Applying Initial Stresses

You can define the stress of a part at the start of a simulation. The stress might change during the simulation due to loading effects.

You can apply a uniform initial stress to the entire model or apply initial stress driven by stress data from the first analysis case in a sequential stress analysis. Initial stresses from a sequential stress analysis are typically location- and time-dependent.

This task shows you how to:

See Also
About Initial Stresses
In Other Guides
Editing Simulation Features
Support Selection

Apply a Uniform Initial Stress

You can apply an initial stress that is uniform throughout a part.

  1. From the Initial Conditions section of the action bar, click Initial Stress .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. Select the geometry supports in the model.

  4. Enter values for the stress components that are applicable to the support.
  5. Click OK.

Apply Initial Stress in a Sequential Stress Analysis

In a sequential stress analysis, you can apply spatially varying stress data from the source structural analysis to the target structural analysis case as spatial- and time-dependent stress.

When defining initial stress from a mechanical step, the support is the entire model.

  1. From the Initial Conditions section of the action bar, click Initial Stress .
  2. Optional: Enter a descriptive Name.
  3. Set the Distribution to From step.
  4. Select the mechanical step within the structural analysis case that contains the initial stress to use in the target structural analysis.
  5. Click OK.