Chapter 8: Analysis Setup

Chapter 8

Analysis Setup and Loading

Analysis setup is the definition of all information for an analysis besides the mesh including:
 Specification of the solver to be used
 Creation of materials, properties, etc.
 Assignment of a solver specific format to HyperMesh entities
 Creation of boundary conditions (constraints, loads, contacts, etc.)
 Definition of other required information (solution requests, general run parameters,
etc.)

Section 1: Setting up Loading Conditions

A finite element solver can solve for responses of parts to
loading conditions placed on them. The loads can be in the
form of any combination of boundary constraints, forces,
pressures, temperatures, etc. This section focuses on defining
the loading conditions on a model.
In this section, you will learn how to:
 Create constraints (RADIOSS SPC) on the channel’s
geometry lines
 Create a force (RADIOSS FORCE) on the bracket to simulate a pressing load on it
 Define a load step (RADIOSS SUBCASE)

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Interacting with Solvers

 HyperMesh interacts with many solvers
 Each solver has its own unique formats, terminology, etc
 Example : Compare nodes and elements in Abaqus and Radioss
 3 nodes
 2 quad elements
 Format/structure is obviously different

 HyperMesh can interact with different solvers using “templates”

 The selected template tells HyperMesh which solver the model is for
 The template also tells HyperMesh how entities are formatted for that solver
 Each entity may have several available formats for that solver
 Each format has fields that make up its definition
 These fields may need to have values entered by the user
 Example: A component for Radioss (Linear) can be a PSHELL or PSOLID
format
 PSHELL holds shell elements, ID =1, material =1, thickness = 5.0

 PSOLID holds solid elements, ID =2, material =1

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Tools
 Collectors > Card Edit - or - Collectors toolbar icon
 View/edit the card image of any entity in the model
 Includes entities that are not collectors (nodes, elements, loads, etc.)
 Model Browser
 Right click a collector and select Card Edit
 View/edit the card image of the selected collector
 Preferences > Graphics
 template labels (type) option
 Activate the graphic displayed names of the entities in solver (template)
terminology instead of the HyperMesh (solver neutral) terminology
 Helps keep track of what is in the model
 Summary panel
 Displays a text window with various information about the model
 Helps to review the model and make sure all information has been entered properly

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Process
1. Create materials and enter values into them using the Model Browser or material
collector icon .
2. Create properties and enter values into them. Material collectors can be associated
with properties during creation. Use the Model Browser or property collector icon
to create the properties.
3. Create component collectors and organize entities into them. Property collectors
can be associated with components during creation or properties can be assigned
directly to elements. Use the Model Browser or component collector icon to
create the components.
NOTE: Steps 1-3 can be done using the Model Browser in a single step. When
creating a component collector it is possible to also create and associate properties
and materials.

4. Mesh and load the model

5. Create solver specific cards and controls.
While it is not required that events follow these steps in order, if you follow these steps then
there is no need to go back to update or assign information to collectors as the required
information will already be in place.

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This section will focus on the creation of boundary conditions.

Supported Entities:
 FE Loading
o Loads (constraint, force, pressure, moment, temperature, flux, velocity,
acceleration)
o Equations (mathematical link between nodes)
o Contacts
o Groups (defines contact between entities)
o Contact Surfs (defines a list of entities that can be
used as master or slave in a group)
 Reference Entities
o Sets (a simple list of a particular type of entity)
o Blocks (a list of entities contained within a box shape)
 Coordinate Entities
o Systems (coordinate axes)
o Vectors
 Plotting
o Curves (X-Y data)
o Plots (a display of curves with axes)
 Output Requests
o Loadsteps (combinations of load collectors)
o Output Blocks (request output from an analysis for
certain entities)
 Control cards (job-level, global parameters for the analysis)

Loads on Geometry
HyperMesh allows the user to place loads on geometry before the mesh is ever created.
Then using the BCs > Loads on Geometry pull-down, those loads will be mapped to the
elements that were created from that geometry. This is a time saving advantage as the user

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only needs to pick one, or at most a few, geometric entities to ultimately create hundreds or
even thousands of loads or constraints.
To use this, change the entity selector from a node or element
selection to a geometric selection such as surfs or lines.
Then after the part is meshed, using the Loads on Geometry
function, the loads will be automatically mapped to elements
created from that geometry.

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Exercise 8: Analysis Setup and Loading

This exercise will focus on setting up a model for analysis. At the end of this exercise,
you will run an analysis in RADIOSS. While this exercise is focused on a RADIOSS
analysis setup, the methods and techniques explored here are applicable to a setup in
any solver.

Step 1: Load the file Exercise_8_mm.hm and the RADIOSS BulkData user
profile.

Step 2: Studying the Model

The normal process for setting up an analysis would be the setup of materials,
properties and components before the meshing of the model. As this exercise focuses
only on analysis setup, the mesh has already been created for you.
This model is a quarter segment of a submarine pressure hull. The exercise will cover
the steps required to analyze the stress on the hull of a decent to a depth of 300 meters
and determine if the hull design can handle that pressure.
1. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the model and get a concept of the size
and scale of the parts.
2. Based upon measurements and knowledge of how large a submarine is, what would you
assume to units of this model to be?
Now that the scale of the model has been determined, it is important to establish a unit
scheme. These are often dictated by corporate standards, but in this case it will be
established by the units that were used to create the model. For this analysis, the
Millimeter-Ton-Second scheme will be utilized.
The first step in any analysis should be model organization. This frequently occurs
before the model is meshed but can be done post mesh as well.
To make sure each step has the information already available, the ideal order is to
create materials first, then properties and then finally component collectors.

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Step 3: Component Creation with Material/Property Assignment

Component collectors are, as previously discussed, used for
model organization. One of the most logical organization
schemes for this model would be a component for the Hull
elements and then another for the Ribs. This, of course, is only
one method and could be altered for any number of
organizational reasons.
1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create >
Component
A dialog box will open that will allow for the creation of a
component that can have Properties and Materials assigned
upon creation or the user can create the Properties and
Materials directly from this window.
2. Enter Hull in the Name: field.
3. Assign it a unique color.
4. Click the Property tab.
While the elements (quads and trias) have been created, they need to be defined as an
entity the solver can analyze. In the case of RADIOSS, these 2D elements are defined
as PSHELL. Creating the PSHELL property will give these elements their definition
(card Image) and will allow for the definition of the material thickness they have.
5. Name it Hull.
6. Pick a color.
7. For Card image select PSHELL.
8. Click Create property
The card editing panel for the PSHELL card is now opened. The only value that needs
to be entered in this card is [T], thickness.

9. Set the value for [T] at 19.

This will establish a thickness of 19 mm for the thickness of the pressure hull when this
property is applied to the elements representing the hull.
10. Click return.

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The Create component dialog box will reopen.

11. Click the Material tab.
12. Enter Steel for the name.
13. For Card Image select MAT1 (A Linear Elastic Isotropic Material)
14. Assign it a unique color.
15. Click the Create material button.
16. The Material card editing panel will open.

17. Click [E], [NU] and [RHO] to open the fields beneath them.
These fields are the material properties for the material being created and are defined as
follows:
 [E] Young’s Modulus (Modulus of Elasticity)
 [NU] Poisson’s Ratio
 [RHO] Density
As it has been established the Millimeter-Ton-Second unit scheme will be utilized, the
Young’s Modulus needs to be in terms of Newton/mm2 (MPa)and the Density in
Ton/mm3. Poisson’s ratio is unit-less and is the same no matter what the unit scheme.
Enter the following values
 [E] 2.4e+5
 [NU] 0.3
 [RHO] 7.85e-9

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18. Click return.

At this point you can see that a new field has been created in the
model browser, material, and the new material, steel, is included
in it.
The Create component dialog box will reopen.
19. Click the Component tab again.
You will note that the Property and Material just created are
automatically assigned.
20. Click Create and the component will be properly created

Step 4: Property Creation

A property can be created on its own without creating a
component at the same time. This is usefull when the
components have already been created.
1. In the Model Browser right click and select Create >
Property.
A dialog similar to the Component creation will open.
2. Using the techniques explored in the previous step,
create a property with the name Ribs with the following
settings.

 Type = PSHELL
 Material = Steel
 Thickness = 13

Step 5: Load Collector Creation

1. From the Model Browser, create a LoadCollector.
2. Name it Pressure.
3. Assign it a unique color

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4. Leave the Card image as none

5. Create the load collector.
6. Follow the previous steps to create another LoadCollecter called
Constraints.

Step 6: Model Organization

In this step we will take the elements that represent the Hull and place
them into the Hull component. The collector that holds the remaining Rib
elements will then be renamed Ribs and assigned the appropriate
property.
1. Organize the Hull elements into the Hull component.
HINT: Using the extended selection option of By Geom and picking the
20 surfaces that make up the hull is the easiest way to get all of the appropriate
elements.
2. Rename the Middle Surface component to Ribs.
As this component was created prior to the creation of the properties, it is now
necessary to assign the Rib property to this component.
3. Open the component collectors panel.
4. Select the assign sub-panel.
5. Select the Ribs component.
6. In the property= field select the Ribs property.

7. Click assign.

Step 7: Model Loading

With the elements properly assigned a card image (through the property) and a material,
it is now necessary to create the loads on the model. As this is a submarine hull, a
constant pressure will be applied to the exterior of the hull, directed inwards normal to
the elements.
To establish the orientation of the pressure load, the element
normals direction must first be discovered.
1. From the Tool page, select the normals panel.

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2. In the elements sub-panel select all of the elements in the Hull collector.
3. Click display normals.
Arrows should now indicate the element normal direction.
4. The element normals should be pointing outward from the hull so if they are not, click
reverse normals.
5. Make the Pressure Load Collector current.
6. From the BCs pull-down, proceed to the create pressures panel.
7. In the create sub-panel, select the elements in the Hull collector.
8. Set the magnitude = to -3.0. (This value is in MPa and corresponds to the
approximate pressure at a depth of 300 meters)
The direction switch under the magnitude field allows for the direction of the pressure to
be set. If this value is NOT set then the default is to make the pressure normal to the
element. The value previously entered was negative so that the pressure is opposite the
element normal and thus directed inwards.
9. Change the magnitude% = toggle to uniform size = and set it to 200.
This option establishes the size of the arrow that will graphically represent the load.
Magnitude% will make the arrow length the set percentage of the value of the load in
model units. For example in our case of a 3.0 magnitude load, a magnitude%= value of
200 would result in a load arrow of 6 units in length. Uniform size will set the length to
the set number of model units regardless of the magnitude value.
10. Click the load types= button and select PLOAD.

PLOAD is the standard pressure loading card in RADIOSS. For explanations of other
types of pressures and loads you can consult the online help files.
11. Create the pressures. The model should now look similar to this picture.

Step 8: Save the Model

While this step is optional, it is good practice to frequently save your model.

Step 9: Constraints
Constraints hold the model in place. Without them any force applied to the
model would send it flying off. Constraints typically represent the physical restrictions on
a part, some examples being welds, fasteners or other parts that constrain the part and
allow it to resist the forces applied. These are represented through the use of an SPC
(single point constraint) which restricts the movement of a single node in any of 6
degrees of freedom (X,Y Z translational and X,Y,Z rotational)

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In the case of this model, a special constraining system called Symmetric Constraining is
used. This is a common practice when analyzing a part with some form of symmetry. In
the case of this Submarine Hull model, it represents ¼ of the complete hull circle.
Analyzing only part of a symmetric model saves time in both model setup and analysis.
The results can be assumed to be identical across planes of symmetry, assuming the
loading is also identical across the plane.
1. Make the Constraints load collector current.
2. From the BCs pull down enter the create constraints panel.

3. Select the YZ Front Plane View .

4. Select or de-select the appropriate check boxes so that the only DOFs selected are 2, 4
and 6.
5. Using a box select (HINT: Shift-Left Mouse Drag a box) to pick the nodes shown in the
image below.

6. Click create.
7. Select and de-select the appropriate check boxes so that the only DOFs selected are 3,
4 and 5.
8. Using a box select pick the nodes shown in the image below.

9. Click create.
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10. Select the XY Top Plane View .

11. Select and de-select the appropriate check boxes so that the only DOFs selected are 1,
5 and 6.
12. Using the standard views and model rotation tools, select all of the nodes on both
remaining edges of the Hull elements.

13. You will have to manually select the nodes at the end of the ribs on the right side of the
image above.
14. Click create.
15. The model is now properly constrained for the analysis.

Step 10: Control Cards

Control cards are special cards in the deck that control aspects of the solver run. They
can be used to:
 Set parameters of the analysis.
 Control aspects of the analysis.
 Request certain types of output.

1. From the Analysis page select the control cards panel.

2. Find the FORMAT card. (Use the next button move scroll through the cards).
3. Change the number_of_formats field to 2.
4. Change the second FORMAT card to HM.
This will provide output in both HyperView and HyperMesh formats.
5. Click return and then use next to find the SCREEN card.
6. Set the SCREEN_V1 to OUT.

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Step 11: Define the LoadStep

The final step in the analysis setup is to establish a load step. A load step is
combination of constraints and loads that will define a single analysis in the solver.
Multiple load steps can be defined in a single model allowing for one run of the solver to
conduct numerous studies.
1. From the Setup pull down enter the Create LoadSteps panel.
2. Name the load step.
3. Set the type switch to linear static.
4. Click the check box next to SPC and click the = button to select the Constraint Load
Collector.
5. Click the check box next to LOAD and click the = button to select the Pressure Load
Collector.

NOTE: Your LoadCollector ID’s may differ from those above, do not copy the values
above.
6. Create the Load Step.

Step 12: Run the Analysis

For any other solver the next step be to export a solver deck and use the individual
solver tools to being the study. As RADIOSS is an Altair product it can very easily be
invoked from within HyperMesh.
1. From the Analysis page click the Radioss button.
2. Set the panel options to match those below
NOTE: Your model name and path will differ from the picture, leave the default.

3. After the settings are made, click the Radioss button to being the analysis
4. A new window will open to show the Radioss analysis is running

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5. When the message “ANALYSIS COMPLETED” appears, the run is complete and the
window can be closed.

Step 13: Post Processing

While the workings of HyperView will be discussed in greater length in the Post
Processing section of the class, this step will cover basic post processing steps to review
the analysis you just ran.
1. In the RADIOSS panel click the HyperView button
to load the results in HyperView.
2. Close any message that pops up.

3. Enter the Deformed Panel .

4. Set the Value to 100 and click Apply.
5. Change the animation type to Linear Animation
Mode.

6. Go to the Contour Panel .

7. Select the Result Type to be Element Stress 2D&3D.
8. Change Averaging Method to Advanced.
9. Click Interpolate Color.

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10. Click Apply.

11. Click the animate icon .

12. Rotate the model to review it using the same keys and buttons as HyperMesh.

Step14: Engineering Review

1. Given that the Yield Strength of an HSLA Steel is around 360 MPa, do you think this
structure, as designed, will survive a dive to a depth of 300 meters?
2. Using the Card Editing functions, experiment with thickness values to determine how the
changes affect the stress and deformation of the model and achieve a model that does
not exceed the yield strength.
NOTE: The more weight of the structure, the less weight that can go in it so try to keep
the materials as thin as possible.

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