Stress Vectors in Simulation

[dm145]

With complex geometry simulations with multiple force inputs, contacts and constraints, it becomes very hard to do a proper analysis why certain ribs/fillets/etc have high stress concentrations. If you could visualize the 'flow' of the input forces to the constraints, it becomes easier to see what kind of geometry changes are needed to solve stress concentrations.

Some examples:

[urban_harrysson]

Stress vectors that represents the principel stresses (max and min) can be plotted on the surface and give a good understanding of the force flow in a structure as dm145 says. Since there is a plane stress condition on the surface of a 3D solid element the two remaining principle stresses are always tangent to the surface. This is a much better way to present the stresses compared to von Mieses or other iso plots where no direction is indicated. It is actually a combined result of both stress and local deflection.

Most professional FEM packages have this function for a reason. The iso plots are simpler to understand for non technical people, so they fill a purpose, but for engineers the stress vectors are an important tool.