Tutorial: Nonlinear Structural Analysis of a Wheel

This article provides a step-by-step tutorial for the nonlinear structural analysis of a wheel. The objective of this simulation is to analyze the deformation and stress distribution across the wheel in operation mode, including nonlinear phenomena such as hyperelastic material, physical contact, and varying load.

This Tutorial Teaches How to:

• Set up and run a nonlinear structural analysis.
• Assign boundary conditions, materials, and other models to the simulation.
• Mesh the geometry with the SimScale standard meshing algorithm.
• Explore the results using SimScale’s online post-processor.

The typical SimScale workflow will be followed:

1. Prepare the CAD model for the simulation.
2. Set up the simulation.
3. Create the mesh.
4. Run the simulation.
5. Analyze the results.

1. Prepare the CAD Model and Select Analysis Type

To start, you can import a copy of the project into your workbench to follow along the steps by clicking the button below:

The following picture shows what should be visible after importing the tutorial project. You can find the geometries Wheel and Wheel-Quarter and the 3D model displayed. You can interact with the model as with any CAD program.

Did you know?

This simulation leverages the double symmetry of the model for two objectives:

1. Save on computational resources.
2. Be able to restrict the model from displacements on the (XY) plane directions, which otherwise would be very difficult to achieve.

It is always advisable to take advantage of symmetrical models in simulation. You can see the reduced model by selecting the Wheel-Quarter geometry from the tree on the left:

1.1 Create a Nonlinear Structural Analysis

Now the simulation setup can be started. Follow these steps to create a new simulation:

1. Select the Wheel-Quarter geometry element at the left panel.
2. Click the blue Create Simulation button in the pop-up window.

The simulation library window appears. Select the ‘Static‘ analysis type and click the blue Create Simulation button as shown in the picture:

Now a new tree will be automatically generated in the left panel with all the parameters and settings that are necessary to completely specify such an analysis. All parts that are completed are highlighted with a green check. Parts that need to be specified have a red circle, while the blue circle indicates an optional setting that does not need to be filled out. Check the picture for an example of this:

As this structural simulation will include nonlinearities such as physical contact, hyperelastic materials, and varying load, the nonlinear analysis type must be activated. In the general simulation parameters window that opens after creating the simulation, set the Nonlinear analysis toggle:

You can find more details about what characterizes a static analysis here.

2. Set Up the Nonlinear Structural Analysis

The analysis of the wheel will include the following operating conditions:

1. The wheel rim is made out of a polypropylene material
2. The wheel tire is made out of rubber, with big deformations expected to occur
3. Maximum operating load of 1000 \(N\)
4. Mean operating load of 500 \(N\)
5. The tire-ground pair must model the physical contact

The following picture summarizes the nonlinear modelling conditions:

2.1 Contacts

Two contact conditions will be specifed:

1. Interface between rim and tire: A linear bonded contact is specified to get compliant deformation.
2. Interface between ground and tire: A nonlinear physical contact is specified to get realistic behavior.

The bonded contact (1) is automatically detected and created by SimScale. It can be found under the Contact items under the simulation tree as Bonded 1:

Now, the physical contact (2) is created. Follow the instructions shown in the picture:

1. Click the ‘+’ icon next to Physical contacts
2. Click the Master assignment box
3. Select the corresponding face for the master assignment
4. Click the Slave assignment box
5. Select the corresponding face for the slave assignment

Click the check mark button to finish the setup.

The selection on which faces to assign on the master/slave is performed according the key points explained in the following article:

2.2 Material Model

Next, add the material models from the material library. For this, we start by clicking the ‘+’ button next to the Materials tree element at the left panel. This reveals a material library from which we select the adequate material card, and click on the blue ‘Apply‘ button. This will then load the standard properties for the selected material.

In the pop-up material properties window, the target body that will have the material properties applied is selected. Accept the selection with the blue check mark button.

Use this instructions to each body material in the model:

A. Ground

For the ground body, select the Concrete material from the materials library, and assign the ground body (selected from the viewer or the Geometry tree at the right), as shown in the picture:

B. Rim

For the wheel rim, select the PP (polypropylene) material from the materials library, and assign the Rim body, as shown in the picture:

C. Tire

For the wheel tire, select the Rubber material from the materials library, and assign the mount+tyre body. As this body is so soft and will undergo large deformations due to the load and the physical contact with the ground, a hyperelastic material model is specified. Change the Material behavior to Hyperelastic, and set up the parameters as shown in the picture:

The input values are:

• Hyperelastic model: Mooney-Rivlin
• \(C_{10} = \) 7.36e6 \(Pa\)
• \(C_{01} = \) 1.84e6 \(Pa\)
• \(D_{1} = \) 1e-4 \(1/Pa\)
• \(\rho = \) 930 \(kg/m^3\)

2.3 Boundary Conditions

Now, we define the boundary conditions. To create a boundary condition, click on the ‘+’ button option next to the ‘Boundary conditions‘ element at the left panel, and select the required boundary condition type from drop down menu, as shown in Figure 15.

A. Ground Fixed Support

Our first boundary condition will be to fix the ground. Select the Fixed support boundary condition from the boundary conditions dropdown menu. Assign the groud body by selecting from the Geometry tree on the right. Give an appropriate name to the boundary condition, such as ‘Fixed support ground’.

B. Symmetry Plane Normal to X

The second boundary condition specifies the restricted normal displacement in the symmetry plane through which the model was cut. Select a Fixed value boundary condition, assign all faces belonging to the symmetry plane and set up the values as shown in the picture:

C. Symmetry Plane Normal to Y

The second boundary condition specifies the symmetry around the second plane through which the model was cut. Use the same procedure as before and set up the condition as shown in the picture, assigning the corresponding faces:

D. Load

For the operating load supported by the wheel, select a Force boundary condition. Assign the central cylindrical faces as shown in Figure 8. Then, click the varying load button as shown in the picture:

The ‘Specify value‘ window will appear for us to input the load curve. In this case we will use a table input, with setup as shown in the picture:

Notice that our load force starts at zero, maxes out at \(t = 0.5\ s\) and then goes back down to the mean value at \(t = 1.0\ s\). The negative value indicates the force direction with respect to the Z axis. The load curve can be visualized in the following plot:

3. Mesh Setup

Select the mesh option and change the Fineness setting to 10 as shown in the figure below. You do not need to click the Generate button at this step, as the mesh will be computed as part of the simulation run.

4. Start the Simulation

The last thing to do for running this simulation is to create a run. The new run is created by clicking on the ‘+’ button next to ‘Simulation Runs’:

In the pop-up window, you can give a meaningful name to the run, then click the blue Start button to start.

The Job status box in the lower left provides updates about the job status. Also, a Solver log is provided after a few seconds which shows the exact output of the actual computing algorithm. The simulation run should take a few minutes to be carried out. Once the simulation run is Finished, we can post-process the results.

5. Post-Processing

Once the simulation is finished, select the ‘Solution fields’ under the Run to post-process the wheel load results on the platform:

Figure 25 displays the stress distribution on the model of the wheel at the time of maximum load. It can be seen that maximum stress levels of around 38.8 \(MPa\) occur at the rim radius element and at the contact patch of the tire and the ground.

Figure 26 shows the animation of the deformation process and the corresponding contour plot for the von Mises stress. The load curve effect and the points of maximum deformation and stress can be seen.

Finally, we can take a look at the load vs. deformation plot:

Figure 27 shows the vertical displacement magnitude of a point at the load application face, versus the applied load magnitude. Here, the nonlinear behavior of the model can be clearly seen, with the curvature of the load.

If you want to learn more about SimScale’s online post-processor, you can have a look at our dedicated guide:

Congratulations, you finished the differential casing tutorial!

Last updated: January 8th, 2021