Virtual Connector - Bushings

Create bearing loads in SimSolid.

Purpose

SimSolid performs meshless structural analysis that works on full featured parts and assemblies, is tolerant of geometric imperfections, and runs in seconds to minutes. In this tutorial, you will do the following:
  • Learn how to create virtual bushings for a suspension assembly.
  • Learn how to change the contact conditions for a specific subcase.
  • Solve the Modal and transient Dynamic subcase and review results.

Model Description

The following model file is needed for this tutorial:
  • Bushings.ssp
Figure 1.
This file has the following specifications:
  • Material is set to Aluminum for all parts.
  • Regular connections with 0.004mm gap and penetration tolerance.
  • Modal and Dynamic transient base excitation load subcases are defined.

Open Project

Open the SimSolid project file.

  1. Start a new SimSolid session.
  2. Click the (Open Project) icon.


    Figure 2.
  3. In the Open project file dialog, choose Bushings.ssp
  4. Click OK.

Review Connections

Find disconnected groups of parts in the model.

  1. On the Connections workbench, click (Find and show disconnected groups of parts).
    A message appears warning that the model has 2 disconnected groups of parts.


    Figure 3.


    Figure 4.
  2. Click OK.
  3. In the Disconnected groups of parts dialog, review the groups.
  4. Click Close.

Create Bushing

Create bushing at the interface between disconnected groups of parts.

  1. On the Connections workbench, click > Bushing.
  2. In the modeling window, select the faces as shown in Figure 5.


    Figure 5.
  3. Orient to the global axis.
    1. In the dialog, ensure the Coordinate system tab is selected.
    2. Select the Axis X radio button and enter [1,0,0] for X, Y, and Z respectively.
    3. Select the Axis Y radio button and enter [0,1,0] for X, Y, and Z respectively.


      Figure 6.
  4. Enter translational-rotational stiffness values.
    1. In the dialog, select the Stiffness tab.
    2. Enter 1e+07 in each text box.


      Figure 7.
  5. Enter the mass of the bushing.
    1. In the dialog, select the Inertia tab.
    2. For Mass, enter 0.01.


      Figure 8.
  6. Click OK.

Edit Contact Conditions

Change the contact conditions associated with a part of the model.

  1. In the modeling window, right-click to select the part shown in Figure 9.
  2. From the context menu, select Review part contact conditions.


    Figure 9.
    A dialog will open showing contact conditions for all connections associated with the selected part.
  3. In the Review part contact conditions dialog, select Connection 1.
  4. Click Edit.


    Figure 10.
    A dialog will open allowing you to edit the contact condition.
    Note: Contact conditions can be edited for specific analyses or all analyses at once. Since there is only one analysis in the design study, either radio button can be selected.
  5. In the dialog, select the Sliding without friction radio button.


    Figure 11.
  6. Click OK.
    The new contact condition will appear in the Project Tree under Modal 1 > Custom contact conditions.


    Figure 12.
  7. Close all other dialogs.

Run Design Study

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.

Review Modal Results

Plot the displacement contour of the modal analysis.

  1. In the Project Tree, select the Modal 1 analysis branch.
  2. On the Analysis workbench toolbar, click the (Results plot) icon.
  3. Select Displacement Magnitude.
    The Legend window will open and display the contour plot. The Frequency (Hz) window will open and display the modes.


    Figure 13.

Review Dynamic Transient Results

Plot Displacement Magnitude and von Mises stress.

  1. In the Project Tree, select the Dynamic transient 1, linked to Modal 1 analysis branch.
  2. On the Analysis workbench toolbar, click the (Results plot) icon.
  3. Select Displacement Magnitude.
    The Legend window will open and display the contour plot. The Dynamics time response window will open.


    Figure 14.
  4. On the Analysis workbench toolbar, click the (Results plot) icon.
  5. Select Von Mises Stress.
    The Legend window will open and display the contour plot. The Dynamics time response window will open.


    Figure 15.