Reply To: Bolt preload and fatigue analysis using Ncode

[danielshaw]

Ansys nCode DesignLife cannot read results from a Mechanical Solution Combinations because they are not stored in the results file (file.rst).They are calculated on-the-fly in Mechanical.However, you do not need to use Solution Combinations with Ansys nCode DesignLife to evaluate fatigue life for a bolted closure with a preload.
You can use a duty cycle, but it is not necessary for this loading.You can simulate the described loading using a Constant Amplitude Load Mapper.If you connect a Constant Amplitude DesignLife system to the solution cell of Mechanical, DesignLife will automatically import the 2 result sets (preload and torque). Inside the load mapper, set the min and max values for the preload case to both be 1.0 (load does not alternate), and set the min and max values for the torque case to be whatever you want (e.g., 1.0 and -1.0 for fully reversing or rratio = -1).