2008 International Conference on Computer Science and Software Engineering
Finite Element Analysis Based on ProE, HyperMesh
and ANSYS
ZHANG Rui
School of Civiling Engineering
Dalian Jiaotong University
Dalian, China
zhangrui@djtu.edu.cn
Abstract—Sometimes making finite element analysis only by one
software is a hard thing. Because one software is not good at
every work. Therefore, we choose ProE, HyperMesh and ANSYS
software to model, mesh and calculate respectively and that can
exert their corresponding advantages. Model can be imported
and exported among soft wares accurately with software
interface. In ProE, surface modeling and model simplify can
reduce modify and geometry clean work in HyperMesh. In
HyperMesh, firstly we classify and manage model surface, then
check surface edges, and then mesh automatically. We must
check element quality to ensure successful calculation in ANSYS.
Finally solve by ANSYS. Working process, problems and solution
is proposed. The given example of a vehicle oil tank shows that
this method and process are feasible and make operation simply,
calculation accurately and working efficiently. Especially they
are suitable for complex model.
Keywords-finite element; ProE; HyperMesh; ANSYS
I. INTRODUCTION
At present, ANSYS software is widely used in finite
element analysis, but its preprocess function is so complex that
we must spent much time and energy, especially for complex
model. According to the situation, we use ProE, HyperMesh
and ANSYS soft wares to model, mesh, calculate and analyze.
The comprehensive application of various finite element soft
wares can exert their corresponding advantages and makes the
analysis more efficient.
II. INTRODUCTION OF PROE，HYPERMESH AND ANSYS
A. ProE
ProENGINEER (ProE for short) is an American PTC
Company development 3D CAD/ CAE/ CAM software. Its
geometry modeling function is outstanding. We build some
complex models by ProE more efficiently than by ANSYS or
HyperMesh. However, the functions of meshing, calculation,
analysis and post-process is relatively weak.
B. HyperMesh
The HyperMesh is an American Atair Company developed
product. Its main advantages are as Follows: (1) Meshing is
more easy and quick; (2) We can control and modify the
element quality easily and operation is very convenient. So the
978-0-7695-3336-0/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/CSSE.2008.431
JU Jianmin
School of Civiling Engineering
Dalian Jiaotong University
Dalian, China
jjm@djtu.edu.cn
element quality can meet engineering analysis requirements
easily. (3) HyperMesh has the general interface with CAD and
CAE.
The modeling function of HyperMesh is not stronger than
ProE. And its calculation and analysis function is also not as
good as ANSYS, because that it has less material and element
species and setting solving method is inconvenient.
C. ANSYS
ANSYS is one of the most influential finite element
analysis software in the world because of its very powerful
calculation and analysis ability. But its preprocess function is
weak relatively. Firstly, the model ability in ANSYS is inferior
to ProE so the complex model building is very hard by
ANSYS. Furthermore, meshing and modifying element by
ANSYS is not easier than HyperMesh. So it is difficult to
ensure the element quality to make calculation successful. The
preprocessing wastes most time and affects work efficiency
seriously.
III. COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATION OF PROE，HYPERMESH
AND ANSYS IN FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS
A. Working Process
Our purpose is to develop respective advantage of each
software by comprehensive using soft wares. According to the
characteristics of three soft wares, we can model by ProE,
meshing by HyperMesh and solve by ANSYS. By this method,
the whole finite element analysis process will be more efficient
and accurate. The whole analysis process see Fig. 1.
B. Common Problems and Solution
1) Model Simplify: The general modeling process by ProE
is using method of solid modeling then extracting surface and
a lot of error and plenty of modifying working will appear
after meshing. Therefore, we can use surface modeling[1] and
neglect several details (such as small hole and chamfer )and
accessory members.
2) Classified Management of Model: There are a lot of
surfaces controlled hardly in the model which shaded each
other. Many surfaces with different aharacters intermix
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together which we manage inconveniently. Therefore, the elements until there is only a little bad element to ensure
surfaces with the same character must be defined as the same successful calculation in ANSYS.
component, name and color. Then we can manage the surface
by the function of component.

Analyze and Simplify Model

Modeling by ProE

Importing Data

Meshing by HyperMesh
Figure 2. Wrong and Correct Edge of Element

Classify Surfaces
IV. COMPREHENSIVE APPLICATIVE EXAMPLE OF PROE,
HYPERMESH AND ANSYS
Edge Edit This paper takes the finite element analysis of a vehicle oil
tank as example, describes the whole analysis process in detail
by ProE，HyperMesh and ANSYS.
Meshing

A. Modeling by ProE
Check Element We choose surface modeling in ProE to model the vehicle
oil tank made of steel welded plate. Small hole and chamfer are
Importing Data
neglected, but big hole still need of thinking about (See
Solving by ANSYS
Fig.3.Several surfaces are shaded).The file can be saved as
default format directly (such as *.prt or *.asm).
Figure 1. Working Process

3) Finite Element Meshing: Automatic meshing by

HyperMesh not only can satisfy working requirement
generally, but also makes operation efficient and convenient.
Therefore, for huge and complicated project, we suggest of a
principle: Automatic meshing is major strategy, manual
meshing is minor strategy. We can divide the whole model
into several parts and mesh one by one in different mesh
densities. Although meshing by this way can produce more
elements than by painstaking meshing, the advantages of
saving time and easy operation is excellent. In addition, you
can trim the surface artificially and a new surface edge will
produce which will be the element edge after meshing.
4) Check Elemen: Checking element is a very important
work, because the element quality affects calculation accuracy
directly. If the element geometry size is not enough suitable,
calculation perhaps can not continue by ANSYS. After Figure 3. Model in ProE
meshing the model just imported to HyperMesh from ProE, a
problem appeared: Several element edges are not coordinate B. Import into HyperMesh
which are just the common edges of surface. We must settle In HyperMesh 8.0, on the file menu, we point to import
this problem before meshing (the correct and wrong element and click geometry, and click Proe, and then choose the file
see Fig. 2 ). produced by ProE. The model imported into HyperMesh is the
In addition, HyperMesh includes many features that can same completely with that from ProE having no infidelity.
check element. If there are many unqualified elements, we
should mesh again. IF there are individual bad elements, we
should adjust them manually. In a word, we must adjust

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C. Management and Classified Model Surfaces
Then we select the surfaces with the same property to be
organized and use the organize panel to copy or move them to
the corresponding destination collectors. They were defined as
different name and color.
D. Edge Edit
We can use the equivalence sub-panel to flag multiple
close-set surfaces to be treated as if they were connected to one
another, so that their adjacent free edges become shared edges.
On the surface edit panel, using trim with surfs sub-panel, the
intersection surfaces are edited efficiently.
E. Finite Element Meshing
The hook of the vehicle oil tank is the most important
component to be analyzed, so its element density is larger than
others. In order to smooth the transition elements from big
elements to small, we should divide the surfaces nearby the
hook with the quick edit panel. From the hook surface to
others, the element density is decreased gradually. we use
“Automesh” panel to mesh all surface by choosing different
element size.
F. Check Element
On the tool page, we select the check “elems” panel to
verify the geometric qualities of all the elements. Furthermore,
we use the “1-D, 2-D and 3-D” sub-panels functions to test the
connectivity of a group of elements and check for duplicate
elements. And we also can adjust the bad elements with the
following method: Pick on an element edge, the connectivity of
the two elements that share this edge is altered. ( the model
meshed in HyperMesh see Fig. 4).
Figure 4. Finite Element Mesh in HyperMesh
G. Define Element Attributes and Constraints
We use the following options on the utility menu: ET type,
Real set, Section and Material to define element attributes. All
the elements were defined as SHELL63. On the analysis page,
we enter the constraints panel and define the constraints.
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H. To Export an ANSYS File
In HyperMesh, the file can be save as “*.hm” directly. But
this format model can not be imported into ANSYS. From the
file pull-down menu, we should select export, then click finite
element model, and then save the file as“*.cdb”.
I. Define Force and Solve by ANSYS
In ANSYS 10.0, from the “File” pull-down menu, we select
“Read Import from” menu, then choose the file
with“*.cdb”format, and then the database can be imported into
ANSYS. The model imported into ANSYS is also the same
completely with that from HyperMesh having no infidelity. It
is noteworthy that the model imported in ANSYS has not
geometry information but only element information. Therefore,
if you want to drag new surface in ANSYS, you can only use
the element information (such as nodes).
For the load on the oil tank is very complex , the load is
applied by not HyperMesh but ANSYS. After solving the stress
nephogram of the oil tank See Fig. 5.
Figure 5. Stress nephogram in ANSYS
V. CONCLUSION
The finite element analysis method ----- modeling by ProE,
meshing by HyperMesh and solving by ANSYS, is feasible and
can exert their corresponding advantages. By the way, the
analysis process changes more convenient, efficient and
accurate. Especially, the complex model is suitable for this
method. This paper presents a set of practical working process,
problems and solutions which has reference value for practical
engineering. The author used this method and working process
in other engineering and also gains good effects.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The author would like to thank ZHANG Tao of Dalian
Jiaotong University for her help and support in making this
work possible.
REFERENCES
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[1] CHEN Zhong-chang, XIE Fa-qin, and WU Xiang-qing, “Realization of application of UG, HyperMesh and MSCMarc in finite element
ProE curved face modeling and the MeshCAST grid division”, Foundry analysis”, Computer Aided Angineering, vol. 16, pp. 11–14, Jun 2007.
Technology, vol. 28, pp. 1353–1355, Oct 2007.

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