hi, i am modelling composite structure (concrete slab on a steel I-beam), i not really understand/sure whether the 'contact' will need to be used in my modelling? in fact i not really understand about the function/purpose/meaning of 'contact'. does it meant, the contct between 2 (or more) elements surface, in my case would be the bottom of the concrete slab and the top flange of the I-beam. Please advise.
Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations cowski on being selected by the Eng-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
contact
- Thread starter mambo5
- Start date
rstupplebeen
Mechanical
If the concrete is just laying on the I-beam or may touch during the analysis then contact would be appropriate. If the concrete was glued to the I-beam a tied constraint could be appropriate instead. Or have 1 part and section it at the junction and apply 2 materials. Hope this helps.
Rob Stupplebeen
Rob Stupplebeen
- Thread starter
- #3
rstupplebeen
Mechanical
Without any more details like relative thicknesses I assume that the sheet is thin and can be neglected. As a quick hand calc to determine if the sheet can be neglected do an "I" calc with and without the sheet assuming a perfect bond between the parts. If the error associated with neglecting the sheet is acceptable then go with it. I would use contact between the concrete and the I-beams and discrete connectors where the steel studs would be. When post processing the results look at the maximum loads carried by the connectors to determine if the connection would fail. Hope this helps.
Robert Stupplebeen
Robert Stupplebeen
- Thread starter
- #5
- Thread starter
- #6
rstupplebeen
Mechanical
- Thread starter
- #8
- Status
Similar threads