Learning Forum

[jorge_gonzalez]

Hi, I was doing doing models of U-Shaped devices, as shown in the first picture. These have the same holes in the upper part, and in the surface of the upper holes I impose a displacement in Z or X direction (depending on the model) while in the surface of the lower holes I impose a fixed condition. The rectangular superior and inferior plates are rigid and are fixed, they are just to provide a restriction of movement to the U-Shaped element. The displacement imposed grows to 1 mm in the first second, 2 mm in the second and 60 mm in the third.

[jorge_gonzalez]

I forgot to mention that the material is non-linear, with a bilinear curve

[peteroznewman]

It will be better if you mesh the flexible member using a sweep method, sweeping across the thickness. It will be better if the mesh is linear elements and you put 8 elements along the sweep direction, through the thickness of the material.
Since the model is symmetric, it will be faster if you put a plane down the center of the model and slice the flexible body in half, and use a symmetric boundary condition.
It will be faster if you use edge sizing to use fewer elements across the width.