E5000

Cause 1: The model is missing a constraint or a contact, causing it to be statically unstable.

Action 1: Check the constraints and contacts. Separate parts are not connected together unless contact is defined.

• Check that each part of the model is restrained in the X, Y, and Z translational directions and is prevented from rotating freely about the X, Y, and Z axes. The restraint can be either constraints on the part or contact with other parts that are constrained.
• Increase the "Maximum Activation Distance" for contact. The activation distance for manual contact should be 1.1 to 1.2 times the mesh size on the contact faces. For solver contact, the activation distance should be larger than any gap between the parts and smaller than half the mesh size.
• Model components differently such as joining components into a single part instead of using contact.

Cause 2: The material properties are invalid which leads to a numerical problem that mimics a missing constraint.

Action 2:

• Check that the material properties are reasonable. For example, Poisson's Ratio for an isotropic material must be smaller than 0.5. Use a value such as 0.48 if the real value is 0.5.
• Check the ratio of the largest modulus of elasticity divided by the smallest modulus is on the order of 1E3 to 1E4. For example, rubber is much softer than steel and often exceeds the ratio of 1E4. If the model includes both materials, determine which material is more critical and keep its modulus. Change the modulus of the other material to reduce the maximum/minimum ratio

Cause 3: There are distorted elements in the model mesh, either because it is too large, or because the CAD geometry leads to distorted elements.

Action 3: Check for small features that are causing the elements to distort and apply local mesh control or simplify the model to remove unneeded components.

• Create the mesh using only straight mesh elements. “Mesh Settings -> Settings -> Project Midside Nodes” is unchecked.
• Use ‘Mesh -> Mesh Control’ on the selected small features and apply a smaller mesh size.
• In Inventor Professional simplify the model using ‘3D Model -> Simplification -> Remove Details’ to remove small features that don’t affect the model performance.