Simulation Basics

... Simulation Interface

J\NS.·
Training Manual

• The components of the user interface are shown below:

Workbench Tabs
Menus

,
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Tree Outline

.1 Details View
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• Short descriptions of each component are covered next February 1, 2005
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... GUI- Menus ••••
Training Manual

• The menus provide much of the functionality present in

Simulation. Covering each menu item may be tedious, so
only the more commonly used menu items are covered
below:
- The titlebar lists the currently active ANSYS license
- "File> Save" to save the .dsdb Simulation database
- "File> Clean" to delete mesh and/or results from database
- "Edit> Select AII" to select all current entities in the window ,
- "Units" to change units on- l1e Iy I
- "Tools > Options ... " to customize settings and options
- "Help > ANSYS Simulation Help" to invoke documentation I
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... GUI- Toolbars Training Manual

• There are four sets of toolbars to provide users quick

access to functionality also found in the menus.

•
The toolbars can be repositioned anywhere on the top of the
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Simulation window
The "Context" toolbar, as will be illustrated later, will change,
depending on what branch is active in the "Outline" tree.
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Tooltips appear if the cursor is placed over the toolbar button
A "Unit Conversion" toolbar is also available (not shown) February 1, 2005
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... GUI- Toolbars Training Manual

• The "Standard" toolbar is shown below:

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•
Capture Snapshot
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• The "Graphics" toolbar is used very often:

•
The left mouse button can be either in "selection" mode or
"graphics manipulation" mode. The above toolbar buttons
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grouped as "select entities" and "graphics manipulation"
control the left nausebutton behavior.
The selection of entities of the CAD geometry can be done
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either by individual selection or by bOJ( gection. This is
controlled by the "Select Mode" icon
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Simulation Basics

... GUI- Outline Tree

ANSYS" Training Manual

• The Outllne Tree provides an easy way of organizing the

model, materials, mesh, loads, and results for the analysis
The Outline Tree is analogous to the "tree" ••• ···fj·······m· 19j
found in many CAD software. However,
instead of sketehes and features, this
tree eontains analysis related items
The "Model" braneh eontains the input
data required for the analysis whereas the
::.:. ",,.tl$ GMfOe!try
"Engineering Data" braneh holds generie ;': ."; -",,)~! C:!)nt~~t:
material and eonveetion data .:. ..··;;;.'~l Ne:sh
;······

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...
").~ Envli'onment:

The four main seetions of the "Model" .. :.

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, 1e~""Force
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braneh inelude "Geometry," "Contaet" ••. :

.' "?~ Solutiun
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(if present), "Mesh," and "Environment." ¡ ¡ 1~~;J;'':;:YPad«
::. . : ..;.(~~ l'ot<.ll Oeforo'lation
The "Environment" braneh eontains the ..é" CJ Er~glr~¡ng !)at~
loads as well as the "Solution" braneh, .. :+:' lj} $t:n..KtJJra! 5t~el

whieh holds results for postproeessing.

Other branehes (not eovered here) are also available. February 1,2005
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 Simulation Basics

... GUI- Outline Tree

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Training Manual
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• The Outline Tree shows icons for each branch, along with a
status symbol. Examples of the status symbols are below:
"~/'- - Checkmark indicates branch is fully defined/OK
.,,;@~- Question mark indicates item has incomplete data (need input)
..,;(;:~ - Lightning bolt indicates solving is required
~lii - Exclamation mark means problem exlsts"
·x~ - "X" means that item is suppressed (will not be solved)
'/~ - Transparent checkmark means body or part is hidden •
-:~~ - Green lightning bolt indicates item is currently being evaluated
.~1I( - Minus sign means that mapped face meshing failed
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1

•
1 Example is opening a Simulation database which contains a capability not available with
the current ANSYS license used.

The user should become familiar with the basic status

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symbols shown here, so he/she can easily determine if the
model is OK. February 1, 2005
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Simulafion Basics
... GUI- Details View Training Manual

• The Details View provides a means of inputting data. The

contents will change, depending on branch se/ected.
White field: shows current input data
• Data in white text field can easily be changed by
clicking on it, then entering data, as needed
• Sorne white fields require the user to select ~%@$Wi#t
Solut.iun

geometric entities on the screen, then click on ~;J.EIr;;:::~~teel

"Apply". Others require text data input from
keyboard or selecting item from pull-down menu.
•
Gray (or Red) field: shows informative data
• Data in gray fields cannot be modified. These
fields usually provide information or results
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data, such as the maximum stress or number
of nodes generated by the mesher.
Yellow field: incomplete input data
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• Data in yellow fields indicate that not enough
information has been supplied. Users need to
fill in data completely in order to solve modelo February 1,2005
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... GUI- Graphics Window Training Manual

• The Graphics Window shows the geometry and results. It

can also provide worksheet (tabular) listings, the HTML
report, and a Print Preview option.

The Job Status tab provides

information on jobs being
solved remotely.
The remote solve capability
will be discussed in the
Simulation Advanced
Training Course •
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Simulation Basics

... GUI- Simulation Wizard

J\N YS
Training Manual

• The Simulation Wizard is an optional component, a useful

aid to remind users steps required to complete an analysis
- The Simulation Wizard provides a list of required
steps and the status of them
- Green checkmark indicates the item is complete
- Green "i" shows an item to verify
- A greyed symbol shows that the item cannot be
performed yet until the previous step is completed
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- A red question mark means that there is an
incompletebranchrelatedto this ite~, analo,~~~"l
to the "?" status symbol on the Outhne Tree "'?~It'
r1
- An "x" means that the item is not performed yet I
- A lightning bolt means that the item is ready to be I
solved by selecting j on the Standard Toolbar

The Simulation Wizard can be toggled on/off by

•
selecting the m button on the Standard Toolbar
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Simulation Basics AN S yS·····:·:
...... " ' .. \,. ....

B. Startup Panel TrainingManual

• When first attaching a model to Simulation, the Startup ~~

Panel is shown, allowing the user to select a Simulation
Template •
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• This startup panel can be turned off in "Tools > Options ... > Simulation: Startup" Inventory #002174
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Simulatian Basics

... Startup Panel Training Manual

• The benefit of the Startup Panel is that the appropriate

results and Simulation Wizard will appear
- Templates and Wizards are only available for analyses
supported in DesignSpace licenses
- "Stress Branch" is selected in the example below. Note that
results and the Stress Wizard are automatically chosen

•
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... Simulafion Wizard Training Manual

• By selecting an item on the "Required Steps" checklist, a

callout appears, illustrating how that function is performed.
In the example below, "Verify Materials" was selected, and the
callout shows the user where this item can be changed.

•
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1.
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Click the arrow to chonse a material
definition to assign to the bodv or
bodies seleeted in the Outline. View or
edit material definitions unde.r
Engineering Data in the Outline.
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Simulation Basics

... Simulafion Wizard Training Manual

• The Simulation Wizard is very useful :~:m'~¡mlr:t(.m~f~ér~.:::::

...
to analysts or other engineers who do I!~':j~ ilillt,i'i:/.:,~~*:I·'~'·U'"

not use Simulation every day

Reduces learning curve, as callouts
show user where the item is in GUI
Besides basic tunctionality, callouts
for more advanced items are also
available as shown on right
•
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Simulation Basics

C. Basic Procedure Training Manual

• The purpose of simulation is usually to determine the response of

the system based on sorne type of excitation or loading.
• It is crucial to remember that a mathematical model is used:
- CADgeometry is an idealization of the physical model
- The mesh is a mathematical representation of the CAD model
- The accuracy of answers is determined by various factors:
• How well the physical model is represented depends on the assumptions
• Numerical accuracy is determined by the mesh density
•
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Simulation Basics
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... Basic Procedure Training Manual

• Every analysis involves tour main steps:

Preliminary Decisions
• What type of analysis: Static, modal, etc.?
• What to model: Part or Assembly?
• Which elements: Suñace or Solid Bodies?
Preprocessing
• Attach the model geometry
• Define and assign material properties to parts
•
• Mesh the geometry
• Apply loads and supports I
• Request results
Solve the Model
Postprocessing
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• Review results
• Check the validity of the solution
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... Basic Procedure Training Manual

• A sample analysis using the Stress Wizard will be shown in

this section.

• The Wizards in Simulation aid the user in following the

basic analysis template discussed previously, and these
steps below will be covered in the next slides:
- Attach/import geometry
- Assign material properties
- (Mesh geometry) •
• A default mesh will be supplied by Simulation
peñormed manually by the user
if this step is not
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1.
- Apply loads and supports
-
-
Request results
Solve model
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- Review results/postprocessing
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Simulation Basics
J\NSY
... Attach Geometry Training Manual

• Earlier, it was shown that geometry can be attached to

Simulation in two ways
Direct from CAD system
• For supported CAD packages only using plug-in mode
From within a blank Simulation session
• For all supported formats, using plug-in or reader mode

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Attaches active CAD model
(plug-in mode)

Browse for CAD file I

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(reader mode)

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... Assign Material Properties Training Manual

• After importing a model, the Stress Branch template was

chosen, and the Stress Wizard appears
"Verify Materials" is selected, and the callout shows how to
change material properties in the pull cbNn menu

After "Verify Materials" is

selected, al! of the parts
from the "Geometry"
branch are highlighted,
•
and the Details view
shows how to change the
material. I
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Simulation Basics
J\N.._"..-'71,S'" :'::
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... Assign Material Properties Training Manual

• Notice that the Details View allows the user to select a

material from a pull-down menu
The default material property is "Structural Steel" but can be
changed
By selecting "Import ... " the user can select a material
property file (XML format)

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.. ' .
. . -. '.: : .. . .:.~
.

Although a few material properties are supplied with

Simulation, as with any other input data, the user should use
his/her own material data values. February 1,2005
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... Assign Material Properties Training Manual

• Materials may be individually selected for each part

Note that the part name is obtained from the CAD model
• Multiple instances of the same part are differentiated by number
Multiple parts can be highlighted and changed at once
• Use Shift-Left mouse button to highlight all items in range
• Use Ctrl-Left mouse button to individually add/remove selection

By using a combination of Shift-

•
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Left mouse button and Ctrl-Left
wfdi~ifl mouse button, twelve parts are
.;"".",:.~:.:".,,':.,"
highlighted on the Outline Tree
The user can then change all 1.
materials at once in the Details
View by selecting the material
pull-down menu.
Note that DesignSpace Entra is
:~@*Mj~1limited to analysis of single
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~~,,~~~~...
parts .
ANSYS License Availability
DesignSpace Entra
Desigrispace ... February 1,2005
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