I have to create a model in ANSYS of a harbour wall. I created different volumes for the rock bricks and for the mortar and then I assigned them their different material properties. I was wondering if this might be a good way and if I also have to define a “contact surface“ between bricks and mortar (and with which properties?). Also, I’m not sure if I have to define an “element type“ for both bricks and mortar and which one is the best to be used (SOLID45 for the brick?).
Thank you for your attention.
Hey Luigi,
I think it depends on what you are trying to model. Modeling each brick and the mortar could be computationally expensive if you have all of the contact surfaces between them. I would look for an aggregate model so you can model the wall structure as a bulk solid. However, if you don't want to do that, I would at least opt for a multi-body part with a swept or multizone mesh, which will dramatically speed up your simulation.
I think the main question is, what behavior are you trying to simulate?
Hi Alejandro Vallejo,
thanks for your answer.
I’m looking for the behaviour of the wall under the impulsive wave load. Currently, only one small part of the model (the most critical one) is modelled with bricks and mortar while the rest is an aggregate mode. I’m not sure if, for the finer part, it’s necessary insert a contact surface and/or an element type and which ones. On the same way, for the aggregate part, which properties?
It’s the first time I’m using ANSYS so I’m not sure on how it works. What do you mean with multizone mesh?
Hey Luigi Figliomeni ,
Is this your first time using any FEA tool, or only the first time using ANSYS? If the former, I implore you to look into getting some training from your ANSYS distributor. If you are familiar with FEA in another application already, reading the Mechanical Application User's Guide (or whatever it is called now), and create a few sample problems that you can verify with hand calculations. This should get you comfortable enough with ANSYS modeling concepts to solve your problem. The ANSYS meshing documentation will cover the basics of how to make multi-body parts and performing the multizone meshing.
However, I think the best place to start is with everything as bulk solids with a simple mesh, and add complexity after you have your basic model setup.
If you want to perform Damage analysis along mortar and rock surfaces then ANSYS is not the best tool. In this case LS-DYNA with various types of Contact can be included and in due course the numerous damage criteria can be included.
The mesh for the model should be decoupled, containing separate mesh for both rocks and mortar. Here the example for the controled demolition of the building
Conference Paper Computer Simulation for Building Implosion Using LS-DYNA
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