MECH3361/9361 Mechanics of Solids 2

ANSYS Workbench Guide

Introduction
This document serves as a step-by-step guide for conducting a Finite Element
Analysis (FEA) using ANSYS Workbench. It will cover the use of the simulation
package through the graphical user interface (GUI). More advanced topics will also
be briefly covered.

Aims and Objectives
The purpose of this document is to provide step-by-step instructions on how to use
ANSYS Workbench through the GUI. Upon completion, the student should be able
to:
use symmetry conditions to simplify a typical engineering problem
perform a finite element simulation of a typical engineering problem
investigate the effects of certain variables that are changed

Problem
In this guide, a thin plate with a hole scenario will be investigated, as shown below.

C y = 1MPa
I H
ux=0
A a
2m x
B uy=0

Mild Steel
F G
2m
Figure 2


Perform a stress analysis by determining:
1. the stress state at points A and B
2. the x-component of stress along line AC
3. the stress state at points A and B with different variables applied:
a. changing the size of the hole
b. changing the thin plate to a thick block
c. increasing the temperature of the plate

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Step 1: Launching ANSYS Workbench

The ANSYS installation has many packages included. For this tutorial, we will be
using ANSYS Workbench.
Start menu > ANSYS 15.0 > Workbench 15.0

The Workbench Project Window will open.

Step 2: Pre-processing (Setting up the Model)
Our analysis is a Static Structural analysis. It can be found in the Toolbox on the left,
and needs to be added to the Project Schematic by either double clicking it, or
dragging it into the pane.

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The Static Structural component and all of its modules will be created. The modules
are similar to those in ANSYS MAPDL. They outline the steps that are required to
complete a finite element analysis.
Engineering Data module is used to define the material properties.
Geometry module opens the DesignModeler application, which can be used
to import CAD models from other software like SolidWorks or to sketch a new
2D or 3D geometry.
Model, Setup, Solution, and Results modules opens the Mechanical
application, which can be used to set up and solve the simulation (includes
meshing, load and boundary condition applications, solving, and results).

Step 2A: Engineering Data
Double-click Engineering Data. What you see in this window may differ from the
screenshot below. In here, you can add a new material by defining a new material
entry for Mild Steel. We want to define the material as an isotropic elastic one.

Outline pane > Click here to add a new material >
Type Mild Steel
Toolbox pane > Linear Elastic > Isotropic Elasticity
(double-click)

Two yellow boxes will appear in the Properties pane. In ANSYS Workbench, yellow
boxes indicate values that must be entered before continuing. In this case, enter in
the Youngs Modulus (in Pa) and Poissons Ratio for Mild Steel (find values for these
yourself in textbooks or in articles).

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Exit Engineering Data by closing the tab at the top of the window and return to the
main Project.

Step 2B: Geometry
By default, ANSYS Workbench will analyse the problem in 3D. In this problem, we
are modelling a plane stress scenario, which allows us to reduce the analysis down
to a 2D problem.

Static Structural system > Geometry (right-click) >
Properties > Properties pane > Advanced Geometry
Options > Analysis Type > 2D

Enter the DesignModeler application by double-clicking on the Geometry module.

DesignModeler is similar to a CAD program. Here you can work with the model and
create sketches by clicking on the tabs on the left.

The aim here is to draw a square with a circle cut-out on the XYPlane that will
become a model of the plate with a hole. To take advantage of the symmetry of the
model, we can model just one-quarter of the square and remove a quarter circle on
one of the corners.

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To model a 1m x 1m square, with the origin at the bottom left corner:

Modeling tab > A: Static Structural > XYPlane (right-
click) > Look At
Sketching tab > Draw > Rectangle > Draw a rectangle in
the graphics window
Sketching tab > Dimensions > General > Click on
horizontal line of rectangle > Click again to set
dimension
Details > Dimension > H1 > Type 1
Sketching tab > Dimensions > General > Click on
vertical line of rectangle > Click again to set dimension
Details > Dimension > V2 > Type 1
Sketching tab > Constraints > Coincident > Click on Y
axis > Click on left edge of rectangle
Sketching tab > Constraints > Coincident > Click on X
axis > Click on bottom edge of rectangle
Back to Modeling tab

Notice that a new sketch is now visible under the XYPlane category. This sketch
does not constitute a body or surface. We need to define a surface from it.

Concept (top menu bar) > Surfaces from Sketches
Modeling tab > A: Static Structural > XYPlane > Sketch1
Details pane > Base Objects > Apply
Click Generate

We now need to create a circle to Boolean subtract from the square. First we need to
freeze the square to tell ANSYS not to make any further changes to the square
sketch.

Tools (top menu bar) > Freeze

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Now go back to the XYPlane and add a new sketch.

In this sketch, draw a circle centred at the origin (by using the coincident constraints)
and a radius of 0.2m (by using the general dimension tool). Create a surface from
this sketch and generate it.

You can now subtract the circle from the square:

Create (top menu bar) > Boolean
Details pane > Operation > Subtract
Target bodies > Select the square > Apply
Tool bodies > Select the circle > Apply
Generate

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DesignModeler is linked with the Project Window, so no saves are required from this
window. However, its a good idea to save your project at this point from the Project
Window. Workbench will save a .wbpj file and a separate folder. Keep these together
when moving the project around.

Close the DesignModeler window to return to the Project Window.

Step 2C: Model
Enter the Mechanical application by double-clicking on the
Model module. At this point, Workbench should attach the
geometry that was made in DesignModeler and make it
available in the Mechanical application, where we will
complete the configuration of this simulation and solve it.

At this point, notice that the Mechanical application has
two panes on the left: Outline and Details. The Outline
pane contains a tree with all the settings you add to the
model. The Details pane will provide options for each of
these settings that you can change.

After configuring Workbench to run this Static Structural
simulation in 2D, the Mechanical application allows for the
use of various 2D assumptions, including the plane stress
and plane strain assumptions. For plane stress, a
thickness will need to be defined, as it is needed to
calculate the strain in the z direction.

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Outline pane > Model > Geometry

Details pane > Definition > 2D Behavior > Plane
Stress
Outline pane > Model > Geometry > Surface Body
Details pane > Definition > Thickness > Type 0.1

You may also specify a material for each geometrical body in your simulation.

Outline pane > Model > Geometry > Surface Body
Details pane > Material > Assignment > Mild Steel

Similar to that of ANSYS MAPDL, meshing will discretise the model into elements
and nodes that will resemble the geometry. The arrangement of these elements and
nodes is known as a mesh. As you may have figured out from Assignment 1, the
mesh can have an effect on the results of the analysis. A finer mesh typically gives
more accurate results, but at the cost of higher computational requirements. Other
mesh factors, such as shape, element order and distribution, may also influence the
accuracy of your results.

In this example, we will set all the elements to be triangles, as this will conform to the
geometry. The sizing will be set to 0.1m in this tutorial, however this will not be small
enough to make your simulation accurate enough. You should change this number
yourself to evaluate the effect of element size on your results.

Outline pane > Model > Mesh (right-click) > Insert >
Method > Click on body > Details pane > Scope >
Geometry > Apply
Details pane > Definition > Method > Triangles
Outline pane > Model > Mesh (right-click) > Insert >
Sizing > Click on body > Details pane > Scope >
Geometry > Apply
Details pane > Definition > Element Size > Type 0.1
Outline pane > Model > Mesh (right-click) > Generate
Mesh

Workbench provides different selection tools that will allow you to select vertices,
edges, faces, and bodies. To switch between these, use the buttons at the top of the
screen. You also have the option to interact directly with the geometry or the mesh
by using the dropdown menu for Select Type (Geometry/Mesh).

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The next step is to apply the necessary boundary conditions and loads to the model.
The 1MPa stress on the right edge as well as the symmetry conditions will be
defined:

Outline pane > Model > Static Structural (right-click)
> Insert > Pressure > Click on right edge > Details
pane > Scope > Geometry > Apply
Details pane > Definition > Magnitude > Type -1e6
Outline pane > Model (right-click) > Insert > Symmetry
Outline pane > Model > Symmetry (right-click) > Insert
> Symmetry Region > Click on left edge > Details pane >
Scope > Geometry > Apply
Details pane > Definition > Symmetry Normal > X Axis

An alternative method for inserting the symmetry condition is by defining the the x-
component of displacement to be equal to zero for the left edge. Either method can
be used and will have the same effect.

Outline pane > Model > Static Structural (right-click)
> Insert > Displacement > Click on left edge > Details
pane > Scope > Geometry > Apply
Details pane > Definition > X Component > Type 0

You will need to apply the symmetry condition for the bottom edge yourself in a
similar fashion with the appropriate adjustments for the direction of symmetry.

The results of interest may be configured before solving the model. A variety of
stress results may be visualised in the form of contours on the geometry. It is
important to note that the scale of the legend affects the visualisation of the contours.
This scale must be consistent when comparing plots of the same parameter.

To obtain the x-component of normal stress and the shear stress in the x-y plane
over the entire geometry:

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Outline pane > Model > Static Structural > Solution

(right-click) > Insert > Stress > Normal
Details pane > Definition > Orientation > X Axis
Outline pane > Model > Static Structural > Solution
(right-click) > Insert > Stress > Shear
Details pane > Definition > Orientation > XY Plane

You will also need to add the y-component of stress in order to fully determine the
stress state of the model. Add this yourself.

So far, the stress components will provide values for the entire geometry. You may
be interested in determining the stress along a line, or at a single point. To do this,
add a new stress component yourself. Next, you will have to associate that stress
component with an edge or a point (remember to change the selection tool first):

Details pane > Scope > Geometry > Click on the edge or
point > Apply

If you defined a stress component for an edge, you can also Convert to a Path
Result to produce a table and graph of the stress values along the edge. Pay
attention to the direction of the path, as it has been defined from 1 to 2 in the
graphics window.

Outline pane > Model > Static Structural > Solution >
Right-click on the stress component associated with an
edge > Convert to Path Result

To solve the model, click on Solve at the top of the screen. After solving, you can
then view the results by clicking on the items under Solution in the tree.

Miscellaneous: Thermal Loading
A thermal load can be added to the model from within Static Structural.

The thermal properties must be specified in the Engineering Data module. In addition
to the Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio, you will need to add an Isotropic Secant
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion. This requires both an expansion coefficient and a
reference temperature. Enter this in yourself. After exiting the Engineering Data
module, remember to update your project.

Back in the Mechanical application, we will need to define the environment
temperature and the thermal condition. Set the environment temperature to the
reference temperature. The thermal condition will depend on the reference

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temperature. For example, if your reference temperature is 25 degrees, and your

temperature increases by 25 degrees, your magnitude should be 50 degrees.

Outline pane > Model > Static Structural
Details pane > Environment Temperature > Enter
reference temperature
Outline pane > Model > Static Structural (right-click)
> Insert > Thermal Condition > Click on body > Details
pane > Scope > Geometry > Apply
Details pane > Definition > Magnitude > Enter value

Note that what has been described here will not be enough for you to complete the
question in the assignment. You will need to add the appropriate boundary
conditions.

Miscellaneous: Parametric Studies
The procedure is demonstrated below for a parametric temperature change. You can
create a similar set up for varying other inputs, such as the radius of the hole.

In order to run multiple simulations over a design space without manually setting up
separate simulation files, you can set any input as a parameter by changing the box
next to it. A P will show up in the box.

This will tell Workbench to iterate this input parameter according to the design space
now available in the Project window.

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Double clicking Parameters will create a new view with the Table of Design Points.
You can add as many design points to the table as you want. Note that you will also
need to tell Workbench what output value to export as you vary the design. This can
be done by parametising the corresponding result (checking the appropriate result
box to show P).

Finally, click Update All Design Points to obtain all solutions over your design space.

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