which

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usually should be shared between different physics interfaces. To see or modify its
value, click the Go to Source button . This will move you to the Default
Model Inputs node under Global Definitions in the Model Builder. The default
value is room temperature, 293.15 K.

Ma te ria l an d Phy s ics Se tt ing s

Add the material. It contains structural as well as thermal properties.

1 On the Home toolbar click Add Material .
2 In the Add Material window under Built-In, click Structural steel. Click Add to
Component .
3 On the Home toolbar click Add Material again to close the window.
Now set the boundary conditions.
1 Make sure that Solid Mechanics is the currently active interface. To do this,
either select the physics interface from the list on the Physics toolbar or click any
node under Solid Mechanics in the Model Builder.

2 On the Physics toolbar click Boundaries and choose Roller.

3 In the Settings window for Roller select Boundaries 17 and 27.
In this analysis, the fixed constraints at the bolt holes are replaced by springs in
order to avoid large local stresses caused by the thermal expansion.
1 On the Physics toolbar click Boundaries and choose Spring Foundation.
2 In the Settings window for Spring Foundation select Boundaries 18–21 and 31–
34 (the bolt holes).
3 Locate the Spring section. From the Spring Type list, choose Total spring
constant.

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4 Choose Diagonal from the list
below the text field. The text field
changes to a matrix input.
5 Enter 600[kN/mm] in the first
two diagonal elements of the kA
matrix as shown in the figure. This
provides a stiffness in the global X
and Y directions.

Heat Transfer in Solids (ht)

As the Heat Transfer in Solids interface includes a heat balance, the thermal
boundary conditions must also be set. A heat flux is prescribed at the two
boundaries below the bolt holes. All other boundaries are assumed to be
surrounded by air with room temperature, which is modeled by a convection
condition.
1 On the Physics toolbar make sure that Heat Transfer in Solids is the currently
active physics interface (or click the Heat Transfer in Solids node in the Model
Builder).
2 On the Physics toolbar click Boundaries and choose Heat Flux .
3 In the Settings window for Heat Flux, select All boundaries in the Selection list.
Then remove boundaries 17 and 27 from the selection.
4 Locate the Heat Flux section. From the Flux type list, choose Convective heat
flux. Enter 10 in the text field for the Heat transfer coefficient, h.
5 On the Physics toolbar click Boundaries and choose Heat Flux .
6 In the Settings window for Heat Flux, select boundaries 17 and 27.
7 In the Heat Flux section, enter 1e4 in the General inward heat flux, q0, text
field.

Compute and Display Results

On the Study or Home toolbar click Compute .

Under the Results node, three plot groups are automatically added to show the
default results for a structural analysis and a thermal analysis. The first plot group,
Stress (solid), shows the von Mises stresses on a scaled deformed geometry. Due

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to the boundary conditions and the non-uniform temperature distribution,
thermal stresses develop in the structure.

The second default plot group, Temperature (ht), displays the temperature
distribution. The temperature is highest where the inward heat flux is prescribed,
and decreases as heat is removed by convection from all other boundaries.

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As a final step, pick one of the plots to use as a model thumbnail.
1 In the Model Builder under Results click any of the plot groups.
2 Click the Root node (the first node in the model tree). On the Settings window
for Root under Thumbnail, click Set from Graphics Window.
Adjust the image in the Graphics window using the toolbar buttons until the
image is one that is suitable to your purposes.

Examples in the Application Library

This example concludes the introduction.
In the Structural Mechanics Module application library, there are several more
detailed examples that use the bracket geometry to extend this tutorial. These
show how to:
• Model with special features such as rigid connectors and spring conditions
(bracket_rigid_connector, bracket_spring)
• Model thin structures using the Shell interface in combination with the
Solid Mechanics interface (bracket_shell)
• Perform structural dynamics analysis using eigenfrequency extraction,
transient analysis, frequency response analysis, and analysis of nonharmonic

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 periodic excitation (bracket_eigenfrequency, bracket_transient,
bracket_frequency, bracket_general_periodic)
• Perform a linearized buckling analysis (bracket_linear_buckling)
• Perform a contact analysis (bracket_contact)
• Perform a random vibration analysis (bracket_random_vibration)

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