Workshop 7

Linear Buckling
Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Goals Workshop Supplement

• The goal in this workshop is to verify linear buckling results

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

in ANSYS Workbench. Results will be compared to closed
form calculations from a handbook.
• Next we will apply an expected load of 10,000 lbf to the
model and determine its factor of safety.
• Finally we will verify that the structure will not fail
structurally before buckling occurs.

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Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Assumptions Workshop Supplement

• The model is a steel pipe that is assumed to be fixed at one

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

end and free at the other with a purely compressive load
applied to the free end. Dimensions and properties of the
pipe are:
• OD = 4.5 in ID = 3.5 in. E = 30e6 psi, I = 12.7 in^4, L = 120 in.
• In this case we assume the pipe conforms to the following
handbook formula where P’ is the critical load:


 2 EI 
P'  K  

2 
 L 
• For the case of a fixed / free beam the parameter K = 0.25.

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Linear Buckling
. . . Workshop 7 - Assumptions Workshop Supplement

• Using the formula and data from the previous page we can

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

predict the buckling load will be:


  2  30e6 12.771 
P'  0.25  

2   65648.3lbf
 (120) 

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Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Start Page Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

From the launcher start Simulation.
• Choose “Geometry > From File . . . “
and browse to the file “Pipe.x_t”.

• When DS starts, close the Template

menu by clicking the ‘X’ in the corner
of the window.

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Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Preprocessing Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

1. Set the working unit system to the U.S. customary system:
– “Units > U.S. Customary (in, lbm, psi, F, s)”.

2. To make the material property match that of our hand

calculation highlight the “Solid” branch in the tree:
• “Details > Material > Edit Structural Steel . . . ”

2
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. . . Workshop 7 - Preprocessing Workshop Supplement

3. In the field for “Young’s Modulus” type in the value “3e7”.

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

3

• Note, changing this property “on the fly” does not effect
the stored value for Structural Steel. To save a material for
future use we would “Export” the properties as a new
material to the material library. Since we only need the
value for this workshop we will not do that in this case.

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 Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Environment Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

Fix one end of the pipe:
4. Highlight the Environment branch.
5. Select the surface on one end of 4
the pipe.
6. “RMB > Insert > Fixed Support”.

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Linear Buckling
. . . Workshop 7 - Environment Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

Add a unit force to one end of the pipe:
7. Select the surface on the free end of the
pipe.
8. “RMB > Insert > Force”. 7
9. In the force detail change the “Define
by” field to “Components”.
10. In the force detail enter 1 in the
“Magnitude” field.

8 9

10
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Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Solution Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

Insert the buckling tool into the solution
branch:
11. Highlight the solution branch.
12. “RMB > Insert > Buckling”.

• Solve.
11

12

Notice the default setting for buckling is to find

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the first buckling mode. Inventory #002266
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Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Results Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

When the solution completes review the buckling result.
13. Highlight the “1st Buckled Mode” result object.
14. The result detail indicates a “Load Multiplier” value of
65610. Recall that we applied a unit (1) force thus the result
compares well with our closed form calculation of 65648 lbf.

14

13

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Linear Buckling
. . . Workshop 7 - Results Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

Change the force value to the
expected load (10000 lbf).
15. Highlight the “Force” branch.
16. In the detail field for the “Z
Component” enter 10000. 15
• Solve

16
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. . . Workshop 7 - Results Workshop Supplement

• When the solution completes note the “Load Multiplier”

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

field now shows a value of 6.56. Since we now have a “real
world” load applied, the load multiplier is interpreted as the
buckling factor of safety for the applied load.

• Given that we have already calculated a buckling load of

65610 lbf, the result is obviously trivial (65610 / 10000). It is
shown here only for completeness.

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Linear Buckling
Workshop 7 - Verification Workshop Supplement

• A final step in the buckling analysis is added here as a

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

“best practices” exercise.
• We have already predicted the expected buckling load and
calculated the factor of safety for our expected load. The
results so far ONLY indicate results as they relate to
buckling failure. To this point we can say nothing about
how our expected load will affect the stresses and
deflections in the structure.
• As a final check we will verify that the expected load (10000
lbf) will not cause excessive stresses or deflections before
it is reached.

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. . . Workshop 7 - Verification Workshop Supplement

• Highlight the “Buckling” branch and delete it.

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

17. “RMB > Delete”

17

18. “RMB > Insert > Stress > Equivalent (von Mises)”

18

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. . . Workshop 7 - Verification Workshop Supplement

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

Insert total deformation:
19. “RMB > Insert > Deformation > Total”

19

• Solve.
• Note, we deleted the buckling tool because it cannot be
combined with other results (stress, deformation, etc.) in
the same solution branch. In actual practice, it may be
desirable to duplicate the environment branch and modify
the duplicate. This would allow you to keep the original
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. . . Workshop 7 - Verification Workshop Supplement

• A quick check of the stress results shows the model as

ANSYS Workbench - Simulation

loaded is well within the mechanical limits of the material
being used.
• As stated, this is not a required step in a buckling analysis
but should be regarded as good engineering practice.

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