Learning Forum

[RisRas]

Hi Ansys Community,

I'm simulating thermal expansion of two concentric pipes in Ansys Transient Structural. The inner pipe expands outward due to heat, and the outer pipe is fixed. I've imported the thermal loading from Transient Thermal to Transient Structural, & I need to maintain a pressure of 4 MPa inside the inner pipe. I want the expansion to stop when the inner pipe touches the outer pipe, but in my simulation it keeps expanding through the outer pipe. 

I’ve applied fixed supports to the outer pipe and surrounding geometry. I’ve also defined surface-to-surface contact (frictionless and frictional tested), but it doesn’t seem to work.

What’s the correct way to define contact to stop the expansion when the inner pipe touches the outer one?

Thanks!

[Sourabh Upadhyay]

Hi RisRas,

This looks like a contact detection issue. You need to make sure that the initail contact status is closed. To check this, add a contact tool under the connection folder, if the initial information is open then consider increasing the pinball radius until the status is closed. Please see the deformations in true scale.

Regards,

Sourabh

[Dennis Chen]

Use pinball properly and use contact tool to check initial contact status to make sure it's "near" before you run the job.   This is a basic contact problem so please make sure to check the contact documentation.