Introduction

Structural beams can be simplified for the sake of performance in Simulation to be modeled with beam elements. The size of the problem and the resources required are reduced dramatically in this case. For the beam formulation to produce acceptable results, the length of the beam should be 10 times larger than the largest dimension of its cross section.

Each straight structural member is defined by a straight line connecting two joints at its ends. A curved structural member is modeled with a number of straight beams. The cross section of a beam is assumed to be constant throughout its length. Internally, the programs meshes each beam by creating a number of beam elements. Each beam element is defined by two end nodes and a cross-section. When viewing the mesh and results, beam elements are represented by cylinders regardless of the actual cross section.

The figure illustrates how a structural member is modeled. The top image shows the structural member. The middle image shows the joints when the structural member is defined as a beam. The lower image shows the mesh, where the beam is subdivided into a number of beam elements represented by cylinders.

Click here to see how a curved structural member is modeled as a beam.

Beam elements are supported for Static, Frequency, Buckling and Nonlinear studies. Large displacement solution in Static studies is not supported for beams.

Creating Beams

Structural members that are created as Weldment features mesh with beam elements by default. You have the option to treat these structural members as solids by selecting their icons in the Simulation study tree and select Treat as Solid. For short structural members (ratio of length over largest orthogonal cross-sectional distance from the centroid is less than 3.0), it is recommended to use a solid mesh.

To treat extruded, mirrored, or imported bodies that have a constant cross-sectional profile across their length as beams, select their icons in the Simulation study tree and select Treat as Beam.

The option Treat as Beam is not available, when the ratio of a body's length over the largest orthogonal cross-sectional distance from its centroid is smaller than 3.0. This limitation applies only to structural members created with features such as Extrude, Revolve, Sweep, etc.

You can define a structural member as a truss or beam in the Apply/Edit Beam PropertyManager.

Related Topics

Beams

Trusses

Performing Analysis Using Beams or Trusses

Apply/Edit Beam PropertyManager

Beam Directions

Edit Joints PropertyManager