Transient Dynamic Analysis
Transient Dynamic Analysis
Displacement, u
DO WE ANALYSE ??
YES
NO
NO
Input f is high
so mass cannot
respond t o load
Pseudo
St at ic
Input f=low
1
response cont rolled
by damping
Input f
Out put f
10.1 DAMPING
Damping is present in some form in most structures. The general equation of motion shows
damping associated with the velocity terms. Indeed, the damping present in the structure can
be thought of as an energy absorber. The
C = 0.1
funct ion
U
following diagrams show the response of a
of damping simple simple one-mass structure to variations in
the amount of damping present in the structure.
t
Generally, the amount of damping present is
small, of the order of 5 to 15 per cent in most
structures. In these cases, the displacement
C
=
1
U
response as a function of time is shown. Indeed,
this form of function is often termed
underdamping and is the most naturally present
form of damping.
t
C= 0
t
If there is no damping present (as in the case of
modal analysis) then the energy remains in the structure, i.e. kinetic energy - potential energy kinetic energy - potential energy, and so on.
It is important to understand the significance of damping. For most transient analyses, the
value of damping is not particularly significant, that being in the order of 5-15%. variations
within this band will not have too much of a change in the structural response, especially if the
nature of the response is long term. However, if the response is short term, as in the pinging of
a glass or if the response is close to the resonant frequency, then the significance of the level of
damping becomes very important.
Note: If the design response in the stready state condition is near resonance, then mass
should be added to the structure to alter the natural frequency of the system.
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There are various methods of including damping in most modern finite element codes.
Damping can be added via any or all of the following methods:
NMAT
NEL
j =1
k =1
j K j + cc K +
Ck
where M represents mass damping, etc represent structural damping, and the final term
represents elemental damping. This form of damping equation is known as Rayleigh
Damping and is often represented by the expression
C = M + K
This implies that the parameters and are required in the input to the analysis. In Ansys, the
ALPHAD and BETAD commands apply. This model of damping is incorporated in most codes
since it is the only simple method of introducing damping. The values of and are decimal
numbers are not normally known, but are calculated from the modal damping ratios . The
modal damping ratio is the ratio of the actual damping to the critical damping for a particular
mode of vibration. If i is the natural circular frequency of a particular mode of interest, mode
I(normally 2f ), then and satisfy the relation
i
i =
+
2 i
2
Damping Ratio,
With -damping, the damping ratio is inverseely proportional to frequency. That is, lower
frequencies will be damped more and higher frequencies will be damped less. Therefore the
most dominant frequency should be used to calculate . With -damping, the damping is
directly proportional to frequency therefore lower frequencies will be damped less and higher
frequencies damped more. Graphing the function for damping ratio gives,
t ot al
damping
damping
f1
f2
Frequency (Hert z)
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Note that the sum of the two damping functions is nearly constant over the frequency range
where they intersect. Therefore, given a damping ratio () and a frequency range in hertz (f 1
and f 2) two equations can be solved simultaneously for and .
+ f1 =
4f1
+ f 2 =
4f 2
10.2 LOAD HISTORY CURVE
stepped 3
Load
Load
A transient analysis, by definition, involves loads which are functions of time. In order to
specifiy such loads, the load versus time curve must be divided into suitable load steps. From
the following diagrams, each corneron the load-time curve may be one step.
1
2
stepped
4
3
5
Time
Time
For each load step, the load values and the time values must be specified in order to define
each corner of the load history. Options are available to allow the user to specify whether the
load step is applied as a ramp function over the time step or whether the load is applied as a
step function. In Ansys, the default is the ramp-type load step. The step-type function is
activated within a load step by using the KBC command (KBC,0 - default ramp-type load and
KBC,1 - step-type load).
Most load types are valid in transient analyses. Application of constraints (D commands),
forces (F commands), surface loads (pressure via SFL, SFA commands) and body loads (TEMP
command etc.) are all possible. The time at the end of the load step is entered via the TIME
command, i.e. TIME,0.02 etc.
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Since the load history curve is of a transient nature, the equations of motion must be solved in
a manner which takes account of the time-varying load. These are solved by employing time
integration of the equations of motion and therefore the integration time step (ITS) is the time
increment used in this process. The selection of the integration time step is particularly
important.
T - t oo la r g e
The time step size determines the accuracy of the solution: the smaller its value, the higher the
accuracy. There are several factors which are worth considering in the selection of a good
integration time step. A time step which is too large will introduce errors which affect the
response of higher modes and hence the overall response. A time step which is too small will
waste computing (and your own !) resources. There are two main guidelines which can help
choose the optimum time step.
1) Attempt to resolve the response frequency. This implies that the time step should be small
enough to resolve the motion of the structure. Since the dynamic response can be thought of
as a combination of modes, the time step should be able to resolve the highest mode which
contributes to the response. For the Newmark integration scheme (programmed in Ansys), it
has been found that using approximately 20 points per cycle of the highest frequency of
interest results in a reasonable accurate solution. Therefore, if the highest frequency is f in
Hertz, then the recommended ITS can be found from ITS=1/20f. The following figure shows
the effect of ITS on a single DOF spring mass system. Note that 20 or more points results in
less that 1% error.
2) Resolve the applied load-versus-time curve(s). The time step should be small enough to
follow the loading function. The response tends to lag the applied loads, especially for
stepped loads. Stepped loads require a small ITS at the time of the step change so that the step
can be closely followed.
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additional information, such as the time step (DELTIM,value) and damping values (ALPHAD
and BETAD) would have been specified prior to executing the solution. Automatic timestepping is recommended and is initialised using the AUTOTS,ON command. Solutions should
be viewed by checking the OUTPUT window. This allows more information to be viewed
which pertains to the development of the integration routine as it progresses along the time
history curve. Once the solution is activated, the information going to the screen looks like the
following:
Load step file number 2. Begin solution ...
*****
ANSYS SOLVE
COMMAND
L O A D
*****
S T E P
.
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O P T I O N S
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2
. 1.5000
.
ON
. 0.62083E-01
. 0.62083E-01
. 1.4900
.
NO
. . . . . . .
ON
. . . . . . . 0.25251
. . . . . . . 0.50500
. . . . . . . 3.0000
. . . . . . . 0.20000E-02
84
Items shown above, such as iteration number, load step, substep, auto-time step values show
how the solution is progressing and are worth watch especially in regions where the load
history curve makes a change in direction (i.e. at the corner points).
Once the solution is complete, the results must be examined in POST1, the general postprocessor or POST26, the time-history post-processor (or both!).
Postprocessing
General post-processing for deflected shapes and stresses at any point in the analysis can be
done in POST1. By selecting the correct load step and iteration, the required point in the
analysis can be obtained. This is perform using the SET command (SET,load step,iteration). The
iteration number refers to the iteration within the load step and not the cumulative iteration
number. The last iteration in any load step can be selected by typing SET,1,LAST for load step
1 and so on.
If time-history results are required, the POST26 must be used. This is entered by typing
/POST26 and the required result and position must be chosen so that a plot versus time may be
generated. Ansys then examines that point in each load step iteration and generates a curve.
Nodal data is selected using the NSOL command (NSOL,var,node,type,direction), where var is a
data variable (say 2, 3 etc), node is the node under examination, type refers to the data type
(u-displacements, v-velocity etc.) and direction relates to the direction of the response chosen
(x, y, z). For example, say the displacement at Node 44 were required from time equals zero
to time equals 5, then the command sequence would be:
/POST26
TIME,0,5
NSOL,2,44,U,Y
PLVAR,2
c*** if three results were requested on the same graph
NSOL,2,44,U,X
NSOL,3,44,U,Y
NSOL,4,44,U,Z
PLVAR,2,4
C*** this would result in 3 separate traces vs time.
Various data items are available for both nodal and elemental results. Additional items such as
reaction force can also be extracted.
85
ANSYS 5.0 A
FEB 26 1995 1
19:55:51
PLOT NO.
1
POST26
ZV =1
DIST=0.75
XF =0.5
YF =0.5
ZF =0.5
CENTROID HIDDEN
=0.1
=0.00002
ANSYS 5.0 A
FEB 26 1995
19:56:38
PLOT NO. 2
DISPLACEMENT
STEP=4
SUB =4
TIME=3.763
RSYS=0
DMX =63.99
SEPC=25.277
Y
Z
DSCA=0.003191
XV =1
YV =1
ZV =1
DIST=2.042
XF =2.25
YF =-0.10209
ZF =0.375
CENTROID HIDDEN
UY
Y
Z
X
MN
MX
ANSYS 5.0 A
1
FEB 26 1995
19:57:27
PLOT NO. 3
NODAL SOLUTION
STEP=4
SUB =4
TIME=3.763
SX
(AVG)
TOP
RSYS=0
DMX =63.99
SMN =-0.230E+07
SMNB=-0.641E+07
SMX =0.166E+08
SMXB=0.205E+08
-0.230E+07
-203343
0.189E+07
0.399E+07
0.608E+07
0.818E+07
0.103E+08
0.124E+08
0.145E+08
0.166E+08
=0.1
=0.002
86
ANSYS 5.0 A
FEB 26 1995
20:07:56
PLOT NO.
4
POST26
ZV =1
DIST=0.75
XF =0.5
YF =0.5
ZF =0.5
CENTROID HIDDEN
UY
ANSYS 5.0 A 1
FEB 26 1995
20:23:07
PLOT NO.
5
POST26
ZV =1
DIST=0.75
XF =0.5
YF =0.5
ZF =0.5
CENTROID HIDDEN
=0.3
=0.002
=3.0
=0.002
UY
ANSYS 5.0 A
FEB 26 1995
20:42:26
PLOT NO.
7
POST26
ZV =1
DIST=0.75
XF =0.5
YF =0.5
ZF =0.5
CENTROID HIDDEN
UY
The influence of BETAD is small and the influence of ALPHAD is significant in this case.
However, close examination of the results shows that although the response when =0.3 is as
expected, the response time of 6-8 seconds to reach maximum amplitude is much more than
would be reasonable. Therefore, the choice of GRP alone as a suitable material must be
questioned (perhaps laminated wood and GRP ? - examine at your leisure !).
10.4 FINAL COMMENTS
Some comments are worth making at this stage on both dynamic analysis and Ansys usage.
When performing dynamic analyses, make sure the units are consistent! If you use newtons,
millimetres, kilograms and seconds, then the frequency will be in millihertz - use metres to
avoid this. Check the units of Youngs Modulus too!
Be careful on the choice of time step. For example, a linear static analysis of the diving board
takes 25 seconds to solve on a 486-66PC. For the transient analysis, 41 iterations were
required taking 700 seconds to solve and this is a simple model ! Dont use excessive model
sizes. Use shell and beams where possible. Make a 3D-solid model only as a final resort.
Making multiple windows: Ansys, by default plots to Window 1, so when you type
/VIEW,1,1,1,1 the first 1 refers to the window number and the rest to X,Y,Z respectively.
Therefore if multiple windows are required, then the /WIND command is used. Ansys sizes the
screen in +1/-1 coordinates in X and Y, with the centre of the screen being (0,0). The
following sequence gives three windows, one in the full left hand section (window 1) and two
equal sized in the right hand section (window 2 top and window 3 bottom). If different
displays are required in each window, issue plot commands after /WIND command.
87
/WIND,1,-1,0,-1,1
EPLOT
/WIND,2,0,1,0,1
PLDISP
/WIND,3,0,1,-1,0
NPLOT
If superimposed pictures are required, issue /NOERASE before plotted (/ERASE will cancel).
Output is best obtained by creating picture files (/SHOW,picfile) and using the ANSYS Display
program from within Windows. Thereafter, use the clipboard to put the required plots into
Microsoft Word.
File TRANS.INP (c) D H Nash 25th Feb 1996
/PREP7
/TITLE,Transient Analysis of A Diving Board
C*** Define parameters
length=4.5
width=0.75
thick=0.06
C*** Create geometry
K,1
K,2,0,0,width
KGEN,2,1,2,1,length
A,1,2,4,3
C*** Select Element Type and Size
ET,1,43
ESIZE,width/3
ESHAPE,2
C*** Select Element Thickness
R,1,thick
C*** Mesh areas
AMESH,1
C*** Mat props for Isotropic GRP
MP,EX,1,30E6
MP,NUXY,1,0.3
MP,DENS,1,2000
C*** Select Fixed Boundary at edge
NSEL,R,LOC,X,0
D,ALL,ALL
NSEL,ALL
C*** Select Board support at 25% along length +/- WIDTH/3 scan
NSEL,R,LOC,X,(0.25*length)-(width/3),(0.25*length)+(width/3)
D,ALL,UY,0
NSEL,ALL
SAVE
FINI
C*** Remove the following comment lines to perform a Modal Analysis
c*** /SOLUTION
C*** /TITLE,Modal Analysis for 1st Five Modes using Full Subspace
C*** ANTYPE,MODAL
C*** MODOPT,SUBSP,5
C*** SOLVE
C*** FINI
c*** /SOLUTION
C*** EXPASS,ON
C*** MXPANS,5
88
C*** SOLVE
C*** FINI
/SOLUTION
/TITLE,Transient Analysis of Diving Board
ANTYPE,TRANS
TRNOPT,FULL
C*** Apply load as ramped function (KBC,0) Note: stepped is KBC,1
KBC,0
C*** Define F3 = third natural frequency
F3=0.8
ITS=1/(20*F3)
DELTIM,ITS
AUTOTS,ON
ALPHAD,3
BETAD,0.002
OUTRES,,ALL
OUTPR,ALL
C*** Initialise force
C*** Select last part of board for load application
NSEL,R,LOC,X,length-width,length
F,ALL,FY,0
NSEL,ALL
TIME,0.01
LSWRITE
C*** Select last part of board for load application
NSEL,R,LOC,X,length-width,length
F,ALL,FY,-200
NSEL,ALL
C*** Define time at end of step
TIME,1.5
LSWRITE
C*** Remove forces
NSEL,R,LOC,X,length-width,length
FDEL,ALL,ALL
F,ALL,FY,0
NSEL,ALL
TIME,3
LSWRITE
TIME,12
LSWRITE
LSSOLVE,1,4
FINI
89