Static Structural Analysis - Pullup Bar

Import model geometry into SimSolid.

1. Open a new SimSolid session.
2. Click the (Import from file) icon.

   
   
   Figure 2.

3. In the Open geometry files dialog, choose Pullup bar V1.x_t.
4. Click Open.
   The assembly will load in the modeling window. An Info window will appear warning that overlapping parts were detected. The Review overlapping parts dialog will also open.
5. Close the Info window, then Close the Review overlapping parts window.

Specify gap and penetration tolerances to create automatic connections.

1. In the Project Tree, click on the Connections branch.
2. In the Connections workbench toolbar, click (Automatic connections).
3. Specify Gap and Penetration tolerances as 1.
4. Set Connection resolution level to Increased.
5. Click OK.
   Note:

   • SimSolid will create connections even in areas with overlapping geometry.
   • SimSolid will automatically identify bolts, nuts and washers.
   • Sliding contact will be applied automatically in bolt shanks, bonded otherwise.

Apply materials to all parts in the assembly.

1. In the Project Tree, click on the Assembly branch.
2. In the Assembly workbench, click (Apply materials).
3. Pick Steel from the Generic materials list.
4. Click Apply to all parts.
5. Click Close.
   In the Assembly branch of the Project Tree, material properties are identified for each part.

Create a structural linear analysis with immovable constraints and a handlebar load.

1. On the main window toolbar, click (Structural analysis).
2. Choose Structural linear.

   
   
   Figure 3.

   The new analysis will appear in the Project Tree under Design study 1 and the Analysis Workbench will open.

Create immovable supports on the wall faces in the pullup bar model.

1. In the Analysis Workbench, click (Immovable support).

   
   
   Figure 4.

2. In the dialog, verify the Faces radio button is selected.
3. In the modeling window, select the two faces shown in orange in Figure 5.

   
   
   Figure 5.

4. Click OK.
   The new constraint, Immovable 1, will appear in the Project Tree. A visual representation of the straint will appear on the model.

Create handlebar loads on the pullup bar model.

1. In the Analysis Workbench, click (Force/Displacement).

   
   
   Figure 6.

2. In the dialog, ensure the Faces radio button is selected.
3. In the modeling window, select the two handle faces shown in orange in Figure 7.

   
   
   Figure 7.

4. Specify a Z direction force of -750 N.
5. Click OK.
   The new force, Load/Displ. 1, will appear in the Project Tree. Vectors representing the load will appear on the model.

Create a copy of an analysis and edit loads.

1. In the Project Tree, right-click on Structural 1.
2. Choose Copy from the context menu.
   The Structural 2 analysis will appear in the Project Tree.

   
   
   Figure 8.

3. Click next to Structural 2 to expand the analysis branch.
4. Edit the handlebar loads.
   1. Double-click on the Load/Displ. 1 load under Structural 2.

      
      
      Figure 9.

   2. In the Force/Displacement dialog, select the faces currently listed and pick Delete.
   3. In the modeling window, choose the two front handle faces.

      
      
      Figure 10.

   4. Click OK.
      Vectors representing the load will appear on the model.

      
      
      Figure 11. Load case 1

      
      
      Figure 12. Load case 2

Solve all analyses in the design study.

1. In the Project Tree, click the desired Design study branch.
2. Click (Solve).
   SimSolid will run all analyses in the design study branch. When finished, a Results branch for each analysis will appear in the Project Tree.

View results from analysis and create results images/animations.

1. In the Project Tree, select the Results branch for Analysis 1.
2. On theAnalysis Workbench, click (Results plot).
3. Select the Displacement Magnitude plot.
4. In the Legend window, click (Show deformed shape).
   The modeling window will update to show the chosen results and display options.
5. Click the (Snap bookmark) icon.
   SimSolid will save the data currently displayed in the modeling window as an image or animation, and a thumbnail will appear in the Bookmark browser. You can select a bookmark at any tine to display a saved view in the modeling window.

   
   
   Figure 13.

6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for Analysis 2.
7. Toggle between the different results using the Bookmark browser.

In your project, create a second design study with new geometry.

Repeat the Import Geometry step and load the file Pullup bar V2.x_t.

The new geometry is read into a second design study. All analysis definitions will be copied from Study 1 to Study 2. Conflicts and inconsistencies are flagged in red in the Project Tree. This tutorial does not require you to fix geometric inconsistencies.

Figure 14.

Note: New parts in the assembly will not yet have materials assigned.

Figure 15. Design Study 1

Figure 16. Design Study 2

Create connections for new parts in the second Design Study.

1. Close the part overlap warning and review dialog.
2. In the Add connections for new parts dialog, specify gap and penetration tolerances as 1.
3. For Connection resolution, select Increased.
4. Click OK.

Apply materials to all parts in the assembly.

1. In the Project Tree, click on the Assembly branch.
2. In the Assembly workbench, click (Apply materials).
3. Pick Steel from the Generic materials list.
4. Click Apply to all parts.
5. Click Close.
   In the Assembly branch of the Project Tree, material properties are identified for each part.

Solve all analyses in the design study.

1. In the Project Tree, click the desired Design study branch.
2. Click (Solve).
   SimSolid will run all analyses in the design study branch. When finished, a Results branch for each analysis will appear in the Project Tree.

1. In the Bookmark browser, click a thumbnail to load a saved results view.
2. In the Project Tree, click on any Results branch.
   The modeling window will update with the results from the chosen analysis. You can click on other Results branches to rapidly switch between views.

View reaction forces on selected parts of the assembly.

1. In the Project Tree, open the Analysis Workbench.
2. In the workbench toolbar, click the (Reaction/contact force) icon.
3. Click the Supports, Connections, or Parts tab.
   A summary table of the reactions will open. Moment vectors will be displayed in the modeling window.

   
   
   Figure 17.

4. Optional: Select a single support, connection, or part to view forces on a single element.
5. Optional: Select multiple supports, connections, or parts to view a summary of forces.

Run the same analysis using your existing traditional FEA application.

1. Use the model files to run this same analysis with your traditional FEA application.
   Important:

   • Do not merge or simplify geometry, use bonded and sliding contact same as SimSolid.
   • Check for part overlaps
   • Make sure elemetn density is acceptable for smaller parts
2. Compare the following between the two programs:
   • Solution quality
   • Number of workflow steps required
   • Time required to mesh
   • Time required to solve
   • Time required to examine results
   • Time required to refine and rerun model

Adjust SimSolid's solution settings for specialized analyses.

1. In the Project Tree, double-click on Solution settings.
2. In the dialog, increase Max number of adaptive solutions to 4.
3. Activate the Adapt to features checkbox.
4. Click OK.

   
   
   Figure 18.

5. In the Project Tree, select the Project.
6. Click (Solve).
7. Examine the changes in results.
8. Compare with Pass 3 results.
   1. In the Analysis Workbench, select > Von Mises Stress.
   2. In the Legend, in the box under Max, enter 80.
      This will adjust (lock) the legend to be similar to a 3 pass solution and will better highlight peak stress areas.
   3. Click to reset the legend to default values.

      
      
      Figure 19.