CAEANALYZE2D command

Runs a 2D Finite Element Analysis.

BricsCAD Mechanical

Icon:

Description

Runs a 2D Finite Element Analysis for a closed 2D boundary or 3D planar face that must be in the XY plane of the World Coordinate System.

Method

First, select a closed 2D boundary, a 3D planar face, a region, or a closed curve in the XY plane. After that, in the Static Analysis 2D command context panel, you can define the material and physical parameters, loads and supports, as well as a mesh for the input boundary. Then, run the analysis, visually inspect it, and interact with the analysis result.

The material and physical parameters include Young's modulus, the Poisson ratio, the yield, and the thickness. Loads include point forces and linear pressures, and supports include point and linear supports. The analysis results contain a summary of the input values, some global output values (execution time, maximum Von Mises stress, maximum displacement, and a safety factor), and a colored mesh visualization of the displacement or the Von Mises stresses.

Note: The options within the Command line reflect the options found in the command context panel.
  1. Supports and loads
  2. Mode
  3. Material properties
  4. Meshing

Supports and loads

Adds the loads (point forces and linear pressures) and supports (point and linear supports, rolling point and rolling linear supports) by clicking the corresponding button. Loads and supports can be placed over curved entities.

  1. Add point support
  2. Add linear support
  3. Add rolling point support
  4. Add rolling linear support
  5. Add point load
  6. Add linear load
  7. List of added supports and loads
  8. Edit button
  9. Remove button
Add point support
Adds a point support by clicking the point location on the boundary of the region in the drawing.
Add linear support
Adds a linear support by clicking the first and second point locations on the boundary of the region in the drawing.
Add rolling point support
Adds a rolling point support by clicking the point location on the boundary of the region in the drawing.
Add rolling linear support
Adds a rolling linear support by clicking the first and second point locations on the boundary of the region in the drawing.
Add point load
Adds a point load by clicking the point location on the boundary of the region in the drawing. Then, specify the angle of the load to the tangent of the boundary (90 degrees by default, for example, perpendicular to the boundary) and specify the point load magnitude.
Add linear load
Adds a linear load by clicking the first and second point locations on the boundary of the region in the drawing. Then, you have to specify the angle of the linear pressure to the tangent of the boundary (90 degrees by default, for example, perpendicular to the boundary) and to specify the linear pressure magnitude.

Graphic representation of the supports and loads in the drawing

Note:
  • Each type of support and load have a graphic representation (symbol) in the drawing.
  • The annotation scale determines the size of the supports and loads symbols in the Model Space.
  • The supports and loads graphic representation is kept in the drawing after the command is finished, so that it can be reused later.
List of added supports and loads
Lists all added supports and loads. Each of them can be edited or removed.
Note: When adding or editing the supports or loads, the command context panel closes, and the options are available in the Command line.

Options within the Command line when adding or editing supports or loads

Loads
Manages the loads.
Add load
Adds a load.
Point load
Adds a point load by specifying the point location, the angle of the load and the point load magnitude.
Specify point location
Allows you to pick a point for load location.
Specify the angle of the load, tangent to the boundary
Allows you to specify the tangent angle to the boundary or accept the default value.
Specify the point load magnitude
Allows you to specify the point load magnitude.
Linear load
Adds a linear pressure.
Specify first point location
Allows you to pick the first point for linear pressure location.
Specify second point location or change direction
Allows you to pick the second point for linear pressure location. You can also first set the direction in which the second point is located.
Automatic
Automatically detects the direction for the second point.
COUnterclockwise
Allows you to pick the second point in a counterclockwise direction.
CLOCkwise
Allows you to pick the second point in a clockwise direction.
Close
Closes the position point selection.

Use the Hotkey Assistant widget to change the direction of the second point. Press the Ctrl key to switch between the displayed options.

Note: The Hotkey Assistant widget is displayed if the HOTKEYASSISTANT system variable is set to 1 (see Hotkey Assistant widget article).
Specify the angle of the linear pressure tangent to the boundary
Allows you to set the angle of the linear pressure.
Absolute angle wrt. x-axis
Allows you to set the angle of the linear pressure relative to the x-axis.
Relative angle to boundary tangent
Allows you to set the angle of the linear pressure relative to boundary tangent.
Specify the linear pressure magnitude
Allows you to specify the linear pressure magnitude.
Remove load
Removes the selected load.
Edit load
Allows you to change the position, angle and magnitude of the selected load.
Position
Allows you to set the new position of load.
Angle
Allows you to set the new angle of the load.
Magnitude
Allows you to set the new value for the magnitude of the load.
Note: The options are the same as for Add load.
Supports
Manages the supports.
Add support
Adds a support
Point support
Adds a point support by specifying the point location and the angle of the support.
Specify point location
Allows you to pick a point for support location.
Specify the angle of the support, tangent to the boundary
Allows you to specify the tangent angle to the boundary or accept the default value.
rollinG Point support
Adds a rolling point support by specifying the point location and the angle for the support.
Linear support
Adds a linear support.
Specify first point location
Allows you to pick the first point for linear support location.
Specify second point location or change direction
Allows you to pick the second point for linear support location. You can also first set the direction in which the second point is located.
rollinG Linear support
Adds a rolling linear support by specifying the first and second point locations.
Remove support
Removes the selected support.
Edit support
Allows you to change the position, angle, and type of the selected support.
Position
Allows you to set the new position of support.
Angle
Allows you to set the new angle of support.
Type
Allows you to change the support type.
Fixed
Sets the support to be fixed.
Rolling
Sets the support to be rolling.
Note: The options are the same as for Add support.
Edit button
Allows you to edit the load or support.
Remove button
Allows you to remove the load or support.

Mode

Allows you to choose which mode to run the analysis.

Planar stress
Runs the analysis in planar stress mode. This mode should be used when the stress tensor is assumed to not have out of plane components.
Planar strain
Runs the analysis in planar strain mode. This mode should be used when the strain in the Z-direction is assumed to be zero.

Material properties

Defines the material properties.

Thickness
Defines the thickness of the material.
Youngs modulus
Defines the Young modulus of the material.
Yield
Defines the Yield of the material.
Poisson ratio
Defines the Poisson ratio.

Meshing

Defines a mesh for the input boundary.

Mesh size
Defines the desired edge length of mesh elements.
Refinement ratio
Sets a refinement ration used for refine region.
Calculate mesh
Generates the mesh for the entire region according to the mesh size, loads, and constraints.
Note: This button is only available when you generate the mesh for the first time.
Update mesh
Updates the mesh after changing the mesh size, loads, or supports.
Refine region
Allows you to add multiple refined regions, improving the generated mesh based on specified refinement ratios.
Clear refinements
Removes all refine regions.

By pressing the Next button, the result of analysis opens.

Result of analysis

  1. Input values
  2. Global quantities
  3. Probe local quantities
  4. Mesh visualization
Input values
Displays the input values defined in the previous panel.
Global quantities
Displays the calculated output values.
Execution time
Displays the execution time.
Max Von Mises stress
Displays the maximum Von Mises stress.
Max displacement
Displays the maximum calculated displacement.
Safety factor
Displays the calculated safety factor.
Probe local quantities
Displays the local output values on a specified point. Choose one option from the drop down list, last clicked point or hovered point.
Position x
Displays the X position of the point.
Position y
Displays the Y position of the point.
Von Mises stress
Displays the Von Mises stress in the point.
Displacement x
Displays the displacement of the point in X direction.
Displacement y
Displays the displacement of the point in Y direction.
Displacement
Displays the total displacement of the point.
Mesh visualization
Controls the visualization of the results on the mesh.
Displacement factor
Defines the displacement factor.

The actual displacement of the nodes in the mesh is typically very small and hard to notice in the drawing. The displacement factor can be used to exaggerate the displacement of the nodes in the mesh.

Colored quantity
Displays a colormap legend with numerical values for Displacement and Von Mises stress (see the drop down list).
Save
Places the analysis results in the Model Space.
Edit input
Opens the previous page to edit the characteristics required for 2D analysis.