Introduction to Simulation

I-DEAS Tutorials: Fundamental Skills

Learn how to:

• create a finite element model (FEM)

• apply boundary conditions
• mesh the finite element model
• solve the finite element model for displacement
and stress
• display the solution results
Before you begin...

Prerequisite tutorials:
• Getting Started (I-DEAS Multimedia Training)

–or–

Quick Tips to Using I-DEAS

–and–
Creating Parts

2
Setup 1 of 5
If you didn’t start I-DEAS with a new (empty) model
file, open a new one now and give it a unique name.
File
Open

Open Model File form

Model File name: any unique name
OK
Make sure you’re in the following application and task:
Simulation
Master Modeler

Set your units to mm.

Options
Units

mm (milli newton)

For this tutorial, you need to create the simple part

shown, following the steps provided on the next few
pages.

3
Setup 2 of 5

Step 1. Sketch the following closed shape. Don’t worry

about the dimensions while you’re sketching. You will
modify dimensions in the next step.

Step 2. Dimension and modify as shown.

1

4
Setup 3 of 5
Step 3. Fillet the two inner corners as follows:

2
1

Radius 10
OK

Radius 10
OK

5
Setup 4 of 5
Step 4. Extrude the wireframe shape a distance of
10mm.
Y
X
Z

6
Setup 5 of 5

Save your model file.

File
Save

Warning!
If you are prompted by I-DEAS to save your model file,
respond:
No
Save only when the tutorial instructions tell you to––not
when I-DEAS prompts for a save.

If you make a mistake at any time between saves and

can’t recover, you can reopen your model file to the
last save and start over from that point.
Hint
To reopen your model file to the previous save, press
Control-z.

7
Create a Finite Element Model (FEM) 1 of 3
A finite element model in I-DEAS is always associated
directly to a part. This allows the mesh to update when
part dimensions are modified. It also allows you to
enter boundary conditions directly on the part
geometry.

8
Create a Finite Element Model (FEM) 2 of 3
To simplify your display, turn off part centerlines,
centerpoints, reference planes, and the local
coordinate system.

Display Filter form

Parts... (toggle on)
Parts...

Part Display Filter form

Visibility
Centerpoints (toggle off)
Centerlines
Reference Planes
Local Origin
OK

OK

Recovery Point
File
Save

9
Create a Finite Element Model (FEM) 3 of 3
First, select the Boundary Condition task.
Master Modeler
Boundary Condition
Create a finite element model associated with your
part.

FE Model Create form

FE Model Name: FemTest
Geometry Based Analysis Only
OK

The Name form appears so you can name your part.

Name form
Name: FemPart
OK

Recovery Point
File
Save

10
Apply boundary conditions 1 of 4
Before you mesh the model, you will enter boundary
conditions on the part geometry.

11
Apply boundary conditions 2 of 4
Fully restrain the long vertical surface.

1 pick surface

(Done)

Displacement Restraint on Surface form

OK

12
Apply boundary conditions 3 of 4
Next, create a point force on the two end points shown.

1 pick end point

2 shift-pick

(Done)

2
1

Force on Vertex/Location on Geometry form

Y Force: –500
OK

13
Apply boundary conditions 4 of 4

Things to notice
A graphical symbol indicates the force. The circle
around the arrow indicates that the force is being
applied to the part geometry.

If you apply more than one set of loads or restraints,

you need to create a boundary condition set. In this
case, load set 1 and restraint set 1 are included in
boundary condition set 1 by default.

Recovery Point
File
Save

14
Mesh the finite element model 1 of 5
I-DEAS Simulation includes manual and automatic
meshing tools. In this section, you will automatically
generate a mesh on the entire part.

15
Mesh the finite element model 2 of 5
First, select the Meshing task.
Boundary Condition
Meshing
Define the element size on all surfaces to be 10 mm.
Turn off curvature-based refinement to not refine the
element size on curved surfaces.

All

(Done)

Define Mesh form

Element Length: 10
Free Options...

Define Free Meshing Options form

Curvature Based Length
None
OK

Define Mesh form

OK

16
Mesh the finite element model 3 of 5
Define the overall element mesh size for the volume to
be 10 mm.

pick anywhere on part

(Done)

Define Mesh form

Element Length: 10
OK

17
Mesh the finite element model 4 of 5
Turn on Automatic Mesh Checking and improvements
so the software will fix element distortion problems
during the meshing.

Automatic Mesh Checking form

Automatic Mesh Checking
Improve stretch to: (use default)
Improve distortion to: (use default)
OK

18
Mesh the finite element model 5 of 5
Generate the solid mesh.

pick anywhere on part

(Done)

Yes

Things to notice
Note that these elements are parabolic tetrahedral
elements, which are more accurate than linear
tetrahedral elements for structural analysis.
Recovery Point
File
Save

19
Solve the finite element model for
displacement and stress 1 of 3
At this point, the model is ready to solve. You will use
the default linear statics type solve. Other solution
methods are available, such as heat transfer and
dynamics.
You will solve for the default set of results, which
includes deflection and stress.

20
Solve the finite element model for
displacement and stress 2 of 3
Create a solution set (taking all the defaults) and solve
the model using linear statics.
First, switch to the Model Solution task.
Meshing
Model Solution

Manage Solution Sets form

Create...

Solution Set form

OK

Dismiss

21
Solve the finite element model for
displacement and stress 3 of 3

Solve Form
Solve

Check I-DEAS List.

Read the I-DEAS List region to make sure there
are no warnings or errors.
When the solver finishes, switch to the Post
Processing task.
Model Solution
Post Processing

22
Display the solution results 1 of 2
Many display combinations are available.
In this section, you will display the default set of stress
results on the deformed geometry.

23
Display the solution results 2 of 2
Display the displacement and stress results.

(the default is to display all elements)

24
Tutorial Wrap-up 1 of 2
You have completed the Introduction to Simulation
tutorial.

Delete or put away the part. This part is not used in

any other tutorials. To delete the part, you must first
delete the finite element model.

Manage form

FemPart (double-click)

FemTest (select)
Delete

FemPart
Delete
Dismiss

25
Tutorial Wrap-up 2 of 2

See also...
For additional information on many of the concepts
covered in this tutorial, see the following in the I-DEAS
Help facility:
Help, Manuals, Table of Contents
Simulation: Finite Element Modeling User’s
Guide
Simulation Overview

What’s next?
To continue your learning of the I-DEAS Simulation
application, we recommend you try the tutorials listed
in the next level of learning.
Help
Tutorials

Online Tutorials
Simulation
2 – Advanced Projects

Some of these tutorials have not yet been converted

to the new online format. You will need to print these
for best use.

To exit this tutorial, select:

File
Exit
Warning!
Do not use the menu in the I-DEAS Icons window to
exit. Use the menu in the Acrobat Reader window.

26
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