FEA Model Essay

SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Mechanical Design Engineering
Academic Year 15/16

Mechanics 3 Practical Assignment 1

Prepared by:
Name: Sim Jin Hong
Student ID: 15AGD053T (SIT) / 2227640S (UOG)
Group 3
Lab Officer: Mr Louis Ng
Ext: 7881
[e-mail]

1. Introduction 3
2. Schematic diagram of FEA model 5
3. Table of measurements of the truss structure 6
4. Schematic diagram of FEA model with boundary conditions 7
5. ABAQUS command input file 8
6. Screen shot of the structure 10
7. ABAQUS command Output file 12
8. ABAQUS calculation result 13
9. Euler’s formula calculation result 14
10. Percentage Error Computation 15
11. Conclusion 16

The measurements shown in Figure 4 shows a total of 6 elements joining together and is measured with a Vernier caliper for its width and thickness, a steel ruler for its length from pin to pin. Each dimension is measured at least 3 times and by 3 different lab students, the mean results are as shown:
Element Length (m) Width (m) Thickness (m) Area (m2)
[1] 0.33 0.0065 0.0065 0.00004224
[2] 0.166 0.0193 0.0065 0.00012545
[3] 0.233 0.013 0.0065 0.0000845
[4] 0.233 0.0065 0.0065 0.00004224
[5] 0.467 0.013 0.0065 0.0000845
[6]: Thin Strip 0.33 0.0191 Mean value of (0.0016 & 0.0017):
0.00165 0.000031515

The objective of this lab assignment is to find the critical buckling load of the thin steel strip by increasing the load at a node until it buckles. Figure 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of the structure which contains [6] element and (6) nodes. Element [6] represents the thin metal strip and the load applied on node 5 is in negative Y-axis.
Note:
• Node (1, 4, 6) are fixed end,
• Assume the screw attached to node (2) to be