Autodesk Inventor

[#1]

Hi. I am trying to model a simply supported floor panel with a load applied over a small circle in the middle. I am having trouble with the constraints to make it simply supported. I have tried to just apply a fixed constraint to all of the bottom edges but this gives values that are completely different to analytical solutions of the problem.

I have attached a jpg of the stress and displacement plots and would be very grateful if anyone could help me with this.

Thanks for your time,

Sam

[#2]

How would it be supported in real world?

I've noticed a lot of classical "school" problems for demonstrating hand calculations are not set up in a realistic way.

(in the real world I have never seen a plate supported by bottom edges)

Attach your part file here.

[#3]

The file is too large to attach, even zipped apparently. The problem is to examine the panel when "built-in" i.e. bolted down, and then compare this to when it is "simply supported." 

The question is worded, "If there was not enough time to bolt the panel down, so in effect it was only simply supported around its edge, what would the maximum stress and deflection in the panel be?"

My issue is how to setup the constraints in Autodesk to model this.

Thanks.

[#4 · Accepted solution]

 I am having trouble with the constraints to make it simply supported. I have tried to just apply a fixed constraint to all of the bottom edges but this gives values that are completely different to analytical solutions of the problem.

The contraints you applied are not simply supported. You could do a fixed contraint on one edge and contraints only in the direction of your force for the other side. (this is a carry over from my old Algor days) a in the FEA editor came in unsupported and we always had to fix it in space).

Expand the contraints box and only select the direction that your force will be applied X, Z, or Y.

[#5 · Accepted solution]

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xyz1982 wrote:

The file is too large to attach, even zipped apparently. 

Thanks.

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Drag the red End of Part marker at the bottom of the feature history tree to the top of the browser hidding all features.
Right click delete any analysis results from the browser.

Now save the file with the EOP in a rolled up state and zip.

That file should by tiny.

[#6]

That file looks very simple.

You should be able to get it attached here.

or

the size limit is much larger over here

http://www.augi.com