I have a bar  which 4mm thick plain carbon steel and 24mm wide with 2 dowel pin holes 200mm apart  on the end of  one dowel pin is a vertical mass of 50kg.

When I simulate the bar  with one hole fixed and the other loaded the dowel pin holes distort.

My experience tells me the the stress should be toward the centre of the bar rather than around the hole as the dowel pins will act as a solid part.

taking the holes out  I get this

The stress is not symmetrical as one end is fixed and on end is loaded

I guess because the problem is symmetrical  I should cut the bar in half

Is this the best way to approach the simulation in SimulationXpress?

A  colleague has the premium license with the full blown Simulation suite how would I approach the simulation in regards to fixtures.

just fix it in on direction?

Thanks

Sammy