Customer Training Material

Workshop 3.1
Contact Control

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved. Release 13.0 November 2010

WS3.1-1

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Goals

Customer Training Material

Workshop 3.1 investigates contact behavior on a simple assembly. It is meant to illustrate how rigid body motion can occur as a result of improper contact set up. Problem statement:
The model consists of a simple assembly file. Our goal is to set up contact among the parts in the assembly and see how non symmetric loading can effect the results.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-2

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Assumptions

Customer Training Material

Well assume the friction between the arm shaft and the holes in the side plates is negligible. Well make the same assumption for the contact between the arm shaft and the stop shaft. Finally well assume the stop shaft is fixed to each of the side plates.
Arm Shaft Side Plate

Side Plate

Stop Shaft
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-3

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Project Schematic
Open the Project page. From the Units menu verify:

Customer Training Material

Project units are set to US Customary (lbm, in, s, F, A, lbf, V). Display Values in Project Units is checked (on).

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-4

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

. . . Project Schematic
1. In the Toolbox, double click Static Structural to create a new analysis system.
1.

Customer Training Material

2. RMB on the Geometry cell and Import Geometry. Browse to Contact_Arm.stp.

2.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-5

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Preprocessing
3. Double click the Model cell to open the Mechanical application.

Customer Training Material

3.

4. Set/check the working Unit System:

Units > U.S Customary (in, lbm, lbf, F, s, V, A)

4.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-6

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

. . . Preprocessing
5. RMB the Connections branch and Rename Based on Definition.

Customer Training Material

5.

The result is contact regions are now defined with respect to the parts associated with each. Notice the type of contact (e.g. bonded, etc.) is also shown.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-7

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

. . . Preprocessing
6. Based on the assumptions stated earlier change 3 of the contact regions to No Separation as shown here: a.
a. Use the CTRL key and select the 3 contact regions shown here. b. In the details change the contact type to No Separation.
Each contact region could be changed individually, selecting all 3 merely saves time.

Customer Training Material

b.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-8

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Environment
7. Fix the assembly (highlight the Static Structural branch (A5):
a. Select the 2 faces on the ends of the Side Plates. b. RMB > Insert > Fixed Support.

Customer Training Material

a.

b.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-9

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

. . . Environment
8. Apply a force load to the ArmShaft:
a. Select the end line on the top of the ArmShaft. b. RMB > Insert > Force. c. In the force details change to Component d. Set:
Y component = - 10 lbf (minus 10) Z component = +1

Customer Training Material

a.

b.

c. d.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-10

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Initial Solution
9. Highlight the Solution branch (A6) and RMB > Insert > Deformation > Total. 10. Solve (you will see a warning message that the model may be unconstrained).
Highlight the Total Deformation to view the result.

Customer Training Material

9.

10.

Although slight, we can see the ArmShaft is beginning to move sideways. We have no contact or boundary condition to prevent this motion as it is currently set up. If the magnitude of the load becomes large enough, the solution will fail.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-11

Release 13.0 November 2010

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Modified Environment
11. Add a frictionless support to the ArmShaft:
a. Select one of the faces on the end of the shaft for the ArmShaft. b. RMB > Insert >Frictionless Support.
Either end of the shaft can be chosen.

Customer Training Material

a.

b.

A frictionless support provides a constraint which is normal to the surface. In this case the shaft will be free to rotate but cannot move out of plane (in this case the Z direction is constrained).
WS3.1-12
Release 13.0 November 2010

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

Introduction to ANSYS Mechanical

Modified Result

Customer Training Material

Once again solve the model and inspect the deformations. As can be seen the ArmShaft is now prevented from moving.
In setting up contact models it is important to assess what motions have and have not, been accounted for.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2010 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.

WS3.1-13

Release 13.0 November 2010