- Final result
- Preliminaries
- Step 1: create a new simulation model
- Step 2: Upload STL geometry
- Step 3: Setting up material parameters
- Step 4: Setting simulation parameters
- Step 5: Set up boundary conditions
- Step 6: Set up postprocessing
- Step 7: Run the simulation and view the resutls
- Step 8 (advanced): review the simulation setup in JSON format
- Step 9: Enjoy ReveaL
In this tutorial, we are going to simulate the stresses and displacements occurring in the quadcopter model depicted below. In thsi load case, we fix only two mounting points and apply a surface pressure on the other two. Edit Page
At the end of the tutorial, we will be able to see the von Mises stresses and the displacements in the structure, as seen in the following figure.
Final result #
Preliminaries #
If you prefer watching a video instead of reading text, the content of the first part of the tutorial is summarized in the following 5 minute video.
The STL files used throughout this tutorial are available from the following links:
Step 1: create a new simulation model #
After logging in to ReveaL, you will see an overview of your simulations. To create a new simulation, click on “Add new” below the table.
On the next screen, add a name to the simulation, e.g. “quadcopter_gravity_load”, then click submit.
Step 2: Upload STL geometry #
The next screen is the main simulation view of ReveaL. To set up the simulation, first we will need to upload the geometric model of the quadcopter in stl format. Click “Upload STL” on the right side under the “Assets” label.
After uploading the geometry, it will be displayed in the 3D view on the right side. To rotate the view, use the Left Mouse Button. To zoom in, use the mouse wheel. To pan the view, hold SHIFT + Left Mouse Button.
Step 3: Setting up material parameters #
Now we are ready to assign material properties to the model we just uploaded. To do so, select “quadcopter.stl” in the drop-down menu under the Setup label. We will assign the standard parameters of steel to the model. The Young’s modulus is 210000 MPa, its value is set in the input field next to “Material E”. The Poisson coefficient of steel is 0.3, its value is set in the input field next to “Material nu”. The density of steel is 0.00000785 kg/mm^3, which is set in the input field “Material rho”. These are also the default material values assigned, to a new model in ReveaL.
Step 4: Setting simulation parameters #
The precision of the simulation is controlled by the number of elements in the background mesh in the x, y and z directions, respectively. For our simulation, choose 32 x 32 x 32 elements in the input field “Number of elements”. Next, we can set the polynomial order of the elements in the background mesh by setting the value of the input field “P”. For now, we can leave its value at the default “1”. To turn off gravity, set the values “0 0 0” in the “Gravity” input field.
After completing Steps 3 and 4, the values in the Setup section shall look the following:
Step 5: Set up boundary conditions #
In the first scenario, we simulate the case where all engine mounts are rigidly fixed by applying non-displacement boundary conditions on the four representative surfaces. To apply the boundary conditions, first upload the STL file representing these four surfaces by clicking “Upload STL” under the Assets group. Once uploaded, the STL file will appear in the Asset list. To create a new boundary condition, click on “Add BC” under the “Gravity” input field.
For applying the no-displacement boundary conditions, use this (TODO: upload) stl file. On these surfaces, set no displacement in the x, y and z directions, as shown in the first part of the tutorial.
To apply surface pressure, upload the load surfaces where the pressure is applied (get the surfaces from here). Then, add a new boundary condition (click “Add BC”) and set it as follows:
- Geometry: quadcopter_pressure.stl
- Component: 2 (the pressure acts in the z direction)
- Type: neumann
- Value: -1 (1 MPa acting in the negative z direction)
The boundary conditions should look as follows:
Step 6: Set up postprocessing #
Finally, set the postprocessing options as below:
Step 7: Run the simulation and view the resutls #
After everything has been set up, click “Submit” to submit the simulation. Once the simulation is finished, you can review the results the same way as explained in the first part of the tutorial. The displacement field will look as follows:
And the stresses can be shown by choosing “von Mises Stress” in the drop-down box at the lower right corner of the 3D view.
Step 8 (advanced): review the simulation setup in JSON format #
Internally, the simulation setup that is created by the interactive user interface is translated in a JSON format. To review the contents of this JSON file, click on “Toggle view” at the bottom of the 3D view.
Once clicked, the JSON file that represents the simulation setup can be reviewed and modified. To swtich back to the 3D view, click “Toggle view” again.
Step 9: Enjoy ReveaL #
Congratulations, you have successfully completed the tutorial on the basic usage of ReveaL and are ready to conduct mechanical simulations on your own!
If you have any remarks or need further guidance on the usage of the software, let us know at info@directfem.de !
