ANSYS Beginner Truss Demo (draft 2, 11/20/05)

Start ANSYS and control colors

ANSYS is short for ANalysis SYStem. That pretty much sums up its capabilities.
Most areas of engineering calculation are included: stress, thermal, fluids, dynamics,
vibrations, frequency analysis, acoustics, electromagnetism, optimiation, etc. are present
and usually have non!linear abilities as "ell. ANSYS "as first released in #$%# and has
generally been one of the most popular finite element systems since then, "orld"ide. Since
it has a huge list of abilities its menu system can get relatively long. That is also true because
it &and all '(A systems at that time) "as run in a *batch mode+ on the largest available
computers. ,n other "ords, you could, and still can, e-ecute ANSYS through an input te-t
file "ithout using a .raphical /ser ,nterface &./,). 0nce you are fully e-perienced "ith the
code that can be a real time saver. (very ./, session is saved in that format so that you can
simply edit it "ith a te-t editor and ma1e small changes for a similar problem.
2egin ANSYS "ith StartAll ProgramsANSYS 100ANSYS That "ill bring you to the
main ANSYS !tilit" #enu:
$igure 1 %&ening ANSYS to t'e !tilit" #enu and gra&'i(s )indo)
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,f you utilie a blac1 and "hite printer you may "ish to change the graphics bac1ground color
&but that may hide some entities so their color needs changing also).
$igure 2 %&tions for (ontrolling (olors in gra&'i(s
Select job name and analysis type
The various menus belo" "ill sometimes get moved to a bac1 &hidden) "indo". ,f you thin1
that has occurred hit the *aise +idden button, . You "ill al"ays need a 8ob name:
#. !tilit" #enu$ile,'ange -o.name
4. ,'ange/-o.name, type in the ne" name, %0.
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$igure 1 Pro2iding t'e re3uired 4o. name
The ANSYS files on real engineering problems get to be quite large, so have a directory
dedicated to ANSYS:
#. !tilit" #enu$ile,'ange Dire(tor"
4. Bro)se for $older,'ange 5or6ing Dire(tor", pic1 your directory &ANSYS9dir
here), %0.

$igure 7 8sta.lis' a dire(tor" for t'e anal"sis files
To 1eep up "ith your analysis studies over time create descriptive titles:
#. !tilit" #enu$ile,'ange Title
4. ,'ange Title, enter des(ri&ti2e title, %0

$igure 5 Assign or ('ange t'e anal"sis title
As the title suggests, this structure "ill be a planar truss. ,t "ill have three lin1s that
represent one &of t"o) end of a horiontal shelf "hich is intended to support a #455 lb load.
The shelf is 45 inches "ide, and the vertical truss lin1 "ill be #: inches long. The top pin 8oint
"ill support the "eight on the shelf and "ill counter act the horiontal reaction, at the lo"er
pin against the "all, "hich in turn balances the moment caused by the "eight. You "ill
neglect the "eight of the truss itself here &but include it in your final design chec1).
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Element type data
Since the problem class is that of a truss you "ill need a 4< structural line element, or lin1,
that transmits only a-ial loads. 0pen and add to element types you need:
#. #ain #enuPreferen(esPreferen(es for 9!: $iltering
4. 6hec1 Stru(tural, accept default ';#et'od, %0
;. #ain #enuPreferen(es8lement T"&eAdd/8dit/Delete
=. ,n 8lement T"&es pic1 Add<i.rar" of 8lement T"&es
:. Select &Structural) <in6 and 2D s&ar 1, %0
>. ,n 8lement T"&es pic1 ,lose.
Note that ?in1# is 4< and by default is used only in the @!Y plane.

$igure = Sele(t t'e element t"&e for t'e a&&li(ation
Element geometric properties data
(very element type requires one or more real constants, li1e area or moment of inertia, to
describe it. Aere, you simply need the cross!sectional area:
#. #ain #enuPreferen(es*eal ,onstants Add/8dit/Delete
4. *eal ,onstants Add8lement T"&e for *eal ,onstants
;. 6hoose element type: T"&e 1 <:N01, %0
=. *eal ,onstant Set Num.er 1, for <:N01 verify Set No 1,
(nter 5.#4: for ,ross;se(tional area &AB(A).
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(nter 5 for initial strain &,STBN), %0. Set 1 appears in *eal ,onstants.
:. Select Add for the ne-t element, verify T"&e 1 <:N01, %0.
>. *eal ,onstant Set Num.er 2, for <:N01 verify Set No 2,
(nter 5.;: for ,ross;se(tional area &AB(A).
(nter 5 for initial strain &,STBN), %0. Set 2 also appears in *eal ,onstants.
%. Select ,lose.

>>>
$igure ? Pro2iding t'e first real (onstant data set
$igure @ Adding an additional real data set
Define member material properties:
Aere you "ill use the simplest linear, isotropic, #< material description. ANSYS has full
anisotropic &completely directionally dependent), as "ell as non!linear material *constitutive
la"s+. Activate the material properties "ith:
#. #ain #enuPre&ro(essor#aterial Pro&s#aterial #odels
4. Material Model Number # appears in Define #aterial #odel Be'a2ior.
;. <ouble clic1 on Stru(tural, then ?inear, then 8lasti(, then :sotro&i(.
=. ,n <inear :sotro&i( Pro&erties for #aterial Num.er # enter ;.e% &psi) for isotropic
elastic modulus, 8>, and 5.4% for isotropic 3oissonCs ratio &P*>Y), %0
:. Define #aterial #odel Be'a2ior, #aterialNe) #odelDefine #aterial :D enter
4, %0.
>. Material Model Number 4 appears in Define #aterial #odel Be'a2ior
%. <ouble clic1 on <inear, then 8lasti(, then :sotro&i(.
D. ,n <inear :sotro&i( Pro&erties for #aterial Num.er 2 enter #.4e% &psi) for isotropic
elastic modulus, 8>, and 5.; for isotropic 3oissonCs ratio &P*>Y), %0.
$. ,lose &@) the <efine Material Model 2ehavior "indo".
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$igure A Sele(t t'e material model .e'a2ior

$igure 10 Pro2ide isotro&i( data for t'e first material

$igure 11 Begin a se(ond ne) material model

$igure 12 :n&ut isotro&i( &ro&erties for t'e se(ond material
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Define nodal data:
0f course, ANSYS has po"erful mesh generation capabilities. Ao"ever, for beginners or
small problems "ith only a fe" nodes you can type in the coordinates, or use cursor input via
the graphics "indo". /se the first approach:
#. #ain #enuPre&ro(essor#odeling,reateNodes:n A(ti2e ,S.
4. ,n ,reate Nodes in A(ti2e ,oordinate S"stem enter # for Node num.er, > E 5., Y E
5., default B to ero &4< ?,NF# element does not use it), A&&l", enter 4 for Node
num.er, > E 45., Y E 5., A&&l", enter ; for Node num.er, > E 5., Y E #:., %0
;. ,f you ma1e a mista1e you can return and correct it in the above "indo", or delete
them all "ith Pre&ro(essor#odelingDelete.

$igure 11 #anuall" (reate t'e first node and its (oordinates
No", plot the nodal values input &here node # is hidden behind the a-is symbol):
#. !tilit" #enuPlot,trlsNum.ering.
4. ,n Plot Num.ering ,ontrols chec1 node num.ers and select element num.ers in
the pull do"n menu, %0.
;. !tilit" #enuPlot,trlsNum.ers and revie" the plot.
Define element attributes
Ne-t you have to associate each of the elements "ith your previous material numbers and
real constant sets. 3lan ahead and input those of the same type in sequence:
#. #ain #enuPre&ro(essor#odeling,reate8lements8lem Attri.utes
4. ,n 8lement Attri.utes select defaults &type number E #, material number E #, real
constant set E #), %0.
;. #ain #enuPre&ro(essor#odeling,reate8lementsAuto
num.eredT'ru Nodes.
=. ,n 8lements from nodes verify that 3ic1 is chec1ed on.
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:. ,n the graphics "indo" define the first element by pic1ing node 1 &a square symbol
appears) then node 2, %0, and the ne-t element number &#) appears.


$igure 17 Pre&are for node and element &lots

@@@
$igure 15 Asso(iate data attri.utes )it' ea(' element grou&
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The ne-t element t"o elements have different attributes &material number) from the first
element. ,n a similar fashion define them "ith
#. #ain #enuPre&ro(essor#odeling,reate8lements8lem Attri.utes
4. ,n 8lement Attri.utes 1eep default t"&e number &#), change material num.er to 4,
real (onstant set to 4, %0.
;. The ne-t element has the same attributes, so 8ust input its connectivity. 6lic1 on T'ru
Nodes again, pic1 node 4 then node ;, %0, so element 4 appears.
=. Bepeat for element ;.
Check mesh data
,t is "ise to chec1 such manual input by plotting the nodes and elements via:
#. !tilit" #enu<ist8lementsNodesCAttrC*eal,onst.
4. Ghen the 8<:ST &8<ement <:ST) )indo) appears chec1 those data and close it.

$igure 1= ,'e(6ing t'e mes' gra&'i(all" and )it' a list
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Apply displacement restraints
The displacement restraints must be applied to reflect the physical support &often the most
unclear part of an analysis) as "ell as eliminating all the *rigid body motions+ &B2M). Aere
there are t"o translational B2M plus a rotation about the normal &H) a-is. Apply them via:
#. #ain #enuPre&ro(essor<oadsDefine
<oadsA&&l"Stru(turalDis&la(ement%n Nodes.
4. ,n A&&l" !, *ot on Nodes verify that Pi(6 and Single are chec1ed on, in the graphics
"indo", select top node 1 &for vertical and horiontal restraints), %0. After the panel
changes form, highlight the horiontal &!>) and vertical &!Y) components as the
degrees of freedom (D%$) to .e (onstrained.

$igure 1? Beginning t'e nodal dis&la(ement restraints at a &i(6ed node
;. /nder ,onstant 2alue enter 5, 0F.
=. 6lic1 on %n Nodes again and pic1 node 1 to be restrained in the horiontal &!>)
direction "ith a ,onstant 2alue of 5.
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$igure 1@ Nodal dis&la(ement restraint at t'e se(ond &i(6ed node
Note that these restraint operations are sho"n in the graphics "indo" as triangles pointing in
the direction of restraint, at each restrained node.
$igure 1A 9ra&'i(al s&ot ('e(6 of mes' and restraints
To list the current restraints:
#. !tilit" #enu<ist<oadsD%$ ,onstraints%n All Nodes.
4. Ghen the &Displacement <:ST) D<:ST )indo) appears chec1 those data and close it.
Apply nodal loads
This shelf is intended to carry a total loan of #455 lb. Aalf of that must go to the t"o lo"er
nodes on each end. Since a ?in1# element is a *two force member+ and a truss
transmits forces at the nodes via *concurrent forces+ you are not allo"ed to specify a
load at the center edge of the shelf &that is, at the center of element #). To do that you
"ould have to select an element type "ith bending resistance. ,nstead, you "ill attach
the shelf at the t"o horiontal nodes. (ach carries half &;55 lb) of the trussCs share of
the load. Specify that "ith:
#. #ain #enuPre&ro(essor<oadsDefine
<oadsA&&l"Stru(tural$or(e/#oment%n Nodes
4. ,n A&&l" $/# on Nodes verify that Pi(6 and Single are on, and then pic1 node # and
also node 4, %0
;. Ghen the "indo" changes form, pic1 a vertical force &$Y) for the Dire(tion of force
and !;55 &lb) for the ,onstant 2alue, %0
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$igure 20 ,'e(6ing t'e dis&la(ement (onstraints list

$igure 21 A&&l"ing 4oint for(es )it' a nodal &i(6
Note that these load operations are sho"n in the graphics "indo" as arro"s pointing in the
direction of load, at each restrained node. ,f your plot does not sho" everything you have
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defined also try Plot,trlsS"m.olsDS"m.ols and chec1 that the items you "ant are
turned on.
$igure 22 9ra&'i(s )indo) ('e(6 of 4oint loads
To list the current loads:
#. !tilit" #enu<ist<oads$or(es%n All Nodes.
4. Ghen the $orce <:ST &$<:ST) "indo" appears chec1 those data and close it.
$igure 21 <ist t'e 4oint for(es for ('e(6ing
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$igure 27 Add t'e restraints and t'eir future rea(tions to t'e &lot s"m.ols
Saves and restarts
At this point you may "ant to save your data to go to class and restart the actual analysis
later. ,f so:
#. !tilit" #enu$ileSa2e as 7obname.db.
4. /pon return open ANSYS and enter !tilit" #enu$ile*esume fromD to get the
list of your ANSYS database &db) files so you can select the one you "ant.

$igure 25 T"&i(al sa2e and restart o&tions
Solve for displacements and secondary variables
To use the current &and only) load system &?S) enter:
#. #ain #enuSolutionSol2e,urrent <S, revie" the listed summary, %0.
4. Ghen the solution of the simultaneous equations is complete you "ill be alerted that
the solution is done.
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$igure 2= Starting t'e dis&la(ement solution for t'is load (ase
ost!processing
Dis&la(ements
,t is al"ays "ise to visually chec1 the computed displacements:
#. #ain #enu9eneral Post&ro(Plot *esultsDeformed S'a&e
4. ,n Plot Deformed S'a&e pic1 the combined defle(ted and undeformed option for
the ,tems to be plotted &F/N<), %0. 6hec1 the plot in the graphics "indo".
;. Animate the computed deflections "ith:!tilit" #enuPlot,rtlsAnimate
Deformed S'a&e.
=. 3ic1 <efIundeformed in Animate Deformed S'a&e, %0
:. ,f desired, employ the Animation 6ontroller that appears, or simply pic1 Stop, ,lose.
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$igure 2? !ndeformed and deformed stru(ture
To create a hardcopy &you may need to try various bac1ground colors):
!tilit" #enuPlot,rtls+ard ,o&"3rinter &or $ile), select your printer name, Print.
$igure 2@ Sending t'e (urrent &lot to t'e &rinter or a file
To see a &potentially long) list of displacement results:
#. Preferen(es9eneral Post&ro(<ist *esultsNodal Solution.
4. ,n <ist Nodal SolutionNodal SolutionsD%$ SolutionDis&la(ement 2e(tor
sum, %0.
;. (-amine the results in the P*NS%< &P*int Nodal S%<ution) ,ommand )indo) and
close it.
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$igure 2A <ist t'e nodal dis&la(ement 2e(tor (om&onents
*ea(tion $or(es
,f the solver does not fail then your reactions "ill be equal and opposite of your resultant
forces and moments. Therefore they let you chec1 the level of loads actually applied, versus
"hat you intended to apply. That is helpful especially for pressure loads. 6hec1 them "ith:
#. #ain #enu9eneral Post&ro(<ist *esults*ea(tion Solution.
4. ,n <ist *ea(tion Solution pic1 All items for ,tem to be listed, %0.
;. Bevie" the Print *eaction S%<ution &P**S%<) 6ommand "indo".

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$igure 10 <ist rea(tion for(es asso(iated )it' dis&la(ement restraints
Notice that the vertical reaction force of >55 &lb) is equal and opposite to the sum of the
applied loads. ?i1e"ise, there "ere no horiontal forces applied, so the top &=55 lb) and
bottom &!=55 lb) "all reactions yield a null horiontal force. They also form a couple &of =55
lb J #: in E I>,555 in!lb) that is equal and opposite to the moments of the applied forces &of 5
K ;55 lb J 45 in E !>,555 in!lb), relative to node #.
#em.er for(es
The element &member) forces in the truss resulting from the computed displacements can
also be recovered and listed &along "ith entities such as elastic and thermal strains that are
not considered here) "ith:
#. #ain #enu9eneral Post&ro(<ist *esults8lement Solution
4. .et the member a-ial forces, in global components, from <ist 8lement
Solution8lement SolutionStru(tural $or(es, %0.
;. Bevie" the P*8S%< &P*int 8<ement S%<ution) ,ommand display and close the
"indo".
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$igure 11 *e(o2er t'e glo.al (om&onent of mem.er aEial for(es
.enerally, for trusses and frames &#< elements in 4< space) you need to see the force
results in the local &member) coordinate components. They are seen "ith:
#. <ist 8lement Solution8lement Solution<ine 8lement *esults.
4. There you are mainly interested in the a-ial #ember $%*ce >!direction &#$%*>)
values &in lb) and the Stress in the A>ia< direction &SA><), in psi, but not currently in
other items li1e the strain &L, or 8Psilon) of the 8<ement in the A>ia< direction
&(3(?A@?). The #$%*> is negative for compression &consider buc1ling there) and
positive in tension.
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$igure 12 <ist t'e lo(al (mem.er) (oordinate (om&onents of element entities
&7(A stress levels SA@? seem lo" here, double chec1 data, @@@)
E"iting ANSYS
You can save the results to your data base, as described above, and close "ith $ile8Eit.
To begin a different analysis, instead of pic1ing (-it, use $ile,lear F Start Ne) D, %0.
&end)
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