Report: Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis of Steel Cellular Beams

This report presents a competency demonstration, focusing on a civil engineering project involving the nonlinear finite element analysis of elliptical cellular steel beams. The project aimed to evaluate the lateral torsional buckling moment using ANSYS software. The report details the project background, objectives, and the student's role, which included literature review, research, and team leadership. The methodology involved material properties, mesh implementation, and the application of geometric and material nonlinearities. The report discusses the findings, including the verification of the finite element model against experimental results, and addresses issues encountered during the project, such as hardware limitations. The student also highlights the creative aspects, such as the parametric study of 120 models, and collaborative efforts with teammates and the project supervisor. The report concludes with an overview of the analysis and the development of a reduction factor for the beam's capacity. This document demonstrates the practical application of civil engineering principles in the analysis and design of steel structures.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 3
AHMAD SEYER

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis to Evaluate Lateral Torsional
Buckling Moment of Elliptical Cellular Steel Beams
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The use of cellular beam is a type of circular web opens has been fabricated with the help
of cutting web out of a standard rolling of hot wide flange sections with the inclusion of a certain
predefined pattern. The pattern consists of two pieces that are made into an assembling form by
welding of two halves. This process results in the increasing of the beam depth, but some circular
holes are left behind from the beam web. The advantage from the engineering point of view is
the strength and the stiffness that can be increased with the help of the equal amount of material
usage. The modern form of an elliptical cellular beam has the web openings I the form of
elliptical configurations. This has been developed on the typically used hexagonal shape
designing of the beams. For the difficulty of finding the appropriate problem, I stated that the
research would be done on the topic of “Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis to Evaluate Lateral
Torsional Buckling Moment of Elliptical Cellular Steel Beams”.

CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
The objective based on that I had started doing this research project was to propose the
best applicable equation that would be developed from the coefficient functions of the parametric
study of the non-linear finite buckling element analysis to help in finding the best possible
evaluation of the beam capacity. The concept that I had proposed from the study of the research
project is the reduction of the moment capacity based on the standard equation with the help of
property on the section web post along with a reduction factor.
CE 3.2.3 My area of work
During the project completion, I had taken up the work of finding the research journals
based on the related topic and to conduct the related research. This would help me in
understanding the problem that is being faced by the previous version of the research. The results
of the finite elemental analysis concerning the torsional lateral capacity moment of the newly
found elliptical cellular beam construction has been determined with the help from the research
journals. In the end, I had combined all the findings and the calculations to be submitted to my
university. I was also the team leader for this project that helped me to make my team members
produce the best quality work for the team.

CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: The hierarchy of the project
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I had taken up the responsibility to learn about the working of the different research
project that is already published and then find the possible literature gap in them. I had then
started to compose my research project that would include the literature gaps found during my
study. I had them compiled up my findings and the theoretical analysis of a document to be
submitted to my university. I was also the team leader for the project that helped me to lead my
team to produce the best quality project.

CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
For the investigation of the torsional lateral moment buckling capacity of an elliptical
cellular beam in this research project, I had performed the nonlinear finite element analysis with
the help of the commercial software package, ANSYS ver.R14.5 program with the inclusion of
both the geometric and material nonlinearities. The assumptions that I had made during the
project implementation were the properties of the materials, mesh implementation and finite
element type of mesh. For the material of choice for the development of the research study, I had
used an elastic-perfectly stress-strain curve that will be able to simulate the same nonlinearity
behaviour which the steels produce. The material has Young’s modulus of 2 x 105 M Pa. The
shear modulus of the material was found to be 7.6923 x 104 M Pa, with the inclusion of tangent
modulus of 1 x 10 -13 M Pa. the Poisson ration was found upon experimentation to be equal to
0.3. I had implemented both reduced and full integration schemes have also been supported. The
findings can be said to be suitable to apply in this investigation procedure of the project. For the
extensive study, I had used a simple beam with similar end moments. One of the ends is on a
hinge, and the other end is a roller. For the Initial Geometric Imperfection, I had used the theory
concept of the additional secondary fabrication process to elliptical cellular beams. I had
considered judiciously the imperfection of the elliptical cellular beam in this nonlinear buckling
analysis that helped me to complete the study with an effective result. I had also found that the
first mode shape of linear buckling with the magnitude of 0.0005 of the span length is set to half-
sine lateral torsional buckling mode.

CE 3.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
For the completion of the project, I had applied the knowledge of the civil engineering
skills that I was taught during my master’s degree. My project supervisor helped me to know the
different calculation which was in the research journals and thus I was able to complete the
research of the project.
CE 3.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
To apply the accuracy of the calculation on the nonlinear finite element analysis of the
elliptical cellular beam for the research study, I had verified the finite element model. The model
that was created at the research factory had been simulated with the help of HEA 340 cellular
beams and with the help of a 7500 mm of length beam. This beam helped to estimate the best
product specification for the finite element beam production line. The finite element model that
was created also shows the 3.77% error from the experimental test result. Along with this, I had
also found the result for the comparison of load-displacement which helped to represent an
agreement for the comparison between the nonlinear finite element model and the experimental
test.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
The issues that I faced was the unavailability of the hardware supplies for the assessment
of the problems which is the main research topic of this report.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
I had found the best solution of visiting the beam production ground of different
companies to study their working procedure and gather knowledge. With the help of my project

supervisor, I was able to visit the working ground and study the working procedure. I was also
provided with the permission to research the produced materials for my project..
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
The creative work that I had applied to the project was the implementation of the
parametric study of the finite elements. For this 120 models with the inclusion of 15 sections of
an Elliptical Cellular steel beam that had been chosen for the exclusive report of the parametric
study. For all the elliptical cellular beams an in fill plates had been attached to both ends of the
beam with the following of the BS 5950 standard.
CE 3.3.6 Collaborative work
I had collaborated along with my teammates and my project supervisor to provide my
university with the best quality project. My project supervisor had helped me to understand many
of the mathematical calculation during the literature study of my research project. With my team
leading skills I had helped my teammates in completing their tasks to complete the project on
time.
CE 3.4 Project Review
All the parts of the lateral torsional buckling capacity of the momentum have been
resulted from the research and plotted to provide the best presentation of the theoretical approach
of the analysis that has been done. The relationship between the M / M FEA and the slenderness
that has been modified with the (M y / M ocr) ½. From the curve, the reduction factor of R ECB has
also been developed for the fitting of the linear multiplied regression of the two variables.

CE 3.4.1 Project Overview
For the completion of this project, I had taken up the work of studying the research
journals and then subsequently finding the gaps which the authors had left out in their literature.
I followed up my findings with a detailed analysis of the topics and to compile a new research
paper detailing the findings of my literature study. At the end of the research, I had compiled and
submitted a research project to my university. I was also the team leader for this research project
and had succeeded exceptionally to produce the best quality work