Simple Bracket Analysis Using Strand7

Simple Bracket
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Simple Bracket Analysis using Strand7

Creating the Model
In this tutorial we will create a bracket, as that below, apply loads to it and analyse the stress levels
raised within it. We will also limit the stress levels displayed by the system.
Extrude Nodes
Create Plates
Extrude Bottom Edges
Create Bottom Plate
Grade Plates
Restrain the nodes
Apply node loads
Plate properties
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen.napper1/Autocad/Strand/Simple%20Bracket/Si... 30/05/2015
Simple Bracket
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Solve the model
Extrude nodes
To start open a blank model with the units set to mm, MPa and KN. Create the first node using the
keyboard shortcut Ctrl + W.
Set the 1st Node as 0,0 by clicking on the Apply button. We will extrude the next nodes, so click on
the Tools > Extrude > by Increments menu's at the top of the screen. Set the X direction to 200, select
the Node and click on Apply.
Next extrude by Increments the nodes along the Y axis by 200mm . Remember to set the X
direction to 0. Click on the Re Draw Icon and your screen will look like that below.
Simple Bracket
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Create Plates
Use the keyboard shortcut, Ctrl + E and select Quad8 plates as above. Now create the plate as in the
Non Standard Sections tutorial by clicking on each node in turn, then finally All. Remember to go in
an anti-clockwise direction.
You now have a screen like that below;
Simple Bracket
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To complete the bracket we will need to extrude the bottom edge of the plate
Extrude Bottom Edge

Select the extrude by increments menu, then select the bottom three nodes. Extrude these nodes by
300mm along the Z axis. The screen now looks like:
Simple Bracket
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Create Plates (2)

Use the Ctrl + E shortcut again, select the Quad8 option. Create the plate and the model will look
like:
It doesn't really look like the bottom plate is longer than the back plate at the moment does it? Just to
check, change the view angle to Isometric (Right click anywhere and select the Angle menu, then
Isometric as per the Beam Analysis Tutorial)
Simple Bracket
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Looks OK! The next stage is to put that hole in the back plate. To do this we 'Grade' the plate.
Grade Plates
Before we can grade the plate, we need to sub divide the plate into four plates. To do this use Tools >
Subdivide. Note that the A & B elements have been divided by two in both cases.
Select the plate and click Apply. (Ensure that the Plate Select option is selected.)
The subdivided plate looks like
Simple Bracket
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To Grade the plates, Tool > Grade Plates and Bricks. Select the Quarter Circle Grade, and then select
the inside edges of the plate as per below;
Once all the plate edges are selected, click on Apply and the hole will be formed.
Simple Bracket
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The model is now complete, and we can start restraining it and applying loads!
Restraining Nodes
Select the nodes by dragging a diagonal box around the required nodes (re select the center node to de
select it) and restrain against translation in the X, Y and Z directions.
Once restrained the 'base' looks like this
Simple Bracket
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Apply node loads
Apply the node loads via the Attributes > Node > Force menu. Note that the load is applied in the Z
direction.
Simple Bracket
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Before we can solve the model we need to delete the beams created during the models construction
and to define the plate properties. To delete the beams use the global select tool, then use the Delete
key on the keyboard. The selected beams appear as dashed white lines, but once deleted the model
will look no different.
Plate properties
To define the plate properties of material and thickness use the Ctrl + Alt + P keyboard shortcut. Set
the material to Steel - Structural and the membrane thickness to 2mm.
Simple Bracket
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The next stage is to Solve the model and we know how to do this, from the beam analysis tutorials,
but if you need reminding, select Solver > Linear Static. To continue we will go to the next page.
Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis
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Simple Bracket Analysis using Strand7

Analysing the Model
Develop the Model

Solve the model
Displacement Scale
Plate Stress
Member Stress
Limit Stress Displayed
Hide High Stress Plates
Animation
Solve The Model

We now have a restrained and loaded model. Click on the Solver > Linear Static menu to solve the
model.
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Back to the top
Displacement Scale
One the model is solved set the displacement scale to 10%.
Plate Stress
Then select the Elements Result Display icon and set as below;
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The result should be that below.
The model may look quite impressive, but notice how low the stresses are - 1.7376Mpa
(1.73Nmm2). We are looking at the 'plate stresses', i.e. the stress levels on a theoretical line on the
inside of the model. Change the view to show the solid model. (Hint, right click > Entity Display.
Still lost?) Notice how the stress levels and distribution change.
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Member Stress
Go back to the Elements Result Display and change the plane being displayed. You will notice
that the stress distribution changes, but also that the stress levels change, quite dramatically in
some cases.
Back to the Top
Limit Stress Display

You will note that the strongest Structural steel, grade S350 has a material strength of 350N/mm2,
therefor at 750N/mm2 (Mpa) the material will have failed. One quite useful feature of Strand7 is
it's facility to limit the maximum and minimum stress levels displayed on the model. To do this
open the Elements Result Display window and select the settings button. Select the limits tab and
set the Min value to -350 and the Max to 350.
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The model will refresh when the window is closed. The two screen grabs below show before and
after.
Default Range
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User
Defined Limits
Back to the Top
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Hide High Stress Plates

Another method of hiding highly stressed area's is to select the highly stressed plates and hide
them using the hide selected button
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The finer the mesh, or the more plates the more accurate the model. Unfortunately the Demo
version of the software limits the number of beams and plates too much to allow anything much
more complex than the model we have created, but this is another method of increasing the
accuracy of the analysis / results displayed.
Back to the Top
Animation
One final analytical tool, and in my opinion, one of the most useful / enlightening is the animation
section.
Unfortunately I don't know how to include an animation in a web page - but I am working on it. In
the mean time the link here is to a Winzip file containing a free copy of the SAF player and the
animation file Tut1.saf. Download the file by following the link, or follow the instructions to
create your own animation.
The menu is simple enough; Results > Create Animation. I suggest setting the number of frames
to 10 as the model is not too complex, and it looks much smoother.
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Simple Bracket Analysis Using Strand7

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Simple Bracket

Simple Bracket Analysis using Strand7

Solve the model

Extrude Bottom Edge

Create Plates (2)

The subdivided plate looks like

Once restrained the 'base' looks like this

Apply node loads

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

Simple Bracket Analysis using Strand7

Develop the Model

Solve The Model

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

Back to the top

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

The result should be that below.

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

Limit Stress Display

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

Hide High Stress Plates

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

Strand7: Simple Bracket - Analysis

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