Workshop 11

Mine Blast

Introduction to ANSYS AUTODYN

1 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Workshop Goal and Procedure 

Goal: 
Model a mine blast under a vehicle

Procedure:
Set up the problem in Explicit 
Dynamics (ANSYS)
Transfer the setup to AUTODYN
Add an Euler Part to model the air 
blast
Run the analysis in AUTODYN
Modify a number of design 
parameters and rerun the analysis

2 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Quick Instructions

• Start Workbench
• Create a new Explicit Dynamics Analysis system
• Save the project in your working directory to MineBlast.wbdb
• Import the MineBlast.adgb geometry file into the geometry cell 
(it includes numerous parameters that will be varied later)
• Retrieve Steel 4340 and Concrete‐L from Engineering Data
• Double click on the ‘model’ cell to launch Mechanical
• Ensure you are using a mm system of length units
• Right click mesh and generate mesh

3 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Quick Instructions
• This reasonable mesh can be 
improved
– Right click mesh and insert method
– Apply a uniform quad/tri method 
to the vehicle
• Enter a defeaturing tolerance and 
element size of 100 mm
– Apply a tetrahedrons method with 
patch independent algorithm to the 
ground
• Set a maximum element size of 
100 mm
• Assign Steel 4340 to the vehicle
• Assign Concrete‐L to the ground
• Return to the project page and 
proceed to AUTODYN
4 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Quick Instructions

• Set up symmetry in the y direction

• Materials

– Retrieve Air and TNT from the material library

– Modify the erosion strain of Concrete‐L to 1.0

– Modify Steel4340 to fail at a plastic strain of 0.05 and an 
instantaneous geometric erosion strain of 0.5

5 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Quick Instructions
• Create a 3D multi material Euler part called SPACE as shown:

Air, Int Energy (1500.0,1000.0,-1000.0)

= 2.068E5

TNT (IJK range

not important 50 Elements
but >> space left
in ground for use
as a parameter)

(-1000.0,0.0,1000.0)
(-1000.0,1000.0,-1000.0)

(-1000.0,0.0,-1000.0)
6 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Quick Instructions
• Boundary Conditions
– Create an Outflow Euler boundary condition with preferred material of air
– Apply this to all outer‐faces of the Euler space apart from that at the 
symmetry plane (i.e. where y=0 and j=1)
• Interactions
– Use trajectory contact for Lagrange/Lagrange interactions and retain inertia 
of eroded nodes
– Select all Lagrange parts to be fully coupled to the Euler domain
– Input an artificial shell thickness for the vehicle of 100 mm
• Detonation
– Create a direct detonation point at (‐350.0,0.0,0.0)
• Simulation
– Set the wrapup criteria to be 1000 cycles
– Increase the energy ref cycle to a large number
– Output the simulation every 50 cycles

7 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 1 – Start Workbench
Start ANSYS Workbench and follow the sequenced steps using the 
abbreviations shown below:

• DC = Double Click with Left Mouse Button

• SC = Single Click with Left Mouse Button

• RMB = Right Mouse Button Selection

• D&D = Drag and Drop = Hold Left Mouse Button down on item 

while dragging it     
to new location and then release it (i.e., Copy or Move)
8 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 2 – Initiate an Explicit Dynamics (ANSYS) Project
2.a Create an Explicit Dynamics (ANSYS) Project
SC

DC

2.b Select MKS for the Project Units and request Native Applications
in Workbench have their values Displayed in the Project Units
9 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 3 – Define Engineering Data Material
3.a  Edit the Engineering Data cell to select pre‐
defined material models from the  data sources.   DC
3.b  Press the book icon to toggle the view from 
project materials to data sources
3.c Select the Explicit 
Materials data source. 
Material models in this
data source can only be 
used in explicit dynamic 
analyses

Note: Materials in the 
General Non‐linear 
Materials data source 
contain simpler material  SC
models that can be used in 
both ANSYS implicit and 
explicit analyses. dynamic 
analyses
10 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 3 – Define Engineering Data Material
3.d Select the “+”
sign to the right of
the CONCRETE-L
material model to
add it to the project
materials.
3.e Likewise, select
the “+” sign to the
right of Steel 4340.
Note the symbol of
a book that appears
indicating success. SC
3.f Press the book
icon to toggle the
view from data
sources back to
project materials
11 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 3 – Define Engineering Data Materials
3.g Select STEEL 4340

3.h Add a Plastic Strain

Failure model SC
3.i Enter and EPS value
of 0.05
3.j  Return to the Project 
Page

3.k  Save the Project by  DC
selecting the “Save As” 
icon and entering 
“mine_blast” for the 
Project name.

12 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 4 – Import the Geometry
4.a Import the geometry database MineBlast.agdb as shown below

SC
RMB

13 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 5 – Edit the Model in Mechanical
5.a Edit the model in Workbench Mechanical.

RMB SC

5.b Select the MKS Units system

– Recall that Mechanical is not native in Workbench,
so the Units here may not match the Project Units

14 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 5 – Edit the Model in Mechanical
5.c Assign the material STEEL
4340 to the Vehicle part.
To access the materials stored in
the Engineering Data library, SC
the default material currently
assigned to the part, and a small
fly-out arrow will appear. SC on
that arrow to list the available
materials

5.d Repeat step 6.a to assign

material CONCRETE-L to the
Ground part

5.e Notice under Connections that

a Frictionless Body Interaction
has automatically been applied
to All Bodies

15 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 5 – Edit the Model in Mechanical
5.f Insert a Symmetry into the
Model branch of the outline
tree

5.g Insert a Symmetry Region

5.h Select the face shown in

green and press Apply

5.i Set the Symmetry Normal to

Y Axis
16 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 6 – Generate the Mesh
6.a Rotate the image to a view similar to the one shown below, and then
press to get this exact view
6.b Generate the default mesh

The default
mesh is
reasonable, but
RMB not the best for
an explicit
solution. We
can better
control element
size if we apply
a specific
method to each
body

17 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 6 – Generate the Mesh
6.c To create a more uniform mesh for
the Vehicle, Insert a new Method
RMB
6.d Select the Vehicle and press Apply
6.e Select Uniform Quad/Tri for the
method, and set the Defeaturing
Tolerance and Element size to 0.1m

18 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 6 – Generate the Mesh
6.f Regenerate the mesh

RMB

19 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 6 – Generate the Mesh
6.g To generate a more uniform
mesh in the Ground, once again
insert a Method and Apply it to RMB
the Ground
6.h Select Tetrahedrons for the
Method, Patch Independent for
the Algorithm, and set the Max.
Element Size to 0.1m

20 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 6 – Generate the Mesh
6.f Regenerate the mesh

RMB

21 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 7 – Define an Initial Condition
7.a Apply an Initial Velocity Condition to the Vehicle as shown.
RMB

SC

Select the
body

22 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 7 – Define an Initial Condition
7.b Choose Define by Components: X Component = 1.0 m/s

This step is only

required because
before linking to
AUTODYN, you must
complete the input for
Explicit Dynamics by
defining either a
Boundary Condition or
an Initial Condition
(even though this
problem setup requires
neither).
The assigned value of
the velocity is not
important as it will be
removed in AUTODYN

23 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 8 – Define the Analysis Settings
8.a Select Analysis Settings in the tree

8.b Set the End Time to 2.0e-3 seconds

8.c Set the Reference Energy Cycle to 2000 (the

mesh is fairly course, so the energy error will
be a little high. This ensures the calculation
does not stop as a result of this error
warning)
8.d Under Erosion Controls, set the Geometric
Strain Limit to 1.0

8.e Save the model on the Project page

At this point the project has been set up a much as
possible in Explicit Dynamics (ANSYS). It will now be
transferred into AUTODYN to complete the setup for
the Euler/Lagrange Interaction and run the analysis
24 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 9 – Create (Link to) an AUTODYN Project
9.a  On the Workbench 
Project page, under 
Component Systems, 
drag and drop the 
AUTODYN component 
onto the Setup cell for 
the Explicit Dynamics  D&D
(ANSYS) project.
This creates an AUTODYN 
project who’s setup is  9.a+ Temporary Fix:
linked to the Explicit  Select Double 
Dynamics Project Precision (this will 
be the default in the 
next release)
9.b  Open the AUTODYN  RMB
project, importing the 
model set up in the 
Explicit Dynamics project SC

25 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 10 – Load a Plot Settings File
10.a  Load the plot settings file “MineBlast_1.set” to obtain the following view

26 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 11 – Set the Initial Velocity to Zero
11.a  Select Init. Cond. on the 
Navigation Bar

11.b  Select IC# 1

11.c  Select Modify

11.d  Set the X‐velocity to 0.0

11.e  Accept the data and apply 
changes to the Part
Remember, we defined this 
velocity, so that the model 
could be passed from Explicit 
Dynamics to AUTODYN. We do 
not actually want to use it

27 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 12 – Retrieve additional material data from library
12.a  Select Materials

12.b  Load material data

12.c  Select the following 
materials from the 
library:

AIR

TNT

<control>+<click> to select both materials 12.d  Accept the data

28 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 13 – Generate an Euler Part for the Blast
13.c Enter “SPACE” for 
the Part Name

13.d  Select the Euler, 
3D Multi‐material
Solver

13.e  Keep Part wizard
13.a Select
Parts On 13.f  Move to the next 
Navigation step
Bar

13.b Select
New in the
dialog panel
29 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 14 – Define Geometry for the Euler Part
14.a  Select the Box Predef
(default)
14.b  Enter 
(‐1000.0,0.0,‐1000.0) for the box 
origin and 
(2500.0,1000.0,2000.0) for the 
box dimensions

14.c  Move to the next step

30 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 15 – Mesh the Euler Part

15.a  Enter (50,20,40) for the number of cells 
(elements) in the (I,J,K) directions

15.e  Move to the next step

31 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 16 – Fill the Euler Part with AIR
16.a  Select AIR for the material 
(you fill the entire Euler mesh 
with AIR now, then refill later 
with additional the TNT)
16.b  Enter “2.068e5” for the 
Internal Energy (This initializes 
the air to 1 atmosphere)
16.c  Accept the data

32 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 17 – Fill the Explosive Region with TNT
17.a Select Parts 17.b Select 17.c Select Fill
on the Navigation the SPACE
Bar Part 17.d Select Block

17.e  Set I = 2‐20, J = 1‐20, 
K = 2‐40
17.f  Select TNT for the material

17.g  Accept the data

33 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 18 – Define an Outflow Boundary
18.a Select Boundaries on
the Navigation Bar

18.b Select New

18.c Enter “Outflow” for

the Boundary Name

18.d Select Flow_Out for

the Type and keep Flow
out (Euler) for the Sub
option

18.e select ALL EQUAL as

the Preferred Material

18.f Accept the data

34 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 19 ‐ Apply the Outflow Boundary
The quickest way to apply the Outflow boundary to the outer faces of the mesh is 
to apply it to the entire mesh and then clear it from all internal faces
19.a Select Parts on 19.b Select Boundary Check
the Navigation bar Boundaries
19.c Select Block under Plots
if you want
to view the
19.d Accept the boundary
defaults to apply the position

Outflow boundary to
the entire mesh
19.e Select Clear
19.f Enter I=2-50, J=1-
20, K=2-40 to remove
the boundary from all
internal faces and the
symmetry face
19.g Accept the data
35 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 20 – Set up Euler‐Lagrange Interactions
20.a Select Interaction on the
Navigation Bar

20.b Select Euler/Lagrange

20.c Select Fully Coupled for

the Coupling type

20.d Press Select

20.e Select Add all to have the

Vehicle and Ground Parts
interact with the Euler Part
20.f Select Close

36 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 20 – Set up Euler‐Lagrange Interactions

20.g Press Thickness

20.h Select the Vehicle part

20.i Enter a Coupling

thickness of 100 mm (twice
the dimension of an Euler
cell)

20.j Press Apply (do not

forget to do this)

20.k Press Close

37 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 21 – Define Initiation Point for Explosive
21.a Press
Detonation on the
Navigation Bar

21.b Press Point part

21.c Enter
(-350.0,0.0,0.0) for
the location of the
point

21.d Accept the Data

21.e Check Plot

detonation points to
view the location

38 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 22 – Load a Plot Settings File
22.a  Load the plot settings file “MineBlast_2.set” to obtain the following view

39 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 23 – Run the Analysis
23.a  Save the project  The calculation takes about 20
on the 
Workbench  minutes to run (about 1200 cycles)
Project Page

23.b  Select Run to 
start the solve 
(say OK / Yes to 
all questions)

23.c  Once the 
calculation is 
running, Select 
Stop at any time 
to stop the 
calculation (you 
can then press 
Run again to 
continue the 
calculation)

40 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 24 ‐ Change The Geometry
24.a Save the 24.b Use Save As to 24.c Open the geometry
project on the copy the project as in DesignModeler
Workbench mine_blast_2
Project Page

DC

41 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 24 ‐ Change The Geometry
24.d In
DesignModeler,
press Parameters

24.e The current

parameter values
are displayed for
editing

42 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 24 ‐ Change The Geometry
24.j Select the
ZXPlane

24.k Press to
obtain the view
shown

43 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 24 ‐ Change The Geometry
24.h Set
Vert_Vehicle_Offset =
200 mm
Hor_Vehicle_Offset =
600 mm

24.i Press Generate

44 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 24 ‐ Change The Geometry
24.j Select the
VertVehicleOffset

24.k Press to obtain

the view shown

24.l To change the

shape of the vehicle
deflector shield set
ad_hull_angle = 160
degrees

24.m Press Generate

45 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 24 ‐ Change The Geometry
24.n Select the
VertVehicleOffset

24.o Rotate the view to

something close to that
shown and then press to
obtain this exact isometric
view

24.p Set
ChargeWeight = 160 Kg
ChargeHeightToDiam = 0.75
ChargeDepth = 200 mm
GroundRange = 1200 mm

24.q Press Generate

24.r Close Design Modeler

and Save the project from
the project page

46 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 25 – Edit the Model in Mechanical
25.a Edit the model in Workbench Mechanical.
If you encounter any
licensing problems on
this step, exit
Workbench without
saving the project.
RMB SC Then restart Workbench,
reopen the project
(saved at the end of the
previous step) and
perform this step again.

25.b Select Yes to read the new upstream geometry

data

47 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 26 – Regenerate the Mesh
26.a Regenerate the mesh on the new geometry

RMB

48 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 27 – Update the AUTODYN Project
27.a  On the project page, 
Update the AUTODYN 
project to import the 
mesh for the new 
geometry

RMB

SC

49 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 28 – Load a Plot Settings File
28.a  Load the plot settings file “MineBlast_3.set” to obtain the following view

50 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 29 – Reset the Initial Velocity to Zero
29.a  Select Init. Cond. on the 
Navigation Bar

29.b  Select IC# 1

29.c  Select Modify

29.d  Set the X‐velocity to 0.0

29.e  Accept the data and apply 
changes to the Part

Since this was defined in Explicit 
Dynamics, it was imported 
again during the update. So 
you must remove it once more
51 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012
 Step 30 – Run the second Analysis
30.a  Save the  The calculation takes about 30
project on  minutes to run (about 1700 cycles)
the 
Workbench 
Project Page

30.b  Select Run 
to start the 
solve (say OK
/ Yes to all 
questions)

52 © 2011 ANSYS, Inc. March 9, 2012