# Step-by-Step Tutorial: Session 1 **URL:** \ **Category:** Makers Workshop\ **Created:** [June 9, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825 "2016-06-09T14:08:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anon67859130](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/anon67859130/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@anon67859130](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/anon67859130)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/1 "2016-06-09T14:08:33Z")
## Recording [![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/3X/c/a/ca5b3f839b87a5aa45dcd76280e76b079e67de0f.jpeg "Maker Workshop: Strength Analysis of a Quadcopter Arm") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhYLtyiWpuk) ## Homework submission Submitting all three homework assignments will qualify you for a free Professional Training (value of 500€) as well as a certificate of participation. Homework 1 - Deadline 16.06 4:00pm [Please use the form to submit your homework](https://marketing.simscale.com/acton/form/14483/0064:d-0001/0/-/-/-/-/index.htm) ## Exercise ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/1X/b87ad42c98c93ca87381523f71690421aa86939e.PNG) Our aim is to investigate the displacement of the drone arm for different lift forces. **Therefore we will create a mesh of the arm and simulate the structural behavior of it for different forces (0.75N, 1.5N, 2.25N, 3N).** Your final homework project should contain 1 mesh and four simulation runs. You can submit your homework using the form. > NOTE: This tutorial was updated on 10/2016 to match the updated version of the platform ## Step-by-Step Instructions ## Meshing First of all you have to import the geometry into your SimScale workspace. For this, you only have to [click on this link and a project with everything you need will be added to your workspace](https://www.simscale.com/workbench?publiclink=da31aed0-07a8-4616-90d3-f39a6e9cc5a2). Please note that this can take several minutes. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/c/c28c1ef550b5be13cfa9ed4fc58b31d85654c02f.png) Once project is imported, select the geometry and press **New Mesh** to crate a new mesh setup for this geometry. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/9/9adecc2286191a8bac66fb26baaff14f8aebf692.png) Here in the middle column select **Tetrahedral with local refinements** from the list and define following parameters: - Maximum mesh edge length: 0.001 - Minimal mesh edge length: 0.0006 - NETGEN3D fineness parameter: 2 - Coarse - Number of processors 4 Save the selection by clicking **Save**. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/b/bf9f6cd23bd237063b6981928e2d723be0e9597e.png) Now we have defined a range for the base mesh size which is fine for regions where we are not expecting high stress. Here you should keep in mind that, in general, the mesh size is related to the local accuracy of the simulation. It is therefore necessary to refine the mesh in those areas where high stresses are expected. We will now apply local refinements on the faces where we expect high stresses and high deformations. Click on the **Mesh Refinements** item which was added to the project tree. This will open again a menu in the middle column where all refinements are listed and where you can add new refinements by clicking **New**. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/9/9f587b76a2e292eb43f1edec2964c3ca46c9f11b.png) Set the parameters as: - Name: High Stress Zone Refinement - Maximum mesh edge length: 0.0003 - Minimal mesh edge length: 0.0001 - NETGEN3D fineness parameter: 3 - Moderate Next, select the faces you want to apply this refinement. It is also possible and recommended to select the faces which you want to assign to the refinement graphically. Therefore you have to select the faces in the 3D model window on the left side by clicking on them with the left mouse button; to add them to the list, just click on the Add selection from Viewer button in the middle column. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/c/c385bb992e400ad92019de456a43eaa81d865433.png) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/d/dc8866838e780382ca4138e0b681b3e048b29c84.png) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/5/52d6f807a7ef54178ee35708c3632f9cd1cba438.png) Now our mesh is ready for computation. Click on the meshing operation in the project tree and click the Start button. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0f409acd0f988e9bb80bdf8a13cfd9408fe1d26c.png) ## Simulation Setup After the mesh is completed we will set up the simulation. Click on the **Simulation Designer** button in the main ribbon bar and click **New** to create a new simulation setup. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e4e35b6864af92dff526343800c93aa32316ef41.png) This will open an additional column in the middle. Here you can select which kind of simulation you want to run. In our case we will run a Static Analysis simulation with a **Non-linear** option set to “false”. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/2/2dbfbabe74f016f47fe18a2cff3c5fda3037a5ab.png) _Going forward, this tree will guide us through all necessary steps. Please note that some of the items are optional or not necessary and will therefore be skipped_ Next you have to specify which mesh you want to use for your simulation. Click on **Domain** item in the project tree and select “Drone\_Arm mesh” from the menu which disappears in the middle column. Don’t forget to save your selection. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/d/dd46c01d2683ed95a3862c07a3830e1cc9c969a8.png) Now you can define your new material based on your own material proporties or access our **Material Library** which includes ready-to-use material models for several materials. We will manually manual define an ABS Thermoplastic. Click therefore on the **Materials** item in the project tree. This will open a middle column menu where you can create a new material by clicking the related **New** button. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f3045fce67fb0c654ec887e95bee6f99a5b414a3.png) - Name: ABS Thermoplastic - Young’s Modul: 1800000000 - Poisson’s ratio: 0.35 - Densiy: 1040 Now assign the material to volume of the arm (volumeOnGeoVolumes\_0) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f57c31fd9253992b80c7273d3f1b21cbdb5dad22.png) Next we can start to define the boundary conditions. Click on the **Boundary Conditions** item in the project tree. There are two kinds of boundary conditions for static structural simulations. - Constraint conditions are used to limit the degrees of freedom of the model. - Load conditions are applying an external load to the model First we will define a constraint boundary condition to fix the arm. Click therefore on the **New** button for the constraints. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f121bd738beb42edb8c82b72a223505af985b28e.png) - Name: Fix - Type: Fixed Value - x displacement: prescribed wit a value of 0 - y displacement: prescribed wit a value of 0 - z displacement: prescribed wit a value of 0 Please assign this boundary conditions to the upper and lower surface of the arm mount (faceGroupOnGeoFace\_96, faceGroupOnGeoFace\_119) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/b/b01ce2b1b5db3dde35b1f0a36ab9ce4663886e7a.png) We are now on the home straight. We will apply the lift created by the propeller on the arm. We therefore create a “load boundary condition”. Create a new boundary condition by clicking on the related button. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/d/d6931b602fd6fa2223d69b11a9dbad00a9af79b0.png) - Name: Lift - Type: Force - fy = 3 Finally assign this boundary condition to the top surface of the engine mount. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/c/cc47f5b3cf0d6e12f9fa098775521c887a342089.png) In this tutorial we want to investigate the deformation of the arm for different lit forces. Therefore you have later on to modify the value. **Numerics** , which is the next item in the project tree, can be skipped since the default settings are fine. Click on the **Simulation Control** item in the project tree to specify how fast and accurate you want the simulation to be computed and change following values/settings: - Timestep definition: Auto - Simulation interval: 1 - Initial time step lengths: 1 - Number of computing cores: 16 (that will accelerate the computing process) Please note that static linear simulations are not solved iteratively. The simulation time here is a kind of ‘pseudo-time’ which is for example used to modify the lift force based on the function we defined. The calculation will stop automatically when an aimed residual is reached. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/e/efe949772338a72df17dc437f072de83b70b3d66.png) To start the simulation, click on the **Simulation Run** item in the tree and click on the Create new run button at the bottom of the middle column menu. This will create a snapshot of your simulation settings as a new sub-item. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/5/59b69682bad57c8db4711e32e175beeee21736f4.png) You can now start the simulation run by selecting it from the project tree and then click on the Start button. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/7/7704e32fa3b9144d415ca3f50c9a4cc1a7593281.png) ## Post Processing Move to the **Post-Processor** tab and click Click on the **Solution fields** in the project tree to access the 3D simulation results. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/1/1ade5334fbbed8e731a3d8d56407a66517824075.png) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/1/1920101dfec636f9363d84da89407bc03cb5deb3.png) First we will visualize the deformation of the arm using the **WarpbyVector** filter. Click therefore on the **Add Filter** button. Now you can choose the **WrapByVector** filter from the list. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/e/ec99aa1e4065611ac27058661754ae915ab32d4f.png) Next define a scale factor for the displacement. Choose a factor of 10 and pess **Apply**. Finally change the solution field to solid color. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f7567cd825855a96470966a0c14dd8ce4b7479c4.png) ---
**Author:** ![cbabua](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/cbabua/32/4626_2.png) [@cbabua](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/cbabua)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 8:44am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/2 "2016-06-10T08:44:13Z")
Nice tutorial! 😉 ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/b/b4429ec56046e0a4b29a432a850e3895867e8c4a.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![dheiny](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/dheiny/32/2_2.png) [@dheiny](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/dheiny)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 11:33am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/3 "2016-06-10T11:33:05Z")
@cbabua - why not using the online post-processor 😉 ? ---
**Author:** ![cbabua](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/cbabua/32/4626_2.png) [@cbabua](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/cbabua)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:13pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/4 "2016-06-10T12:13:33Z")
the online post processor does not want to show me the results ☹ ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/d/d286694c509567f0442f392afce5cbd7e515a33d.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![bdaqui](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/bdaqui/32/181_2.png) [@bdaqui](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/bdaqui)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:46pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/5 "2016-06-10T12:46:31Z")
Hi @cbabua Let’s solve this issue. It looks like the connection to the post-proc machine is being blocked/interrupted. May I ask for the following: - What browser and version - Are you behind a corporate network that might be blocking certain ports or traffic - Are you using firewall antivirus software at the moment? - Please check if websockets work for you. Go to [http://websocket.org/echo.html](http://websocket.org/echo.html), then connect and try the echo test. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![harshit](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/harshit/32/5115_2.png) [@harshit](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/harshit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 11:12am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/6 "2016-06-11T11:12:50Z")
I think the online post processor is just working fine. Screenshot: ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/3/3f53adff6a293916dfb3d4e2a0acd68ec2aaade2.png) ---
**Author:** ![ahmedhussain18](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/ahmedhussain18/32/140_2.png) [@ahmedhussain18](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/ahmedhussain18)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 2:41pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/7 "2016-06-11T14:41:11Z")
Nice to see the results @harshit! 😄 ---
**Author:** ![harshit](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/harshit/32/5115_2.png) [@harshit](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/harshit)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/8 "2016-06-11T19:36:32Z")
thank you @ahmedhussain18 The simulation process was quite easy and smooth.😄 ---
**Author:** ![l\_trefiletti](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/l_trefiletti/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@l\_trefiletti](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/l_trefiletti)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 9:01am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/9 "2016-06-13T09:01:48Z")
Hi @anon67859130, I submitted the project link on form, but I didn’t receive the automatic reply. Is it right or is there any problem?? thank you ---
**Author:** ![jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/jousefm/32/34908_2.png) [@jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/jousefm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 9:07am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/10 "2016-06-13T09:07:45Z")
Me neither @l_trefiletti . Usually we reveice a confirmation that we submitted our homework. Think they will fix this soon. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![anon18194957](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/anon18194957/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@anon18194957](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/anon18194957)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 10:30am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/11 "2016-06-13T10:30:43Z")
@l_trefiletti and @jousefm, we’ve received your homework! You should have seen this page after submitting: ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f010e5b45390d36701dd7250aca8be4abaeeb143.png) However, the email confirmation is not working right now, so we’ll look into this, thanks! Anna ---
**Author:** ![l\_trefiletti](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/l_trefiletti/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@l\_trefiletti](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/l_trefiletti)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 10:45am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/12 "2016-06-13T10:45:01Z")
Perfect!! thank you @anon18194957 ---
**Author:** ![jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/jousefm/32/34908_2.png) [@jousefm](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/jousefm)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 11:50am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/14 "2016-06-13T11:50:12Z")
Thank you @anon18194957. ---
**Author:** ![Fields](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/fields/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Fields](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/Fields)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/15 "2016-06-13T14:27:43Z")
I’ve gotten the following quite a lot in the last month or so from the Post Processor. Used to work. Only fails on the solution fields. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/a/a1e24b0ebae944a852cb9958b91b1a91cce21387.PNG) ---
**Author:** ![ahmedhussain18](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/ahmedhussain18/32/140_2.png) [@ahmedhussain18](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/ahmedhussain18)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 3:21pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/16 "2016-06-13T15:21:22Z")
Hey @Fields! Did you manage to use the post-processor in meantime? It seems like a connection problem between you and SimScale server. Moreover, please make sure that you have only a single workbench opened at a time. It may occur if you have opened multiple workbench at the same time. If you are still facing the problem, do let us know. Best, Ahmed ---
**Author:** ![anon18194957](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/anon18194957/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@anon18194957](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/anon18194957)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/17 "2016-06-13T15:27:26Z")
Hi @Fields, can you answer the same questions posted above so we can take a deeper look into this? > [@bdaqui](#): > > Let’s solve this issue. It looks like the connection to the post-proc machine is being blocked/interrupted. May I ask for the following: > > - What browser and version > - Are you behind a corporate network that might be blocking certain ports or traffic > - Are you using firewall antivirus software at the moment? > - Please check if websockets work for you. Go to [http://websocket.org/echo.html](http://websocket.org/echo.html), then connect and try the echo test. > > Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ahmedhussain18](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/ahmedhussain18/32/140_2.png) [@ahmedhussain18](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/ahmedhussain18)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 4:34pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/18 "2016-06-13T16:34:01Z")
@Fields! Furthermore can you please also send us your console output. This will help us to track issue in your case. In order to do so, use Ctrl + Shift + j in order to see the console output once you face the problem with post processor. Below you can see an example: ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e7bf80db95a1d88d6eccccf3291c93e3994405cf.png) ---
**Author:** ![Fields](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/fields/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Fields](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/Fields)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:27pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/19 "2016-06-13T17:27:36Z")
Nothing has changed that I know of from the past few months, but I am on a corporate connection. The only part of simscale that has an issue is the post processor. Echo test passed. ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/5/5219533f85db6d93ca2f4ff3407a6e08fe8d3eea.PNG) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/c/c8871fff344a3d4a5ab5a76093b166cbf9072800.PNG) ---
**Author:** ![bdaqui](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/bdaqui/32/181_2.png) [@bdaqui](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/bdaqui)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/20 "2016-06-13T17:46:17Z")
Hi @Fields, Thanks for the detailed feedback. It does indeed look like the connection to the post-processor on the 9002 port is being blocked by the network. This problem should be addressed in this coming release. Until then, I believe that unblocking that port will sort this out. ---
**Author:** ![radenpm9](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/radenpm9/32/5989_2.png) [@radenpm9](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/radenpm9)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2016, 5:38am UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825/21 "2016-06-14T05:38:24Z")
Hi, I didn’t get similar results as shown by tutorial. I have set WrapByVector item from stress to a solid colour, but both solid colour and stress didn’t show colour gradation. or did I miss some important steps? Have you got any advice about that? ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/8/89213a17cc61fb446a7ac4661f03d406535344b9.png) ![](https://www.simscale.com/forum/uploads/default/original/2X/6/6874357fc6366cee44708973a8dbdd9ba9887cec.png) [Next page](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/step-by-step-tutorial-session-1/26825.md?page=2)