Finite element analysis on post-buckling of thin-walled structures using ANSYS

• Main Author: Tian, Darius Xuan Ming.
• Other Authors: Chou Siaw Meng
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering; DRNTU::Science::Mathematics::Applied mathematics::Simulation and modeling
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40543
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project made use of finite element analysis (FEA) to model and simulate buckling and post-buckling of cold-formed thin-walled structures, hence predicting the ultimate load of these structures during axial compression. The finite element program ANSYS (Version 11.0) was used in this study. The improvements in design procedure to obtain predicted ultimate loads using ANSYS, which were more accurate, robust and conservative for real-time utilization, were documented in this report. An improvement to this design procedure was the attempt to develop a design procedure for the Z channel which was previously unavailable. The Z channel specimens were tested and the results obtained were verified by checking the load-displacement plots, stress contour plots and data convergence. They were also compared with experimental data done by researchers in the past. During the course of the project, previous methods of defining boundary conditions was improved and made more user-friendly. Rectifications to the method of using SHELL181 element type was also made since the previous way of using it was incorrect in terms of ANSYS scripting language. The method of modeling, simulating and analyzing the ultimate load predictions was described and proposed to form one concise and comprehensive design procedure which future users can make use of.