symmetry question
symmetry question
(OP)
If I have contact between two bodies ( one structure and one sphere ) and Im taking advantage of symmetry in this problem. I set a displacement on the sphere so that it pushes the structure. If I use symmetry on my problem and only model half the structure and half the sphere, will I then only take half of the prescribed displacement? For example: For the whole model I have a displacement of the sphere of 10 mm and if i then take advantage of symmetry, should i then apply a displacement of 10/2 = 5 mm or will it still be 10 mm?
Thanks for your help
Thanks for your help





RE: symmetry question
another way to look at it ... your 1/2 model has only 1/2 the strain energy in it (compared to the full model, for the same displacement). so the contact force (from the 1/2 model) needs to be doubled (each 1/2 has the same contact force, the same 1/2 strain energy) but the displacements should be 100%.
clear as mud ?
RE: symmetry question
But if I instead apply a force on the sphere, then i shall take only half of the total force? I mean forces can also be symmetric right?
RE: symmetry question
RE: symmetry question
In the half model the stiffness is halved, therefore for the same displacement the force is halved as well.
www.Roshaz.com quality, cost effective FEA solutions
RE: symmetry question
Or you could model a relatively thin "wedge" of say 15 degrees subtended angle, and use 1/24 of the force.
Or you could model it as a 2D axi-symmetric problem - lots of options for problems like this!