Learning Forum

[danielshaw]

It is not possible to provide a complete solution via this forum.  I recommend that you submit a service case via the Customer Portal.  Some thoughts:

1.      If the mantle is very thin, have you considered representing it using shell or solid-shell elements?

2.      Is the structure uniform out-of-plane?   If so, have you considered using a 2D (probably plane strain) model?  Even if the structure is not perfectly uniform out-of-plane, you might be able to adequately capture the behavior with a 2D approach.

3.      Are the stresses developed in the mantle matrix critical?  If not, have you considered using a very coarse mesh for that region. You would need to transition from the finer mesh near the mantle, but that transition should only require a few rows of elements.  Why does your mesh seem to maintain the same density throughout the matrix mantle?

4.      Have you considered using a sub-model (condensed part) to represent the mantle matrix?  The base model could contain the mantle and a small portion of the mantle matrix, the remainder of the mantle matrix could be represented as condensed part.  Even if you need to expand the condensed part to examine the stresses in the mantle matrix, the model should be manageable.