OS-T: 1390 Pretensioned Bolt Analysis of an IC Engine Cylinder Head, Gasket and Engine Block System

This tutorial outlines the procedure to perform both 1D and 3D pretensioned bolt analysis on a section of an IC Engine. The pretensioned analysis is conducted to measure the response of a system consisting of the cylinder head, gasket and engine block connected by four head bolts subjected to a pretension force of 4500 N each.

Before you begin, copy the file(s) used in this tutorial to your working directory.
Figure 1. Model Showing the Cylinder Head, Engine Block and Head Bolts

model_cyl_head

The model consists of eight predefined components along with their corresponding property and material allocations. A contact surface (PT_Surf) has been defined, which is used for 3D pretensioning of an existing pretension surface. The pretension sections for 1D pretensioning have also been created on two of the four bolts and the sectioned bolts are reconnected using 1D beam elements (via rigids). A predefined visualization aid is also available under View, which allows you to easily look at the pretensioned sections of the four bolts. Contact surfaces and Contact Interfaces (TYPE=FREEZE) between the various parts have also been created so you can focus on the Pretensioning aspect of the tutorial.

Pretensioned Bolt Analysis

Many engineering assemblies are put together using bolts, which are usually pretensioned before application of working loads. A typical sequence is described below. For further detailed information, refer to Pretensioned Bolt Analysis in the User Guide.

In Step 1, upon preliminary assembly of the structure, the nuts on respective bolts are tightened, usually by applying prescribed torque (which translates into prescribed tension force according to the pitch of the thread).

As a result, the working part of the bolt becomes shorter by a distance Δ L MathType@MTEF@5@5@+= feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq=Jc9 vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0=yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr=x fr=xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeiLdiaadY eaaaa@37E1@ . This distance depends upon the applied force, the compliance of the bolt and of the assembly being pretensioned.
Figure 2. Step 1 of Pretensioned Assembly. Application of Pretensioning Loads


From the perspective of FEA analysis, it is important to recognize that:
  • Pretensioning actually shortens the working part of the bolt by removing a certain length of the bolt from the active structure (in reality this segment slides through the nut, yet the net effect is the shortening of the working length of the bolt). At the same time the bolt stretches, since now the smaller effective length of the bolt material has to span the distance from the bolt mount to the nut.
  • Calculation of each bolt's shortening Δ L MathType@MTEF@5@5@+= feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq=Jc9 vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0=yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr=x fr=xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeiLdiaadY eaaaa@37E1@ , due to applied forces F, requires FEA solution of the entire model with the pretensioning forces applied. This is because the amount of nut movement, due to given force depends on the compliance of the bolts, of the assembly being bolted and is also affected by cross-interaction between multiple bolts being pretensioned.

At the end of Step 1, the amount of shortening Δ L MathType@MTEF@5@5@+= feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq=Jc9 vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0=yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr=x fr=xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeiLdiaadY eaaaa@37E1@ for each bolt is established and "locked", simply by leaving the nuts at the position that they reached during the pretensioning step.

In Step 2, with the shortening Δ L MathType@MTEF@5@5@+= feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq=Jc9 vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0=yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr=x fr=xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeiLdiaadY eaaaa@37E1@ of all the bolts "locked", other loads are applied to the assembly. At this stage the stresses and strains in the bolts will usually change, while the length of material removed Δ L MathType@MTEF@5@5@+= feaagKart1ev2aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq=Jc9 vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0=yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr=x fr=xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeiLdiaadY eaaaa@37E1@ remains constant for each bolt.
Figure 3. Step 2 of Pretensioned Assembly. Application of Working Loads with 'Locked' Bolt Shortening


Launch HyperMesh and Set the OptiStruct User Profile

  1. Launch HyperMesh.
    The User Profile dialog opens.
  2. Select OptiStruct and click OK.
    This loads the user profile. It includes the appropriate template, macro menu, and import reader, paring down the functionality of HyperMesh to what is relevant for generating models for OptiStruct.

Open the Model

  1. Click File > Open > Model.
  2. Select the Pretension.hm file you saved to your working directory.
  3. Click Open.
    The Pretension.hm database is loaded into the current HyperMesh session, replacing any existing data.

Set Up the Model

This tutorial helps the you apply 1D and 3D bolt pretensioning to the four head bolts (two of each) and then apply a pressure load to the constrained system. The applied pressure load models the pressure on the inside walls of an IC engine due to combustion. Pressure within the engine compartment varies with time (transient); however, you capture the response of the system at a specific instant frozen in time. A constant single-valued pressure load of 1 Pascal is applied to the inner walls of the cylinder head and the engine block.

Gasket behavior is nonlinear and it may undergo cycles of loading and unloading which lead to changes in its properties at each step. In this tutorial, which focuses on 1D and 3D pretensioning, the loading and unloading paths for the gasket material are pre-populated in the MGASK Data Entry via the TABLES# entries referenced by corresponding load collectors. As the nonlinear static analysis is running, the initial applied pressure load is compared with corresponding values within the loading/unloading path tables and the initial material properties of the gasket are determined. The nonlinear properties of the gasket via the MGASK Data Entry are a function of pressure and the closure distance (Refer to MGASK Bulk Data Entry for more information). FREEZE contact has been predefined for all parts in contact.
Figure 4. Tutorial Process Flow

flowchart_tutorials

Review Material Properties

The imported model contains a large amount of pre-populated information which allows us to focus on the pretensioning section in this tutorial. As previously explained, all material and properties are predefined for the gasket, engine block, cylinder head and head bolts. The material properties of steel are assigned to all components except the gasket.
  1. In the Model Browser, right-click and select Expand All.
  2. Click on STEEL in the Model Browser under Material.
    The MAT1 entry is displayed in the Entity Editor with pre-populated field values.
  3. Make sure that the values on the MAT1 Bulk Data Entry for the material properties of steel are input as shown below.
    Figure 5. Reviewing the Material - Steel

    OS_1390_01
  4. Select MAT1_gask in the Model Browser.
  5. Make sure that the values on the MAT1 Bulk Data Entry for the material properties of the gasket are input as shown below.
    Figure 6. Reviewing the Material - Gasket

    OS_1390_02
  6. Click on MGASK.
  7. Make sure that the values on the MGASK Bulk Data Entry for the material properties of the gasket are input as shown below.
    Figure 7. Reviewing the Nonlinear Gasket Material Properties - MGASK

    OS_1390_03
    Tip: The TABLD and TABLU(1) fields (Gasket loading and unloading paths) in Figure 7 are defined by TABLES1 Bulk Data Entries in separate curves named Gask_Load and Gask_Unload1, respectively.
  8. Click on Gask_Load in the Curves folder and then right-click and select Edit to view the data.
  9. Make sure that the values on the TABLES1 Bulk Data Entry defining the gasket loading paths are input as shown below.
    Figure 8. Reviewing the Gasket Loading Paths - TABLES1

    OS_1390_04
  10. Similarly, make sure that the values on the TABLES1 Bulk Data Entry defining the gasket unloading paths (curves Gask_Unload1) are input as shown below.
    Figure 9. Reviewing the Gasket Unloading Paths - TABLES1

    OS_1390_05
    Tip: You can review, in a similar manner, the remaining predefined data entries like properties and load collectors. The procedure for load collector review is not as straight forward, as shown above in some cases; however, this has been thoroughly illustrated in various other tutorials for your benefit.
  11. The gasket normal direction is now reviewed by clicking on normals in the Tools panel.
  12. To select the gasket component, use the Show/Hide tool (Figure 10 ) to hide the cylinder head thereby exposing the gasket to view.
    Figure 10. Masking (Show/Hide) Tool

    show-hide
  13. Click on the Show/Hide icon, and right-click on the cylinder head to hide it from view.
    The gasket should now be visible.
    Figure 11. Exposing the Gasket Component to View Using the Masking Tool

    gasket_component
  14. In a similar fashion, hide (right-click) the engine block from view to be able to better visualize the gasket normals.
  15. Click the Show/Hide icon again to deselect it and select the gasket directly from the modeling window and click display normals.
    The gasket normals can be seen in the modeling window, as shown in Figure 12. Notice that all the normals point in the negative Z direction.
    Figure 12. Selecting the Gasket Component

    gasket_component_select
    Figure 13. Displaying the Gasket Normals (Negative Z Direction)

    gaskets_normal
This concludes the review section of the tutorial. You will now focus on generating contact interfaces, contact surfaces and applying pretensioning to the head bolts.

Apply 1D and 3D Bolt Pretensioning

Bolt pretensioning analysis determines the response of a system which contains bolts holding two or more components together as a result of pretensioning. In OptiStruct, pretensioning is applied in an earlier subcase and it is subsequently referenced to in the subcase where its effect is sought (STATSUB(PRETENS)).
  1. In the Model Browser, right-click on Component and select Show from the context menu.
  2. Hide the CYLINDER_HEAD component by clicking the Elements icon next to it in the Model Browser.
    Tip: View1, A predefined visualization option, is included with this model under View in the Model Browser. Click on the monitor shaped icon next to View1; this loads a predefined view in the Model Browser allowing you to view all four bolts in the Y-Z plane. Two bolts have disc-shaped sections cut-off along its length. These bolts are then reconnected using 1D beam elements (CBEAM) and two rigid spiders (RBE2) per bolt. 1D pretensioning can now be applied to these two bolts. 3D pretensioning requires the creation of a surface at which pretensioning forces can be applied.
    Figure 14. Using the predefined visualization option View1

    view1
    A surface PT_Surf has been predefined to demonstrate 3D pretensioning on existing surfaces. To additionally demonstrate 3D pretensioning by creating a new surface, the fourth bolt is left unchanged.
    Figure 15. Bolt Pretensioning for this Tutorial Model

    flowchart_bolt
  3. From the menu bar, click Tools > Pretension Manager to access the Pretension Manager.
  4. Click on Add 1D Bolts and select the two 1D beam elements in bolts 1 and 2 (Figure 18).
    Tip: Care must be taken not to use Ctrl+left mouse click while zooming in and positioning the elements in the graphics area for selection. Using Ctrl+left mouse click can lead to the model being rotated about an axis and thus disengaging from the Y-Z plane of View1. It is recommended to only use Ctrl+right mouse click (dragging action) while working in View1.
    Figure 16. Selecting the Predefined 1D Elements for Pretensioning

    predefined_1d_element
  5. Select both fields under the Load Type column in the Pretension Manager window (Click on the first field and then while holding down the Ctrl key, click on the second field). Click on the downward facing arrow next to the second field and select Force from the drop-down menu.
  6. In a similar fashion, enter 4500.0 for both bolts in the Load Magnitude column.
  7. Click Apply.
    A pretensioning force of 4500.0 N is applied to both 1D bolts, as shown in Figure 19.
    Figure 17. Pretensioning Force is Applied to 1D Elements (PTFORCE=4500 N)

    ptforce
  8. Click on Add 3D Bolts and select Select Existing Surface from the drop-down menu.
  9. Click on the Wireframe elements skin only icon visualizationElementsWireframeSkinOnly-24 to view the predefined contact surface PT_Surf on the third bolt.
    Tip: If the predefined surface is not visible, then switch on (show) the PT_Surf entry in the Model Browser by clicking on the entityContactSurfaces-24icon next to it.
  10. Click on the displayed predefined surface in the bolt, as shown in Figure 20 and click proceed.
    Figure 18. Selecting the Predefined PT_Surf Surface

    predefined_pt_surf
  11. Select Force under the Load Type column and enter 4500.0N for the Load Magnitude column and click Apply.
    A pretensioning force of 4500.0 N is applied normal to the PT_Surf surface, as shown in Figure 21.
    Figure 19. Applying a pretensioning force of 4500 N to the predefined surface PT_Surf on the third bolt

    pt_surf
  12. Click on Add 3D Bolts and select Create New Surface from the drop-down menu.
  13. Toggle 3d faces into elems in the panel below the graphics area.
    Tip: Utilize the click and drag technique (while holding down the Shift key) described previously to select the top of the fourth bolt, as shown in Figure 22.
    Figure 20. Creating a New Surface for Pretensioning

    surface_create
  14. Click on nodes in the panel below the graphics area and select all the nodes in the surface perpendicular to the Y-Z plane, as shown in Figure 23.
    Tip: The same click and drag technique can be used to select these nodes (draw a window encompassing the line as the perpendicular surface is a line in the Y-Z plane).
    Figure 21. Selecting the nodes necessary to create a pretensioning surface

    nodes_selecting
  15. Click create > return to return to the Pretension Manager.
  16. Select Force under the Load Type column and enter 4500.0 N for the Load Magnitude and click Apply.
    Figure 22. Pretension Manager with all Four Pretensioned Bolts

    pretension_mgr
  17. Click OK in the Pretension Manager to view all four bolts with their respective pretensioning forces, as shown in Figure 25.
    Figure 23. Reviewing the Four Pretensioned Bolts

    reviewing_bolts

Create a Pretension Loadstep and Subsequent Analysis Loadstep

OptiStruct nonlinear static analysis loadsteps will be created for both pretensioning and the subsequent analysis. The analysis is nonlinear due to the presence of contact elements and the gasket loading/unloading paths. The CNTNLSUB Bulk Data Entry is used to continue the subsequent nonlinear analysis after pretensioning. Also, the pretensioning subcase is referenced in the analysis subcase using STATSUB(PRETENS). The Loadsteps Browser will be used to created the loadsteps and assign respective data entries.
  1. Click on the Shaded Elements and Mesh Lines icon entityElements-24 next to the BLOCK and CYLINDER_HEAD components in the Model Browser to show the hidden components.
  2. Click Tools > Load Step Browser to access the Loadsteps Browser.
  3. Right-click on Loadsteps in the Loadsteps Browser and select New loadstep.
  4. In the Loadstep name: field, enter Pretension and click Create.
    Figure 24. Creating the Pretension Subcase

    loadstep
  5. Select Nonlinear static from the drop-down menu next to Loadstep type: in the Loadstep Type tab.
  6. Switch to the Load References tab and click on NLPARM in the list of subcase entries.
  7. Click on Nlparm in the Available nonlinear parameters: section and then click on the right facing arrow pageNext-24 to add it to the selected nonlinear parameter: section.
  8. Similarly, click on SPC in the Subcase Entry list and add the Available SPC constraint to the Selected SPC constraints: section.
  9. Follow the instructions in Steps 6 or 7 to add PRETENS_1 to the list from the PRETENSION Subcase Entry section.
  10. Click OK after all three subcase entries are added to the Pretension loadstep.
  11. Right-click on Loadsteps in the Loadsteps Browser and select New loadstep.
  12. In the Loadstep name: field, enter Pressure and click Create.
    Figure 25. Creating the Pressure Loadstep


  13. Select Nonlinear static from the drop-down menu next to Loadstep type: in the Loadstep Type tab.
  14. Switch to the Load References tab and click on NLPARM in the list of subcase entries.
  15. Click on Nlparm in the Available nonlinear parameters: section and then click on the right facing arrow pageNext-24 to add it to the selected nonlinear parameter: section.
  16. Similarly, click on SPC in the subcase entry list and add the Available SPC constraint to the Selected SPC constraints: section.
  17. Follow the instructions in Steps 6 or 7 to add PRETENSION to the list from the STATSUB(PRETENS) subcase entry section.
  18. Again, follow the instructions in Steps 6 or 7 to add PRESSURES to the list from the LOAD subcase entry section.
  19. Click on the CNTNLSUB subcase entry and check the box next to CNTNLSUB, additionally select YES from the pull-down menu next to CNTNLSUB.
  20. Click OK after all five subcase entries are added to the Pressure loadstep.
  21. Click Close to exit the Loadsteps Browser.

Submit the Job

  1. From the Analysis page, click the OptiStruct panel.
    Figure 26. Accessing the OptiStruct Panel

    OS_1000_13_17
  2. Click save as.
  3. In the Save As dialog, specify location to write the OptiStruct model file and enter Pretension for filename.
    For OptiStruct input decks, .fem is the recommended extension.
  4. Click Save.
    The input file field displays the filename and location specified in the Save As dialog.
  5. Set the export options toggle to all.
  6. Set the run options toggle to analysis.
  7. Set the memory options toggle to memory default.
  8. Click OptiStruct to launch the OptiStruct job.
If the job is successful, new results files should be in the directory where the Pretension.fem was written. The Pretension.out file is a good place to look for error messages that could help debug the input deck if any errors are present.

View the Results

  1. When the message Process completed successfully is received in the command window, click HyperView. HyperView is launched and the results are loaded.
    A message window appears to inform of the successful model and result files loading into HyperView.
  2. Click Close to close the message window, if one appears.
  3. Click the Contour toolbar icon resultsContour-16.
  4. Select the first pull-down menu below Result type: and select Displacement(v).
    Figure 27. Contour plot panel in HyperView

    hv_contour_plot
  5. Click Apply, select Subcase 2 (Pressure) from the Results Browser.
    A contour plot of displacements is created, as shown in Figure 29. The cylinder head is hidden to view the displacement plots for the head bolts.
    Figure 28. Displacement Contour for the Pressure Subcase after Pretensioning

    displacement_pressure

    In Figure 29, the displacement plot after running the pressure subcases can be seen. The maximum displacement is around 0.089 mm and it occurs in the region near the pretensioned bolt heads.

  6. Select Gasket Thickness-direction Pressure in the Contour panel and click Apply.
    A contour plot of gasket pressure in the thickness direction is created, as shown in Figure 30. The other components are hidden to be able to better view the pressure variation on the gasket.
    Figure 29. Gasket pressure in the thickness direction for the Pressure subcase

    gasket_pressure

    Checkpoint

    The maximum pressure on the Gasket in the thickness direction is equal to 0.21 MPa.