Page 66 - Using ANSYS for Finite Element Analysis A Tutorial for Engineers
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ChaPter 2
sTATic AnAlysis using
Ansys
2.1 overview of strUCtUral analysis
A brief overview of structural analysis as carried out by ANSYS is
provided in the following sections.
2.1.1 definition of structural analysis
Structural analysis is probably the most common application of the finite
element method. The term structural (or structure) implies not only civil
engineering structures, such as bridges and buildings, but also naval, aero-
nautical, and mechanical structures such as ship hulls, aircraft bodies, and
machine housings, as well as mechanical components, such as pistons,
machine parts, and tools.
2.1.2 definition of static analysis
A static analysis calculates the effects of steady loading conditions on a
structure, while ignoring inertia and damping effects, such as those caused
by time-varying loads. A static analysis can, however, include steady iner-
tia loads (such as gravity and rotational velocity) and time-varying loads
that can be approximated as static equivalent loads (such as the static
equivalent wind and seismic loads commonly defined in many building
codes). Static analysis is used to determine the displacements, stresses,
strains, and forces in structures or components caused by loads that do
not induce significant inertia and damping effects. Steady loading and
response conditions are assumed, that is, the loads and the structure’s
response are assumed to vary slowly with respect to time. The kinds of
loadings that can be applied in a static analysis include:
