Column Beam with Contact
This simulation tutorial will guide you through:
- Applying pressure and fixture boundary condition
- How to set up contact interactions
- Viewing the von Mises stress in the simulation results

Import the CAD file
- From the Projects tab of the dashboard, create a new project.
- Select Import 3D CAD.
- Select the Library tab, within OnScale Library select Column Beam.
- For Initial Contact, select Unbonded.
Assign a material
- Using either the Model tree or the 3D viewer, select parts Column, Angle and Beam.
- Using the Material dropdown in the properties panel, assign Aluminium to these parts.
Turn on General Contact for sliding contact between Beam and Angle
- Select the
tab.
- In the tree, select Global Settings.
- In the properties panel select Edit.
- Toggle on General Contact (Solver checks for all possible surfaces coming into contact during the simulation and enforces a sliding contact condition between those surfaces).
Add bonded contact between Column and Beam
- Select the
tab.
- In the toolbar select Interactions.
- Select Contact in the toolbar to add a contact interaction.
- For Type, select Bonded.
- Ensure SIDE A is expanded, using either the Model tree or the 3D viewer, select Column – Face 1.
- Expand SIDE B, using either the Model tree or the 3D viewer, select Beam – Face 17.
Add bonded contact between Column and Angle
- In the toolbar select Interactions.
- Select Contact in the toolbar to add a contact interaction.
- For Type, select Bonded.
- Ensure SIDE A is expanded, using either the Model tree or the 3D viewer, select Column – Face 1.
- Expand SIDE B, using either the Model tree or the 3D viewer, select Angle – Face 9.
Add a fixture
- Select the
tab.
- In the toolbar select Restraint to add a fixture.
- n the properties panel, set Type to Fixture
- Using either the Model tree or the 3D viewer, select the Column – Face 16.
- Select Done.
Add a pressure load
- In the toolbar select Pressure to add a pressure load.
- Using either the Model tree or the 3D viewer, select the Beam – Face 0 which represents the location where the passenger would be sited.
- In the properties panel, for Pressure enter 20e3Pa and select Done.
Run a simulation
- Select the
tab.
- Click on the Launcher to run the simulation.
- Once the meshing and estimation is complete, Select Launch to run the simulation.
Analyze the results
- Once the simulation has finished, select Open Results to open the results in the Results tab.
- For Ouptut Datasets, select von Mises.
- In the viewbar, select Settings and toggle Show Mesh.
