clues on how to solve thermal loading of bimetallic strip in ANSYS

[suhasbhat85]

I have trying to solve thermal loading of bimetallic strips.
I have been getting zero displacements and strains even after specifying all the relevant temperature (uniform and reference) and the material data. I am using Plane82 element( which according to help can solve for thermal loads).
I just cross checked with taking just a single material model and applied temperatures but still the results are zero.

I wanted some help in solving this and also wanted to know if some Multi-field setup option has to be used for solving abd which among MFS single code and MFX ANSYS CFX, and should I use plane13 element?

 

[BPVFEA]

I have done such analysis and not faced such problem
Make sure that,
1) UX is fixed somewhere (as per requirement of your problem & if it not axi-symmetric)
2) UY is fixed somewhere (as per requirement of your problem)
3) Coefficient of expansion ALPX is defined in material properties. It can be defined for one or more temperatures.
If it defined for only one temperature then temperature should not be same as REFT.
4) In Preferences select only Structural
5) If it is not a coupled field analysis then,
Do not define any Thermal property for material & Do not apply any thermal boundary condition on the model.
(ALPX is structural property & Body Temperature is structural BC)

This should solve your problem.

I am unable to understand your second question.

 

[suhasbhat85]

I have modeled a 2-D cantilever beam kind of model. constrained completely (all DOF) at the left end.
I have defined thermal strain (isotropic) for the 2 temperatures of 0 and 240.
I have taken zero as the reference temperature using reference temperature option under load as well as under material properties.
I have applied 240 as the applied temp using option uniform temperature under load.
I have tried with just structural and thermal, though haven't included any thermal properties.

And About the "multi-field option" I dont think it is necessary, so I am not bothered about the second part.