Getting Started with ANSYS - Rutgers School of...

TIPS

Getting Started

ANSYS Workben

d with ANSYS

nch Environment

TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Overview

• The purpose of this tutorial is to get you sta
environment.

• We will use a simple, static analysis of a sin
the Workbench environment allows you to
(as of ANSYS 8.0):

• Multi-part assemblies
• 3-D solid elements, shell elements, and shel
• Nonlinear contact with or without friction
• Small-displacement and large-displacement
• Modal, harmonic, and eigenvalue buckling a
• Steady-state thermal analysis, including tem

contact

Workbench Environment)

arted with the ANSYS Workbench
ngle part to accomplish this, but be aware that
solve much more complex analyses, including

ll-solid assemblies
t static analyses
analyses
mperature-dependent material properties and thermal

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Problem Description

• An L-shaped bracket, made of structural ste
holes. Determine the stress and displaceme
pressure of 10 psi.

• The geometry of the bracket is given to you

Workbench Environment)

eel, is mounted to a wall at two mounting
ent distribution in the bracket under a uniform
u in the form an Iges file, Lbracket.igs.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

1. Enter ANSYS Workbench and create a new

– On Windows systems:

• Start > Programs > ANSYS x.x > ANSYS W

– On Unix systems:

• ________

You are now at the “Start Page.”

– Click on “Create a new project” in the side
choose:

• What do you want the new project to initial

– Nothing - I will build this project from scrat

• Choose a default project name and location

– Name: Lbracket
– Location: C:\temp (or other directory of you
– Check the box to create a subfolder

• Create a new empty project

– Open the Project Page

Workbench Environment)

w project.

Workbench

menu, then

lly contain?

tch

n

ur choice)

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

2. Project Page: Select the geometry and star

– Click on Browse for geometry files and cho
– Then click on Create a new simulation to im

Workbench Environment)

rt a new simulation.

oose Lbracket.igs.
mport the geometry and open the Simulation Page.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

3. Simulation Page: Begin by exploring some
operations.

Graphics

• To rotate the model, “drag” the middle mo
(Drag = move the mouse while pressing dow

• To zoom in, drag the right mouse button an
• To fit the image, right-click anywhere in th

menu. Or click on the Fit icon in the toolba
• To pan the model, drag the middle mouse b

Picking

• Face picking is active by default (as indicat
To pick a face, left-click anywhere on the f

• Use the Vertex, Edge, Face, and Body icons
right-click to activate the pop-up menu and

• To pick multiple entities, hold down the C
status region at the bottom shows the numbe

• A pick in empty space clears the current sel

Workbench Environment)

e basic graphics and picking

ouse button.
wn on a mouse button)
nd create a box around the region of interest.
e graphics area and choose “Fit” on the pop-up
ar.
button while pressing the Shift key.

ted by the Face icon attached to the mouse cursor).
face.
s in the toolbar to pick the respective entities. Or
choose Cursor Mode.
Ctrl key while picking the additional entities. The
er of entities currently picked.
lection.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

4. Choose the type of simulation (analysis typ

– Click on Stress Branch - Ductile Material fr
the right-side menu.

• Notice that the Solution branch in the tree O
commonly requested stress solution quantiti

• The right-side menu changes to a simulation
list in this wizard to do the analysis. Once y
can simply close the simulation wizard and

– Choose Units > U.S. Customary (in, lbm, p

• Workbench allows you to use the units syste
• You can change units at any step of the ana

inch-pound-psi system, specify material pro
results in the mm-kg-MPa system.

Workbench Environment)

pe) and units system.

rom the simulation template choices on

Outline on the left is now populated with
ies.
n wizard. We will use the “Required Steps”
you are familiar with the required steps, you
take advantage of a larger graphics window.

psi, …) in the main menu.

em of your choice.
alysis. For example, you can apply loads in the
operties in the m-kg-Pa system, and review

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

5. Specify the material.

– Click on Verify Material in the simulation w

• A call-out appears, pointing to “Structural S
selection; however, browse the material libr

• Choices in the Details window are based on
name was automatically selected in the Geo
simulation wizard.

– Click on Engineering Data > Structural Stee

• Review the material properties.
• If necessary, you can edit the properties and

Structural Steel and choosing Export in the

Workbench Environment)

wizard.

Steel” in the Details window. We will use the default material
rary to see the handful of predefined materials available.
n which branch is selected in the Outline. In this case, the part
ometry branch when you clicked on Verify Material in the

el in the Outline.

d save them as a custom material by right-clicking on
pop-up menu.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

6. Apply loads on the structure.

– Click on Insert Loads in the simulation wiz

• The call-out points to “Structural” in the co
shows choices based on which branch is sel
automatically selected the Environment bra

– Pick the “shelf” surface, then:

• Right-click > Insert > Pressure
• Details window: Magnitude = 10 psi

Workbench Environment)

zard.

ontext toolbar. The context toolbar, like the Details window,
lected in the Tree Outline. In this case, the simulation wizard
anch.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

7. Constrain the structure.

– Click on Insert Supports in the simulation w
– Pick the back face of the slotted half of the

Support.
– Pick the two half-cylindrical surfaces makin

cylindrical surface and click on the “Adjace
Then:

• Right-click > Insert > Cylindrical Support
• Details window: Radial=Fixed, Axial=Free

– Apply the same cylindrical support (radial=
hole.

Workbench Environment)

wizard.
shelf, then Right-click > Insert > Frictionless
ng up one of the holes. Helpful Tip: Pick one half-
ent” icon in the toolbar to get the other surface.

e, Tangential=Free

=fixed, axial=free, tangential=free) at the second

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

8. Check the default mesh and specify mesh co

– Outline: Mesh (right-click) > Preview Mesh
– The default mesh is designed for a reasonab

solution speed and accuracy. We will speci
controls to improve the mesh.
– Switch to Body pick mode and pick the bod

• Right-click > Insert > Sizing
• Details window: Element Size = 0.4 in

– Switch to Edge pick mode, pick the 8 lines

• Right click > Insert > Sizing
• Details window: Element Size = 0.1 in

– Outline: Mesh (right-click) > Preview Mesh

Workbench Environment)

ontrols if needed.

h
ble compromise between
ify global as well as local size
dy. Then:
making up the two holes, then:
h

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

9. Initiate the solution.

– By default, ANSYS Workbench activates w
underconstrained. We will deactivate weak

• Outline: Solution
• Details window: Weak Springs = Off

– Notice in the Details window that many oth
type and solver working directory.

– Click on Solve in the simulation wizard. Th
– Press the Solve button in the toolbar.

Workbench Environment)

weak springs if it detects that the model may be
k springs for this example:
her solution controls are available, including solver
he call-out points to the Solve button in the toolbar.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

10. Review the results.

– Contour plots:

• Outline: Total Deformation
• Outline: Equivalent Stress

– Experiment with various contour options (a

• “Geometry” icon: Switch to “Isosurfaces.”
switch back to “Exterior.”

• “Contours” icon: Switch to “Smooth Conto
• “Edges” icon: Switch to “Show Elements.”

Wireframe.”

Workbench Environment)

available on the Context toolbar):

Zoom in and rotate the isosurface plot as desired, then
ours.”
” Zoom in and rotate as desired, then switch back to “No

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

10. (continued) Review the results.

– Experiment with slice planes:

• Switch to Right view. Two ways to do this:
Right.

• Click the “Draw Slice Plane” icon in the Co
horizontal “slice” through the model as show

• Now rotate the model to see results on the s
• Click the “Edit Planes” icon in the Context

along the dashed line to change the position
• Click the dashed line on either side of the an
• Workbench allows you to define multiple sl
• To return to a standard contour plot, click th

Workbench Environment)

: Click the X-axis on the triad, or Right-click > Views >
ontext toolbar, then drag the left mouse button to create a
wn on the left below.
slice plane.
toolbar to display a slice plane anchor. Move the anchor
n of the slice plane.
nchor to display a “capped” view.
lice planes through the model.
he “Geometry” icon and choose “Exterior.”

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

10. (continued) Review the results.

– Probe the model for results values at specifi

• Click the “Probe” icon in the Context toolba
results values at those locations.

• Click any location on the model to create a p
• To delete an annotation, press the “Label” bu

key on the keyboard.

– Animate the results:

• Click the “Animate” icon in the Context tool
rotate the model during animation.

• To save the animation, click the “Export Ani

Workbench Environment)

ic points:

ar and move the mouse cursor over the model to see
probe annotation.
utton, pick the desired annotation, and press the Delete
lbar to animate the results. You may pan, zoom, and
imation File” icon.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

11. Investigate a different loading scenario.

– Begin by duplicating the existing environm

• Outline: Environment (right-click) > Duplic
• Collapse the first Environment branch in the

– Delete one of the cylindrical supports in En

• Outline: Environment 2 > Cylindrical Supp
confirmation question.

– Replace the cylindrical support with a “com
Pick the two half-cylindrical surfaces where

• Right-click > Insert > Compression Only Su
prior to 8.0).

Workbench Environment)

ment.

cate
e Outline.

nvironment 2.

port (right-click) > Delete. Press “Yes” on the delete

mpression only” support (to simulate a pinned hole).
e the cylindrical support was deleted, then:

upport (known as “Pinned Cylinder Support” in versions

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

11. (continued) Investigate a different loading

– Solve Environment 2.

• Outline: Environment 2 (right-click) > Solv
• Note: Compression-only support is handled

so the solution time will be longer.

– Review the results for Environment 2.

• Switch to front view by clicking the Z axis
• Outline: Environment 2 > Solution > Total
• Zoom-in on the hole with compression-only
• Exaggerate the displacements.

– Context Toolbar: Pull-down on “Automatic”
– Notice the “ovalization” of the hole. Compa

constraints), which remains circular.

• Note: Compression-only support is usually
boundary condition, especially for holes. It
cylindrical surfaces as well.

• Experiment with other ways to review resul

Workbench Environment)

scenario.

ve
d via nonlinear contact elements,

on the triad.
Deformation
y support.

” and change to “5:1 Automatic.”
are this to the other hole (with radial

considered a more realistic
t can be applied on non-
lts, as in step 10.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

12. Create a report.

– Add figures for the report.

• Outline: Geometry
• Click the “Figure” icon in the main toolbar.

outline. Change the view as desired.
• Outline: Mesh, then capture a figure of the m
• Outline: Environment, then capture a figure
• Outline: Environment > Solution > Equival
• Similarly, capture figures of Environment 2

Workbench Environment)

. This will add a “Figure” branch under Geometry in the
mesh.
e of the environment
lent Stress, then capture a figure.
2 and its equivalent stress.

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

12. (continued) Create a report.

– View the report.

• Click on View Report in the simulation wiz
• Read and understand the report customizati

“Customize Your Report” page.
• Press the “Generate Rep” button at the botto

– Close the simulation wizard and browse the
the loading scenarios are included in the rep
Appendix A1 and A2.

– As you can see from the context toolbar, yo
change the language, print the report, publis
etc.

Workbench Environment)

zard.
ion options available in the
om of the page.

e report. Notice that both
port, with all figures in
ou have the option to
sh it, change the font size,

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TIPS

Getting Started with ANSYS (W
Instructions

13. Exit ANSYS.

– First save the analysis.

• Click the Save icon in the main toolbar.
• Close the Design Simulation tab by clicking
• Project Page: Click the “Save All” icon in th

column: Lbracket.wbdb (the project file), Lb
database file).

– Notice the other options available on the Pro

• DesignXplorer Study — allows you to explo
the design.

• Parametric Geometry Updates — allows you
automatically update the geometry and resul
CAD system by sending new parameter valu

• Open Analysis in ANSYS — allows you to t
advanced analysis capability.

• Create a New FE Model — allows you to tra
designed to translate data to or from other FE

– Exit the program.

• Project Page: File > Exit.

Workbench Environment)

the “X” on the tab.
he toolbar. This will save all files listed in the “File Name”
bracket.igs (Iges file), and Lbracket.dsdb (design simulation

oject Page.

ore various designs, perform sensitivity studies, and optimize
u to change the geometry in your CAD system and
lts of the analysis. You can also let ANSYS “drive” your
ues.
transfer the FEA model to the traditional ANSYS GUI for
ansfer the model to FE Modeler, a new tool in ANSYS 8.0
E programs such as NASTRAN and ABAQUS.

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