Need Help with Simulating Follower Force on Cantilever

[Anonymous]

I want to simulate a force that acts at a certain fixed point on a cantilever, toward a certain fixed point in space, and follows the same path even as the cantilever deforms. How would this be possible?

[Roelof.Feijen]

Hi @Anonymous,

In the title you write follower forces, but in your problem description you indicate that the direction of the force is fixed. Isn't this just what a linear analysis does?

[Anonymous]

Hi @Roelof.Feijen!

The direction of the force is not fixed. As the cantilever rises due to the force, the position of the point on the cantilever that the force originates from is continuously changing (x and z both change), while the position of the end point needs to remain the same. This may be imagined as a wire originating from the point in space, and fixed to the cantilever, pulling it in its direction.

[Roelof.Feijen · Accepted solution]

Aah, now I understand it better.

Is it a pressure force or tensile force? If it is a tensile force, would a Cable Connector with a Continuous Preload in a nonlinear analysis be something?

[Anonymous]

CAn you send the CAD file of the tangential follower force on a cantilever beam  ! 

[Anonymous]

Can you send me the code of that simulation  !!