Partition advice

[PhilMetal]

Hi all

I'm simulating a pressure load on a 2x2 partition at the surface of a quarter-model tensile specimen (screen shot is in the link below).

So far I have been using a structured mesh technique but there are some distorted elements close to the centre of the model due to the way that I have partitioned it. I'm having trouble thinking of a better approach.

Can anyone provide some suggestions of a better partitioning method or mesh technique that I could use?

 

[corus]

Why don't you use axisymmetric geometry.

 

[Chrisbekakos]

You can also give a try to the bottom-up mesh technique.

 

[PhilMetal]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will give both a try.

 

[csk62]

Axisymmetric is a good route because of the decreased computational expense. I'm not sure exactly where you plan on applying your loads, but I caution you in being careful. It looks like you have a pressure load applied in one little "section" of the test specimen, and this load is not a load that is constant over the entire circumference of the model. In this case, you would have a axisymmetric geometry and a non-axisymmetric load. I can't remember exactly, but I think you would need to use (?)ACAX__(?) elements to take this into account. This can be accomplished by changing the element type in the input file.
If any of this information is incorrect, I apologize, however, I would like to offer some words of caution.

Note: I would look in the Abaqus manual for the exact element type, I dont remember off the top of my head

 

[PhilMetal]

Yes, the pressure load is only applied in that little section. Thank you for the information about the non-axisymmetric elements. I was unsure how to account for the load with axisymmetric elements, but it makes more sense now.

 

[corus]

If you want to retain the solid model then it would be better to remove the wedge shaped partitions at the centre and use a swept mesh there with brick elements. Alternatively use wedge shaped elements there.