Mechanical APDL Structural Analysis Guide

3. Set Additional Solution Options (p. 13)


4. Apply the Loads (p. 15)


5. Solve the Analysis (p. 18)


6. Review the Results (p. 19)

2.2.1. Build the Model

See Building the Model in the Basic Analysis Guide. For further details, see the Modeling and Meshing
Guide.

2.2.1.1. Points to Remember

Keep the following points in mind when doing a static analysis:

• You can use both linear and nonlinear structural elements.


• Material properties can be linear or nonlinear, isotropic or orthotropic, and constant or temperature-
  dependent.
  
  
  • You must define stiffness in some form (for example, Young's modulus (EX), hyperelastic coefficients,
    and so on).
  
  
  • For inertia loads (such as gravity), you must define the data required for mass calculations, such
    as density (DENS).
  
  
  • For thermal loads (temperatures), you must define the coefficient of thermal expansion (ALPX).
  
  
  
  

Note the following information about mesh density:

• Regions where stresses or strains vary rapidly (usually areas of interest) require a relatively finer mesh
  than regions where stresses or strains are nearly constant (within an element).


• While considering the influence of nonlinearities, remember that the mesh should be able to capture
  the effects of the nonlinearities. For example, plasticity requires a reasonable integration point
  density (and therefore a fine element mesh) in areas with high plastic deformation gradients.

2.2.2. Set Solution Controls

Setting solution controls involves defining the analysis type and common analysis options for an ana-
lysis, as well as specifying load step options for it.When you are doing a structural static analysis, you
can take advantage of a streamlined solution interface (called the Solution Controls dialog box) for
setting these options. The Solution Controls dialog box provides default settings that will work well for
many structural static analyses, which means that you may need to set only a few, if any, of the options.
Because the streamlined solution interface is the recommended tool for setting solution controls in a
structural static analysis, it is the method that is presented in this chapter.

If you prefer not to use the Solution Controls dialog box (Main Menu> Solution> Analysis Type> Sol'n
Controls), you can set solution controls for your analysis using the standard set of ANSYS solution
commands and the standard corresponding menu paths (Main Menu> Solution> Unabridged Menu>
option). For a general overview of the Solution Controls dialog box, see Using Special Solution Controls
for Certain Types of Structural Analyses in the Basic Analysis Guide.

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Structural Static Analysis