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    FEA Model Overview

    Uploaded by

    Anderson Moribe
    The document describes an FEA model of an actuator that consists of two materials: an elastomer main body and an inextensible paper layer. It outlines the steps to: 1) Define the elastomer and paper materials, sections, and assign them to parts. 2) Assemble the parts and merge them. 3) Create a shell for the inextensible paper layer. 4) Define surfaces and loads, including gravity and internal pressure, to simulate actuator bending.

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    FEA Model Overview

    Uploaded by

    Anderson Moribe
    139 views36 pages
    The document describes an FEA model of an actuator that consists of two materials: an elastomer main body and an inextensible paper layer. It outlines the steps to: 1) Define the elastomer and paper materials, sections, and assign them to parts. 2) Assemble the parts and merge them. 3) Create a shell for the inextensible paper layer. 4) Define surfaces and loads, including gravity and internal pressure, to simulate actuator bending.

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    FEA Model Overview

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    The document describes an FEA model of an actuator that consists of two materials: an elastomer main body and an inextensible paper layer. It outlines the steps to: 1) Define the elastomer and paper materials, sections, and assign them to parts. 2) Assemble the parts and merge them. 3) Create a shell for the inextensible paper layer. 4) Define surfaces and loads, including gravity and internal pressure, to simulate actuator bending.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    139 views36 pages

    FEA Model Overview

    Uploaded by

    Anderson Moribe
    The document describes an FEA model of an actuator that consists of two materials: an elastomer main body and an inextensible paper layer. It outlines the steps to: 1) Define the elastomer and paper materials, sections, and assign them to parts. 2) Assemble the parts and merge them. 3) Create a shell for the inextensible paper layer. 4) Define surfaces and loads, including gravity and internal pressure, to simulate actuator bending.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 36

    FEA Model Overview

    • A Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) problem, treated with a standard/implicit FEM


    using the Abaqus 6.11 Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) package (Simulia,
    Dassault Systems).
    • In order to ease the simulation process and make it less computationally
    expensive, the actuator geometry is simplified and certain features omitted – i.e.,
    the bonding ridges/bumps at the bottom the main body.
    • The generic design of these actuators consists of two different materials; the
    elastomer parts and an elastomer embedded inextensible part (layer of paper) at
    the bottom of the actuator. This layer causes the actuator to bend as it minimizes
    axial expansion.
    • Define 2 materials:
    – Elastosil M4601 silicone rubber: Yeoh strain energy potential defined by the coefficients C10 =
    0.11, C20 = 0.02. Density of 1130 Kg/m³, assumed isotropic
    – Paper: density of 750 Kg/m³, a Young’s Modulus of 6.5 GPa and a Poisson’s ratio of 0.2
    • Define 2 sections:
    – Elastosil (uniform solid), assigned to the main body and 2 bottom layers
    – Paper (uniform shell), assigned to inextensible layer
    • Loads:
    – Gravity, with boundary condition as 1 end rigidly fixed (encastre)
    – Pressure, acting at all internal faces of the cavity
    FEA Process Overview
    1. Import parts
    2. Make surface placeholder for paper layer
    3. Assign material properties to the parts (create materials,
    assign them to sections, assign sections to parts)
    4. Assemble the parts
    5. Make paper layer for real (skin) and assign final section
    6. Create a surface on inner cavity faces
    7. Step module: apply loads (gravity, and pressure on inner
    cavity) and set BCs
    8. Mesh
    9. Submit job, view results.
    A note on units
    Abaqus doesn’t interpret units, so it’s up to us to make sure they are consistent. We
    are using the following scheme:
    Step 1: Create Parts
    Import your CAD parts (.STEP files) as
    Solids – here we have 3 parts, the
    Main Body plus Bottom Layers A & B
    Step 1: Create Parts
    To model the piece of paper, return to the part list and expand the part ‘Bottom Layer B.’
    Double click on Surfaces and select the upper face of the part to create a surface there.
    Step 2: Assign Material Properties
    Before assigning material
    properties, we first create the
    necessary materials. We need
    two materials: paper, and the
    elastomer (Elastosil). In the
    model tree, double click on
    Materials to create a new
    material, and name it ‘Paper.’
    Set the following properties:

    • General > Density:


    – Density = 750 Kg/m³ 
    750e-12 (Mg/mm³)
    • Mechanical > Elasticity:
    – Young’s Modulus = 6.5
    GPa  6500 (MPa)
    – Poisson’s ratio = 0.2
    Step 2: Assign Material Properties
    Before assigning material
    properties, we first create the
    necessary materials. We need
    two materials: paper, and the
    elastomer (Elastosil). In the
    model tree, double click on
    Materials to create a new
    material, and name it ‘Paper.’
    Set the following properties:

    • General > Density:


    – Density = 750 Kg/m³ 
    750e-12 (Mg/mm³)
    • Mechanical > Elasticity:
    – Young’s Modulus = 6.5
    GPa  6500 (MPa)
    – Poisson’s ratio = 0.2
    Step 2: Assign Material Properties
    For the Elastosil, set:
    • General > Density:
    – Density = 1130 Kg/m³ 
    1130e-12 (Mg/mm³)
    • Mechanical > Elasticicity
    > Hyperelastic:
    – Strain energy potential =
    Yeoh
    – Input source =
    Coefficients
    – C10 = 0.11, C20 = 0.02
    – Assume isotropic
    material type
    Step 2: Assign Material Properties
    Double click on Sections in the model tree to
    create a new section. Set it to be homogeneous
    solid and assign Elastosil as the material.
    Step 2: Assign Material Properties
    Create another section, a homogeneous shell with paper assigned
    as the material. Set the shell thickness to 0.1
    Step 2: Assign Material Properties
    Go back to the parts you imported and assign a
    section to each one. Double click on Section
    Assignments under each part in the model tree,
    select the entire part geometry, then assign the
    Elastosil section.
    Step 3: Assemble and Merge
    Now we have to assemble all the parts. In the model tree, expand Assembly , double click on
    Instances and select all 3 parts. Instance Type should be set to Dependent.

    Checking “Auto-offset from other instances” is also helpful as Bottom Layer A & B have the exact
    same position and overlap each other, making them hard to distinguish. Alternatively, you can
    translate one of the overlapping parts.
    Step 3: Assemble and Merge
    Now the parts have to be positioned properly relative to each other.
    To do this 6 total constraints are needed: 3 translational DOF for each
    of 2 parts, relative to one fixed part.

    Use the face-to-face tool to “mate” faces like you would in SolidWorks
    (hold down the parallel faces button until another menu appears).
    Step 3: Assemble and Merge
    With this tool, you select the two faces you want to
    mate. the order in which you select faces is important:
    one of the parts is designated as movable, and the
    other as fixed. As you add more constraints, you
    should be consistent about the part you choose to be
    fixed, otherwise you will create a dependency cycle
    and get an error.

    Here we will treat Bottom Layer A as fixed, and move


    the other parts relative to it.
    Step 3: Assemble and Merge
    The 2 arrows that appear should be pointing in the same direction (click on “Flip” if they aren’t).

    Next, set ‘Distance from the fixed plane along its normal’ to 0 and hit Enter. This completes the constraint and the
    moveable part has changed its position.
    Step 3: Assemble and Merge

    When mating the bottom face of


    the Main Body to the top face of
    Layer A, the arrows will initially
    point in opposite directions. Click
    the Flip button to make them point
    in the same direction.
    Step 3: Assemble and Merge
    Under the assembly section,
    click Merge/Cut Instances,
    select the entire assembly, and
    click Done. In the new window,
    make sure to use the ‘Retain’
    option for intersecting
    boundaries. A new part, the
    merged part, will be created in
    the parts list.
    Step 4: Create Inextensible Layer
    We also need to finish modeling the inextensible paper layer. Go back
    to the merged part and click to create a Skin. The software will ask you
    to select the entity on which it will create the skin. We want to select
    the surface of the ‘Bottom Layer B’ that we created in beforehand. To
    do so, you will have to go to: Tools  Display Group  Manager.
    Step 4: Create Inextensible Layer
    The ‘Part Display Group
    Manager’ will appear –
    select Create. The ‘Create
    Display Group’ will now
    come up – select ‘Surfaces’
    and click on the paper
    surface from the list and
    then ‘Replace’ and ‘Dismiss’.
    Step 4: Create Inextensible Layer
    This will make only this surface visible in the
    view. Select the top face to create the skin.
    Step 4: Create Inextensible Layer
    While at the Merged part,
    click on the ‘Section
    Assignment’. There you should
    already have three sections
    (all Elastosil). To create a new
    section for the paper double
    click the ‘Section Assignment’
    and then select the region to
    be assigned a property by
    clicking again on the top
    surface. The ‘Edit Section
    Assignment’ window will
    appear where you should
    select the Paper as the
    Section. Make sure the Type is
    ‘Shell, Homogeneous’. Click
    OK. You have successfully
    created one more section
    assignment for the paper.
    Step 5: Select the inner cavity surface
    Before we start adding loads, we need to define the surface that the pressure load will
    act upon. This surface is made up of all the faces of the inner cavity of the actuator. To
    create this surface, expand the Merged part in the model tree and double-click on
    Surfaces. Name it something like “Surf-Inner Cavity.”

    Now we have to select the faces that make up this surface. However, since the cavity is
    not accessible, use the Cross Section views provided from the Tools > View Cut >
    Manager. Section using the Y-plane to expose it.
    Step 5: Select the inner cavity surface
    Reposition the cut until both the inner chambers and
    the central channel are exposed, and flip the cut so
    that the ceilings of the chambers are visible.

    Holding down SHIFT, click to select all the available


    faces of the inner cavity. This includes 4 sidewalls +
    ceiling for each chamber and 3 faces of each channel.
    You will have to rotate your view at least twice to be
    able to select everything.
    Step 5: Select the inner cavity surface
    Finally, reverse the view
    cut and select the floor
    of the inner cavity. This
    completes the surface.
    Step 6: Create gravity load
    In the model tree, double-click on Steps to create the first step that
    accounts for the gravity acting on the actuator. Select a ‘Static,
    General’ procedure type and in the next window turn ON the ‘Nlgeom’
    option.
    Step 6: Create gravity load
    Under the gravity step, double-click Loads and activate
    Gravity as the selected type for the step. Set the gravity
    value, as -9810 on the Y axis/Component 2.
    Step 6: Create gravity load
    Click on BCs (boundary
    conditions), and select
    Symmetry/Antisymmetry/Encas
    tre. Continue and click on the
    face of the part that is going to
    be fixed. Select ‘Encastre’ to fix
    the surface.
    Step 7: Create pressure load
    Create a second step by double-clicking on Step again, making it ‘Static, general’ again.

    This step will have all the attributes of the previous step propagated to it and the pressure inside the
    cavity of the actuator will be enabled here. Within the second step, create a Pressure load. To pick the
    internal cavity click at the bottom right corner the button ‘Surfaces’ and select the Surf-Inner Cavity. At
    the next window provide the pressure value to be applied in the cavity. Our units should be in MPa, 60
    kPa = .06 MPa.
    Step 7: Create pressure load
    At the next window provide the pressure value to be applied
    in the cavity. Our units should be in MPa, 60 kPa = .06 MPa
    Step 8: Mesh
    Expand the Merged part in the model tree and double-click on Mesh. Under the
    ‘Mesh Controls’ (highlight the button) select all the parts of the assembly and then
    click the option ‘Tet’.
    Step 8: Mesh
    Seed the part with an
    ‘Approximate global size’
    equal to 3 and Mesh the
    part. Click button
    Step 8: Mesh
    Because we are using a hyperelastic
    material, a Hybrid element type for
    the mesh should be used. Go to
    Mesh  Element type, Select the 3
    parts for the region (click one by
    one), and activate the tick on ‘Hybrid
    Formulation’ for all the hyperelastic
    parts. Make sure ‘Geometric Order’
    is Quadratic.
    Step 8: Mesh
    Now do the same for the skin (inextensible layer). First isolate the surface using the
    Display Group Manager again, then Mesh > Element Type. In the new window, change
    the Geometric Order to Quadratic so that it matches the other elements.
    Step 9: Run the job
    Now, we are ready to submit the job and run the
    simulation. Double-click on Jobs to create a new job. You
    can use the default settings, or change certain options
    (i.e. multiple processors) so that Abaqus can use more
    computer resources and complete the job faster.

    Right click on the newly created job and select Submit.


    Step 9: Run the job
    You have the option to monitor the progress of the simulation by selecting Monitor…
    in the job’s right-click menu.

    In the Step Time/LPF column you can see the percentage completion of that step.
    Step 10: View Results
    Once the simulation finishes, you can observe and analyze the results by right
    clicking on the created job and selecting Results.
    Results are saved in a .odb file, typically in the TEMP folder or in the same
    directory as your model (.cae) file.

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