Static-46

Title
Simply Supported Composite Beams

Description
Two simply supported composite beams modeled with Plane Stress Element and Truss
Element are analysed. All of the Plane Stress Element panels in the first beam (Case1) are 6
in 6 in sqaures. The second beam (Case2) contains both square and trapezoidal panels,
and its configuration can be obtained by moving nodes 7 and 12 of the first beam 3 in to the
right and nodes 8 and 11, 3 in to the left.

Structural geometry and analysis model

1

Verification Example

Model
Analysis Type
2-D static analysis
Unit System
in, lbf
Dimension
Length 48 in

Width

6 in

Element
Truss Element and Plane Stress Element
Material
Truss Elements
Modulus of elasticity
Plane Stress Elements
Shear modulus
Poissons ratio
Element Property
Truss Elements
Area
Plane Stress Elements
Thickness

E = 10.5 106 psi

G = 4.0 106 psi
= 0.315

0.4 in2 for all horizontal Truss Elements

0.1 in2 for vertical and inclined Truss Elements
t = 0.05 in

Boundary Condition
Node 2
; Constrain Dx and Dz. (Hinge support)
Node 18
; Constrain Dz. (Roller support)
Load Case
P = 10 103 lb
Load Case 1(P1) ; downward force P at nodes 9 and 10
Load Case 2(P2) ; force P to the right at node 9 and force P to the left at node 10
Load Case 3(P3) ; force P to the right at nodes 17 and 18
Load Case 4(P4) ; downward force at nodes 5 and 13
2

Static-46

Results

10

10

Displacements Contour of the structure

Verification Example

Comparison of Results
Load Case

Results
Theoretical
MIDAS/Gen
X-displacement (Node 10)
0.114
0.114
Z-displacement (Node 10)
-0.814
-0.814
Shear stress of
33333
33333
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
-25000
-25000
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
-35000
-35000
Truss Element 79
X-displacement (Node 10)
-0.014
-0.014
Z-displacement (Node 10)
0.000
0.000
Shear stress of
4167
4167
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
3125
3125
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
4375
4375
Truss Element 79
X-displacement (Node 10)
0.100
0.100
Z-displacement (Node 10)
-0.114
-0.114
Shear stress of
4167
4167
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
3125
3125
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
4375
4375
Truss Element 79
X-displacement (Node 10)
0.086
0.086
Z-displacement (Node 10)
-0.529
-0.529
Shear stress of
0.000
0.000
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
-20000
-20000
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
-20000
-20000
Truss Element 79
Result summary for the first composite beam (Case1)
4

Unit : in, lbf

Ratio
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000

Static-46

Load Case

Unit : in, lbf

MIDAS/Gen
Ratio
0.114
1.000
0.811
1.000

Results
Theoretical NASTRAN
X-displacement (Node 10)
0.114
0.129
Z-displacement (Node 10)
0.811
-0.876
Shear stress of
33333
55556
33333
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
-27500
-22500
-27500
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
-37500
-32500
-37500
Truss Element 79
X-displacement (Node 10)
-0.014
-0.016
-0.014
Z-displacement (Node 10)
0.000
0.000
0.000
Shear stress of
4167
6944
4167
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
3438
2813
3437
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
4688
4063
4688
Truss Element 79
X-displacement (Node 10)
0.100
0.098
0.100
Z-displacement (Node 10)
-0.114
-0.143
-0.114
Shear stress of
4167
6944
4167
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
3438
2813
3438
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
4688
4063
4687
Truss Element 79
X-displacement (Node 10)
0.086
0.086
0.086
Z-displacement (Node 10)
-0.529
-0.529
-0.529
Shear stress of
0.000
0.000
0.000
Plane Stress Element 5687
Axial force of
-20000
-20000
-20000
Truss Element 57
Axial force of
-20000
-20000
-20000
Truss Element 79
Result summary for the second composite beam (Case2)

1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000
1.000

Verification Example

Reference
H.C. Chen, A simple quadrilateral shear panel element, Communications in Applied Numerical
Methods, 8, 1-7, 1992.
MSC/NASTRAN, Verifications Problem Manual , The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation,
1986