PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis

EXAMPLE 4. (SG_9) Large displacement with snap-through behaviour

Description/Objective We shell observe a simple example, a rod with a force directed in opposite
direction (Figure 1). This example illustrates the procedures for automatic selection of loads in the
area of sub-critical behavior. Incremental procedures with monotonic increase in levels of outer
loads can not comprise a complete behavior of such structure. Analytical connection between force,
F, and displacement is analogue to expression:
⎡ 1 ⎤0
F = EA⎢− o +
1
( )
⎥ L sin 0β − Y
⎢⎣ L 0
L −2 LY sin β + Y ⎥⎦
0 0 2

where Y is displacement of the point at which the force is given.

E=2.1E6
ν=0.3
L A=1
L=10

Fig. 1

The example is solved with constant arc length method and the solution agrees with analytical
solution.

Suggested Exercise Steps:

I. Defining Materials and Properties

II. Generation of Nodes and Elements
III. Constraining the Model
IV. Loading the Model
V. Prepare and Submit the Model for a Nonlinear Analysis
VI. Postprocessing and Review the Results

Example 4 1
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
If you have not already done so, start FEMAP by double-click the icon on your Desktop or in the
Windows Start menu, pick Start>Programs>Femap v8.1>Femap v8.1. All new models are named
“Untitled”. The command File>Save As... allows you to change the model filename. The Windows
Common File Save As dialog box will be display. Using this box, you can navigate around your
local computer. Move to or create a directory where you wish to store your FEMAP model, type in
the field File name Example4, and press Save.
Throughout this example, all commands that you will select from the FEMAP menu will be shown
in the following style File>Save As... Which means, first select File from the menu, and then move
to the Save As command.

File>Save As

2 3

Tools>Advanced Geometry...

I. Defining Materials and Properties

Model > Material

Remark: In a message window at the bottom of the screen, you can see a confirmation that material
is created.
After FEMAP displays dialog box Define Isotropic Material press Cancel.
Example 4 2
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
Model>Property...

1 2
3

After FEMAP displays again dialog box Define Property - SOLID Element Type press Cancel.

Example 4 3
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
II. Generation of Nodes and Elements
Model>Node (Ctrl+N)
The next dialogue box appears, in which the coordinates of the first node are entered.

1
2

Repeat the procedure for the second nodes.

1
2

After FEMAP displays again dialog box Locate – Enter Coordinates or Select with Cursor
press Cancel.

Press Ctrl+A or choose following command to autoscale the view:

View>Autoscale>Visible

Display labelling of nodes and elements by ID

View>Options... (F6)

The following dialogue box appears

2 5

1
4

3
6

Model >Element... (Ctrl+E)

The following dialogue box appears

Example 4 4
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis

1
2 3
Select the nodes or enter the number of nodes. However, it is easier to use graphical interface and to
select nodes at the screen by using the mouse. Click on the first Nodes box and select the nodes at
the screen in order shown in previous Figure.
Remark: A node nearest to the cursor will be highlighted by yellow X( ), by mouse click,
highlighted node will be selected - you do not need to precisely click on a node!
After FEMAP displays again dialog box Define ROD Element - Enter Nodes or Select with
Cursor press Cancel.

Disconnection of workplane view.

Tools>Workplane (F2)

You can change the colors of model enteties (nodes) using next commands:
Modify>Color>Node...

1
2

Example 4 5
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
Modify>Color>Elements...

1
2

Use the following command to regenerate the screen:

View>Regenerate (Ctrl+G)

On the Fig. 2 finite element model (nodes and elements) is shown.

1
Y

Z X

Fig. 2

Example 4 6
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
III. Constraining the Model

Note: Since Constraints are Set based, you must create an empty Constrain Set before defining any
actual constrains.

Model>Constraint>Set... (Shift+F2)

Model>Constraint>Nodal...
Note: Graphically pick the location of nodes in which constraints are given (3) on screen, Fig. 2. It
will be marked by +3 and added to Entity Selection box, so it could not be selected (marked) again.

2 3

Now, select nodes 1 and 2

2 3

After FEMAP displays again dialog box Entity Selection - Enter Node(s) to Select press Cancel.

Example 4 7
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
Modify > Update other > Perm Constraint...

1
2

3
4

IV. Loading the Model

Modal>Load>Set... (Ctrl+F2)

Modal>Load>Nodal
Force at node 1 should be set.

6
After FEMAP displays again dialog box Entity Selection – Enter Node(s) to Select press Cancel.
Example 4 8
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
To reduce the amount of information displayed (turn off Perm Constraint), use the FEMAP Quick
Options (short-cut key Ctrl+Q):

Fig. 3 shows a finite element model with numbering of nodes and elements and given constraints
and loads.

2
1

1.

1
Y
12

Z X

Fig. 3

Save your model by pressing F4.

Example 4 9
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
V. Prepare and Submit the Model for a Nonlinear Analysis

You should export your model as a FEMAP neutral file (*.NEU file ver.4.4). Then, using the PAK
Translator you will translate your model into an input file for FEA program PAK-S that will
analyze this model.
File>Export>FEMAP Neutral…

2 3

Run the PAK Translator by double-click the icon on your Desktop or in the directory Paktr run
the file Paktr.exe.

Example 4 10
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis

1
2

4 5

1
2

Example 4 11
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis

6
7

10

11 14

12 15

13

16

17

Example 4 12
 PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis

4 5

You should save your *. dat file in the same directory as you put a file Paks.exe. You need to run
file Paks.exe and after start it, type Example6.dat in a DOS prompt (see the window below). Three
files should be create during this process Example6. LST, Example6. UNV, Example6. NEU.

Example 4 13
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
VI. Postprocesing and Review the Results
After solution, FEMAP can read the output results for post-processing. Reading output results is
similar to writing model for analysis.
File>Import>FEMAP Neutral…

2 3

Plot force-displacement diagram at node 2.

View>Select... (F5)

Example 4 14
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis

For curve 2 adjust: Output Vector: CRITICAL LOAD; Node: 2.

7
6

9
10

After FEMAP displays again dialog box Select PostProcesing Data press OK, than after FEMAP
displays again dialog box View Select press OK.

In order to plot time dependence between two variables, it is necessary to export diagram data.
Writing diagram data into ASCII data file.
List>Destination

Example 4 15
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis

2 3

File Example4pp.lst is now opened.

Writing diagram data in previously opened file.
List>Output>XY Plot
Diagram data will be written in file Example4pp.lst .

Transfer of file data to Excel

Open the file in which diagram data are written (Example4pp.lst) in a text editor (UltraEdit,
Notepad and similar). Displacements are diametrical to y-axis direction, so, it is necessary to
change signs of the values in table.

Start the EXCEL by clicking on icon at the desktop or by clicking on

Start>Programs>Microsoft Excel
In this example, we want to pair displacements with rod force.
By using the clipboard, we shall transfer data from file Example4pp.lst to Excel.
Select displacements in node 2, values under Y for all time steps (turn on column selection in
UltraEdit using Alt+C), as shown in Figure. Press Ctrl+C or Edit/Copy.
By using Alt+Tab transfer to Excel and with Ctrl+V or Edit/Paste copy the clipboard contents to the
first column of the Excel sheet.
The same procedure should be applied for copying the force values in node 2, values under Y for all
time steps, as shown in Figure. Press Ctrl+C or Edit/Copy.
With Alt+Tab transfer to Excel and with Ctrl+V or Edit/Paste copy the clipboard contents to the
third column, of Excel sheet.

Plotting the diagrams

By clicking on icon for plotting the charts (Chart ), Excel's wizard for plotting the charts is
actuated. Chart plotting is conducted in 4 steps.
Example 4 16
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
The first step: Choose the type and subtype of the chart you want to plot. Choose the type and
subtype as shown in the following Figure.

The second step: define the chart data. Click on a Series tab;
The firs curve: by clicking on Add button, text boxes for entering curve data are opened.
Name: Force-displacement
X Values: Click on button at the end of the text box,
previous dialogue box will shrink. Select all
values of the first column; the references of
the marked table fields will appear in dialogue
box and they will be marked with dashed lines
By another click on icon, dialogue box spreads again.
Y Values: click on button at the end of the text box
and then select all values from the third column

The third step: adjustment of chart options.

Titles tab: Chart title: the chart title can be entered in previous step and will be written above the
diagram
Value (X) axis: name for values plotted on X-axis (displacements)
Value (Y) axis: name for values plotted on Y-axis (force)
Axes tab: By checking Value (X/Y) axis, values will be shown on x/y axes.
Gridlines tab: adjustment of parameters for drawing the grids on chart.
Legend tab: By checking Show legend, a legend will be shown at the chart, it is necessary to select
where it will be shown (check top)

Example 4 17
PAK-S Examples Nonlinear Structural Analysis
Data labels tab: turning on/turning of the values on chart. By selecting Show value, y-values are
shown at chart; by selecting show label, x-values are shown at chart.

The fourth step: selecting the chart location; on a new sheet (by selecting As new sheet, a new
sheet will be created in a file named Chart) or as an object in sheet (As object in) selected from the
drop down menu.
By clicking on Finish button, a following chart appears.

Force-displacement

15000

10000

5000
Force

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-5000

-10000
Displacement

Fig. 5

Example 4 18