Verification

Example

Program: RFEM 5, RSTAB 8, RF-FE-LTB

Category: Second-Order Analysis, Isotropic Linear Elasticity, Warping, Member
Verification Example: 0049 Twisted Beam Under Complex Loads with Warping

0049 Twisted Beam Under Complex Loads with Warping

Description
A beam is fully fixed (warping is restraint) on the left end (x = 0) and supported by the fork support
(warping is enabled) on the right end (x = 4a). The beam is subjected to a torque M, longitudinal
force Fx and transverse force Fz according to the Figure 1 [1]. The problem is described by the
following set of parameters.
Material

Steel

Geometry

Beam

Load

Modulus of
Elasticity

210000.000 MPa

Shear
Modulus

81000.000 MPa

Section
Length

2.000 m

Height

400.000 mm

Width

180.000 mm

Web
Thickness

10.000 mm

Flange
Thickness

14.000 mm

Torque

Longitudinal
Force

Fx

800.000 kN

Transverse
Force

Fz

100.000 kN

6.000 kNm

Determine the behaviour of the primary torsional moment MTpri , secondary torsional moment
MTsec and warping moment Mu .

Fz

t
M

x
A

Fx
E

z
a

Figure 1: Problem sketch

Analytical Solution
Analytical solution is not available for this example.

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Verification Example: 0049 Twisted Beam Under Complex Loads with Warping

RSTAB 8 and RFEM 5 Settings

Modeled in RSTAB 8.05.0029 / RFEM 5.05.0029
The element size is lFE = 0.025 m
Isotropic linear elastic material model is used

Results
Structure Files

Program

0049.01

RF-FE-LTB

In the following graphs there are shown behaviours of the total torsional moment MT , primary torsional moment MTpri , secondary torsional moment MTsec 1 and warping moment Mu . The quantities
are compared with the reference results in [1] at the test points A-E in the following tables.

Figure 2: Total torsional moment MT [kNm] behaviour

Figure 3: Primary torsional moment MTpri [kNm] behaviour

Figure 4: Secondary torsional moment MTsec [kNm] behaviour

Displayed results of the secondary torsional moment MTsec are including the influence of the axial force Fx .
Verification Example - 0049 Dlubal Software 2015

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Verification Example: 0049 Twisted Beam Under Complex Loads with Warping

Figure 5: Warping moment Mu [kNm2] behaviour

Point A

S3D [2]

ANSYS 15
(BEAM188)*

RF-FE-LTB

Ratio
[-]

MT [kNm]

3.92

3.92

1.000

MTpri [kNm]

0.00

0.00

MTsec [kNm]

3.92

3.92

1.000

Mu [kNm2 ]

-4.77

-4.74

-4.81

1.008

Point B

S3D [2]

ANSYS 15
(BEAM188)*

RF-FE-LTB

Ratio
[-]

MT [kNm]

3.86

3.87

1.003

MTpri [kNm]

1.44

1.42

0.986

MTsec [kNm]

2.42

2.45

1.012

Mu [kNm2 ]

-0.17

-0.17

-0.17

1,000

Point C

S3D [2]

ANSYS 15
(BEAM188)*

RF-FE-LTB

Ratio
[-]

MT [kNm]

-6.00

-6.00

1.000

MTpri [kNm]

0.34

0.34

1.000

MTsec [kNm]

-6.00

-6.00

1.000

Mu [kNm2 ]

3.88

3.89

3.95

1.008

Remark: MT and MTsec are values of quantity change at point D. This change is caused by the
loading moment M.
Point D

S3D [2]

ANSYS 15
(BEAM188)*

RF-FE-LTB

Ratio
[-]

MT [kNm]

-2.21

-2.20

0.995

MTpri [kNm]

-1.22

-1.20

0.984

MTsec [kNm]

0.99

1.00

1.010

Mu [kNm2 ]

1.39

1.40

1.41

1.014

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Verification Example: 0049 Twisted Beam Under Complex Loads with Warping
Point E

S3D [2]

ANSYS 15
(BEAM188)*

RF-FE-LTB

Ratio
[-]

MT [kNm]

-2.21

-2.20

0.995

MTpri [kNm]

-1.65

-1.63

0.988

MTsec [kNm]

-0.56

-0.57

1.018

Mu [kNm2 ]

0.00

0.00

0.00

Remark: Values of the warping moment Mu in all test points are furthermore calculated in ANSYS
13 using BEAM188 element. Note that element solution values are interpolated in desired test
points.
* Remark: Numerical solution in ANSYS 15 was carried out by the company Designtec s.r.o.

References
[1] LUMPE, G. and GENSICHEN, V. Evaluierung der linearen und nichtlinearen Stabstatik in Theorie
und Software: Prfbeispiele, Fehlerursachen, genaue Theorie. Ernst.
[2] LUMPE, G. S3D (Vers. 25.09.2011). Hochschule Biberach.

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