To Ask a Question:

Click the Q&A tab on the WebEx Event Center page

Webinar Recording:
Link to the recording will be provided to Jennifer Kirchner
(jennifer.kirchner@ge.com) to be posted internally

1 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 Contact Information

ANSYS Contacts:

• Daniel Iliescu, ANSYS GE Technical Account Manager

(daniel.iliescu@ansys.com)
• Zach John, ANSYS GE Embedded Expert (zach.john@ansys.com)
• Laine Gillespie, ANSYS GE Account Development Manager
(laine.gillespie@ansys.com)
GE Contact:
• Jennifer Kirchner, Lead Engineer, ADT Stress & Life, GE Power
(jennifer.kirchner@ge.com)

2 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 2018 Mechanical Tips and Tricks
Sean Harvey
sean.harvey@ansys.com
Technical Services Manager

3 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Agenda
• Mechanical Usability and Productivity
– Importing FE Mesh
– Working with Finite Elements directly in Mechanical
– Working with deformed geometry
– Post processing during solution in Mechanical
– Hotkeys, tree filtering, and miscellaneous usability tricks
• Mechanical to MAPDL workflows and tips
• Misc. Tips/Tricks
– Importing data for mapping ( loads, initial stress/strain, etc., )
– Surface Coating
– Model Assembly
– Live Stress/Strain Computation

4 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Important Notes
• In order to facilitate distribution of this popular Tips and Tricks Webinar, In the following
slides, the original embedded videos have been removed and replaced with a hyperlink
to the video and in some cases a supporting R19.2 Mechanical model will accompany
the video (except where noted).
• Mechanical R19.2 was used in the video demonstrations, although some features shown
are available in prior versions
• All the demonstrations are available as Solutions in the Knowledge Resources section of
our customer portal.
• You may click on the image, or the text hyperlink to take you to the ANSYS Customer
Portal where the content resides.
• If you do not have an ANSYS Customer Portal account, please see the next slide which
details how to gain access to the ANSYS Customer Portal

5 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Customer Portal Access
Accessing ANSYS Customer Portal for Knowledge Material (Solutions) and Technical Support

• To access the portal, please go to support.ansys.com

• If you already happen to have a working Log in credentials and access to the ANSYS
Customer Portal, then see image in bottom right on how to search for solutions

• If you do not have a login, then please pick Customer Registration in the section of the Log
In screen next to Not Yet a Member? as shown in the image in the upper right.

• Once you are on that screen you will need to provide your contact
information.

• Please fill in your contact information in the registration form, and when
you get to Account Number (Customer Number) you may follow the steps
on this site https://www.ansys.com/support/customer-number-retrieval to
retrieve you Customer Number (if you do not know it). You may also use
your account number if you know it.

• If you run into any trouble, please click the link show in the upper right
image titled Need Help? Login Support and Portal Help and they will
facilitate registration.

• Please note the customer portal provides access to our comprehensive

knowledge database with over 19,000 knowledge materials (such as the
ones provided in the webinar) as well as other resources. They can be
found be searching as shown to the right.
6 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential
 Mechanical Usability Tips

7 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 Importing FE Mesh (Solution 2056782)
Why?
• Starting with FE mesh and wish to
leverage capabilities of mechanical
• Migrate older ANSYS models to
Mechanical
• Bring together model from various
sources

Details/Related
• Video shows ANSYS CDB import, Same
method applies for importing other
formats such as Nastran and Abaqus
• Use cdwrite command in MAPDL to
write CDB file
• Look at Import Summary in
Mechanical Tree to see what is and is
Video and Model:
not translated https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge
• FE Modeler no longer developed %20Resources/Solutions/FE%20Modeler/2056782

8 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Selecting FE Entities (Solution 2056783)
Why?
• Working with FE Only
• Need elements for name
selections for boundary
conditions or components, etc.

Details/Related
• Similar methods to what is
shown for faces can be used for
selecting elements and nodes
• Also, hold mouse button down
and can “paint” select the
Video:
element faces, as well as other https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowled
ge%20Resources/Solutions/Mechanical/2056783
selection techniques (box
select, etc.)
9 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential
 Deformed Geometry Workflow (Solution 2056784)
Why?
• Is starting point for new analysis
• Need deformed part for validation
in CAD (STL)

Details/Related
• Often asked about exporting the
residual stresses and strains and
importing them for subsequent
simulations. See this solution for
an example.

Video and Model:

https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge%20
Resources/Solutions/Mechanical/2056784

10 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Post Processing during Solve (Solution 2056785)
Why?
• Verify the model is setup before
awaiting a long solution

Details/Related
• Other results trackers available

Video:
https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge%2
0Resources/Solutions/Mechanical/2056785

11 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Import now Supports Workbench Project Archive
Why?
• Can now easily import
workbench projects into
Workbench for
collaboration/multi-
physics/model assembly,
etc.

Details/related
• Go to File > Import and set
filter to Workbench Project
Archive

12 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Clipboard and Selection Utilities Toolbar
Ctrl + Q
The Clipboard toolbar is a selection feature
Ctrl + W
that assists you to make, store and build up
geometry or mesh selections. Ctrl + R
Keyboard shortcuts

Using the options of the Clipboard menu, you can create, change, add to, and overwrite
your clipboard selections in order to temporarily save selection entities.

Selection Utilities Toolbar • Vertices

• Edges
• Faces
• Nodes
• Elements

13 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 Tree Filtering

• Especially useful for large models

• The Filter drop down options continue to grow

14 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 Adding New Analyses from Mechanical

• The New Analysis drop-down menu on the Standard

Toolbar has been updated to include all the available
Mechanical analysis types. Using this menu also adds a
corresponding analysis system, with the appropriate
connections, to the Project Schematic.

15 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 Pre-Stress Modal
Linking Analysis Systems

• Mechanical now enables you to link and unlink analysis

systems, such as Thermal-Stress or Pre-Stressed Modal,
from within the application without having to return to
the Project Schematic. MSUP Harmonic

• This new capability automatically creates or deletes the

links between the corresponding systems in the
Workbench Project Schematic. This feature supports all
linked analyses.
Thermal-Stress

16 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 Deleting Environments from Mechanical

• You can now delete environments from within the

Mechanical application if your Model includes more
than one environment.
• This action also removes the corresponding system
from the Workbench Project Schematic.

17 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 Mechanical Hot Keys
Hover over will show hot key

https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v192/wb_sim/ds_shortcut_keys.html?q=hot%20key

18 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Mechanical Hot Keys

19 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Mechanical Hot Keys

20 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Mechanical Hot Keys

21 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Mechanical-> Workflow Tips

22 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Mechanical->MAPDL workflow (Solution 2056786)
Why?
• Migrating to Mechanical, but
still have comfort of MAPDL
when needed
• Understand how Mechanical
writes the FEM
• Troubleshooting

Details/Related
• Can export selections to CDB
file for using in MAPDL

Video and Model:

https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge%20Reso
urces/Solutions/Mechanical/2056786

23 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Exposing MAPDL input file to WB for parameter
studies/Design Optimization or other (Solution 2040456)
Why?
• Expose MAPDL batch file
and parameters to WB
• Design points
• Design Optimization
• Running APDL as
black box via the
Microsoft Excel

Details/Related
• See this Solution
(hyperlink) for driving WB
systems from Excel
Video and MAPDL Batch file:
https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge%20Resources/Sol
utions/Design%20Exploration/2040456

24 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Misc. Tips

25 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Using External Data for Mapping (Solution 2056787)
Why?
• Powerful means of
bringing in loading and
other quantities into
Mechanical

Details/Related
• See list of quantities
• Re-read
• Extensive mapping options
with validation
• Can transform the data to
match the spatial
orientation of your model
• For tips on transient
mapping and working with Video and Model:
https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge%20R
multiple time points, see esources/Solutions/External%20Data/2056787
this Solution
26 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential
 Surface Coating via Mechanical (Solution 2056788)

Why?
• Ability to account for effects of
a surface coating on a part
• Ability to extract results on the
surface of the body, which can
be useful especially if mesh is
coarse, or your methods
require.

Details/Related?
• Residual stresses of a surface
coating can be achieved using
the inistate command (not
Video and Model:
covered here) https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge%20Resou
rces/Solutions/Mechanical/2056788

27 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Model Assembly (Solution 2042171)
Why?
• Models created independently
by individuals/teams can be
brought together easily in
workbench

Details/Related
• Please see this solution which
includes sample model
• Models can be re-oriented
during assembly
• Established contacts, etc.
from sub-assemblies are left
intact, new contacts between
assemblies are generated
• Can use Export and import of
Mechdat to bring models Video and R16.2 Model:
together but in later versions https://support.ansys.com/AnsysCustomerPortal/en_us/Knowledge%20Resources/Sol
utions/Mechanical/2042171
can use Import WB Archive
(wbpz)
28 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential
 Live stress/strain computations (without writing stress on rst file)
On Demand Stress/Strain
Evaluate stress, elastic strain, and thermal strain results without writing the associated data to the result file.
• Smaller result file size (especially for models with layered shells)
• Less writing to disk during solve, faster solve times

To use of the On Demand Stress/Strain property:

• Set the Stress and Strain properties of the Output

Controls of the Analysis Settings object to No.

29 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018

 ANSYS Knowledge Database

Structures FAQs

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knowledge
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Highlights Created, reviewed & maintained by ANSYS experts.

Over 500 video demos showcasing pre- and post-processing.

Used by over 40,000 people from around the globe every month.

30 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Searching for Solutions

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 Thank you!

32 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 ANSYS Learning Hub

33 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 ANSYS Learning Hub Subscription provides access for a full year

Self-paced learning Collaborative Learning Live classes Virtual classes Course materials
Rooms
Video courses Virtual Classroom Varies by location Courses
Modules Learning Rooms Workshops

see course locator on ansys.com

34 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Questions???
How to Register? Contact: jennifer.kirchner@ge.com
• All GE engineers must complete internal GE registration process
• http://supportcentral.ge.com/ProcessMaps/LaunchProcess.asp?prod_id=372024&proc_id=2877609
• User must provide BUC/ADN for training $400 per engineer
• Direct Manager must approve request

Unlimited
Training:
Only $400
per Engineer

35 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Contact Information
ANSYS Contacts:

• Daniel Iliescu, ANSYS GE Technical Account Manager

(daniel.iliescu@ansys.com)
• Zach John, ANSYS GE Embedded Expert
(zach.john@ansys.com)
• Laine Gillespie, ANSYS GE Account Development
Manager (laine.gillespie@ansys.com)
GE Contact:
• Jennifer Kirchner, Lead Engineer, ADT Stress & Life, GE
Power (jennifer.kirchner@ge.com)

36 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 ANSYS Learning Hub Subscription provides access for a full year

Self-paced learning Collaborative Learning Live classes Virtual classes Course materials
Rooms
Video courses Virtual Classroom Varies by location Courses
Modules Learning Rooms Workshops

see course locator on ansys.com

37 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential

 Questions?

38 © 2017 ANSYS, Inc. October 30, 2018 ANSYS Confidential