Learning Forum

[Mihir_Rayganga]

Hello,

I am trying to set up a static stimulation for my rotating cylinder supported by 2 shafts. I am relatively new to FEA so wanted someone knowledgeable to check if my simulation setup is correct as per my requirement or not. Attaching photos for reference:

[peteroznewman]

Many beginners using a Rotational Velocity load mistakenly believe that the simulation will rotate the parts. That is not what happens. The load just applies a radial acceleration to each element that is a function of the radius of that element from the axis and the angular velocity you specify.
You have a rotor in the center of the shaft, with bearings at each end of the shaft. You are interested in the stresses in the rotor spinning at 500 RPM. For this first analysis, you could leave out the supporting structure at each end of the shaft. Just include the parts that rotate. Now the Rotational Velocity load can be applied to all the bodies.
In a Static Structural analysis, the parts must be connected to ground in all six rigid body degrees of freedom. A common approach is to cut the shaft at the center of the first bearing at each end. On each cut face, create a Remote Displacement. The Remote Displacement at the motor end will have a 0 for X, Y, Z and Rotation Y and the two others Free. The Remote Displacement at the support end will have X and Z set to 0 and all others Free.
The Revolute Joint you created is not a good way to create a revolute joint. If you use this in the future, pick two small surfaces near each other, don't pick the entire body.