Tutorial Number 31: Snap Fit

simulation: dynamic instabilities.

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1. Introduction
In this exercise a snap fit simulation is implemented. During a snap-fit, the static
problem becomes dynamic in nature due to sudden contact loss. This
phenomenon lead to convergence issues if the analysis is solved with a pure
static equilibrium.

This tutorial shows an example of how to deal with such dynamic instabilities by
either introducing viscous stabilization or by solving the problem with a
dynamic procedure.

2. Preliminaries
- Double click on the file tutorial31.cae, this will open an Abaqus database
where you will already find a model called Model-SNAPFIT including the
geometric parts, material properties, the instance positioning in the assembly, the
discretization of the parts and some boundary conditions.

- The model (Figure 1) is a 2D representation of the system. Plain stress

elements are used.

Figure 1. Assembly of the snap fit simulation.

3. Material and mesh

- The snap-fit is constructed out of a standard polymer with a Young modulus
equal to 3GPa and a Poisson ratio of 0.4. Check the material properties defined
in the property module and assigned to the parts.

- Check the quadrilateral mesh already defined. Enter the mesh module and
select Assembly.

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4. Define the analysis steps

- Double-click on Steps in the model tree and create a new Static, General step
called Connect. Set Nlgeom parameter as on and enter 1 as Time Period.

- Switch to the Incrementation tab and enter 0.01 as Initial increment, 0.05 as
Maximum increment and 1000 as maximum number of increments.

5. Define Constraints and Interactions using General

Contact approach
- Create new Interaction Property by double-clicking Interaction Properties in
the model tree, call it IntProp-1 and select Contact as Type. Select Hard contact
for Mechanical→ Normal Behaviour. Click OK.

- Create now a new Surface-to-Surface interaction. Double click on Interactions,

select Initial as Step, call the new interaction as INT-SNAPFIT and choose
Surface-to-Surface interaction as type. Select the predefined surface called
Master as the Master surface (click on the Surfaces button in the prompt area to
show the list of surfaces) and the surface called Slave as slave surface. Select
IntProp-1 as global interaction property.

- Create a new coupling constraint by double-clicking on Constraints in the

model tree. Select Coupling as type, click on Sets in the lower tool bar and
select the set called RP as reference node. Click Surface, then Surfaces in the
lower prompt area and select the surface called CONSTRAINT as slave surface
of the constraint. In this way, the kinematic movement of this surface will be
coupled to the movement of the reference node. Click OK.

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6. Define Boundary conditions
Two boundary conditions are applied to this model. Notice that two symmetry
boundary conditions have already been created to model an encastre in X
direction and symmetry in Y direction.

- Create a Displacement/Rotation boundary condition called BC-DISP. Select

Connect as step, Displacement/Rotation as type, select the set called RP as
region. Enter 15 in U1 field and 0 in all the other degrees of freedom. Click OK.

- Save the model. File → Save.

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7. Create and Submit a Job
- Double-click Jobs in the model tree and create a new Job called Contact6-
STATIC. Select the Model-SNAPFIT and click Continue and then ok. Now, right-
click on Jobs and open the Job-Manager. Highlight the job Contact6-STATIC
previously created and click on Submit to start your analysis and on Monitor to
monitor the advancement of the analysis.

- Note: the analysis is expected to fail.

8. View the Results

- Once it is terminated click on Results.

- Visualize the displacement and the stress contour plots. Animate the analysis
using the tools highlighted in the following picture. Check the last increment
saved where the analysis stopped converging. What is happening at this point?

- Then return on the model tree bu clicking on the Model tab on top on the left.

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9. Add viscous stabilization
The first strategy used to overcome this contact issue is to add viscous
stabilization to the model.

- Copy the model Model-SNAPFIT as a new model called Model-SNPFIT-

viscous.

- Double-click on the step called Connect and enter the Edit Step dialog box.
Now, click on the arrow close to Automatic Stabilization and select ‘Specify
dissipated energy fraction’ and keep all the default settings. Click OK.

- Create a new Job called Contact6-ViscousStab. Submit the job and monitor its
progress. The analysis is expected to complete successfully. The
convergence issues related to the dynamic instability generated by the loss of
contact are solved. The new viscous stabilization approach introduced new
forces which are opposing the nodal velocities generated in the system stabilizing
the system and improving the convergence rate.

- Check the results and animate the solution by clicking on the Animate: Time
history icon.

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10. Solve Dynamic equilibrium
The second approach able to solve dynamic instabilities involves the solution of a
real dynamic equilibrium. The mass introduced in the system will stabilize the
model and allow a fast solution of the dynamic instability.

- Copy the model Model-SNAPFIT as a new model called Model-SNPFIT-

dynamic.

- Right click the step called Connect and select Replace. Select the Dynamic,
Implicit procedure to replace the previous Static, General procedure. In the Edit
Step dialog box, set the Nlgeom parameter as on, select Quasi-Static as
application and switch to the Incrementation tab. Enter 0.01 as Initial increment
type and then specify 0.05 as maximum increment size.

- Double-click on the Aluminium material definition. Select General→Density and

enter 8E-09 tonn/mm^3 as density of the material. Since we are now solving a
dynamic equilibrium the mass matrix of the system has to be created.

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- Create a new Job called Contact6-Dynamic. Submit the job and monitor its
progress. The analysis is expected to complete successfully.

- Check the results and animate the solution by clicking on the Animate: Time
history icon.

Simuleon B.V.
Pettelaarpark 84 | 5216 PP‚ s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands | www.simuleon.com
Tel. Office +31(0)85-0498165 | Tel. Support +31(0)85-0498166