Learning Forum

[surajbhatta70]

Hello there, 

I would like to transfer "continuum distribution coupling" used in ABAQUS  to Ansys.

My model has two blocks connected via a beam. Either side of the beam is coupled to blocks using "continuum distribution" coupling in Abaqus. I would like to transfer it to Ansys. Could anyone please help me on this! 

 

[peteroznewman]

If you have a circular beam, you can define material and a radius for the beam and identify a Reference and Mobile face on each block to connect to the ends of the beam.

This is as simple as a right mouse click on the Connections folder and choose Insert > Beam from the drop down menu.

The red spider of connection elements from the node on the beam end to the nodes on the face can be selected as Rigid or Deformable. Note that if you select a large face and select Rigid, you will artificially increase the stiffness on that face.

[surajbhatta70]

hey peteroznewman, 

Thank you for your help. I have one more question on the model. Can i add a user defined cross section instead of a circular one? 

thank you 

[peteroznewman]

Yes you can, you just have to do more work. The description above was for the quickest and simplest method, but is limited to a circular cross-section.

To have a user defined cross section, you must create a line body in either DesighModeler or SpaceClaim. There is a library of standard cross-sections to choose from.  If you want a user defined cross-section, in SpaceClaim, it is simplest to construct the beam as a solid, then on the Prepare tab, you can automatically convert the solid to a beam with that cross-section by clicking the Extract button.

[surajbhatta70]

I did the exact thing using design modeler and used constraint equations to couple the beam to the surfaces. but isnt there any other easier method to form a beam directly in mechanical and giving it a user defined crossection? 

thank you  

[peteroznewman]

Not that I know of.

[surajbhatta70]

Hey Peter I would like to connect the beam to surfaces.
In abaqus, it is done by continue distribution coupling, which method can we use in ANSYS?
Can you please help me on this!
Thank you

[surajbhatta70]

Continuum distribution

[peteroznewman]

You can use Bonded Contact to connect the edge of a surface meshed with shell elements to the vertex of a line body meshed with beam elements.

[surajbhatta70]

Hello Peter There are two blocks and in between there is a beam coupled to both blocks using continuum distribution. Will shell elements work on this?

[peteroznewman]

Please show an image of what you mean.  Do you mean you want the structural beam that is between two solid blocks to be modeled with shell elements?  That is fine as long as the beam has a rectangular cross-section.