7.

4 Linear buckling analysis

Estimated time to complete this course: 2532 minutes

This course discusses setting up and performing a linear buckling analysis. When you complete this course, you should understand the
basics of linear buckling analysis and be able to analyze a model using a linear buckling solution.

Setup information

Part folder: parts_simulation

NX role: Advanced with full menus

System preparation

[Date] 1
7.4.1 Buckling analysis
Buckling analysis:

Determines buckling loads and buckled mode shapes.

o A buckling load is the critical load at which a structure becomes unstable.
o A buckled mode shape is the characteristic shape associated with a structure's buckled response.
Identifies the critical load factor, which is the value that can be multiplied by the applied load to cause buckling.

[Date] 2
7.4.2 Linear buckling assumptions
The buckling analysis uses linear theory. The following assumptions and limitations apply:

The deflections prior to buckling are small.

The reference equilibrium configuration is the initial geometry of the part.
The response of the structure prior to buckling exhibits a linear relationship between stress and strain.
Post-buckling behavior is not predicted.

[Date] 3
7.4.3 Linear buckling formulation
The buckling analysis incorporates the stiffness due to the part geometry, material properties, and the applied loads and constraints.

represents the stiffness of the initial configuration, and is computed from the initial part geometry and the linear material

stiffness.

represents the stress stiffness due to the applied loads and constraints.

represents the critical load factor multiplier (eigenvalue).

represents the buckled mode shape (eigenvector).

[Date] 4
7.4.4 Supported buckling analysis types
In Advanced Simulation, you can choose from the following buckling analysis types when you create a buckling solution:

Solver Solution type

NX Nastran
SOL 105 Linear Buckling
MSC Nastran

ANSYS Linear Buckling

ABAQUS Buckling Perturbation substep

7.4.5 Using elements for a buckling analysis

Some of the elements that can be used for a buckling analysis include:

3D tetrahedral or hexahedral solid elements.

2D quadrilateral or triangular thin shell elements.
1D bar, beam, rod, rigid link, and spring elements.
0D concentrated mass elements.
Gap elements are not valid in a linear buckling analysis.

For more information about elements, see Physical properties and element attributes in the Advanced Simulation online Help.

[Date] 5
7.4.6 Using materials for a buckling analysis
Material types that can be used in a buckling analysis include:

Isotropic
Orthotropic
Anisotropic
For more information about materials, see Materials in the Advanced Simulation online Help.

7.4.7 Defining boundary conditions for a buckling analysis

For a buckling analysis:

1.Define constraints. Constrain the model as you would for a linear static analysis.
2.Apply loads. The load set can contain more than one load type (Force, Pressure), but every load will be scaled by the load
factor. A magnitude of 1 is often used when a single load type will cause the model to buckle.
For more information, see Boundary Conditions in the Advanced Simulation online Help.

[Date] 6
7.4.8 Setting buckling solution attributes
In NX Nastran, a buckling solution includes a buckling loads subcase and a buckling methods subcase.

For a buckling analysis, some of the NX Nastran solution attributes include:

System Cells
Output Requests. Some output requests are on by default.
For more information, see Nastran environment in the Advanced Simulation online Help.

[Date] 7
7.4.9 Reviewing buckling analysis results
For NX Nastran results, buckling analysis results are listed as:

A set of static analysis results for the buckling loads subcase.

A set of modes for the buckling methods subcase.
o Each mode has an eigenvalue (load factor) listed.
o The applied load multiplied by the buckling load factor is the load at which the part will buckle.
o The first mode has the lowest buckling load factor and is usually the mode of most interest.

[Date] 8
7.4.10 Activity: Buckling analysis
Estimated time to complete: 2025 minutes

You will learn how to:

Set up and solve a linear buckling analysis.

Examine buckling modes.
Calculate the critical load.

Launch the Buckling analysis activity.

[Date] 9
Open the part and start Advanced Simulation
You will use strap part for this activity.

Open

Part Files (*.prt)

Files of type

strap.prt
File name

OK

[Date] 10
Reset the dialog box memory
The options you select in NX dialog boxes are preserved for the next time you open the same dialog box within an NX session. Restore
the default settings to ensure that the dialog boxes are in the expected initial state for each step of the activity.

Preferences User Interface

Reset Dialog Memory

OK

Start Advanced Simulation

[Date] 11
Create the FEM and Simulation files

Simulation Navigator

strap.prt

New FEM and Simulation

Create Idealized Part

Solver NX NASTRAN

Analysis Type Structural

OK New FEM and Simulation dialog box

Solution Type SOL 105 Linear Buckling

OK Solution dialog box

Save (Standard toolbar)

[Date] 12
Display the idealized part

Simulation Navigator

Simulation File View

strap_fem1_i

Make Displayed Part

OK Idealized Part Warning message box

Promote the strap body

Before you can modify the idealized part, you must place an associative copy of the master part file in the idealized part file. To do
this, you can use the Promote command or the Wave Link command.

Promote (Advanced Simulation toolbar)

the strap body

OK

[Date] 13
Create a midsurface

Midsurface by Face Pairs (Advanced Simulation toolbar, Geometry Preparation Drop-down list)

the strap body

Automatically Create Face Pairs

OK

[Date] 14
Display the FEM file

Simulation Navigator

Simulation File View

strap_fem1

Make Displayed Part

the Information window, if necessary

[Date] 15
Display the midsurface
To view the midsurface, turn off the display of the polygon geometry for the original part.

Simulation Navigator

Polygon Geometry (expand)

Polygon Body (1)

[Date] 16
Create a physical property table

Physical Properties (Advanced Simulation toolbar)

Type PSHELL

Name PSHELL1
Create

Choose material (Material 1)

Materials

Steel Rolled

OK Material List dialog box

Default Thickness 0.2

Note Use the default units unless otherwise specified.

OK PSHELL dialog box

Close Physical Property Tables Manager dialog box

[Date] 17
Create a mesh collector

Mesh Collector (Advanced Simulation toolbar)

Element Family 2D

Collector Type ThinShell

Shell Property (Physical PSHELL1

Property)

Name PSHELL1

OK

[Date] 18
Mesh the midsurface with 2D elements

2D Mesh (Advanced Simulation toolbar, Mesh Drop-down list)

the midsurface

Type CQUAD4

Element Size 0.125

Destination Collector
Automatic Creation

Mesh Collector PSHELL1

OK

[Date] 19
Display the Simulation file

Simulation Navigator

Simulation File View

strap_sim1

Make Displayed Part

[Date] 20
Fix one end of the strap
Constrain the circular edge at one end of the strap from translating or rotating.

Fixed Constraint (Advanced Simulation toolbar, Constraint Type list)

Type Filter Polygon Edge

Tip
The Type Filter is located on the Selection bar in the toolbar area.

OK

[Date] 21
Apply a compressive force
A typical objective of buckling analysis is to determine the load that causes a structure to buckle. For buckling analysis, this critical
load is the product of the applied load and the eigenvalue for Mode 1. As such, the magnitude of the load you apply to the model is
arbitrary.

Force (Advanced Simulation toolbar, Load Type list)

Type Components

Type Filter (Selection bar) Polygon Edge

[Date] 22
Components

Fx 1

OK

Save (Standard toolbar)

[Date] 23
Solve the model

Solve (Advanced Simulation toolbar, Solution Drop-down list)

OK
Wait for the job to finish and for the command window to close.

the Information window

Cancel Analysis Job Monitor dialog box

Close Solution Monitor dialog box

[Date] 24
Examine the analysis results

Simulation Navigator

Results

Layout Settings (Layout Manager toolbar)

User Selected Viewport

OK

Upper and Lower (Layout Manager toolbar, Layout Drop-down list)

Post-Processing Navigator

Subcase Buckling Method (expand)

[Date] 25
 Mode 1 (expand)

Displacement Nodal (expand)

Magnitude

(upper viewport)

Now display results in the lower viewport.

Mode 2 (expand)

[Date] 26
 Displacement Nodal (expand)

Magnitude

Plot

(lower viewport)

View Synchronize (Layout Manager toolbar)

[Date] 27
 OK

Because you synchronized the viewports, changes made in one viewport are reflected in the other. Try rotating or resizing the model
in one viewport and note the change in the other.

The critical load is the product of the applied load and the eigenvalue for Mode 1. In effect, the eigenvalue scales the applied load.
For this problem, the eigenvalue for Mode 1 is 1380. Because a unit compressive force was applied to the model, the critical load is
about 1380 x 1 lbf = 1380 lbf.

[Date] 28
When you finish looking at the results, return to the model.

Single View (Layout Manager toolbar, Layout Drop-down list)

Return to Model (Layout Manager toolbar)

File Close All Parts

You completed the activity.

[Date] 29
7.4.11 Review
Question
Suppose you perform a buckling analysis of a part that is loaded by a single force. If you specify 500 as the magnitude of the load and solver calculates the
eigenvalue of the first mode to be 0.5, what is the critical buckling load?
1

1000

500

250

0.5

Show feedback
Correct
The critical buckling load is the product of the applied load and eigenvalue of the first mode. In this case, 500x0.5=250.
Click Exit the course below.

[Date] 30