SIMULIA Resource Center

Due to the extreme increase in computational power over the last years, numerical analyses are gaining more success in designing composite structures and components, taking into consideration complicated failure mechanisms. One crucial aspect is low velocity impact. It can produce devastating damage that can lead to premature failure of the component/structure. However, modelling the three-dimensional impact damage and its consequences is still a challenge. In this paper the most advanced features currently available in FE analysis (Abaqus/Explicit) have been used to predict the behaviour of a composite structure under low velocity impact.

Customer Papers

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Simulation of railway track maintenance trains at MATISA - MultiBody Simulation User Group Meeting

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In this paper, a correlation between simulation and a full crash test is presented. In order to achieve good agreement in the correlation, several Abaqus analysis techniques are evaluated. First of all, the soil mesh undergoes important distortion, so we need to go beyond the regular Lagrangian mesh and evaluate other approaches such as Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eleurian (ALE) and Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL). Secondly, an implicit-explicit scheme is necessary in order to take into account the bolt-preloading, which has proven to be critical in the overall behavior of the system. Finally, subcycling is adopted in order not to penalize the global time increment due to the detailed bolt assemblies.

Customer Papers

Prefabricated Bridge Elements and Systems (PBES) are widely used in accelerated bridge construction (ABC). One such example is the Parkview Bridge located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The bridge has four spans with AASHTO Type III girders and full-depth deck panels that are post-tensioned in the longitudinal direction after grouting the joints between panels and forming the longitudinal joint with cast-in-place concrete. Structural system behavior is further complicated due to skew and the continuous nature of the post-tensioned deck panels that are connected to the girders using a discrete stud system and grouted haunches.

Customer Papers

This presentation will demonstrate how Abaqus can be used to drive design decisions at an early stage in the engine development process. Caterpillar is committed to using virtual validation methods within its engine design and development process. This has several benefits, namely, reducing the cost of numerous design iterations, ensuring that designs are durable and fit for purpose and also compressing the time between concept and production. Caterpillar has employed virtual methods for over 35 years, using a mix of commercial FE software supported by internal codes. Abaqus has been used within Caterpillar from 1995 and since then has become the core FE code for engine analysis.

Customer Papers

The Finite Element Method (FEM) has been used in recent years to simulate various root anchorage effects. This study aims at using the FEM to demonstrate the impact of individual root models in anchorage process with consideration to different rooting patterns and to estimate the stress distribution in soil during the pulling out process. The FEM was used to carry out the 3D simulations of root pulling-out in unsaturated sandy silt soil. The anchorage model consists of a root system embedded in a soil block. Six root patterns were used and individual roots were removed to determine their contribution to anchorage

Customer Papers

Increasing demand for the supply of oil and gas creates great challenges in the design of subsea pipelines. Pipelines that traverse a rough seabed terrain or lay over pipe supports may have large spans of up to several hundred metres where there is no contact between the pipeline and seabed. The behaviour of these is often investigated within Abaqus using dynamic analyses of models primarily constructed of pipe elements. Pipelines that transport multi phase flow potentially involve slugging issues. Slugging issues occur due to the variation of the content density of the pipe which can introduce changes in the loading and inertia of the pipeline giving rise to pipeline fatigue failure.

Customer Papers

With the help of numerical simulation a new high-pressure hydraulic axial pump has been developed at Gdansk University. The pump is used in different applications demanding high power, e.g. construction machinery or military applications. Its unique feature is the total independence of a pressure switching mechanism, which saves weight and provides the possibility to control the pump by computer. Prototypes have been built and tested, for example in lifting devices on ships in an extreme temperature environment. However, when the pressure changes from high to low via a commutative bushing harmful pressure peaks were observed.

Customer Papers

A simplified manifold transient thermal analysis method has been developed and used in engine design and validations. Traditionally full-blown manifold transient thermal analysis has been performed using CFD and it will take weeks for completion. In this simplified method, a user subroutine film.f is used to define the htc and gas temperature at manifold surfaces so that the transient thermal analysis can be performed in Abaqus quickly. The method is designed to reduce the simulation time significantly by sacrificing some accuracy. The simulation time has been reduced from weeks to days. It proved to be a good alternative to full scale CFD analysis when many design versions need to be compared at the early design stage.

Customer Papers

In oil and gas well field operations, downhole completion tasks require overpull or slack off on the tubing string at the rig floor. After a completion tool is run to position, typically overpull or slack off is used to overcome locking and locating mechanisms (shear pins, collets, etc.) to release the tool (e.g. packer) so that it can be set. The mechanical manipulation of the equipment, however, can induce significant sudden movement of the completion tubing string near the tool’s locking mechanis m. The rapid movement of the tubing string causes large relative motion and “piston effect” forces between tool components and fluid present in the wellbore.

Customer Papers

Compaction is one of the most important processes in landfill operations. The process of compaction crushes out the air void in the waste mass, increasing waste density, increasing landfill life, and increasing site profitability while reducing required air space. FEA-based, numerical landfill compaction models were developed at Caterpillar to predict compactor performance and to guide optimum compactor designs. Early models representing compactors with smooth drums used the traditional Lagrangian method, which was adequate to predict average compaction. However, excessive mesh distortions limited its use for the compactor model with detailed tip designs, especially when the simulation of multiple machine passes is required.

Customer Papers