Step-by-Step Approach for Solving a Uniform Bar with an Axial Load in ANSYS
Problem Setup:
A uniform bar with:
• Length (L) = 1 m
• Cross-sectional area (A) = 0.01 m²
• Material (E) = 200 GPa (Steel)
• Axial Load (P) = 1000 N applied at one end
• Fixed Support at the other end
Step 1: Open ANSYS and Set Preferences
1. Open ANSYS Workbench and launch ANSYS Mechanical APDL (Classic).
2. In the ANSYS Main Menu, go to:
Preferences → Structural → OK
(This ensures only structural options appear in menus.)
Step 2: Define the Element Type
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Element Type → Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click Add, select LINK180 (1D truss/tension element), and OK.
3. Click Close.
Step 3: Define Material Properties
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Material Props → Material Models
2. In the dialog, expand Structural → Linear → Elastic → Isotropic.
3. Enter the material properties:
o EX (Young’s modulus) = 2e11 (Pa)
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o PRXY (Poisson’s ratio) = 0.3 (not relevant for axial problems)
4. Click OK, then close the window.
Step 4: Define Geometry
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Modeling → Create → Keypoints → In Active CS
2. Enter the following keypoints:
o Keypoint 1: X = 0, Y = 0, Z = 0 (Fixed end)
o Keypoint 2: X = 1, Y = 0, Z = 0 (Loaded end)
3. Click OK after each entry.
Step 5: Create the Element (Mesh)
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Modeling → Create → Lines → Lines in Active
Coord
2. Select Keypoint 1, then Keypoint 2, and click OK to create a line.
3. Set Element Size:
o Go to: Preprocessor → Meshing → Size Controls → Manual Size → Lines →
All Lines
o Enter 1 element and click OK.
4. Mesh the Line:
o Go to: Preprocessor → Meshing → Mesh → Lines → Pick All
o Click OK.
Step 6: Apply Boundary Conditions
1. Fix One End (Keypoint 1):
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o Go to: Preprocessor → Loads → Define Loads → Apply → Structural →
Displacement → On Keypoints
o Select Keypoint 1 and click OK.
o In the next dialog, check UX, UY, and UZ (fixing the displacement in all
directions).
o Click OK.
2. Apply Axial Load at the Other End (Keypoint 2):
o Go to: Preprocessor → Loads → Define Loads → Apply → Structural →
Force/Moment → On Keypoints
o Select Keypoint 2, click OK.
o In the dialog:
▪ Direction: FX (Axial direction)
▪ Value: 1000 N
o Click OK.
Step 7: Solve the System
1. Go to: Solution → Solve → Current LS
2. Click OK.
3. ANSYS will solve the problem. Once complete, click Close.
Step 8: View Results
1. Print Displacement & Stress Results
1. Go to: General Postproc → List Results → Nodal Solution
2. Select DOF Solution → Displacement vector sum and click OK.
3. To view stress, go to General Postproc → List Results → Element Solution, select
Stress → Axial Stress, and click OK.
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2. Plot Results
• Displacement Plot:
o Go to: General Postproc → Plot Results → Contour Plot → Nodal Solution
o Select DOF Solution → UX Displacement and click OK.
• Stress Plot:
o Go to: General Postproc → Plot Results → Contour Plot → Element Solution
o Select Stress → Axial Stress and click OK.
Step 9: Exit ANSYS
1. Go to: File → Exit.
2. Select Save Everything if needed, or Do Not Save to discard.
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Step-by-Step Approach for Solving a Stepped Bar with an Axial Load in ANSYS
Problem Setup
Consider a stepped bar with two segments:
1. Segment 1: Length L1, Area A1
2. Segment 2: Length L2, Area A2
• Material (E): 200 GPa (Steel)
• Axial Load (P): 1000 N applied at the free end
• Fixed Support at the other end
Step 1: Open ANSYS and Set Preferences
1. Open ANSYS Workbench and launch ANSYS Mechanical APDL (Classic).
2. In the ANSYS Main Menu, go to:
Preferences → Structural → OK
(This ensures only structural options appear in menus.)
Step 2: Define the Element Type
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Element Type → Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click Add, select LINK180 (1D truss/tension element), and click OK.
3. Click Close.
Step 3: Define Material Properties
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Material Props → Material Models
2. Expand Structural → Linear → Elastic → Isotropic.
3. Enter the material properties:
o EX (Young’s modulus) = 2e11 (Pa)
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o PRXY (Poisson’s ratio) = 0.3 (not required for axial problems)
4. Click OK, then close the window.
Step 4: Define Geometry (Keypoints)
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Modeling → Create → Keypoints → In Active CS
2. Enter the keypoints for the stepped bar:
o Keypoint 1: X = 0, Y = 0, Z = 0 (Fixed end)
o Keypoint 2: X = L1L_1, Y = 0, Z = 0 (Transition point)
o Keypoint 3: X = L1+L2L_1 + L_2, Y = 0, Z = 0 (Loaded end)
3. Click OK after each entry.
Step 5: Define the Elements and Assign Cross-Sections
1. Go to:
Preprocessor → Modeling → Create → Lines → Lines in Active Coord
2. Create lines:
o Select Keypoint 1 → Keypoint 2, click OK.
o Select Keypoint 2 → Keypoint 3, click OK.
Set Cross-Sectional Areas for Each Segment
1. Go to:
Preprocessor → Real Constants → Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click Add, select LINK180, and enter:
o Real Constant Set 1 (Segment 1):
▪ Cross-sectional area A1A_1 = 0.01 m²
o Click OK.
3. Click Add again and enter:
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o Real Constant Set 2 (Segment 2):
▪ Cross-sectional area A2A_2 = 0.005 m²
o Click OK, then Close.
Step 6: Meshing
1. Go to:
Preprocessor → Meshing → Size Controls → Manual Size → Lines → All Lines
2. Set 1 element per line, click OK.
3. Mesh the Line Elements:
Preprocessor → Meshing → Mesh → Lines → Pick All, click OK.
Step 7: Apply Boundary Conditions
1. Fix One End (Keypoint 1):
o Go to: Preprocessor → Loads → Define Loads → Apply → Structural →
Displacement → On Keypoints
o Select Keypoint 1, click OK.
o Check UX, UY, UZ (fixing displacement in all directions).
o Click OK.
2. Apply Axial Load at the Free End (Keypoint 3):
o Go to: Preprocessor → Loads → Define Loads → Apply → Structural →
Force/Moment → On Keypoints
o Select Keypoint 3, click OK.
o In the dialog:
▪ Direction: FX (Axial direction)
▪ Value: 1000 N
o Click OK.
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Step 8: Solve the System
1. Go to: Solution → Solve → Current LS
2. Click OK.
3. Once the solution is complete, click Close.
Step 9: View Results
1. Print Displacement & Stress Results
1. Go to: General Postproc → List Results → Nodal Solution
2. Select DOF Solution → Displacement vector sum and click OK.
3. To view stress, go to General Postproc → List Results → Element Solution, select
Stress → Axial Stress, and click OK.
2. Plot Results
• Displacement Plot:
o Go to: General Postproc → Plot Results → Contour Plot → Nodal Solution
o Select DOF Solution → UX Displacement and click OK.
• Stress Plot:
o Go to: General Postproc → Plot Results → Contour Plot → Element Solution
o Select Stress → Axial Stress and click OK.
Step 10: Exit ANSYS
1. Go to: File → Exit.
2. Choose Save Everything if needed, or Do Not Save to discard.
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Step-by-Step Approach for Solving a Tapered Bar with an Axial Load in ANSYS
A tapered bar has a varying cross-sectional area along its length. The axial force causes gradual
changes in stress and strain, which need to be analyzed using ANSYS Mechanical APDL
(Classic GUI).
Problem Setup
Consider a tapered bar with:
• Length (L)
• Cross-sectional area at fixed end = A1A_1
• Cross-sectional area at loaded end = A2A_2
• Material (E) = 200 GPa (Steel)
• Axial Load (P) applied at the free end
• Fixed support at the other end
The cross-section changes linearly along the length.
Step 1: Open ANSYS and Set Preferences
1. Launch ANSYS Mechanical APDL (Classic).
2. In the ANSYS Main Menu, go to:
Preferences → Structural → OK
(This ensures only structural options appear in menus.)
Step 2: Define the Element Type
Since the problem involves a 1D axial bar with varying cross-section, use LINK180 (1D
tension-compression element).
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Element Type → Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click Add, select LINK180, and click OK.
3. Click Close.
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Step 3: Define Material Properties
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Material Props → Material Models
2. Expand Structural → Linear → Elastic → Isotropic.
3. Enter the material properties:
o EX (Young’s modulus) = 2e11 (Pa)
o PRXY (Poisson’s ratio) = 0.3 (not required for axial problems)
4. Click OK, then close the window.
Step 4: Define Geometry (Keypoints)
1. Go to:
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Modeling → Create → Keypoints → In Active CS
2. Enter the keypoints for the tapered bar:
o Keypoint 1: X = 0, Y = 0, Z = 0 (Fixed end)
o Keypoint 2: X = L, Y = 0, Z = 0 (Loaded end)
3. Click OK after each entry.
Step 5: Define the Elements and Assign Cross-Section
Since the bar is tapered, ANSYS allows interpolation between two cross-sectional areas
using real constants.
1. Define Real Constants for Tapered Section
1. Go to:
Preprocessor → Real Constants → Add/Edit/Delete
2. Click Add, select LINK180, and enter:
o Cross-sectional area at Node 1 = A1A_1
o Cross-sectional area at Node 2 = A2A_2
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o Click OK and Close.
Step 6: Meshing
Since the area varies along the length, use multiple elements for better accuracy.
1. Go to:
Preprocessor → Meshing → Size Controls → Manual Size → Lines → All Lines
2. Set at least 10 elements for accurate results, click OK.
3. Mesh the Line Elements:
Preprocessor → Meshing → Mesh → Lines → Pick All, click OK.
Step 7: Apply Boundary Conditions
1. Fix One End (Keypoint 1):
o Go to: Preprocessor → Loads → Define Loads → Apply → Structural →
Displacement → On Keypoints
o Select Keypoint 1, click OK.
o Check UX, UY, UZ (fixing displacement in all directions).
o Click OK.
2. Apply Axial Load at the Free End (Keypoint 2):
o Go to: Preprocessor → Loads → Define Loads → Apply → Structural →
Force/Moment → On Keypoints
o Select Keypoint 2, click OK.
o In the dialog:
▪ Direction: FX (Axial direction)
▪ Value: 1000 N
o Click OK.
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Step 8: Solve the System
1. Go to: Solution → Solve → Current LS
2. Click OK.
3. Once the solution is complete, click Close.
Step 9: View Results
1. Print Displacement & Stress Results
1. Go to: General Postproc → List Results → Nodal Solution
2. Select DOF Solution → Displacement vector sum and click OK.
3. To view stress, go to General Postproc → List Results → Element Solution, select
Stress → Axial Stress, and click OK.
2. Plot Results
• Displacement Plot:
o Go to: General Postproc → Plot Results → Contour Plot → Nodal Solution
o Select DOF Solution → UX Displacement and click OK.
• Stress Plot:
o Go to: General Postproc → Plot Results → Contour Plot → Element Solution
o Select Stress → Axial Stress and click OK.
Step 10: Exit ANSYS
1. Go to: File → Exit.
2. Choose Save Everything if needed, or Do Not Save to discard.
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