Lecture 2

Mechanical Basics
14. 0 Release

Introduction to ANSYS
Mechanical Part 1
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 Chapter Overview
In this chapter we introduce the basic features in Mechanical :
A. Basic Analysis Procedure
B. The Mechanical Interface
C. Menus
D. Toolbars
E. Graphics Control and Selection
F. Outline Tree and Details
G. Graphics Window
H. The Mechanical Application Wizard
I. Scoping Loads and Supports
J. The Engineering Data application
K. Workshop 2-1

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 A. Basic Analysis Procedure
A finite element analysis is used to determine the response of a system based on
some type of loading.
It is important to remember that a finite element solution is an approximation:
CAD geometry is an idealization of the physical model.
The mesh is a combination of discreet elements representing the geometry.
The accuracy of answers is determined by various factors, one of which is the mesh
density.

CAD Model Finite Element Mesh

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 Basic Analysis Procedure
An analysis can be described in the context of four main steps:
Preliminary Decisions
What type of analysis: Static, modal, etc.?
What to model: Part or Assembly?
Which elements: Surface or Solid Bodies?
Should I start with a simpler model?
Symmetry?
Preprocessing
Attach the model geometry
Define and assign material properties to parts
Mesh the geometry
Apply loads and supports
Request results
Solve the Model
Postprocessing
Review results
Check the validity of the solution
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 B. The Mechanical Interface
The components of the user interface are shown below:
Toolbars
Menus

Graphics Window

Outline Tree
Mechanical
Application Wizard

Details View

Status Bar

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 . . . The Mechanical Interface
A range of menus and toolbars provide much of the general functionality in
Mechanical.
The title bar lists analysis type, product and active ANSYS license.

Some menu and toolbar items are self explanatory. Well cover the basic
controls on the next few slides.
Additional controls and features will be introduced throughout the course as
they are encountered.
Note: the windows in Workbench and the Mechanical application can be
customized. If you wish to return to a default layout use in either:
Mechanical: View > Windows > Layout > Reset Window Layout.
Workbench: View > Reset Window Layout.

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 C. Menus
The View menu:
Control basic graphics (shaded, wireframe, etc.).

Control graphical expansion of shells and beams.

Control display utilities (legend, triad, ruler, etc.).

Select the desired toolbars and windows to be

displayed.

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 . . . Menus
The Units menu:
Specify the unit system for Mechanical.
Note, Mechanical may use any unit system regardless of
the one specified in Workbench. Where needed,
automatic conversions will be made.
Mechanical will remember the units used in the
previous session (regardless of the units set in
Workbench).

Specify additional units for angular, rotational and thermal

references.

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 D. Toolbars
The Standard toolbar is shown below (details will be covered later):

A B C D E F

A. Activate the Mechanical Wizard.

B. Solve
C. Create slice planes, annotations, charts and tables.
D. Add comments and figures to the tree.
E. Activate optional Worksheet view.
F. Activate selection information window.

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 . . . Toolbars
The Context toolbar updates depending on current tree selection.

Context sensitive features are exposed as different branches are

highlighted.
In almost all cases an alternate path to these features is available by right
clicking (RMB), when the branch is highlighted.

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 Toolbars
The Graphics toolbar graphical selection
section:
Used to identify geometry and mesh based Filters
items.
Select Geometry:
Filters are used when selecting geometry
items (vertex, edge, surface and body).
May use single or box select modes only.
Select Mesh:
Used to select nodes.
May use any select mode (single, box, box
volume, lasso and lasso volume).

Select mesh is only available when the mesh

is displayed.

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 Toolbars
Selection planes allow for users to easily select
entities that are overlaying one another.
An initial selection point acts as the starting point for a
path through the model.
Each entity encountered is displayed by a selection plane.
The path through the model is in the normal Z (viewing)
direction.

Example using surfaces: initial selection location.

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 Toolbars
The Graphics toolbar graphics manipulation section (left mouse button):
A. Common features (rotate, pan, zoom, box zoom) are to the left of the toolbar.
B. A fit button and magnifier window toggle are available.
C. When zooming, a stack is stored and can be retraced using previous or next
buttons.
D. Isometric view.
E. Look At selected entities, reorients view normal to current selection.
F. Resize annotations on loads and supports after zooming.

A B C D E F

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 E. Graphics Control and Selection
Graphics Shortcuts:
Middle Mouse button (wheel):
Free rotation
+ CTRL = panning
+ Shift = zoom
Right Mouse Button:
Scroll mouse wheel to zoom in/out LMB RMB
Hold RMB + drag = box zoom
RMB Context Menu from graphics window:
Access isometric view controls and fit.
Standard views built in.
Click the axes of the triad to reorient view.
Click the blue iso ball for isometric view.

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 Graphics Control and Selection
Graphics Options toolbar:
Show Vertices: Accentuates vertex display for easier identification.
Wireframe: Toggles view (solid/wireframe).
Edge Controls: Edge color control and display options based on edge connectivity
(number of faces connected to an edge).
Show edge direction.

Show edges where mesh connections are used.

Thicken line display where lines have boundary conditions scoped.
Toggle mesh and coordinate system display.

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 F. Outline Tree and Details
The Outline Tree branches represent various
operations. Each branch has an associated status
symbol.
Becoming familiar with the status symbols will allow
you to debug Mechanical problems quickly.

Solution Branch Icons

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 Outline Tree and Details
The Details View contains input and output fields (the contents will change
depending on the branch selected):
White field: input data that can be edited.
Yellow field: incomplete input data.
Gray field: information only, cannot be modified.
Red field: Result no longer up to date (must re-solve).

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 G. Graphics Window
The Graphics Window shows the geometry and results. Tabs allow access to Print
and Report Previews as well.

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 Graphics Window
Worksheet views are available for many objects in the tree (i.e. geometry,
connections, etc.).
Provides a list view of the data in the tree.
Activate
Worksheet

Toggle between
graphics and
worksheet

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 H. The Mechanical Application Wizard
The Mechanical Wizard is a useful aid in guiding
users in locating the features required to complete
an analysis:
Provides a list of required tasks based on the wizard
type (e.g. structural, thermal, etc.).
Icons indicate the status of each task (similar to tree
status symbols).
By selecting an item on the Required Steps
checklist, a callout appears, illustrating where that
task is performed.

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 I. Scoping Loads & Supports
Loads and supports can be applied as:
1. Scope, then action (pre-select):
Select geometry entity in Graphics Window, then select load or
support (context toolbar or RMB > insert).
Define magnitude and direction (if required).
OR

2. Action, then scope:

Select load or support from the context menu or RMB > Insert.
Select the scope, then Apply in the details.
Define magnitude and direction (if required).
Notes:
Preselecting (1) is more efficient since it avoids having to use the
Apply/Cancel function (pre-selection is automatically applied).
If you wish to change a boundary conditions location simply click
in the geometry field to bring up the Apply/Cancel selections and
make a new selection.
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 Scoping Loads & Supports
Some loads require a direction. There are 2 methods of direction control:
Component Method:
In the details view set Define By to Components.
Select the desired coordinate system (local or global).
Enter X, Y, and Z magnitudes.

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 Scoping Loads & Supports
Vector Method:
In the details view set Define By: to Vector.
Enter the load magnitude.
Click the Direction field and choose the control
geometry (vertex pairs, edges or surfaces).
Apply to confirm.
To modify directions using the vector method:
Click in the Direction field and select new control
geometry.
Use the arrows in the Graphics window to reverse
directions.
Apply when finished.
Default method can be set in: Tools > Options
> Mechanical: Miscellaneous> Load Orientation Type.
Toggle arrow buttons to
reverse load direction

Note: structural simulations allow certain boundary conditions to be applied directly to

the finite element nodes. The technique is covered in lecture 5.
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 J. The Engineering Data Application
The Engineering Data application provides control for material properties.
Engineering Data can be opened stand alone or from analysis system cell (double click
or RMB>Edit).

With Engineering Data open, the 2 icons shown here provide the basic controls for the
Engineering Data display (described next).

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
Users can toggle between 2 Engineering Data views: Data Sources and Project.

Data Source/Project Toggle

A Physics Filter toggles between displaying all materials and properties or only
materials relevant to the analysis systems in the project.

Physics Filter Toggle

A key concept in Engineering Data is that materials must be checked out of a

material library and into a project before they can be used in your analysis.

Data Source (Material Library) Workbench Project

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
Data Source View (material libraries)

Data Sources
(material libraries)

Property Table

Toolbox
Individual Materials

Property
Chart

Material Properties

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
Project View

Materials available in current analysis

IMPORTANT!: Only materials shown in the Project view will be available in the
analysis.

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
With data sources displayed the windows provide a cascading data presentation.
To view or modify materials one generally follows a work flow shown here:
Data Source > Material > Property

Choose Data Source

(Library)
Display Property
in tabular and
Choose Material graphical format

Choose Property

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
Engineering Data Sources Check box allows library to be
Materials can be added to the Favorites unlocked for editing. Libraries must
area from multiple data sources making it be unlocked before materials can be
a custom library available in every project. modified.

The list of available material

libraries is displayed here.
These may be ANSYS
supplied or user defined.

New user material libraries may be added Browse for existing

by entering a name and a location. libraries or choose new
library location.

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
To check a material out of an existing library click the plus sign (+) next to that
material.

Highlight the desired

library

Click the + next to

the desired material

Materials from any data source can be made

Favorites providing a single data source (RMB).

Verify the materials you have checked out by toggling

back to the Project display.
= OFF

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
To create a new material:
Toggle to the project materials = OFF
display.
Enter a name for the new material.

From the Toolbox double

click or drag and drop the
desired properties.

Enter values for the

properties.

Note: properties can be

added to existing materials
using the same technique.

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
To place a new material in a library you must export it as
an xml file first.
Highlight the material name
From the File menu choose Export Engineering
Data.
Browse to the desired location to store the file.

Continued . . .
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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
Toggle to the Data Sources display. = ON

Highlight the material library where the new

material is to be stored.
The material library must be unlocked (edit mode)
before new materials can be added.

From the File menu choose to Import

Engineering Data.
Browse to the xml file for the new material.

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 . . . The Engineering Data Application
To create a material library toggle to the Data Sources display. = ON

Enter a name and select a location (a browser will open automatically).

Engineering Data files (libraries and materials) are stored in .xml format.

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 K. Workshop 2-1 Mechanical Basics

Workshop 2.1 Mechanical Basics

Goal:
Using the Stress Wizard, set up and solve a structural model for
stress, deflection and safety factor.

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