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    Autodesk Simulation Mechanical and Multiphysics

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    Contributor
    ccz90
    Posts: 22
    Registered: ‎09-07-2010

    Why pin joint (truss element) collapsed?

    196 Views, 2 Replies
    09-10-2012 06:54 AM

    I use pin joint setting in my numerical model. But the solver program always shows lots of warning messages like:

     

    *** Warning : Truss element collapsed!

                          Numerical exception may occur

                          Element number=51

                          Original element length =11.87

                          Current element length=NaN

     

     then the time step is reduced again and again, and the model seems difficult to converge.

     

    Why and how to avoid the problems? Thanks!

                                                                                                         CCZ90

     

     

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    Distinguished Contributor
    Posts: 226
    Registered: ‎08-30-2012

    Re: Why pin joint (truss element) collapsed?

    09-10-2012 10:02 AM in reply to: ccz90

    It sounds like a numerical problem in the MES simulation, so I suggest trying a smaller time step just before this event occurs. (online wiki Help) I am hoping that a different calculation path will avoid the problem. (NaN stands for "Not a Number", so something is occurring mathematically.)

     

    Otherwise,

    1. What material model are you using for the trusses?
    2. What is the stiffness of the trusses? (Cross-sectional area and modulus of elasticity)
    3. What step does this occur on?
    4. What is the force in the truss before it collapses? ("Results Contours > Other Results > Element Forces > Axial Force")
    5. What element type is the truss connected to?

     

    John Holtz, PE
    Mechanical Engineer
    Pittsburgh, PA

    15 years experience with Simulation Mechanical
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    Contributor
    ccz90
    Posts: 22
    Registered: ‎09-07-2010

    Re: Why pin joint (truss element) collapsed?

    10-03-2012 09:00 AM in reply to: AstroJohnPE
    • What material model are you using for the trusses?

          Linear

    • What is the stiffness of the trusses? (Cross-sectional area and modulus of elasticity)

          Cross-sectional area from 7~300 mm^2 , E= the defacut material parameters from autodesk material library

    • What step does this occur on?

          Changeful. It maybe at the bigining or the process of the calculation.

    • What is the force in the truss before it collapses? ("Results Contours > Other Results > Element Forces > Axial Force")

         In some cases, the forcees are very small, 7 ~ -4.9N

    • What element type is the truss connected to?

        Brick (isotropic elastic steel)

     

    I have used a smaller time step with bigining of 1~0.1 ms, and the solver might reduce the time step more. The

    warning messages still display  randomly.

                                                                                     Ccz90

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