Ansys Mechanical Day 2, Assembly

Connecting Rod

Overview: Download the model below and use Ansys Mechanical to determine the safety factor of the part. This steel connecting rod experiences a 2,000-lb load in both tension and compression.

Things to note:

  • The yield strength of high strength steel is approximately 100 ksi
  • Using the Ansys Workbench to manage multiple Load Cases

Explore: Update the geometry so the safety factor becomes 2.0.

Model: Connecting Rod Part

Hint: Here’s a screenshot of a typical stress plot of a connecting rod under tension.

  • How do the boundary conditions change between the compression and tension load cases?
  • Does the mesh strategy change between each load case?
  • Where are the areas of high stress? Is this realistic?

Try:

  • Analyze the connecting rod as part of an assembly
  • Further your investigation of the ‘tension’ load case with the linked model below

Discuss: The capabilities and limitations of simulating Linear Bonded contact in Ansys Mechanical.

Model: Connecting Rod Assembly

Bolted Connections:

  • List all the different ways to model a bolted connection in Ansys Mechanical
  • Discuss what role preload (pretension) plays in the joint