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Tutorial 01

Beam Cantilever

Goal

Use a realistic cantilever beam example to learn:

  • node and beam-element layout
  • material and section definition
  • distributed load and support definition
  • analysis execution
  • basic result review

Why start with a beam model

A beam model is ideal for getting started because it describes the same structural behavior with the smallest modeling cost.

  • small model size
  • fast results
  • clear interpretation of boundary conditions and loads

Tutorial case

This tutorial uses a linear-elastic reinforced-concrete cantilever that can represent a balcony beam or a short slab-supporting bracket.

  • span: 2.4 m
  • section: 300 x 600 mm rectangular beam
  • support: one fully fixed end at the wall face
  • load: 18 kN/m downward line load, representing tributary slab dead plus service load
  • mesh: 8 beam elements with type B3D2H

This is still simple enough for a first tutorial, but it is more realistic than a pure textbook point-load example.

Working input file

Repository file: Example/Tutorials/tutorial-beam-cantilever.inp

*Material, Type=IsoElasticity, Name=Concrete
 30e9, 0.2, 0, 2500   # E, nu, alpha, density

*Section, Type=Beam, Name=RC300x600
*Cell, Type=Rectangle, Mat=Concrete
 0.30, 0.60, 0, 0

*Node, NSet=AllNodes
 1, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0
 2, 0.3, 0.0, 0.0
 3, 0.6, 0.0, 0.0
 4, 0.9, 0.0, 0.0
 5, 1.2, 0.0, 0.0
 6, 1.5, 0.0, 0.0
 7, 1.8, 0.0, 0.0
 8, 2.1, 0.0, 0.0
 9, 2.4, 0.0, 0.0

*Element, Type=B3D2H, ELSet=Cantilever
 1, 1, 2, S=RC300x600
 2, 2, 3, S=RC300x600
 3, 3, 4, S=RC300x600
 4, 4, 5, S=RC300x600
 5, 5, 6, S=RC300x600
 6, 6, 7, S=RC300x600
 7, 7, 8, S=RC300x600
 8, 8, 9, S=RC300x600

*NSet, Name=Tip
 9

*Constraint, Type=Support, Name=FixedEnd
 1, X|Y|Z|RX|RY|RZ

*Load, Type=LineDistributed, Name=DeckLoad
 Cantilever, GCS, 0, 0, -18000, 0, 0, 0

*Step, Type=Static, Name=Service
 Uniform, 0.1, 1
*Activate, Type=Element
 Cantilever
*Activate, Type=Constraint
 FixedEnd
*Activate, Type=Load
 DeckLoad
*Output
 D, FN, BSF
*Print, File=tutorial-beam-cantilever.prn
 D@Tip, FN@1, BSF@Cantilever

Modeling sequence

  1. create the nodes
  2. Node
  3. create the beam elements
  4. Beam Elements
  5. define the material
  6. Material
  7. define the section
  8. Modeling Convenience
  9. define constraints and loads
  10. Constraint
  11. Load
  12. define the analysis step
  13. Step

Run the analysis

You can save the .inp file and run hfAnalyzer, or import the same file into hfVisualizer.

Remote Control example:

hfVisualizer --remote import D:\Work\tutorial-beam-cantilever.inp --type Hyfeast
hfVisualizer --remote save D:\Work\tutorial-beam-cantilever.h5.hdb
hfVisualizer --remote run-analysis

Review the results

Check these first:

  • whether the tip displacement points downward
  • whether the fixed-end reaction balances the total distributed load
  • whether the bending and shear-force output match the expected cantilever behavior

Postprocessing example:

hfVisualizer --remote post-step Service
hfVisualizer --remote post-frame 1
hfVisualizer --remote post-plot deformed on
hfVisualizer --remote post-scale deformed value 20

The following image shows the solved tutorial model with deformed shape display in hfVisualizer.

Deformed beam cantilever result in hfVisualizer

Main takeaway

  • Beam models are fast and simple, but they do not directly show through-section stress distribution.
  • If the goal is global behavior review, beam modeling is usually very efficient.
  • For this tutorial case, the beam model is a good first pass before building a full 3D solid model.

Next step