Simple analysis on Inventor 2008

[mingmongmang]

Hi,
I'm trying to analyze the attached part in AutoDesk Inventor (2008) and cant decide upon the best way to constrain it. It's a clamp that gets screwed to a surface and then applies a force towards that surface via a screw.

I'm applying a force to the red surface in the pic, but how to simulate the mounting screw in the counter-bore, holding the clamp to the surface? It seems I should use the annular c'bore surface but I'd also need a constraint on the mounting surface? I don;t really want to simulate 'gluing' the part to the surface..

FYI, Inventor 2008 'incorporates FEA technology from Ansys for part level stress analysis'.

I can give more details on the constraint/load types available if needed.

 

[rb1957]

there's going to be a bolt down the hole, compressing the bottom face, yes?

i'd support the bottom surface, certainly out-of-plane, but i think Inventor will only allow you to fully contrain each node on the bottom has (rather than just the out-of-plane direction.

and i'd apply a force on the bottom face of the counter-bore, representing the load from the bolt. so there should be a bunch of compression in the fitting before you apply the load, F.