Learning Forum

[uiluj]

Hi, 

I'm simulating tensile tests with a dense mesh using solid 186 elements. I got these tensile tests to match the stress strain curve of a real world test.

My ultimate goal is to transfer the material cards that I have created to larger scale models. These models will have a coarser mesh. According to literature, a finer mesh will behave more softly than a coarser one (in respect to plastic deformation). I have found solutions to mitigate this problem for shell elements but not for solid elements (like an element to thickness ratio etc.) Is there a common way this is done for solid elements?

Thanks in advance.

[Armin]

Hello,

I have seen in the literature that this issue is tackled with different approaches. One way is to use the coarser mesh in your tensile simulation and then try to adjust the input strain-strain data in the post-UTS regime to match the experimental tensile stress-strain curve. This way, you are implicitly taking into account the mesh size effect by using the same element size to your actual application.

If fracture/failure is of interest to you, you can look up online for a technique called "Mesh Regularization". This technique is implemented in some of the LS-DYNA failure models, for example, but note that there are some drawbacks of using this technique that you may find more information about when you look it up online.

There should be more techniques available to mitigate this that other members in this forum may comment on that.