20 - ANSYS - WB - Hints - Gift - Expertfea - Com PDF

150 ANSYS Workbench
Mechanical
tips and tricks
by Claudiu D.
Oct. 2014, expertfea.com
- dedicated to God -
ISBN 978-973-0-16372-8
CONTENT:
A) Index of topics.....................................................................page 7
B) Foreword............................................................................ page 13
C) 150 Hints............................................................................ page 15
D) Afterword.......................................................................... page 348
A) Index of topics:
2D FEA setup - Hint 4
3D curve from a TXT coordinate file in DesignModeler - Hint 150
Advanced Size Function - Hint 109
Analysis Settings - Hint 104
Animations - Hint 105
ANSYS Customization Tools - Hint 65
APDL commands - Hint 69
Axes orientation - Hint 86
Axes re-orientation in Joints - Hint 3
Backup - Hint 68
Beta options - Hint 57
Body Views - Hint 43
Body Views - Hint 92
Bolt Pretension - Hint 51
Breaking of contacts in Explicit Dynamics - Hint 123
Carry Over Time in solving - Hint 63
Circular Pattern in DesignModeler - Hint 121
Composite materials - Hint 81
Construction Surfaces - Hint 140
Contacts and Joints details and properties - Hint 137
Contact Sizing - Hint 38
Contact Tool as Initial Contact Result - Hint 16
Contact Tool as Solution - Hint 17
7
Contact Tool Worksheet - Hint 21

Contacts between same face - Hint 76
Contacts in shell elements - Hint 88
Contacts in small size assemblies - Hint 127
Contour results - Hint 79
Convergence check - Hint 119
Convergence tool - Hint 110
Coordinate systems for rotational loads - Hint 78
Coordinate systems in nodes - Hint 61
Crack modelling - Hint 132
Cross sections library - Hint 95
Cyclic Symmetry - Hint 2
Default Solid Materials - Hint 84
Deformation and Stress in Modal FEA - Hint 147
Design Points - Hint 90
Display Solution items in nodes - Hint 13
Duplicate connections tool - Hint 73
Element Midside nodes - Hint 59
Element types query - Hint 117
Element types query - Hint 135
Enclosure of geometry - Hint 62
Energy Conservation and Energy Symmary plots in Explicit Dynamics Hint 115.
Energy Error in Explicit Dynamics - Hint 113.
8
Errors in Project Schematic - Hint 66

Face Delete in DesignModeler - Hint 143
Face splitting using Projection command in DesignModeler - Hint 145
Fatigue Tool - Hint 50
Files exchange and backup - Hint 36
Files inspection and repairing - Hint 6
Filling hollow geometry - Hint 108
Geometry and Mesh filters - Hint 130
Geometry details and properties - Hint 138
Geometry update - Hint 53
Geometry items search - Hint 120
HEX Mesh - Hint 29
Hydrostatic Fluid Element HSFLD 24x - Hint 7
Hyperelastic materials - Hint 56
Identifiers' usage for custom results - Hint 99
Images and Figures - Hint 102
Increase data requests in solution items - Hint 67
Inflation in meshing - Hint 55
Joints usage and setup for faster FEA - Hint 41
Labels and Probes - Hint 97
Legend accurate view- Hint 34
Legend visibility- Hint 87
Manage Views - Hint 15
Materials refreshing - Hint 10
9
Merged bodies behavior - Hint 83

Mesh metrics - Hint 72
Mesh Sizing options - Hint 144
Messages - Hint 74
Midsurface command in DesignModeler - Hint 141
Minimum Time Step in Explicit Dynamics advises for geometry
defeaturing - Hint 148
Modal analysis - Hint 111
Multiple cores and GPU acceleration - Hint 35
Multizone in Meshing - Hint 58
Named Selection - Hint 85
Named Selection from promoted tree feature - Hint 128
Neoprene Rubber properties - Hint 8
Nodal connectors - Hint 101
Nodal Coordinate Systems - Hint 139
Nodal loads - Hint 27
Node numbers display - Hint 134
Nonlinear Controls activation when the FEA is not converging - Hint
124
Nonlinear materials - Hint 45
Object Generator tool for duplicating features - Hint 136
Orientation of views shortcuts in Mechanical window - Hint 146
Parameterization of Geometry, Mesh, Loads etc. - Hint 60
Part location in Geometry branch - Hint 129
10
Parts manipulation in Joints - Hint 24

Pinch usage in meshing - Hint 47
Plots of multiple Solution items - Hint 23
Points coordinates - Hint 98
Press-fit/ shrink-fit contact - Hint 18
Probes deleting - Hint 131
Project Schematic customization - Hint 75
Random Colors usage - Hint 49
Reactions check in FEA - Hint 82
Redundancy Analysis - Hint 42
Remote loads and supports - Hint 94
Report publishing and customization - Hint 28
Response Spectrum results - Hint 77
Restarting failed FEA - Hint 142
Restore accidentally closed windows or toolbars - Hint 25
Results on Path - Hint 125
Rotate bodies in DesignModeler - Hint 133
Revolute Joint between parts with holes - Hint 26
Scale of solution - Hint 14
Section Planes and Coordinate Systems - Hint 64
Section Plane from Coordinate System - Hint 126
Section Planes configuration for quarter views - Hint 31
Section Planes editing - Hint 32
Section Planes usage - Hint 19
11
Selection of overimposed geometry features - Hint 106

Selection type change - Hint 39
Sever restart - Hint 103
Shear diagrams for beam problems - Hint 5
Shell elements orientation - Hint 11
Shell extraction - Hint 12
Sketch copy and re-usage - Hint 100
Solution on different local Coordinate Systems - Hint 93
Solution Output plots, optimal view - Hint 30
Solve faster - Hint 33
Solve FEA with progressing contact statuses - Hint 40
Solving interruption - Hint 46
SpaceClaim usage in 3D modeling - Hint 9
Sphere of Influence in Meshing- Hint 20
Stiffness behavior - Hint 70
Stress Error tool - Hint 91
Surface body creation - Hint 54
Surface selections propagation - Hint 37
Sweepable Bodies and Mappable Faces - Hint 22
Temporary FEA Files - Hint 1
Thermal effects in Structural FEA - Hint 149
Time Increment plot - Hint 112
Toolbars activation - Hint 44
Transient vs. Static FEA comparison - Hint 80
12
Units Systems - Hint 107

User Defined Results - Hint 89
Viewports - Hint 48
Virtual Topology - Hint 96
Visibility of Solution - Hint 71
Welding Points - Hint 52
13
B) Foreword
This is a unique book, coming from lots of years of working in ANSYS

Workbench, a compilation of hints on how to improve, ease, and quicken your
FEA practice.
We recommend reading and browsing it entirely, because even if some
ideas may seem familiar to you, we are sure that you will be pleasantly
surprised of hints that you didn't know them until now.
After having finished reading it, keep it close to you, because you will
surely need it.
Even though a few tutorials are used to illustrate some examples, it is not
a tutorial manual. We have already posted many tutorials on
expertfea.com/tutorials.html and we will post more.
We tried to bring only original content, and we succeeded in 99%, but it is
possible that a few paragraphs are inspired from Internet and we acknowledged
that by thanking to our colleagues in the Afterword section of the book.
Because ANSYS Inc. continuously improves their software, we will update
this book, and release new enriched editions very often.
Thank you for your purchase and happy reading!
15
C) Hints
Hint 1. If you have problems with HDD space, move the solving folder to where
you have enough space.
From the main window, go to Tools, Options...
Project Management, File Locations and Folder for Temporary Files.
17
Hint 2. When having revolute parts and cyclically symmetrical BC's and Loads,
consider using Cyclic Symmetry from DesignModeler or Mechanical Window.
Browse for wedge.x_t. Right click Coordinate System, Insert, Coordinate System.
Type = Cylindrical; Geometry, select the outer cylindrical face, Apply.
18
This is the result.
Click Symmetry from Model toolbar.
Right click Symmetry, Insert, Cyclic Region.

19
ANSYS already found the cylindrical coordinate system we just created.
This is the successful result, marked with a green check sign.
20
After the solving is finished, the FEA will show the full cylinder, comprised of
several slices, depending on their angle.
21
Hint 4. When performing 2D analysis, change this property before entering

Model or Setup.
26
27
Hint 8. When using the default Neoprene Rubber, insert Density and Poisson
Coefficient .
These are the default properties for the Neoprene Rubber in ANSYS.
Brwose for wedge.x_t. Assign the material to a part to perform a simple FEA.
43
Apply a Pressure on the top face and a Fixed Support on the bottom face. Assign
some Solution items, such as Stress and Deformation. We observe question
marks signaling a problem.
For a proper orientation of the Coordinate System, select it and at origin; Define
By, Geometry Selection; Geometry, select the outer cylindrical face, Apply.
44
This is the result; right click Solution, Solve.
At the bottom we get these messages, showing that Neoprene Rubber is missing
some data. Go to Engineering Data.
Having Neoprene Rubber selected, double click Density from Toolbox and insert
950 as value.
45
Having Neoprene Rubber selected, double click Isotropic Elasticity from

Toolbox, Linear Elastic and insert 0.08 MPa and 0.499 as seen.
Refresh Project, Return to Project.
Now the question marks have disappeared and we can successfully re-run the
FEA.
46
This is the solved FEA.
47
Hint 11. When meshing with shell elements, check element direction (Top,
Middle or Bottom), to avoid interferences or gap, if the mesh protrudes more or
less than desired.
Browse for carbody.x_t. We have this geometry of thickness 10 mm that needs

to be meshed with shell elements; the default side/ direction of meshing is
Offset Type: Middle.
This is the mesh for Middle side. Observe the interference.

55
Change Offset Type: Top.
This is the mesh for Top side. Observe the interference.
56
Change Offset Type: Bottom.
This is the mesh for Bottom side. No interference!
57
Hint 24. Reposition parts in Mechanical window.
Browse for gripper.x_t. Select the needed joint, than on the Joint Configure
toolbar, click Configure.
This triad appears allowing manipulation (translation and rotation about each
axis); the only degree of freedom is highlighted in green, so drag the green
curved line to rotate the joint.
93
Manipulation gives also the rotation angle.
When you are satisfied with the result, click Set, or Revert to the initial position.
94
Having chosen Set, this is the result; the lower jaw is displaced downwards,
compared to the initial configuration.
95
Hint 42. Check the model for redundant connections.
Right click Connections, Redundancy Analysis.
This table appears in the lower right corner; click Analyze.
This is the analysis result; after an engineering evaluation, if you are sure, click
Convert redundant to free.
128
If you are satisfied with the result, click Set.
You can export the mechanism analysis table as TXT or XLS file.
129
Hint 57. Activate Beta options to access lots of extra features in ANSYS.
Tools, Options.
Appearance, scroll down and check Beta Options.
161
Hint 83. When you are not interested in the contacts between some parts and
you want them to behave as a whole body, you can fix them with a rigid joint.
In this case, we want these 2 parts to act as being the same body; Connections,
Body-Body, Fixed.
For Reference, select a surface from the jaw, green here, Apply.
219
For Mobile, select a surface from the link, Apply.
This is the resulting rigid joint between the 2 bodies; they will act as one body.
220
Hint 101. You can visualize nodal connectors: Force or Remote Displacements
and all Supports, weak springs, MPCs.
For this scenario, we have inserted these boundary conditions (Contacts, Joints
and a force),we solved and obtain this stress plot.
Click on Solution, Graphics lower right tab, to obtain this plot.

More related info, here: http://www.padtinc.com/blog/the-focus/visualizingnodal-connectors-in-mechanical
255
Hint 109. For a quality mesh, use with care Advanced Size Function.
Off, gives 71.931 nodes and 40.816 elem.
Proximity and Curvature gives 262.727 nodes and 169.492 elem.

270
Hint 115. How to find out when the behavior is erroneous in Explicit Dynamics,
meaning that no impact appears.
Click Solution Information, Solution Output and choose to show these plots. This
behavior is normal, impact occured.
276
In Energy Conservation or Energy Summary plots, if the lines are flat and do not
vary, then the boundary conditions are wrong and no impact occurs. Check your
loads, displacements etc., to see if their applied directions or their timings are
correct.
277
Hint 125. How to check results on a line direction.
With selection filter on Vertex/ Node, select 2 points, then press Construction
Geometry when you are in Model (C4) branch.
Right click Construction Geometry, Insert, Path.
298
This is the resulting Path.
Right click any Solution item, Duplicate Without Results.
Scoping Method = Path, Path = Path (the Construction Geometry we created).

299
Right click, Evaluate All Results.
This is the resulting stress along the path we created.
300
Hint 126. How to make a Coordinate System's plane as a Section Plane.
Right click the needede Coordinate System, Create Section Plane will make a
section on its XY plane.
Further on, you can temper with Coordinate System's axes if you would like to
change the orientation of the XY plane, thus change you section orientation.
301
Hint 127. How to deal with contacts in small size assemblies.

When having parts at the size of 1mm and lower, ANSYS Workbench will put by
default many contacts, because the parts are too crowded and they reach the
contact limits imposed in the software. With Body Views activated, carefully
check and delete the unneeded contacts.
302
Hint 132. How to perform basic crack modeling.
Selecting Model (A4), you have access to Fracture module.
Here is a fast draft creation method. Right click Fracture, Insert, Crack.
With selection mode on Mesh (right of x,y,z button), click a node in the middle
of the fillet (round), Create Coordinate System (observe the green point).
310
With selection on Geometry (right of x,y,z button), select the whole body,
Scope, geometry, Apply.
Change Definition, Global Coordinate System to Coordinate System.

311
Insert these values for the Major, Minor and Largest Contour Radius. An intial
crack contour is shown. We need to align the X axis to be normal to the fillet.
Select Coordinate System, Principal Axis, Axis X, Define By Hit Point Normal.
312
Rotate the Coordinate System, until X is normal to the round.
Clicking on Fracture, Crack you should obtain this shape.
313
If you right click Fracture, generate All Crack Meshes, you obtain this final mesh.
Further on, after the loads and restraints are applied as needed, you can ask for
results in the crack region: Solution, Tools, Fracture Tool.
Right click Fracture Tool and insert crack specific results: SIFS, J-Integral, VCCT.
Solve the FEA and investigate the results. Read ANSYS' Help for more details.
314
Hint 135. How to find out the element types present in the mesh.
In the most upper toolbar, press the Information button, near the Worksheet
button; in the toolbar underneath, Select Mesh instead of Select Geometry.
Click on any element to see its properties in the left side Selection information
table. Also works for shell or line elements.
318
Hint 143. How to simplify a model by deleting unnecessary faces in Geometry

Modeler
Open in DesignModeler 2014_sept_25_iPhone6_bending7.x_t. Select the faces

needed to disappear: here are 2 holes and 1 fillet/ round. Go to Create, Delete,
Face Delete; Apply.
Right click FDelete1, Generate.

331
This is the resulting shape: without the holes and the fillet.
332
Hint 144. Activate more options for Mesh Sizing.
Initially, keep Mesh, Sizing, Use Advanced Function = Off.
This is how Body Sizing appears.
333
Make Mesh, Sizing, Use Advanced Function = On: proximity and Curvature.
Body Sizing feature will reveal extra options: Curvature Normal Angle, Growth
rate, Local Min Size.
334
Hint 149. How to apply thermal effects in Structural FEA.
Open 2014_oct_05_torsion_test2.x_t in Static Structural. Suppress the end

caps.
Fix one end of the rod.
Go to Environment, Loads, Thermal Condition.
343
Select the rod, Apply. Insert the ramped values for the temperature, as seen
here.
Insert a Directional Deformation about the Y axis, as seen here. Solve.
As expected, the maximum deformation of 0.532 mm is at the free end. Let us

see what Coefficient of Thermal Expansion Structural Steel has. File, Close
Mechanical.
344
Double clicking Engineering Data cell we will find out that = 1.2e-5/ C
We know that the formula for displacement is: L = *L*T
where L = rod's length and T = (Tfinal-Tinitial),
so L = (1.2e-5/ C)*(110 mm)*(422C -22C) = 1.2e-5*110*400 mm
L = 1.2e-2*11*4 mm = 0.528 mm (ANALYTICAL)
L = 0.531 mm (FEA) => FEA aproximates very well the hand calculation!
345
D) Afterword
Our thanks go to:
o God
o ansys.com
o simutechgroup.com
o padtinc.com
o ozeninc.com
o epsilonfea.com
o
https://www.leapaust.com.au
o Mr. John Chawner (President and Co-Founder of Pointwise,

pointwise.com), for sharing with us the funny memes;
o Mr. Daniel Balint (https://sites.google.com/site/qturbo3d/), for being a
true friend, always available for support in FEA and more;
o Mr. Dumitru Mihai (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6WLVV_ZCS77xKES2DdQ, https://www.youtube.com/user/NeaMitica2011)
for being a true friend, and the best engineering mentor.
ISBN 978-973-0-16372-8
348

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150 ANSYS Workbench

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Contact Tool Worksheet - Hint 21

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Errors in Project Schematic - Hint 66

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Merged bodies behavior - Hint 83

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Parts manipulation in Joints - Hint 24

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Selection of overimposed geometry features - Hint 106

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Units Systems - Hint 107

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

This is a unique book, coming from lots of years of working in ANSYS

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

From the main window, go to Tools, Options...

Project Management, File Locations and Folder for Temporary Files.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Type = Cylindrical; Geometry, select the outer cylindrical face, Apply.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

This is the result.

Click Symmetry from Model toolbar.

Right click Symmetry, Insert, Cyclic Region.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

ANSYS already found the cylindrical coordinate system we just created.

This is the successful result, marked with a green check sign.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Hint 4. When performing 2D analysis, change this property before entering

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

This is the result; right click Solution, Solve.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Having Neoprene Rubber selected, double click Isotropic Elasticity from

Refresh Project, Return to Project.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

This is the solved FEA.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Browse for carbody.x_t. We have this geometry of thickness 10 mm that needs

This is the mesh for Middle side. Observe the interference.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Change Offset Type: Top.

This is the mesh for Top side. Observe the interference.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Change Offset Type: Bottom.

This is the mesh for Bottom side. No interference!

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Hint 24. Reposition parts in Mechanical window.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Manipulation gives also the rotation angle.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com

Hint 42. Check the model for redundant connections.

Right click Connections, Redundancy Analysis.

This table appears in the lower right corner; click Analyze.

Oct. 2014, expertfea.com