3D Space Frame Example


Problem Description

The problem to be modeled in this example is a simple bicycle frame shown in the following figure. The frame is to be built of hollow aluminum tubing having an outside diameter of 25mm and a wall thickness of 2mm for the main part of the frame. For the rear forks, the tubing will be 12mm outside diameter and 1mm wall thickness.

Bike Geometry

ANSYS Command Listing

! Command File mode of 3D Bicycle Space Frame

/title,3D Bicycle Space Frame

/prep7               ! Enter the pre-processor

! Define Some Parameters

x1 = 500             ! These parameters are not required; i.e. one could 
x2 = 825             ! directly enter in the coordinates into the keypoint 
y1 = 325             ! definition below. 
y2 = 400             ! However, using parameters makes it very easy to
z1 = 50              ! quickly make changes to your model!

! Define Keypoints

K,1, 0,y1,  0        ! k,key-point number,x-coord,y-coord,z-coord
K,2, 0,y2,  0
K,3,x1,y2,  0
K,4,x1, 0,  0
K,5,x2, 0, z1
K,6,x2, 0,-z1

! Define Lines Linking Keypoints

L,1,2                ! l,keypoint1,keypoint2
L,2,3
L,3,4
L,4,1
L,4,6
L,4,5
L,3,5                ! these last two line are for the rear forks
L,3,6

! Define Element Type

ET,1,pipe16
KEYOPT,1,6,1

! Define Real Constants

! (Note: the inside diameter must be positive)
R,1,25,2             ! r,real set number,outside diameter,wall thickness
R,2,12,1             ! second set of real constants - for rear forks

! Define Material Properties

MP,EX,1,70000        ! mp,Young's modulus,material number,value
MP,PRXY,1,0.33       ! mp,Poisson's ratio,material number,value

! Define the number of elements each line is to be divided into
LESIZE,ALL,20        ! lesize,line number(all lines),size of element

! Line Meshing
REAL,1               ! turn on real property set #1
LMESH,1,6,1          ! mesh those lines which have that property set
                     ! mesh lines 1 through 6 in steps of 1
REAL,2               ! activate real property set #2
LMESH,7,8            ! mesh the rear forks

FINISH               ! Finish pre-processing

/SOLU                ! Enter the solution processor

ANTYPE,0             ! Analysis type,static

! Define Displacement Constraints on Keypoints   (dk command)

DK,1,UX,0,,,UY,UZ    ! dk,keypoint,direction,displacement,,,direction,direction
DK,5,UY,0,,,UZ
DK,6,UY,0,,,UZ

! Define Forces on Keypoints  (fk command)

FK,3,FY,-600  !fk,keypoint,direction,force
FK,4,FY,-200

SOLVE                ! Solve the problem

FINISH               ! Finish the solution processor

SAVE                 ! Save your work to the database

/post1               ! Enter the general post processor

/WIND,ALL,OFF   
/WIND,1,LTOP
/WIND,2,RTOP
/WIND,3,LBOT
/WIND,4,RBOT
GPLOT


/GCMD,1, PLDISP,2    !Plot the deformed and undeformed edge
/GCMD,2, PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1



! Set up Element Table information
! Element tables are tables of information regarding the solution data
! You must tell Ansys what pieces of information you want by using the 
! etable command:
!   etable,arbitrary name,item name,data code number

! The arbitrary name is a name that you give the data in the table
! It serves as a reference name to retrieve the data later
! Use a name that describes the data and is easily remembered.

! The item name and data code number come off of the tables provided.

! Examples:

! For the VonMises (or equivalent) stresses at angle 0 at both ends of the
! element (node i and node j);

etable,vonmi0,nmisc,5
etable,vonmj0,nmisc,45

! For the Axial stresses at angle 0

etable,axii0,ls,1
etable,axij0,ls,33

! For the Direct axial stress component due to axial load (no bending)
! Note it is independent of angular location.

etable,diri,smisc,13
etable,dirj,smisc,15

! ADD OTHERS THAT YOU NEED IN HERE...

! To plot the data, simply type 
!   plls, name for node i, name for node j
! for example,

/GCMD,3, PLLS,vonmi0,vonmj0
/GCMD,4, PLLS,axii0,axij0

/CONT,2,9,0,,0.27
/CONT,3,9,0,,18
/CONT,4,9,-18,,18

/FOC,ALL,-0.340000,,,1

/replot

PRNSOL,DOF,