ANSYS Tutorial for Beginners-Detailed Explanation [PDF]

Each and Every article furnished below has explained in a detailed way w.r.t the ANSYS Software. Therefore I had collected all the tutorials which had done in Ansys software under the title of ANSYS Tutorial for Beginners.

When you are doing analysis in ANSYS APDL, you can come across these 4 steps under which material is processed from the application of loads to the failure. They are

I.Preferences

II.Preprocessor

III.Solution

IV.General Post Processor.

ANSYS Tutorial for Beginners:

The detailed explanation of the above 4 steps are as follows:

1.Preferences

Structural-h.method-ok.

2. Preprocessor:

• Element Type-Add-Beam-3D finite strain -ok.
• Material Properties-Material models-structural-Linear-Elastic-Isotropic-provide Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio.
• Sections-
• Modelling-provide the key points. 
• Loads-apply-
• Force-on nodes -

3. Solution:

    solve-current Ls-ok.

4. General post processor: 

It can be used to construct the graphs w.r.t the application of loads.

Let's see the Tutorial of Individual experiments in ANSYS software...

An ANSYS Tutorial for Composite Materials [Steady-State Heat Transfer through a Composite Slab]:

Steady-State Heat Transfer through a Composite Slab is to determine the amount of heat flow through the nodes and the interface temperatures or Nodal Temperatures under the application of Temperature.

Here, in this experiment, the composite slab consists of 3 materials having their thermal conductivities K1, K2 & K3. One end of the composite slab is exposed to External temperature and the other end is exposed to ambient air. The complete Numerical is placed below.

In order to analyze the Steady State Heat Transfer through a Composite Slab in ANSYS Software, we require 4 steps.

I.Preferences
II.Preprocessor
III.Solution
IV.General Post Processor.

A Numerical on Steady-State Heat Transfer through a Composite Slab was shown below…

A Composite slab consists of one layer of brick 500mm thick ad two layers of insulation. The inner layer of insulation is 100mm thick and the outer layer is 60mm thick. The thermal conductivities of the brick, inner, and outer layers are 15W/mK,0.12W/mK, and 0.082W/mK reps. The brick side is exposed to gases at 800°C and the outer insulation is exposed to ambient air at 30°C. The brick side and the air-side heat transfer coefficient are 300W/m2k and 150W/m2k resp. Find the heat transfer through this composite slab and the interface temperature?

Procedure for Steady-State Heat Transfer through a Composite Slab :

I.PREFERENCES:

Thermal—> h-method—> OK.

II.PREPROCESSOR

1. Element Type:

Add—> link—> convection34—> apply—> ok
Add—> link—> 3d conduction—> apply—> ok
As only conduction and convection taking place and that's the reason, the two links are generated.

2.Real Constants:

Add/edit—>ok—>area=1m2

3. Material Properties:

Material 1: Material Models—>Thermal—>convection(or film coefficient)—>HF=300W/m2k
Material 2: Material—>no.2—> Conductivity—>Isotropic—>Kxx=15w/mk-OK.
Material 3: Material—>no.3—> Conductivity—>Isotropic—>Kxx=0.12W/mk-OK.
Material 4: Material—>no.4—> Conductivity—>Isotropic—>Kxx=0.082W/mk-OK.
Material 5: Material no.5—>Convection or film coefficient. =150w/m2k-OK.

4. MODELING:

Create –nodes-in active CS—>Now, create the length of the slab by providing length in the form of nodes…
Consider: 0.01m a small thickness taken for the convection element.

Vertices:

1(0,0,0,),
2(0.01,0,0) ; here a small thickness of 0.01 m has taken for the convection element.
3(0.01+0.5,0,0)=3(0.51,0,0)
4(0.51+0.1,0,0)=4(0.61,0,0)
5(0.61+0.06,0,0)=5(0.67,0,0)
6(0.67+0.01,0,0)=6(0.68,0,0)

5. Elements:

Here we need to concentrate on two features.1. Element attributes and 2.auto numbered Element 1:

Element attributes—>link 34(for convection)—>( Material no.1)—> Real const.no.1-OK.
Auto-numbered—>Through Nodes—>pick the nodes 1&2 –OK.

Element 2:

Element attributes—>link 33(for conduction)—>( Material no.2)—> Real const.no.1-OK.
Auto-numbered—>Through Nodes—>pick the nodes 2&3 –OK.

Element 3:

Element attributes—>link 33(for conduction)—>( Material no.3)—> Real const.no.1-OK.
Auto-numbered—>Through Nodes—>pick the nodes 3&4 –OK.

Element 4:

Element attributes—>link 33(for conduction)—>( Material no.4)—> Real const.no.1-OK.
Auto-numbered—>Through Nodes—>pick the nodes 4&5 –OK.

Element 5:

Element attributes—>link 34(for convection)—>( Material no.5)—> Real const.no.1-OK.
Auto-numbered—>Through Nodes—>pick the nodes 5&6 –OK.

6. Define loads:

Apply—>Thermal—>Temperature—>on nodes—>temp=800°C—>OK.
Now pick the last node-6th node—>30°C—>OK.

III.SOLUTION:

Analysis Type—> New Analysis—> Steady-State—> OK.
Solve—> Current LS—> OK.

IV.GENERAL POST PROCESSOR

• Element table—>Define Table—>DOF solution—>Temp—>OK.
• Element table—>Define Table—>By sequence no.-SMISC,1.—>OK.

List results:

Element Table Data—>(Temp&SMISC)—>ok (we will get a box)—>Pick the Values from that box.

Reaction solutions:

Heat flow—>heat—>OK.
Heat flow @node 1 is 478.74 and @node6 is 478.74 Therefore, heat flow=478.74W

Figure:

Plot controls—>style—>size and shape—>display of element(ON)-OK.
Plot results-Contour plot-Nodal solution-DOF solution-Nodal temp-ok.

Nodal solutions:

To get Interface Temperatures from T1 to T6, go to -DOF solution-nodal temp-ok.

This is the anslysis part of Composite slab in ANSYS APDL.

Static Analysis of Cantilever Beam under Point Load:

The main aim of Static Analysis of a cantilever beam is to determine the Nodal Deflections, Reaction forces, Stresses induced in the Beam, etc.under the application of point load.

Here, I am using Keypoints and Lines to construct a rectangular cantilever beam of the given dimensions in the problem. In order to analyze the cantilever beam under the Application of point load in ANSYS Software, we require 4 steps.

I.Preferences
II.Preprocessor
III.Solution
IV.General Post Processor.

Problem: Determine the Nodal Deflections, Reaction forces and stresses of a Cantilever Beam whose BH = 100*100, Length of the beam(L) is 200mm, Youngs Modulus(E)=2X105 and Poisson’s Ratio(µ)=0.3.

Procedure to perform Static Analysis of Cantilever Beam:

The step by step procedure to perform Static Analysis of Structural Cantilever Beam in APDL is as follows

This can be analyzed in ANSYS Mechanical APDL 15.0 under four stages and are follows.

I.Preferences
II.Preprocessor
III.Solution
IV.General Post Processor.

The detailed explanation of the Static Analysis of Cantilever Beam under these four stages are as follows:

1.PREFERENCES: Structural-ok.

II.PREPROCESSOR:

Element Type: Add/Edit/Delete-->Add-->Beam-->2 node 188 -->OK.

Real Constants: There is no need to add the Real Constants for the beam element.

Material Properties:

Material Models-->Structural-->Linear-->Elastic-->Isotropic -->Provide the Young’s Modulus (E= 2X105) and Poisson’s Ratio (µ) =0.3-->OK.

Sections:

Beam-->Common sections-->Take Sub Type - rectangular Offset to - Centroid Bredth(B)=100mm and Height(H)=100mm

Modelling:

Create-->Keypoints-->In Active CS-->Provide the Keypoints 1&2 and give their respective values in X, Y&Z Direction as shown below.

Lines-->Lines-->Straight Lines-->Now Select the key points 1&2. such that the construction of beam must be completed with Lines.

Now, you need to mesh the cantilever beam so that the load applied on the beam can be distributed Uniformly on all elements and For Meshing any Component, you need to provide the “Element edge length” depending upon the component imported or drawn into the ANSYS Software.

Meshing:

Size Cntrls-->Manual Size-->Lines-->All Lines-->Element edge length =10 mm-->OK.

As you had given the “Element edge length =10 mm” which means that the total Truss system will divide into 1mm equally so that the load can be distributed uniformly on the whole structure.

Mesh-->Lines-->Click on ‘Pick All’ in the Dialogue box.

By Clicking on Pick All button, the software can mesh the body completely.

Constraining the Truss and Application of Loads:

Loads-->Analysis Type-->New Analysis-->Static -->Analysis-->Ok.

Define Loads-->apply-->Structural-->Displacement-->On Keypoints-->Pick the 1st Keypoint-->ApplyClick on All DOF(Constrained in all Directions)-->OK.

Forces:

Define Loads-->Apply-->Structural-->Force/Moment-->On Keypoints-->Select the end Keypoint(i.e.2nd) and apply the force in Vertical(Downward) direction as shown below. Fy = -10000N

III.SOLUTION:

• Analysis Type-->New Analysis-->Static-->OK.
• Solve-->Current LS-->OK.

IV.GENERAL POST PROCESSOR

• Plot Results-->Deformed Shape-->Deformed Shape with Un deformed Model-->OK.
• Plot Results-->Contour Plot-->Nodal Solution-->DOF Solution-->Now take all the displacement in X, Y&Z component of Displacement along with Displacement Vector sum.

Stresses:

Plot Results-->Contour Plot-->Nodal Solution-->Stress--> Now take all the stresses induced in X, Y&Z component of stress along with Vonmises stress. If the results are not available by the above procedure, then you need to click on Plotctrls-->Style-->Size&Shape-->Display of Element(ON)-->OK.

Next,Go to Plot Results-->Contour Plot-->Nodal Solution-->Stress-->Vonmises stress-->Def.shape with Un def.model-->OK.

List Results:

Reaction Forces:

General Post Processor-->List Results-->Reaction solutions-->All structural Forces-->OK.Now you can get the Reaction forces at the supports.

This is the complete explanation about Static Analysis of a Cantilever Beam under Point Load in a detailed way. If you have any doubts, feel free to ask from the comments section.

Steps for converting Areas into Nodes in ANSYS Software:

The need for converting areas into nodes in ANSYS software is to apply the loads on the nodes rather than on the areas in the structure so that the load is to be distributed uniformly throughout. To know, how to perform this on the structure, I will be explaining to you about how to convert the areas into nodes in ANSYS software in a detailed manner.

Procedure for converting areas into nodes in ANSYS:

1. You should have to import a structure into ANSYS software and convert it from wireframe to solid model.

2. In this, the imported model is a Tillage structure which has holes at the independent topmast. The holes are to be picked first as the "areas" and we should have to convert it from "areas to nodes" in ANSYS Software.

3. The holes are picked as follows in ANSYS Software:

• Plot-Areas-ok
• Select-Entities-Areas-By Num/Pick-From full-ok-A dialogue box opens-select the holes by means of the mouse and if you had selected the unwanted,de-select it again by right-clicking the mouse.
• After selecting the holes, click on Ok.
• Two holes will be visible to you and you should have to convert that area into nodes. But, before that, you should have to go through this. (Select everything below and select everything)otherwise, the entire structure will be converted to nodes.
• Now, convert areas into nodes by clicking on

Plot-Entities-Nodes-Attached to-Areas,all-from full-OK.

• By this step also, they are not converted into nodes.So, for that go to

Plot-Nodes-ok.

By this, the areas are converted into nodes in ANSYS software where you can apply the loads on them so that the load can be distributed uniformly.

Therefore, this is the complete explanation of converting areas into nodes in ANSYS software.

Conversion of Wireframe model into the Solid model in ANSYS

 If you want to analyze apart under the application of loads, then you should have to import that model into ANSYS software in the form of Parasolid format or any other format.

In this article, I will be explaining to you about How to convert a Wireframe model into the Solid model in ANSYS software in a detailed manner.

Explanation:

A step by step procedure is to be adopted to understand how a model is analyzed by importing and how can we convert that wireframe model into a solid model and is as follows.

Steps for converting a wireframe model into a solid model:

1. Firstly, we should have to create a model with suitable dimensions with the help of the design provided.
2. Save that model in any format.
3. Most of the designers save their model in the form of Parasolid format which is easy to import in ANSYS.
4. Now, it's the turn to import that model you had designed in the CAD software into ANSYS software. 5. Click on ANSYS  Icon and it opens a new dialogue box named ANSYS Multiphysics Utility Menu.
5. Click on File-Import-Parasolid-Ok.
6. Then another dialogue box opens where you need to browse for that file which you are going to import into ANSYS.
7. In the same dialogue box, you will see two side boxes side by side showing the File and Directories. Choose the proper directory and proper file and click on List Files Type button in which you should has to mention the file type I .e.it may be of Parasolid etc. depending upon the file type chosen at the time of importing.
8. Two Checkboxes are provided. Among them, one is Allow Defeaturing and the other is Allow Scaling. The two boxes are to be Unticked.
9. Select the Geometry Type of your file i.e. it might be a solid only, surfaces only, wireframes only, and All entities. Click on Solids only button if your model is of solid type.
10. Click on OK. By this, the model is imported into the ANSYS software in the form of a wireframe model.
11. To analyze, the wireframe model is to be converted into a solid model which is shown below.
12. Click on Plot controls-Style-Solid Model Facets-Normal Faceting-OK.
13. By this, your model is converted from wireframe to solid model. But, in some cases, it is not so. For that, you should have to right-click on the black screen and say Replot.
14. That's it… This is the complete explanation reg.the conversion of a file from the Wireframe model into a solid model. I hope this post is useful to you.

ANSYS Installation Guide in ANSYS Tutorial for Beginners:

ANSYS plays a vital role in the field of mechanical engineering.ANSYS is an extraordinary software for doing an analysis of a component. To do the analysis, the part is to be modeled in any of the design software and is to to be imported into ANSYS to do further analysis. 

A detailed explanation of How to complete ANSYS Installation in Just 4 Steps was discussed in this article. A suitable procedure is to be adopted for the installation of Ansys and is as follows.

Procedure for ANSYS Installation:

The installation takes place under 4 steps and is as follows…

Step 1: A license has to be created.
Step 2: Ansys Licence Manager Setup &
Step 3: Installation of ANSYS Products.
The ANSYS 15.0 Package is used to analyze an object under the application of forces.

A detailed explanation of the 4 steps are as follows:

• MAGNITUDE-Open-(If there is a license in it then delete it).Then click on a1507_calc –open-y-enter-press any key.
• Then open license-and look whether it is hp server based-ok. (copy license in c:)
• Go to setup-open-yes-install Ansys license manager-ok-I agree-next(2/3 times)-wait when Exit appears-CONTINUE(2 times)-ask for licence-continue-continue-wait-exit-exit-EXIT.
• Install ANSYS Products-I agree-next(use reader an option)-------in the middle it asks to BROWSE-(say DISK 2)-OK.
• This is the complete explanation about How to complete ANSYS Installation in Just 4 Steps in a detailed manner.

These are the few experiments which I had explained in ANSYS Tutorials for Beginners and we can see few more in the future.

More Resources:

How to Install Creo?
Recent Trends in Mechanical Engineering

References [External Links]:

• ANSYS Manuals