Cornell SimCafe Structures

This SimCafe Structures Learning Track was developed by Dr. Rajesh Bhaskaran at Cornell University in partnership with Ansys. It serves as an e-learning resource to integrate industry-standard simulation tools into courses and provides a resource for supplementary learning outside the classroom. The following courses show how to solve structural problems using Ansys Mechanical. These tutorial-based courses follow the same high-level steps; starting with pre-analysis and ending with verification and validation. The successful completion of these simulation courses will provide a thorough understanding of how to set up a Structural simulation using Ansys Mechanical.

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1
Innovation Course

Point Loading of Cantilever Beam

This SimCafe Structural Course was developed by Dr. Rajesh Bhaskaran at Cornell University in partnership with Ansys. It serves as an e-learning resource to integrate industry-standard simulation tools into courses and provides a resource fo...Read more

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Innovation Course

Cardiovascular Stent

This SimCafe Structural Course was developed by Dr. Rajesh Bhaskaran at Cornell University in partnership with Ansys. It serves as an e-learning resource to integrate industry-standard simulation tools into courses and provides a resource for supplementary learning outside th...Read more

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Innovation Course

Rat Femur

This SimCafe Structural Course was developed by Dr. Rajesh Bhaskaran at Cornell University in partnership with Ansys. It serves as an e-learning resource to integrate industry-standard simulation tools into courses and provides a resource for supplementary learning outside the classro...Read more

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Innovation Course

A Stepped Shaft in Axial Tension

Stepped shafts are widely used in drive trains.They are generally holding large gears and cams, which are key elements in power transfer. Mostly supported by bearings at the end, the shaft experiences bending loads, axial thrust and torsional loads. The shaft mu...Read more

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Innovation Course

A Four-Point Bend Test on a T-Beam

Four-point bending strength is performed to analyze the flexural strength of a material. This test is useful for materials that tend to crack (brittle failure) under the bending load (like composites, concrete beams, and car axles). A common example of such a ...Read more

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Innovation Course

Stresses in Pressure Vessels

Pressure vessels are used in transportation for storage of gases and liquids. The pressure inside is multiple times higher than the pressure outside, so they are called "pressure vessels". Spherical shapes are ideal for pressure vessels since they have a uniform stres...Read more

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Innovation Course

FEA for Large Telescope Truss

This course demonstrates the structural analysis of a telescope truss model.The design of the telescope truss should be able to sustain dynamic loads and must be flexible enough to provide support for different motions. It has to withstand varying loads due to gravit...Read more

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Innovation Course

Linear Column Buckling

Buckling analysis is important as buckling happens suddenly which can create catastrophic failure. Buckling analysis calculates the buckling load factor and associated mode shapes. The buckling load factor multiplied by the applied load gives the magnitude of the compressi...Read more

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Innovation Course

High Resolution FE Model of Bone

FEA simulations are used to study the mechanical behavior of bone tissues.The real-life bone tissue model is obtained from CT scans. Multiple CT scans are merged together to create a 3D bone model. Bones/skeletons bear the structural loads that bodies encounter;...Read more

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Innovation Course

Transient 2D Conduction

Time plays an important role in heat transfer.  Any heat transfer phenomenon takes some time to reach a steady state. During this heat transfer process, the temperature of the body is either increasing or decreasing with time. In other words, the temperature is time-depen...Read more

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Innovation Course

Modal Analysis of a Satellite

CubeSat is a smallscale cube-shaped satellite of approximate length scales equal to 10 cm. Their mass is roughly 1 kg per unit, and they are deployed in orbit around the earth for scientific research projects. These are generally secondary payloads on a launch vehic...Read more

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Innovation Course

Radiation Between Surfaces

A body at any temperature can exchange energy with its surroundings in the form of thermal radiation, which is characterized by the emission of electromagnetic waves from the body. It is the only mode of heat transfer that does not require a medium and can take place in...Read more

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Innovation Course

Modal Analysis of a Monocoque

The monocoque, which is French for "single-shell," is a type of structure in which the object’s outer or external skin carries all the tensile and compressive stresses. These are typically used for boats, aircraft bodies, and, to a limited extent, in automotive c...Read more

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Innovation Course

Planar Approximations of a 2D Beam

Beams, in a variety of forms, are the backbone of many structures such as bridges, flyovers, and buildings. Structural analysis of these beams gives insights into the overall strength of these structures. Various methods are available in modern-day FEA tools cap...Read more

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Innovation Course

Modal Analysis of a Wing

Aircraft wings experience vibrations due to aerodynamic forces, atmospheric turbulence, and flow shocks during aircraft takeoff, cruising, landing. Other sources of vibration include vibrations from the engine and gearbox. Excessive vibration of the wing can cause a cata...Read more

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Innovation Course

Thermal Stresses in a Bar

Almost all bodies undergo thermal expansion i.e., their volume increases as the temperature of the body is increased. If these solid bodies are unconstrained, they can freely expand in all directions due to temperature rise. This thermal expansion is the reason for leavi...Read more

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Innovation Course

Plate With a Hole Optimization

It is well known that Ansys software can simulate structural analysis such as statics, dynamics, nonlinear materials, and buckling analysis. The objective of solving and analyzing these problems is to estimate parameters such as stress and strain and predict if (or ...Read more

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Innovation Course

Cantilever Beam Modal Analysis

When designing any system, it is important to have a sound knowledge of its naturally excited vibration frequency. If the structure experiences an external vibration in the same range as its natural frequency, this phenomenon is referred to as resonance, which can c...Read more

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Innovation Course

Strain Analysis of a Bike Crank

A bike crank is a lever arm that gives the bicycle rider a mechanical advantage when pedaling. When the rider presses their feet on the pedals, the bike crank revolves and causes rotation of the sprocket wheel. This drives the chain, which in turn drives the rear w...Read more

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Innovation Course

Combined Loading in a Signpost

Signposts on highways are generally supported by a single column structure. Depending on the size of the signpost, the load experienced by the signpost can be significant. A signpost is an example of a combined loaded structure, a struc...Read more

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Innovation Course

Hertz Contact Mechanics

Contacts are essential means of transferring forces in any mechanical system. Although the mechanical components are designed to sustain the operating forces, special care must be taken for the contacts as they are found in very small areas. Because of this, the transferre...Read more

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Innovation Course

Stresses Due to Gravity

The force acting on a structure under the influence of gravity is commonly called the gravitational force. When designing the structure, it is important to take the gravitational force into account. Even in the absence of external operating loads, th...Read more

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Innovation Course

Bending of a Curved Beam

Ansys simulation results closely match with the beam theory when a structure is modeled using beam elements. This is one of the many reasons for the widespread usage of this simplification. Generally, the solution in Ansys Mechanical is calculat...Read more

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Innovation Course

Structural Analysis of a Trachea

The trachea, commonly known as the windpipe, is a cartilage tube that connects the larynx, which is an organ in the neck, to the bronchi tubes in the lungs. It is formed by several rings called tracheal cartilages. Each ring is connected to muscle and connectivi...Read more

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Innovation Course

3D Conduction

A current passing through a metal heats it up in what is commonly called Ohmic heating. In this phenomenon, the metal heats up because of the electrical resistance offered by the metal to the flowing current. As this heating continues, the temperature of the metal becomes uniform th...Read more

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Innovation Course

FSAE Composite Monocoque Chassis

Composite materials play a huge role in producing the next generation of racing vehicles. Like international motorsports teams that incorporate composite materials heavily in the vehicle, many Formula SAE teams are shifting to composite monocoque c...Read more

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Cornell SimCafe Structures — Learning Track Completion Badge

This badge is available upon successful completion of the "Cornell SimCafe Structures" Learning Track.