Stress Analysis Help???

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering what to give fixed constraints to show the proper stress on the through rod. I'm going to attach a couple pics.  The first one is of the assembly. The load is applied to the top plate (number 3). That is absorbed by the bushings (number 2). The load is dispersed from the bushings into the through rod.  The assembly sits on two rails and the contact points are the rollers (number 1).  The second picture is how I think the loads and fixed points should be applied. Not exactly sure how many surfaces to fix and what types of loads to apply.  The green represents the applied load to the through rod.  The red is the fixed area (rollers).  I did the stress test on a single model, just the through rod. I used splits to give me certain areas to apply loads and fixed constraints to. Would it be better to do this in the assembly with multiple components?

[JDMather]

If your analysis is only of the rod - I don't think you need the assembly as that is just more parts to mesh.

I can't tell from your image - but I suspect that I would use Pin constraints and Detect and Remove Rigid Body Modes rather than use Fixed constraints.  

For the load I would probably use Bearing loads.

Can you attach your assembly here?

[Anonymous]

I had to make the assembly into a simplified part otherwise I would have to upload all the individual pieces. Not sure if this will work. Also uploaded the shaft I was mainly working on.  Trying to apply about 16,000 pounds evenly distributed to both sides of the shaft on the contact points.