ME601 Slide 1

Introduction to
ANSYS
Lecture 1
Covers Sections 3.4 - 3.6 of the Textbook
ME601 Slide 2
ANSYS is a finite element analysis software package
Capable of analyzing a range of engineering applications:
- Structural
- Thermal
- Electromagnetic
- Fluid Dynamics
Unitless analysis, but must be consistent throughout
ANSYS Software
ME601 Slide 3
ANSYS Organization
1. Preprocessing
Define element type, real constants, and material properties
Define geometry
Processors
2. Solution
Define type of analysis
Set boundary conditions
Apply loads
Initiate finite element solution
3. Postprocessing
Review results using graphical displays and tabular listings
Verify against analytical solutions
ME601 Slide 4
Graphical User Interface
GUI
Utility
Menu
Main
Menu
Toolbar
Input Window
Graphics
Window
ME601 Slide 5
GUI Layout
Utility Menu
Contains utility functions available throughout session
i.e. file controls, selecting, and graphics controls
Main Menu
Contains primary functions, organized by processors
Toolbar
Commonly used ANSYS commands and functions
Input Window
Directly type in commands
Graphics Window
Window containing graphical displays
ME601 Slide 6
ANSYS Help
ANSYS help gives information and trouble shooting advice for
nearly all components of GUI.
Accessed through GUI or by clicking Help button within a dialog
box.
Index and Search tabs
ME601 Slide 7
ANSYS Example
Trusses
1 2
3 4 5
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
3 ft
3 ft 3 ft
500 lb 500 lb
Trusses are made of Douglas-fir wood
E = 1.90e6 lb/in
2
, v = 0.3
Cross-sectional area of 8 in
2
ME601 Slide 8
Preprocessing
1. Launch ANSYS
2. Name file
Utility Menu: File Change Title
ME601 Slide 9
3. Define the element type
Main Menu: Preprocessor Element type Add/Edit/Delete
Building library of elements
to draw from later.
ME601 Slide 10
4. Assign the real constants
Main Menu: Preprocessor Real Constants Add/Edit/Delete
Real constants change based on
element type.
LINK1 requires cross-sectional area.
Building library of
real constants to
associate with
elements.
ME601 Slide 11
5. Assign the material properties
Main Menu: Preprocessor Material Props Material Models
Structural Linear Elastic Isotropic
EX: Modulus of Elasticity
PRXY: Poissons Ratio
May be found through Help
Double Click
Material property set to
associate with elements
Preprocessing
Define element type, real constants,
and material properties
Define geometry

ME601 Slide 12
Defining Geometry
1. Specify coordinate system.
2. Specify nodes (points) at specific coordinates.
3. Nodes are connected by lines.
4. Lines connect areas.
5. Areas connect volumes.
6. Depending on problem (i.e. 1-D, 2-D or 3-D), elements
are selected to occupy defined space.
For example: The element Spar1 is one-dimensional.
ME601 Slide 13
6. Save the input data
ANSYS Toolbar: SAVE_DB
7. Set up the graphics area (i.e. workplane, zoom, etc.)
Utility Menu: WorkPlane WP Settings
Dimensions of workplane
Spacing of workplane
Coordinate system
Selection of visible entities
Possible position of cursor
Units are still consistent
In this case, inches
ME601 Slide 14
8. Toggle on the workplane
Utility Menu: Workplane Display
Working Plane
9. Bring the workplane to view
Utility Menu: PlotCtrls Pan, Zoom,
Rotate...
Use small circle until workplane is
visible.
Play with controls until you are
familiar with them.
Same controls located on right of
Graphics Window.
Relative to
x-y-z axes
Zoom and
move about
Rotate
ME601 Slide 15
10. Create nodes
Main Menu: Preprocessor Modeling Create Nodes
On Working Plane
Use left mouse button to select node locations:
(0,0) (36,0) (0,36) (36,36) (72,36)
ME601 Slide 16
Graphical Picking
GUI allows direct selection of entities.
Function Title
Picking Mode
Picking Status
Number of selected nodes
Coordinate
System
Action Buttons
ME601 Slide 17
11. Turn off workplane and turn on node numbering
Utility Menu: Workplane Display Working Plane (uncheck)
Utility Menu: PlotCtrls - Numbering
ME601 Slide 18
12. List nodes to check work
Utility Menu: List Nodes
Close
ANSYS Toolbar:
SAVE_DB
ME601 Slide 19
13. Define elements by picking nodes
Main Menu: Preprocessor Modeling
Create Elements - AutoNumbered
Thru Nodes
a. Select node 1 then node 2 using left mouse button
b. Apply (shortcut = use middle mouse button)
c. Node 2 and 3, apply
d. Node 3 and 4, apply
e. Node 2 and 4, apply
f. Node 2 and 5, apply
g. Node 4 and 5, apply
h. Click OK
i. ANSYS Toolbar: SAVE_DB
Preprocessing
Define element type, real constants,
and material properties
Define geometry

ME601 Slide 20
14. Apply boundary conditions and loads
Main Menu: Solution Define Loads
Apply Structural Displacement On
Nodes
a. Select node 1 then node 3
b. Apply
Solution
Box changes based on element type
Solution
Set boundary conditions
Apply loads
Initiate finite element solution
ME601 Slide 21
Main Menu: Solution Define Loads Apply Structural
Force/Moment On Nodes
a. Select node 4 then node 5
b. Use middle mouse button to select elements
c. ANSYS Toolbar: SAVE_DB
Loads
Boundary
Conditions
ME601 Slide 22
15. Solve the problem
Main Menu: Solution Solve Current LS
a. Click OK on the Solve Current Load Step window
b. Close the /STATUS Command window
c. Close the Solution is done! window
Solution
Set boundary conditions
Apply loads
Initiate finite element solution

ME601 Slide 23
Postprocessing
16. Plot the deformed shape
Main Menu: General Postproc Plot Results
Deformed Shape
Postprocessing
Review results using graphical displays
Review results using tabular listings
Verify against analytical solutions
ME601 Slide 24
17. List the nodal displacements
Main Menu: General Postproc List Results Nodal Solution
Perform sanity check
on solution:
Which nodes should
have most deflection?
In inches
ME601 Slide 25
Verification of Results
Necessary to verify numerical results against analytical
expressions.
Methods for verifying structural models
1. Check the reaction forces
2. Sum of forces at each node should be zero
3. Pass an arbitrary section through the truss
ME601 Slide 26
Check the Reaction Forces
Computed reaction forces and external forces should
satisfy statics equilibrium:
0
X
F

0
Y
F

0
node
M

Node Direction Force (lb)

1 X 1500
1 Y 0
3 X -1500
3 Y 1000
Reaction Forces
Node Direction Force (lb)
4 Y -500
5 Y -500
External Forces
ME601 Slide 27
Sum of Forces for Each Node
Computed internal forces on each element should balance
reaction and external forces for a given node:
0
X
F

0
Y
F

Node Force (lb)

1 -1500
2 1414
3 500
4 -500
5 -707
6 500
Internal Forces
ME601 Slide 28
Arbitrary Section
Pass an arbitrary section through the model.
Equilibrium conditions should still hold.
1 2
3 4 5
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)