Three-Point Bending Test

[Jaykay82]

Hi everybody,

I am using Abaqus Standard and I have to simulate a 3-Point Bending Test. I have to generate a fine mesh which is to heavy for the working station I am working with.

So my idea is only to simulate the half of the model with only one roller(rigid body) on the left hand side and the half of the die(rigid body) on the right hand side. But whats about the BCs on the right hand side? How do I load the condition of the roller on the right hand side which does not exist anymore. Is there any mirror function for the boundary conditions available in Abaqus.Or maybe I shoud work with any constraint?

 

[mechfeeney]

Yes you can use symmetry in your boundary condition definitions. It's essentially a mirror function. If it's just bending, why are you not modeling the problem with beam elements (far less computationally expensive). There really is no sense to use solid elements in a bending problem (assuming the part has relatively simple geometry).

 

[Jaykay82]

Hi mechfeeney,

first of all thank you for your answer. I think beam elements are not really appropriate for my model because I have to model a Sandwich structure like you see in the picture. I do not really understand as well how to measure stresses and strains over the thickness in the beam model because I only have Elements in one plane??( but I am really new in Abaqus)

Can you tell me anything about how to find this mirror function. I already tried to find something in the manuals and on Google but without any results.I cannot imagine how I can tell the half of the model that there is a imaginare second roller in a distance of 200mm to the end of the model(the half model)

I have to use a very fine mesh because the layers a really thin. My model has more than a million elements so I want to split it and only simulate the half of it. The objective is to simulate a polyurethane foam with a homogeneous core and surface layers. Another idea is to put shell elements for the surface layers on the solid part.

 

[Jaykay82]

This is the half of the model which I like to simulate

 

[mechfeeney]

Okay, I can't see a way to do symmetry in this problem (except for symmetry in the x-y plane). You could model half of the beam along it's length. Secondly, the reason why you could consider using shell elements instead of solids. There are many tutorials about creating "sandwich" plates, and most always they use shell elements.

 

[amubashar]

I would recommend you to have a look at the Abaqus Example Problems Manual, Ch 2.1.16 (Abaqus 6.11)

 

[ESPcomposites]

You could use a shell element, just make sure it can handle transverse shear deformation. Compare your answers to classical solutions. This is a textbook type problem so it shouldn't be hard to compare to known solutions.

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com