Exercise: Beam Analysis.

Problem description:

Determine the bending moment around the local Z-axis and the transverse shear force in
the local Y-direction of the beam represented bellow:

Exercise: Beam Analysis.

Problem description (Cont.):

Dimensions:

a= 3.00 m

b= 6.00 m

Section dimensions:
W 760x380x284
Height = 779 10-3 m
Width = 382 10-3 m
Web thickness = 18 10-3 m
Flange thickness= 30.1 10-3 m
Weld throat= 17 10-3 m

Material properties:

Loads:

Steel Fe 430
W= 13500 N/m

Units and model tips:

SI
Beam structural elements.

Exercise: Beam Analysis.

Suggested Steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Create a new database.

Create the geometry points.
Create the geometry lines.
Create the material and the section.
Create the structural elements.
Create the mesh.
Apply loads.
Create the boundary conditions.
Create the load case.
Analyze the model.
Postprocess results.

Step 1: Create a new database

a

Create a working directory and

save the database:
a)
b)
c)
d)

Click on CivilFEM button.

Select Save as
Enter the Name.
Click Save.

Step 2: Create the geometry points.

a
b

Create points:
c
d

h
i

j
l

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)

Click Geometry tab.

Click Point.
Enter P1 for name of first point.
Enter (0,0,0) for Coordinates.
Click OK.
Activate Referenced option.
Click Point.
Enter P2 for Name of 2nd point.
Select P1 as Reference Point.
Enter the Coordinates of the second point
referring to the first point.
k) Click OK.
l) Repeat from the step f) to j) to create the
third and fourth points.

Step 3: Create the geometry lines.

a

Create the lines for the each beam span:

b

c
d

k
f
g
h

a) Click Line.
b) Enter span1 as Name.
c) Pull down P1 for Point1.
d) Pull down P2 for Point2.
e) Click OK and new.
f) Enter span2 as Name.
g) Pull down P2 for Point1.
h) Pull down P3 for Point2.
i) Click OK and new.
j) Enter span3 as Name.
k) Pull down P3 for Point1.
l) Pull down P4 for Point2.
m) Click OK.

Step 4: Create the material and the section.

a

f
e

Create the material and the section:

g

c
d

i
j

k
l

a) Click Model tab.

b) Click Steel icon.
c) Select Eurocode 3 for Code or Standard.
d) Select Fe430 for name and click OK.
e) Note how the material is active in the bar.
f) Click on Steel by dimensions option.
g) Select I as option.
h) Enter 779 mm for Height.
i) Enter 382 mm for Width.
j) Enter 18 mm for Web thickness.
k) Enter 30.1 mm for Flange thickness.
l) Enter 17 mm for Weld throat and click OK.
m) Note how the section is active in the bar.

Step 5: Create the structural elements.

a

Create structural elements:

d
e

f
g

i
j

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)

Click Mesh tab.

Click Beam.
Enter structural element 1 for Name.
Select span 1 for Geometry.
Click OK and new.
Enter structural element 2 for Name.
Select span 2 for Geometry.
Click OK and new.
Enter structural element 3 for Name.
Select span 3 for Geometry.

Step 5: Create the structural elements.

Create structural elements (Cont.):

a) Select structural element 1 within

Entities window.
b) Enter 90 for Orientation.
c) Select Number as Control.
d) Enter 10 as Number.

c
d

Step 5: Create the structural elements.

Create structural elements (Cont):

a) Select structural element 2 within
Entities window.
b) Enter 90 for Orientation.
c) Select Number as Control.
d) Select 10 as Number.

c
d

10

Step 5: Create the structural elements.

Create structural elements (Cont.):

a) Select structural element 3 within
Entities window.
b) Enter 90 for Orientation.
c) Select Number as Control.
d) Enter 10 as Number.

c
d

11

Step 6: Create the mesh.

Create the mesh:

b

a) Click Mesh.
b) Select Yes in order to save the model.
c) Check the number of nodes and
elements within the Output window.

12

Step 6: Create the mesh.

Mesh view:
a) Select the structural element 1 within
the entities window.
b) Note that Show Enhanced Mesh is
activated.
c) Click on Translucent/Wire to change
the structural elements view.

13

Step 7: Apply loads.

a

Define the loads to be applied:

e
g

a) Click Loads tab.

b) Click Load group.
c) Leave the default Name (Structural
loads).
d) On new contextual menu click Linear
load.
e) Select structural element 1 for
Structural element.
f) Enter (0,-1,0) as Direction.
g) Enter 13500 N/m for Load.
h) Click OK and new.

14

Step 7: Apply loads.

Define the loads to be applied (Cont.):
Now repeat same procedure for 3rd span.
h
i

i)
j

Select structural element 3 for

Structural element.
j) Enter (0,-1,0) as Direction.
k) Enter 13500 N/m for Load.

15

Step 7: Apply loads.

a
b
c

Define the loads to be applied (Cont.):

a) Select Loads tab.
b) Activate On mesh box.
c) Check how the linear loads are
lumped on nodes.

16

Step 8: Create the boundary conditions.

Define boundary conditions:
a

a) Click Boundary conditions group.

b) Leave the default name (Boundary
conditions group).
c) Click Single, Point.
d) Select structural element 1 for
Structural element.
e) Enter (3,0,0) as Point.
f) Constrain all movements and
rotation about X axis.

d
e
f

17

Step 8: Create the boundary conditions.

Define boundary conditions (Cont.):
g) Click OK and new.
h) Select structural element 3 for
Structural element.
i) Enter (9,0,0) as Point.
j) Constrain Y, Z movements and
rotation about X axis.

i
j

18

Step 9: Create the load case.

Define the Load case:

a)
b)
c)
d)

Click Load case.

Leave the default name (Load case).
Click Add Load.
Select Structural loads for Group of
loads.
e) In this case leave Factor as default
value (1.0).

e
e

19

Step 9: Create the load case.

c
a

Define the Load case (Cont.):

a) Click Add boundary cond.

b) Select Boundary conditions group for
Boundary conditions group.
c) Pull down Load case within Load case
Plot to check loads and boundary
conditions assigned to load case.

20

Step 10: Analyze the model.

b

Submit the model for analysis:

a)
b)
c)
d)

Click Solve tab.

Click Start.
Select Yes to save the model.
Wait until results file has been
generated.

21

Step 11:Postprocess results.

a
b

Postprocess results:
c

a) Click Results tab.

b) Click Load file.
c) Chose the Result file in your working
directory.
d) Click Open.
e) Note how the Results bar changes and
that all options are now available.

22

Step 11:Postprocess results.

c
a
b

X component of stress:

a) Pull down Result type and select

Element results.
b) Select X component of stress.
c) Click Plot.
d) Check the results (in Pa). Change results
units (MPa, Kp/cm2)

23

Step 11:Postprocess results.

a

Postprocess the bending moment

about the local Z-axis:
d

a) Pull down Result type and select End

results.
b) Select Bending moment about the
local Z-axis.
c) Click Plot.
d) Check results (Nm). Change results
units.

24

Step 11:Postprocess results.

Bending moment about the local Z-axis (2D Plot):

a) Set View on thin elements.
b) Click Plot.

25

Step 11:Postprocess results.

Postprocess the bending moment

about the local Z-axis (Cont.):
a) Click List
.
b) Check the values in elements and nodes.
Try to change results units.

26

Step 11:Postprocess results.

a

d
b
c

Postprocess the transverse shear

force in the local Y-direction:
c

a) Expand Result type and select End

results.
b) Select Transverse shear force in the
local Y-direction.
c) Desactivate Average option and set
Palette to 6 colors.
d) Click Plot.
e) Check the results (N). Try to change
results units.

27

Step 11:Postprocess results.

Transverse shear force in the local Y-direction (2D Plot):

a) Plot results on thin elements.
b) Click Plot.

28

Step 11:Postprocess results.

a

Postprocess the transverse shear

force in the local Y-direction (Cont.):
a) Click List.
b) Check the values in elements and
nodes. Try to change results units.

Note: If mesh is refined, the results will be

more accurate.

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