VM-WB-MECH-076

VM-WB-MECH-076
Elongation of a Tapered Shell With Variable Thickness

Overview

Reference:

Harris, C. O. (1959). Introduction to Stress Analysis (p. 237, problem 4). New York, NY: The Macmillan Co.

Solver(s):

Ansys Mechanical

Analysis Type(s):Static Structural Analysis
Element Type(s):Shell

Test Case

A tapered aluminum alloy plate of length L with varying thickness across length is suspended from a ceiling. An axial load F is applied to the free end of the plate. Determine the maximum axial deflection δ in the plate and the axial stress σy at mid-length (Y = L/2). Use a global mesh size of 0.5 in with mapped face meshing.

Figure 102: Schematic

Schematic

Material PropertiesGeometric PropertiesLoading
E = 10.4 x 106 psi
ν = 0.3
Tapered plate:
L = 10 in
Base width = 2 in
Top width = 1 in
Thickness varying from 2 in to 1 in from base to top.
F = 10000 lbf

Results Comparison

ResultsTargetMechanicalError (%)
Directional Deformation Y (in) 0.00480770.00481370.1248
Normal Stress Y at L/2 (psi) 44444454.60.2385