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Measuring out-of-plane displacement in plane stress

Nicolás Sebastián Fochesatto

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Hello everyone,

I am modelling some contact considering a 2D plane stress situation. I would like to know how to measure the quantity of material which moves out of the XY plane. The variable comp1.w (which is displacement in Z direction) returns 0 value. Is this the correct variable? Because I am sure there should be some out-of-plane displacement.

Thank you in advance.


1 Reply Last Post Dec 4, 2018, 2:08 a.m. EST
Henrik Sönnerlind COMSOL Employee

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Posted: 5 years ago Dec 4, 2018, 2:08 a.m. EST

Hi,

Plane stress models the 'midplane' of a thin sheet. The out-of-plane displacement degree of freedom is per defintion zero.

The material does however change thickness (symmetrically in the thickness direction) due to Poisson's ratio effects. The transverse strain is available in the variable wZ. The change in thickness is thus the transverse strain multiplied by the thickness: solid.d*wZ.

Regards,
Henrik

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Henrik Sönnerlind
COMSOL
Hi, Plane stress models the 'midplane' of a thin sheet. The out-of-plane displacement degree of freedom is per defintion zero. The material does however change thickness (symmetrically in the thickness direction) due to Poisson's ratio effects. The transverse strain is available in the variable *wZ*. The change in thickness is thus the transverse strain multiplied by the thickness: *solid.d\*wZ*. Regards, Henrik

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