ANSYS Operations Guide

What can we use ANSYS for ?  model, load, analyze, optimize

structures or assemblies (systems) for deflection, stress, failure, heat transfer, conduction, convection, radiation, electro-magnetics, voltage, current, charge, magnetic potential, fluid flow, pressure, acoustics, etc.

ANSYS is "general purpose"

Other programs can be used for FEA. Some have highly specialized applications

• NASTRAN

• MECHANICA

• ABAQUS

• COSMOS

• ALGOR

• LS-DYNA

• FLUENT

• Adams

• FEMAP, Patran

• … others (Nisa, Marc, etc.)

GUI (Graphical User Interface)

    ANSYS has two: ANSYS and ANSYS Workbench

ANSYS (Ch. 2):

Based on "Processors" (/PREP7, /SOLU, /POST1, etc.)

Database (DB) - all model data + last set of results.  Can SAVE/RESUME/CLEAR

Many files may be created during FEA simulation.  

    Which ones are important to keep ?  

    Where are they created on the computer (what is PWD) ?

Toolbar, abbreviations, macros.

Interactive vs. Batch Mode (Ch. 3.0, 3.2 - 3.2.1.3, 3.3)

Usually we don't start ANSYS from a command prompt (we use Windows, Start Button).  Many options available when starting ANSYS.

Best to open ANSYS from the ANSYS Launcher

• Select the "product"
• Select the "license"
• Select the PWD under "File Management"
• (Optional) Define a "job name" for your work

GUI (Ch. 4, through Section 4.3.7)

Dialog Box:

• text entry
• check buttons
• radio buttons
• selection lists
• tabbed dialog boxes
• drop-down lists
• tree structures

Action Buttons:  OK, APPLY, RESET, CANCEL, HELP

Picking (Ch. 5)

mouse button assignment/behavior; hot spots on geometry

location and retrieval picking; query picking

Log Files (Ch. 8)

• Documents (in ANSYS commands) every step of simulation
• "session" log file:  Written in PWD during each session.  May be partial/incomplete
• internal DB log file:  Stored with DB (on DB file). May be a sequential series of ANSYS sessions.

A command log file can be used to re-load a model that was lost.  

An edited log file can be used to study variations in a model (dimensions, material, loading, etc.)

READING ASSIGNMENT:

ANSYS Modeling and Meshing Guide

Chapter 1, 2.0 - 2.6