Interaction between beams

- July 5, 2020 at 3:23 pm
  
  boonthiam13
  Subscriber
  
  Hi:
  
  I am simulating an interaction between two beams. Basically the two beams are not in contact initially and their ends are fixed. A force is then applied on the other end of the upper beam to bend the upper beam, followed by the contact between the two beams. The images illustrate the deformation for the beams at different result scale. At true scale (the first image), the graphical result looks logical. Whereas at result scale higher than one, penetration and merging of the beams are observed. Is that normal?
  
  Thanks!
  
  Rgds,
  
  Boon
- July 5, 2020 at 7:36 pm
  
  peteroznewman
  Subscriber
  
  Yes, that is normal.
  
  You should have Large Deflection turned on under the Analysis settings.
  Whenever you do that, always look at True Scale results.
- July 6, 2020 at 1:23 am
  
  boonthiam13
  Subscriber
  
  Peter, thanks for your information. Also, under what circumstances we still turn on the large deflection? As I have frequently encountered convergence issue after turning on the large deflection.
- July 6, 2020 at 1:26 am
  
  peteroznewman
  Subscriber
  
  When a node moves more than the thickness of the section, large deflection should be turned on.
  
  Turning on Large Deflection will make the solution take longer to compute, but it can't hurt the accuracy, it can only help.
- July 6, 2020 at 2:36 am
  
  boonthiam13
  Subscriber
  
  Noted, cheers Peter!