Learning Forum

[abc164]

i am a engineer. i used to simulate curved bridges with beam element. but for accuracy i change to solid element. For straight bridges, i create every key cross section points in Mechanical, create every area by order A, create every volumes by order VA. Lastly i use order VGLUE or VOVLAP to connect every segments. here are some models i create with this method.

BUT when it comes to curved bridges, this method cannot work at the last step. segments cannot be connected with order VGLUE or VOVLAP. And i do not like use CEINTF to make connections.
So i am here to ask for solutions. is there any good solutions to make curved bridges' geometry model? is that spaceclaim? or other software? or use Mechanical other orders? Anyway it must support scirpt languages.

[dlooman]

It's true that the native Ansys solid modeling capability is not very good for curved geometry.  I'm not sure why you don't like CEINTF to connect bodies.  There's no reason not to like that method. Most people are using CAD programs like SpaceClaim or DesignModeler for geometry creation.  What is an approximate geometrical description of the curved bridge?  

[abc164]

i don't linke CEINTF because stress changes too rapidly when the element size not small enough o. Bridge FEA model is too large, so element size cannot be small unless using a very good computer. For another reason, volumes intersection always get a stress peak, and due to CEINTF ,it gets bigger. So the result is too big to be refered for bridge design. 

how SpaceClaim or DesignModeler works? can they create a complex and continues volume of bridges? Then transfer the data to Mechanical, then begin mesh and other FEA things?

approximate geometrical description of the curved bridge: if the center line of a bridge is not a straight line， it is a curved bridge.

[dlooman]

Is the cross-section of the bridge the same over the entire length?  Then VDRAG can be used to create the bridge as a single volume.  Yes, most any CAD geometry can be read into Mechanical.

[abc164]

no, cross section changes along the bridge length. thickness, height, width can change. most segments keep the same topology. but some are totally different, such as diaphragms. 

does  SpaceClaim or DesignModeler supports python? i'd like to use python to reduce workload, because  i have several different bridge projects.

[dlooman]

DesignModeler uses jscript.  SpaceClaim has python scripting.