ANSYS
ANSYS
Fundamentals
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How to Start Ansys and Product Launcher
ANSYS
Start > Programs > ANSYS > Interactive
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License Type:
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Job name text box
File Management Tab
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Working Directory text
box
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Product Launcher - Configuration
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Manual memory
settings
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Graphic device
hardware acceleration
ANSYS
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ANSYS
GUI
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Input Line
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Raise/Hidden Icon
Contact Manager Icon
Utility Menu
Graphics Area
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Main Menu
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Model Control Toolbar
User Prompt Info
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Current Settings
10 Output Window
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Note: Closing the output window will end
the ANSYS session!
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GUI
ANSYS
Dialog boxes may have both Apply and OK buttons.
1 • Apply performs the action, but does not close the
dialog box for repeated use.
2 • OK performs the action and closes the dialog box.
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Files
ANSYS
ANSYS database: all data ANSYS keeps in memory as model is build,
solved, and postprocessed.
SAVE command: copies the database from memory to a file called the
database file (or db file).
Utility Menu > File > Save as Jobname.db
Utility Menu > File > Save as…
RESUME command: restore the database from the db file back into
memory
Utility Menu > File > Resume Jobname.db
Utility Menu > File > Resume from…
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Files
ANSYS
Erasing everything in memory
To reset ANSYS and start a new database
select :
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1 Utility Menu > File > Clear & Start New
Or use the /CLEAR command.
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Online Help
ANSYS
To start the help system use one of the following options:
1 • Launcher > Product Help
2 • Utility Menu > Help > Help Topics
• Any dialog box > Help
3 • Type HELP,name in the Input Window. Name is a command or element name.
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Online Help
ANSYS
• Type HELP, PLANE42 for help on structural plane element
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Plotting
ANSYS
To display entities on the graphic area and visualize the model.
Util Menu > Plot
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Plot keypoints
Plot Lines
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Plot Areas
Plot Volumes
Plot Nodes
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Plot Elements
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Practice 1
ANSYS
Practice 1 will show how to:
• Lunch Ansys
• Load a db file
• Navigate the menu
• Call the help system
• Plot geometric entities: lines, areas, volumes
Instructions found in Practice-1.pptx
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Select Logic
ANSYS
Select Logic allows selection of a subset of entities and
operate only on those entities.
Three step process:
• Subset selected
• Operation performed on subset
• Full set reactivated
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Util Menu > Select > Entities
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Type of entity to select
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Type of selection
Selection criteria
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Select Logic
ANSYS
Selection types:
• From Full: selects a subset
from the full set of entities.
• Reselect: selects (again) a
subset from the current subset.
• Also Select: adds another
subset to the current subset.
• Unselect: deactivates a portion
of the current subset.
• Invert: toggles the active and
inactive subsets.
• Select None: deactivates the
full set of entities.
• Select All: reactivates the full
set of entities.
From Full
Reselect
Also Select
Unselect
Invert
Select None
Select All
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Components
ANSYS
• Components are user-named subsets of entities.
• The name can then be used in dialog boxes or as arguments to commands.
• A group of nodes, or elements, or keypoints, or lines, or areas, or volumes can be
defined as a component.
• Only one entity type is associated with a component.
• Components can be selected or unselected. When you select a component, you
are actually selecting all of the entities in that component.
• Component Manager can be accessed from:
Util Menu > Select > Component Manager
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Picking
ANSYS
Picking existing entities to perform an operation.
Picker window allows to enter entity numbers directly.
All entities can be picked with the Pick All button.
Mouse button assignments for picking:
• Left mouse button picks (or unpicks) the entity or location
closest to the mouse pointer. Pressing and dragging allows
you to “preview” the item being picked (or unpicked).
• Middle mouse button does an Apply. Saves the time
required to move the mouse over to the Picker and press
the Apply button. Use Shift-Right button on a two-button
mouse.
• Right mouse button toggles between pick and unpick
mode.
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Picking
ANSYS
Pick hotspot locations:
• Areas and Volumes have a hotspot near the centroid of the
solid model entity.
• Lines have three hotspots - one in the middle and one near
each end.
• When you are required to “pick” an entity, you must pick on
the hotspot.
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Work Plane
ANSYS
• Working Plane - a movable, 2-D reference plane used to
locate keypoints.
• Default position of the WP origin is the global origin. It can
be moved or rotated as needed.
• WP defined by the XY plane. WP is infinite.
Translate
• To position the WP use Util Menu > WorkPlane > Offset WP
by Increments
Rotate
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Coordinate Systems
ANSYS
Types of Coordinate systems:
• Global and local coordinate systems: used to locate geometry entities(nodes,
keypoints, etc.)
• Display coordinate system: determines the system in which geometry items are
listed or displayed.
• The nodal coordinate system: defines the degree of freedom directions at each
node.
• The element coordinate system: determines the orientation of material
properties.
• The results coordinate system: used to transform nodal or element results data
to a particular coordinate system for listings, displays, or general postprocessing.
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Coordinate Systems
ANSYS
Global Coordinate System
• The global reference system for the model.
• Can be se to Cartesian (csys,0), cylindrical (csys,1), or spherical (csys,2).
• Global coordinate systems can not be changes are always available.
• To change the coordinate system use the command csys,”coordinate id”
csys,0
csys,1
csys,2
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Coordinate Systems
ANSYS
Local Coordinate System
• A user-defined coordinate system at a specified location. Coordinate system ID
should be 11 or greater.
• Several ways to define:
1. At WorkPlane origin
2. At specified coordinates
3. At existing keypoints or nodes
4. Can be Cartesian, cylindrical, or spherical.
5. Can be rotated about X, Y, Z axes.
CSYS,12
Y
Y
X
Y
X
CSYS,0
X
CSYS,11
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Practice 2
ANSYS
Practice 2 will show how to:
• Pick entities
• Manipulate the WorkPlane
• Define an manipulate Coordinate systems
• Perform Selections
• Component creation
Instructions found in Practice-2.pptx
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Solid Modeling
ANSYS
Solid Modeling: the process of creating solid models.
Definitions:
• A solid model is defined by volumes, areas, lines, and keypoints.
• Volumes are bounded by areas, areas by lines, and lines by keypoints.
• Hierarchy of entities: from low to high:
Lower

Higher
• keypoints < lines < areas < volumes
• Cannot delete/remove an entity that belongs to a higher-order entity.
Volume
Area
Line
Keypoint
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Geometry Creation
ANSYS
• Top Down: Using Boolean operations with volumes (or areas) create the final
shape.
V1 – V2 
V1
V2
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Geometry Creation
ANSYS
• Bottom Up: starts with keypoints, from which shapes are “build up”
Kepoints

Lines

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Area
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Element Type Definition
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Add/Edit/Delete >
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Click to show Element types available
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Select element type
Select element shape
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Material Properties Definition
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Material Models
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Click to Material Model number
Select Structural (linear/nonlinear/etc)
Select isotropic
Enter properties
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Meshing
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool
The mesh tool consists of a collections of commands required
to generate a mesh.
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Attributes Controls
Smart Size Controls
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Local Size Controls
Meshing Controls
Refinement Controls
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Meshing
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool
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To assign predefined element type, real constants, material,
sections, Select Element Attributes drop down menu.
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From the options select geometric entity to apply the attribute.
Select Set
Select Type to apply to the area
Select Material to apply to the area
Select OK to apply attribute
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Meshing
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool
1 To assign size controls select entity
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Select the Set button next to Lines label
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Select lines to apply size control
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Specify number of divisions
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Select OK to apply size control
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Applied line divisions
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Meshing (mapped)
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool
1 To apply mesh controls select entity from drop down menu
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Select Area option
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Select mapped mesh
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Select area to mesh
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Resulting mesh
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Meshing (free)
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh Tool
1 To apply mesh controls select entity from drop down menu
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Select Area option
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Select free mesh
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Select area to mesh
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Resulting mesh
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Loads (Force)
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural >
Force/Moment > On Nodes
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Select nodes to apply the forces
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Select force direction
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Specify force magnitude
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Select OK to apply force
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Resulting applied forces
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Loads (Displacement)
ANSYS
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Loads > Define Loads > Apply > Structural >
Displacements > On Nodes
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Select nodes to apply the displacement
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Select DOF to specify
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Specify displacement value
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Select OK to apply displacement
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Resulting applied displacements
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Solution
ANSYS
Main Menu > Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis
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Click Static
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Solution
ANSYS
Main Menu > Solution > Solve > Current LS
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Click OK to start solution.
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General Postprocessor
ANSYS
Main Menu > General Postprocessor > Read Results > First Set
Main Menu > General Postprocessor > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal
Solution
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Click on Displacement vector sum
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Practice 3
ANSYS
Practice 3 will show how to:
• Define geometry
• Define element types
• Define material properties
• Define boundary conditions
• Define loads
• Solve the model
• Review results
Instructions found in Practice-3.pptx
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Practice 4
ANSYS
Practice 4 will show how to:
• Use axisymmetric PLANE42 element for stress analysis of
a turbine disk
Instructions found in Practice-4.pptx
This page contains no technical data subject to the EAR or the ITAR.
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