Chapter 2

Introduction to Workbench

ANSYS Explicit Dynamics

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Introduction to Workbench
B. ANSYS Workbench Overview Training Manual

• What is ANSYS Workbench?

– ANSYS Workbench provides powerful methods for interacting with the
ANSYS family of solvers. This environment provides a unique integration
with CAD systems, and your design process.
• ANSYS Workbench is comprised of various applications (some
examples):
– Mechanical for performing structural and thermal analyses using the ANSYS solver
– Explicit Dynamics for performing non-linear dynamic analyses using the AUTODYN
solver.
– Geometry (DesignModeler) for creating and modifying CAD geometry to prepare the
solid model for use in Mechanical.
– Meshing for generating Structural and CFD meshes
– Advanced Meshing for generating Structural and CFD meshes using ICEM CFD
– Design Exploration for optimization
– Finite Element Modeler (FE Modeler) for translating a NASTRAN and ABAQUS mesh
for use in ANSYS
– AUTODYN for explicit dynamics simulations featuring modeling of nonlinear
dynamics

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Introduction to Workbench
… ANSYS Workbench Overview Training Manual

• The Workbench environment supports two types of applications:

– Native applications (workspaces): Current native applications are Project
Schematic, Engineering Data and Design Exploration.
• Native applications are launched and run entirely in the Workbench window.
– Data Integrated Applications: current applications include Mechanical,
Explicit Dynamics (Mechanical), Fluent, CFX, AUTODYN and others.

Native Application
Data Integrated Application

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Introduction to Workbench
Starting Workbench Training Manual

• There are two methods of launching Workbench:

– From the Windows start menu:

– From the CAD system

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Introduction to Workbench
The Workbench Environment Training Manual

• For most situations the Workbench GUI is divided into 2 primary

sections (there are other optional sections we’ll see in a moment):

The Toolbox The Project Schematic

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Introduction to Workbench
The Toolbox Training Manual

• The toolbox contains 4 subgroups:

• Analysis systems: predefined
templates that can be placed in the
schematic.
• Component systems: various
applications that can be accessed
to build, or expand, analysis
systems.
• Custom Systems: predefined
analysis systems for coupled
applications (FSI, thermal-stress,
etc.). Users can also create their
own predefined systems.
• Design Exploration: Parametric
management and optimization
tools.

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Introduction to Workbench
The Toolbox Training Manual

• The systems and

components
displayed in the
toolbox will depend
on the installed
products.
• Using the check
boxes in the “View All
/ Customize” window,
the items displayed in
the toolbox can be
toggled on or off.
• The toolbox
customization
window is normally
left closed when not
in use.

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Introduction to Workbench
The Project Schematic Training Manual

• The Workbench project schematic is a graphical representation of

the workflow defining a system or group of systems.
• The workflow in the project schematic is always left to right.

• There are currently several applications which are native to

Workbench, meaning they run entirely in the Workbench window:
– Project Schematic, Engineering Data and Design Exploration

• Non-native applications (called data-integrated) run in their own

window:
– DesignModeler, Mechanical (formerly Simulation), Mechanical APDL
(formerly ANSYS), ANSYS AUTODYN, ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS CFX, Etc . . .

• Blocks of cells can be deleted by RMB menu selection.

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Introduction to Workbench
The Project Schematic Training Manual

• In this example an Explicit Dynamics analysis type is selected for the

project schematic.
• From the toolbox the selection can be dragged and dropped onto the
schematic or simply double clicked.

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Introduction to Workbench
The Project Schematic Training Manual

• By dropping applications and/or analyses into various locations in

the schematic, an overall analysis project is defined.
• “Connectors” indicate the level of collaboration between systems.
• In the example below a structural system is dragged and dropped
onto a thermal system at the Model cell (A4).
• Before completing the operation notice there are a number of
optional “drop” locations that will provide various types of linkage
between systems (continued next page).

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Introduction to Workbench
The Project Schematic Training Manual

• By completing the operation from the previous page, notice the

linkage here is only at the Model level and above.
• In this case there would be no thermal/structural coupling.

• Notice each system block is given an alphabetic designation (A, B, C,

etc)

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Introduction to Workbench
The Project Schematic Training Manual

• By dropping the structural system at the “Solution” level we obtain a

structural system that is coupled to the thermal solution.

Notice, the candidate

“drop” location
indicates data will be
shared from fields A2
to A4, and
transferred from A6.

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Introduction to Workbench
The Project Schematic Training Manual

• A schematic can also be constructed by RMB and choosing to

“Transfer Data To New” or “Transfer Data From New”.
• In using the RMB transfer feature all transfer possibilities (upstream
and downstream) are displayed.
• These selections will vary depending on which cell in a particular
system you highlight.

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Introduction to Workbench
The Project Schematic Training Manual

• Identifying cell states:

• Unfulfilled: missing upstream data.

• Attention required: may need to correct this or upstream cells.

• Refresh required: upstream data has changed. Need to refresh cell. An update
will also refresh the cell and regenerate any output data (e.g. mesh, results).

• Update required: the data has changed and the output of the cell must be
regenerated.

• Up to date.

• Input changes pending: cell is locally up to date but may change when the next
update is performed due to upstream changes.

• Interrupted: solver was manually stopped before it finished. Can use Resume
or Update to continue to solving.

• Pending: a batch process is in progress

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Introduction to Workbench
Optional Workbench Windows Training Manual

• The “View” menu (and RMB) allows additional information to be

displayed in the Workbench environment.
– Below, the geometry is highlighted and the properties are displayed.

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Introduction to Workbench
Workbench File Management Training Manual

• Workbench creates a project file and a series of subdirectories to

manage all associated files.
• Users should allow Workbench to manage the content of these
directories. Please do NOT manually modify the content or structure
of the project directories.
• When a project is saved a project file is created (.wbpj), using the
user specified file name (e.g. MyFile.wbpj).
• A project directory will be created using the project name. In the
above example the directory would be MyFile_files.
• A number of subdirectories will be created in the project directory
(explained next).

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Introduction to Workbench
Workbench File Management Training Manual

• Directory Structure:
– dpn: this is the design point directory. This
essentially is the state of all parameters for a
particular analysis. In the case of a single analysis
there will be only one “dp0” directory.
– global: contains subdirectories for each application
in the analysis. In the example at right the “Mech”
directory will contain the database, and other
associated files from the Mechanical application.
– SYS: the “SYS” directory will contain subdirectories
for each system type in the project (e.g. Mechanical,
Fluent, CFX, etc.). Each system subdirectory
contains solver specific files. For example the
MECH subdirectory would contain the results file,
the ds.dat file, solve.out file and so on.
– user_files: contains input files, user macro files etc.
that may be associated with a project.

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Introduction to Workbench
Workbench File Management Training Manual

• From the Workbench “View” menu activate the

“Files” option to display a window containing file
details and locations.

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Introduction to Workbench
Workbench File Management Training Manual

• Archive: quickly generates a single

compressed file containing all pertinent files.

– File is zip format and can be opened using the

“Restore Archive . . . ” utility in WB2 or any
unzip program.

– Several options are available when archiving

systems as shown here.

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Introduction to Workbench
Working With Units Training Manual

• The Units menu in Workbench:

lay
– Allows access to predefined unit systems.

Un tem
sp
– Allows the creation of custom unit systems.

Di
s
re t Sy
t

it
ec
– Controls unit display for Engineering Data,

oj

i
Parameters and Charts.

n
ss
De e Pr

Su t U
– Activate the Units System dialog to control.

ul
tiv

pp
fa
Ac
Units can be displayed in
the active Project system or
as they were defined in their
source (e.g. CAD system).

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Introduction to Workbench
. . . Working With Units Training Manual

• Create custom unit systems by duplicating existing systems then

modifying.
• Custom unit systems can be exported and imported.

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Introduction to Workbench
License Preferences Training Manual

• Workbench license control is handled through the user interface

shown below, activated from the Workbench project page (“Tools >
License Preferences . . . “).

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Introduction to Workbench
License Preferences Training Manual

• With the available licenses displayed, the activation and “use order”
can be specified using the up/down arrows.
– 0 = off, 1 = on
– License order represents the preference order for license use.

• The license control allows Workbench

users to specify whether a single
license is used when multiple
applications are open, or if all open
applications access their own license.

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Introduction to Workbench
License Preferences Training Manual

• In the example shown, a user could have 3 Mechanical models open

simultaneously. Using the license control they may choose to open 3
licenses or use only 1 that is shared. In the shared scenario, only the active
Mechanical session uses the license (the remaining will be read only).

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Introduction to Workbench
Processing an Explicit Dynamics analysis Training Manual

• From the Toolbox, select “Explicit Dynamics

(ANSYS)” and drag and drop it onto the
Project Schematic (or simply double click).

• Follow the steps in the Project Schematic to

setup, solve and post-process the analysis.

– Engineering Data (Native)

• Define material data

– Geometry (DesignModeler)
• Create, import, modify geometry

– Model (Mechanical – Explicit Dynamics)

• Mesh the geometry

– Setup (Mechanical – Explicit Dynamics)

• Set control parameters, initial conditions
and boundary conditions

– Solution (Mechanical – Explicit

Dynamics)
• Solve the Analysis

– Results (Mechanical – Explicit Dynamics)

• Look at results
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Introduction to Workbench
Importing CAD Geometry from files Training Manual

• RMB Geometry in the Project Schematic

• Select “Import Geometry”
• Select “Browse…” and search for the geometry file to import

File types that can be

imported

DesignModeler (.agdb) files will be imported and

used for all hand-on examples used for this course
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Introduction to Workbench
Using DesignModeler to Create, Import, Modify Geometry Training Manual

• Double click “Geometry” in the Project Schematic to open Design

Modeler
– If a geometry has already been imported from a file, the geometry will
automatically be opened in DesignModeler

DesignModeler

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Introduction to Workbench
DesignModeler Training Manual

• DesignModeler (DM) is a component system of ANSYS Workbench.

• A CAD-like modeler with analysis modeling goals:

– Performs unique geometry modification capabilities for simulation:
• Feature Simplification
• Enclosure Operation
• Fill Operation
• Spot Welds
• Split Surfaces
• Surface Model Extraction
• Planar Body Extraction
• Beam Modeling
DesignModeler

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Introduction to Workbench
DesignModeler Training Manual

– Contains parametric modeling

capability:
• 2D Sketcher with
Dimensions and Constraints
– Integrates directly with Ansys
Workbench modules
• Mechanical (Explicit
Dynamics) DesignModeler
• Meshing
• Advanced Meshing (ICEM)
• DesignXplorer

This course does not cover DesignModeler.

ANSYS provides an independent 2 day training course for
DesignModeler. If you intend to use DM, you should
consider taking this course
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