Basic question on symmetry
Basic question on symmetry
(OP)
I have a basic question on using symmetry. I have cut my model in half in order to take advantage of symmetry and the point load is on the plane of symmetry. Should I use half of the actual load as the input or will Cosmos take care of that?
I have been told that I should halve the load, but I'm not entirely convinced. Is this something that is constant throughout FEA programs or does it depend on which one you are using?
I have been told that I should halve the load, but I'm not entirely convinced. Is this something that is constant throughout FEA programs or does it depend on which one you are using?






RE: Basic question on symmetry
Robert Stupplebeen
RE: Basic question on symmetry
"symmetry" condition in FE (whichever the FE program) is an appropriate set of displacement boundary conditions. This does not impact loads nor this is a "switch" making the program "aware" of anything. So you will definitely have to halve the load. On the same concept, if you were dealing with cyclic-symmetry with 10 repetitions per circumference, for example, you would have to load your cyclic-sector with 1/10 of the total load.
Regards