I’m trying to perform a bearing load analysis on a composite laminate using CalculiX. The model is a composite plate with a central hole, and I’ve created 20 layers, each with a certain thickness to represent a laminated structure.
Now I want to apply a bearing force at the hole, assuming there is a bolt inserted at the center. But I’m not sure how to do this properly in CalculiX using the keyword editor.
Could someone please guide me on:
What is the correct way to apply a bearing load in this type of model?
How should the load be distributed around the hole?
Should I use any special elements, contacts, or boundary conditions?
Any advice or examples would be very helpful. Thank you!
Just to clarify — the previous post was made from my colleague Dasta’s account, but the problem is mine. Since I’m a new user in this discussion group and couldn’t upload images earlier, I had to share it through Dasta’s account. Going forward, I’ll continue the discussion from this account.
Regarding your suggestion — you mentioned using the newly implemented equation-based load distribution approach. I believe this method is available in SolidWorks, but I’m not sure if it’s directly supported in PrePoMax.
Also, the key point is that I’m working on composite laminates, since we need to define layer-wise orientations and stacking sequences, which we can only provide through CalculiX keyword input through shell elements. Please correct me if I’m mistaken.
From the reference YouTube video you shared, it appears to demonstrate compressive load modeling (solid-3D), but I don’t think that approach will help much for bearing analysis in laminated composites (shell-2D).
Would appreciate any clarification or alternative suggestions. Thanks again!
You could use directly modeled extruded solid layers too. They can have orthotropic material properties and orientations assigned (also through keyword edits). Of course, it’s easier to work with composite shells in most cases.
The approach shown there utilizes the compression-only constraint implemented with GAPUNI elements (nonlinear springs similar to contact elements). They resist compression but not tension and this can be used to approximately model pins/bearings too. But you can’t select edges so a 3D solid model would be needed and that’s why I mentioned it in the first place.
The thickened shell mesh option worked well — I was able to define the number of layers and total thickness, and after meshing, I got a solid representation as expected.
Now, my question is about assigning fiber orientations (angles) to each ply/layer in this thickened shell model.
Previously, when using shell elements directly, I used to define orientations in CalculiX and assign specific angles to each layer within the SHELL SECTION definition.
But now that the layers are already defined using the thickened shell approach, I’m not sure how to specify the orientation for each individual layer.
Please guide me on the correct way to define ply orientations in this case?
Ok, now you only have to assign the orientations and materials since thicknesses come directly from the mesh. Instead of shell section, you have to use:
