Module 3: Buckling of 1D Simply Supported Beam

Table of Contents Page Number

Problem Description 2

Theory 2

Geometry 4

Preprocessor 7
Element Type 7
Real Constants and Material Properties 8
Meshing 9

Solution 11
Static Solution 11
Eigenvalue 14
Mode Shape 15
General Postprocessor 16

Results 18

Validation 18

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Problem Description:

y
x

Nomenclature:
L =200mm Length of beam
b =10mm Cross Section Base
h =1 mm Cross Section Height
P=1N Applied Force
E=200,000 Youngs Modulus of Steel at Room Temperature
=0.33 Poissons Ratio of Steel
Moment of Inertia

In this module, we will be modeling a simply supported steel beam with compressive loads.
This module will stress the importance of buckling in designs involving linear compressive
loading and will serve as a starting point for later modules which deal with more complex
buckling considerations. This is done through the Eigenvalue method. Eigenvalue buckling
analysis predicts the theoretical buckling strength of a linear elastic structure. Failure to consider
imperfections and nonlinearities in the structure, this solution is an overestimate of the
theoretical value.

Theory
Buckling load
Hookes Law equates stress as shown:

(3.1)
Deriving both sides of equation 3.1 it shows

(3.2)
By solving for equilibrium:

(3.3)
Equation 3.3 is a nonlinear equation, however this equation can be linearized using eigenvalues.

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Since:
(3.4)
Then:
(3.5)
Plugging in Equation 3.1 for stress we find:
(3.6)
Plugging Equation 3.6 into Equation 3.3, Equation 3.6 becomes

(3.7)
Which is simplifies to:

(3.8)
By integrating two times Equation 3.8 becomes

(3.9)

At the fixed end (x=0), v=0, , thus 0

At the supported end (x=L), v=0, , thus 0
Equation 3.9 becomes

(3.10)

Equation 3.6 represents the Differential Equation for a Sin Wave

(3.11)
A and B are arbitrary constants which are calculated based on Boundary Conditions.
At the fixed end (x=0), v=0 proving B=0. Equation 3.11 becomes
(3.12)

But A cannot equal zero or this problem is trivial.

At the supported end (x=L), v=0 Equation 12 becomes

(3.13)

Since A cannot equal zero, ( ) must equal zero:

Sin(n)=0 for n=(0, 1, 2, 3, 4..)

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So:

n 0 or it is trivial (3.14)

We are interested in finding P which is the Critical Buckling Load. Since n can be any integer
greater than zero and a continuous beam has theoretically infinite degrees of freedom there are
infinite amount of eigenvalues ( ).

(3.15)
Where the lowest Buckling Load is at

(3.16)
This is an over estimate so there are certain correction factors (C) to account for this. (C) is
dependent on the beam constraints.

(3.17)
Where C=1 for a fixed-simply supported beam.
So the Critical Buckling Load is

= 41.124 N (3.18)

Geometry
Opening ANSYS Mechanical APDL
1. On your Windows 7 Desktop click the Start button
2. Under Search Programs and Files type ANSYS
3. Click on Mechanical APDL (ANSYS) to start
ANSYS. This step may take time.
3

2
1
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Preferences
1. Go to Main Menu -> Preferences
2. Check the box that says Structural
3. Click OK

1
2

Title:
To add a title
1. Utility Menu -> ANSYS Toolbar -> type /prep7 -> enter
2. Utility Menu -> ANSYS Toolbar -> type /Title, Title Name -> enter

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Key points
Since we will be using 1D Elements, our goal is to model the length of the beam.

1. Go to Main Menu -> Preprocessor -> Modeling -> Create ->

Keypoints -> On Working Plane
2. Click Global Cartesian
3. In the box underneath, write: 0,0,0. This will create a key point at the
origin.
4. Click Apply 2
5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for 200,0,0
6. Click Ok 3
7. The Triad in the top left corner is blocking keypoint 1.
To get rid of the triad, type
/triad,off in Utility Menu -> Command Prompt
6

7
8. Go to Utility Menu -> Plot -> Replot
2
Line

1. Go to Main Menu -> Preprocessor -> Modeling -> Create ->

Lines -> Lines -> Straight Line
2. Select Pick
3. Select List of Items
4. Type 1,2 for points previously generated.
5. Click Ok

3
4
5

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The resulting graphic should be as shown:

Saving Geometry
We will be using the geometry we have just created for 3 modules. Thus it would be convenient
to save the geometry so that it does not have to be made again from scratch.
1. Go to File -> Save As
2. Under Save Database to
pick a name for the Geometry.
2 4
For this tutorial, we will name
the file Buckling simply 3
supported
3. Under Directories: pick the
Folder you would like to save the
.db file to.
4. Click OK

Preprocessor
Element Type
1. Go to Main Menu -> Preprocessor -> Element Type -> Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click Add
3. Click Beam -> 2D Elastic 3
4. Click OK

4
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Beam3 is a uniaxial element with tension, compression, and bending capabilities. The element
has three degrees of freedom at each node: translations in the nodal x and y directions and
rotation about the nodal z-axis

Real Constants and Material Properties

Now we will dimension our beam.
1. Go to Main Menu -> Preprocessor ->
Real Constants -> Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click Add 3
3. Choose Type 1 Beam3
4. Click OK
5. Under Cross-sectional area AREA
enter 10
6. Under Area moment of inertia IZZ
2
Enter 10/12
7. Under Total beam height HEIGHT
enter 10
8. Click OK
9 4
9. Close out of the Real Constants window

5
6
7

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Now we must specify Youngs Modulus and Poissons Ratio

1. Go to Main Menu -> Preprocessor -> Material Props -> Material Models
2. Go to Material Model Number 1 -> Structural -> Linear -> Elastic -> Isotropic
3. Input 2E5 for the Youngs Modulus (Steel) in EX.
4. Input 0.3 for Poissons Ratio in PRXY
5. Click OK
6. of Define Material Model Behavior window

2 3
4

Meshing

1. Go to Main Menu -> Preprocessor ->

Meshing -> Mesh Tool
2. Go to Size Controls: -> Global -> Set
3. Under NDIV No. of element divisions put 10.
This will create a mesh of a total 10 elements
4. Click OK
5. Click Mesh
6. Click Pick All
2

3
4
5 6

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 7. Go to Utility Menu -> Plot -> Nodes
8. Go to Utility Menu -> Plot Controls -> Numbering
9. Check NODE Node Numbers to ON
10. Click OK

10

The resulting graphic should be as shown:

ANSYS numbers nodes from the left extreme to the right extreme and then numbers from left to
right.

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Solution

There are two types of solution menus that ANSYS APDL provides; the Abridged solution menu
and the Unabridged solution menu. Before specifying the loads on the beam, it is crucial to be in
the correct menu.
Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Unabridged menu
This is shown as the last tab in the Solution menu. If this reads Abridged menu you are
already in the Unabridged solution menu.
Static Solution
Analysis Type
1. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Analysis Type -> New Analysis
2. Choose Static
3. Click OK

3
4. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Analysis Type ->Analysis Options
5. Under [SSTIF][PSTRES] Stress stiffness or prestress select Prestress ON
6. Click OK
Prestress is the only change necessary in this window and it is a crucial step in obtaining a final
result for eigenvalue buckling.

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Displacement
1. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Define Loads ->Apply ->Structural ->
Displacement -> On Nodes
2. Select Pick -> Single -> and click node 1 2
3. Click OK

4. Under Lab2 DOFs to be constrained select UX and UY

5. Under VALUE Displacement value enter 0
6. Click OK

5
6
7. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Define Loads ->Apply ->Structural ->
Displacement -> On Nodes
8. Select Pick -> Single -> and click node 2
9. Click OK
10. Under Lab2 DOFs to be constrained select only UY
11. Under VALUE Displacement value enter 0
12. Click OK
WARNING: UX and UY might already be highlighted, if so, leave UY
highlighted and click UX to remove it from the selection. Failure to only
constrain UY will result in incorrect results.

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 The graphics area should look as below:

Loads
1. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Define Loads ->Apply ->Structural ->
Force/Moment -> On Nodes
2. Select Pick -> Single -> and click node 2
2

3. Click OK
4. Under Direction of force/mom select FX
5. Under VALUE Force/moment value enter -1
6. Click OK

The graphics area should look as below:

USEFUL TIP: The force value is only a magnitude of 1 because

eigenvalues are calculated by a factor of the load applied, so having a
force of 1 will not skew the eigenvalue answer.

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Solve
1. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Solve -> Current LS
2. Go to Main Menu -> Finish

Eigenvalue

1. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Analysis Type -> New Analysis
2. Choose Eigen Buckling
3. Click OK

3
4. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Analysis Type ->Analysis Options
5. Under NMODE No. of modes to extract input 1
6. Click OK

6
7.
6
Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Solve -> Current LS
8. Go to Main Menu -> Finish

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Mode Shape

1. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Analysis Type -> ExpansionPass

2. Click [EXPASS] Expansion pass to ensure this is turned on
3. Click OK

3
4. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Load Step Opts -> ExpansionPass ->
Single Expand -> Expand Modes
5. Under NMODE No. of modes to expand input 1
6. Click OK

6
7. Go to Main Menu -> Solution -> Solve -> Current LS
8. Go to Main Menu -> Finish

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General Postprocessor

Buckling Load
Now that ANSYS has solved these three analysis lets extract the lowest eigenvalue. This
represents the lowest force to cause buckling.
Go to Main Menu -> General Postproc -> List Results -> Detailed Summary

Results for Buckling Load:

P= 41.124 N

Mode Shape
To view the deformed shape of the buckled beam vs. original beam:
1. Go to Main Menu -> General Postproc -> Read Results -> Last Set
2. Go to Main Menu -> General Postproc -> Plot Results -> Deformed Shape
3. Under KUND Items to be plotted select Def + undeformed
4. Click OK

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The graphics area should look as below:

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Results

The percent error (%E) in our model max deflection can be defined as:

( ) = 0%
This shows that there is no error baseline using one dimensional elements.

Validation

Theoretical 10 Elements 2 Elements

Critical Buckling Load 41.124 N 41.124 41.433

Percent Error 0% 0% 0.7513%

This table provides the critical buckling loads and corresponding error from the Theory (Euler),
and two different ANSYS results; one with 2 elements and one with 10 elements. This is to
prove mesh independence, showing with increasing mesh size, the answer approaches the
theoretical value. The results here show that even using a coarse mesh of 2 elements the error
baseline is minimal. The eigenvalue buckling method over-estimates the real life buckling
load. This is due to the assumption of a perfect structure, disregarding flaws and nonlinearities
in the material. There is no such thing as a perfect beam so the structure will never actually
reach the eigenvalue load that is calculated. In practice having an ANSYS result which
overestimates the analytical solution is undesirable because it overestimates the already
aggressive approximations using the eigenvalue solution.

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