Ansys Simulation Basics

Chapter Two
Simulation Basics
Simulation Basics
Chapter Overview
In this chapter, the basics of using Simulation to perform

analyses will be covered, which include:
The Simulation GUI and Operation
Introduction to the Simulation Wizard
Basic Analysis Procedure
The capabilities described in this section are generally

applicable to the ANSYS DesignSpace Entra licenses and
above, unless explicitly noted with the lower-left hand
table.
ANSYS License
DesignSpace Entra
DesignSpace
Professional
Structural
Mechanical/Multiphysics
Availability
x
x
x
x
x
ANSYS Workbench Simulation
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
A. Launching Simulation
Recall that there are two ways of running Simulation:
Configured from within ANSYS Workbench
or directly from a supported CAD system
Model shown is from a sample Solid Edge assembly.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Simulation Interface
The components of the user interface are shown below:
Workbench Tabs
Menus
Toolbars
Tree Outline
Details View
Graphics Window
Simulation
Wizard
Training Manual
Short descriptions of each component are covered next
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Menus
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 title bar 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 All to select all current entities in the window
Units to change units on-the-fly
Tools > Options to customize settings and options
Help > ANSYS Simulation Help to invoke documentation
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Toolbars
There are four sets of toolbars to provide users quick access

to functionality also found in the menus.
Standard Toolbar
Graphics Toolbar
Named Selection Toolbar
Context Toolbar
The toolbars can be repositioned anywhere on the top of the

Simulation window
The Context toolbar, as will be illustrated later, will change,
depending on what branch is active in the Outline tree.
Training Manual
Tooltips appear if the cursor is placed over the toolbar button

A Unit Conversion toolbar is also available (not shown)
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Toolbars
Training Manual
New or Open .dsdb
Save .dsdb
Bring up Simulation Wizard
Solve Model
Capture Snapshot
The Graphics toolbar is used very often:
Select mode
Select entities
Select Adjacent
Graphics Manipulation
Fit All
Wireframe
Viewports
The left mouse button can be either in selection mode or

graphics manipulation mode. The above toolbar buttons
grouped as select entities and graphics manipulation
control the left-mouse button behavior.
The selection of entities of the CAD geometry can be done
either by individual selection or by box-selection. This is
controlled by the Select Mode icon
The Standard toolbar is shown below:
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Outline Tree

The Outline Tree provides an easy way of
organizing the model, materials, mesh,
loads, and results for the analysis
The Model branch contains the input
data required for the analysis
The four main sections of the Model
branch include Geometry, Contact
(if present), Mesh, and Environment.
The Environment branch contains the
loads as well as the Solution branch,
which holds results.
Other branches (not covered here) are
also available.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Outline Tree
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
Exclamation mark means problem exists1
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
Minus sign means that mapped face meshing failed
Becoming familiar with the basic status symbols allows users to
debug Simulation problems quickly.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Details View

The Details View provides a means of
inputting data. The contents will change,
depending on branch selected.
White field: shows current input data
Data in white text field is editable
Gray (or Red) field: shows informative data

Data in gray fields cannot be modified.
Yellow field: incomplete input data

Data in yellow fields indicates missing
information.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Graphics Window
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.
Geometry Tab
Worksheet Tab
The remote solve capability

will be discussed in the
Simulation Advanced Training
Course
Job Status Tab
Print Preview Tab
Training Manual
Report Preview Tab
August
Simulation Basics
GUI Simulation Wizard
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 informational item
A greyed symbol shows that the step cannot be
performed yet
A red question mark means that there is an
incomplete item
An x means that the item is not performed yet
A lightning bolt means that the item is ready to be
solved or updated
Training Manual
The Simulation Wizard can be toggled on/off by

selecting the
button on the Standard Toolbar
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Simulation Basics
B. Startup Panel
When first attaching a model to Simulation, the Startup Panel is
shown (optionally), allowing the user to select a Simulation
Template.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Startup Panel
The benefit of the Startup Panel is that the appropriate
results and Simulation Wizard will appear
Stress Branch is selected in the example below. Note that

results and the Stress Wizard are automatically chosen
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Simulation Wizard
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.
Training Manual
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Simulation Basics
Simulation Wizard
The Simulation Wizard is handy for
users who do not use Simulation
every day
Besides basic functionality, callouts
for more advanced items are also
available as shown on right
Training Manual
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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 some type of excitation or loading.
It is crucial to remember that a mathematical model is used:

CAD geometry 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
CAD Model
Finite Element Mesh
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Simulation Basics
Basic Procedure
Every analysis involves four main steps:
Preliminary Decisions
What type of analysis: Static, modal, etc.?
Preliminary
Decisions
What to model: Part or Assembly?

Which elements: Surface or Solid Bodies?
Preprocessing
Preprocessing
Attach the model geometry

Define and assign material properties to parts
Mesh the geometry
Apply loads and supports
Solution
Request results
Solve the Model

Postprocessing
Review results
Postprocessing
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Check the validity of the solution
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Simulation Basics
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:
Attach/import geometry
Assign material properties
(Mesh geometry)
A default mesh will be supplied by Simulation if this step is not
performed manually by the user
Apply loads and supports

Request results
Solve model
Review results/postprocessing
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Simulation Basics
Attach Geometry
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
Directly launches
Simulation and attaches
geometry (plug-in mode)
Attaches active CAD model

(plug-in mode)
Browse for CAD file
(reader mode)
Method 1
Method 2
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Assign Material Properties
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-down menu
After Verify Materials is

selected, all of the parts
from the Geometry
branch are highlighted,
and the Details view shows
how to change the
material.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Training Manual
The default material property is Structural Steel but can be

changed
By selecting Import the user can select a material property file
(XML format)
Although a few material properties are supplied with Simulation for

demonstration purposes. Users should use their own material
property values in production use.
Notice that the Details View allows the user to select a material
from a pull-down menu or to import a new material
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Simulation Basics

Materials may be individually selected for each part
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 ShiftLeft mouse button and Ctrl-Left

mouse button, twelve parts are
highlighted on the Outline Tree
The user can then change all
materials at once in the Details
View by selecting the material
pull-down menu.
Note that DesignSpace Entra is
limited to analysis of single
parts.
ANSYS License
DesignSpace Entra
DesignSpace
Professional
Structural
Mechanical/Multiphysics
Training Manual
Availability
x
x
x
x
August
Simulation Basics
Material properties are listed, modified, imported or exported by

accessing the Engineering Data application via the Data icon
in Simulation
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Default settings for material properties can be changed in

the Engineering Data application
The default material can be changed from Structural Steel
A list of Favorites can be saved for frequent access
New materials can be added from various locations
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Insert Loads & Supports
After verifying and assigning materials, the Insert Loads

item is selected from the Stress Wizard
Structural (and thermal) loads are applied from the pull-down
icon in the Context toolbar.
After Insert Loads is

selected, notice that the
Environment branch is
highlighted.
By highlighting the
Environment branch, the
Context toolbar and Details
view change.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics

Loads and supports are applied on geometric entities
There are two ways to accomplish this:

Select geometry entity in Graphics Window first,
then select load or support from Context Toolbar
Select load or support from Context Toolbar first, select

geometry entities in Graphics Window, then click on Apply
in Details View.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
After assigning the load on geometric entities, the user can

enter additional data in the Details view, if necessary.
Notice that, in the Outline Tree, the associated load branch
symbol status will also change to completed (checkmark)
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics

For some structural loads direction is
needed:
Selection is done in Details View of load
If Components is chosen, enter X, Y, or Z
Components of loading
If Vector is chosen, select geometry and
enter magnitude of loading
Defaults can be set in Tools > Options
> Simulation: Miscellaneous
> Load Orientation Type
The World Coordinate System or user

defined local coordinate systems can be
referenced
User-Defined Coordinate Systems will be
discussed later
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics

In the Details view, select Define By: Vector
Three types of existing geometry can be used
Normal to planar face or along axis of cylindrical
face
Along straight edge or normal to cylindrical edge
Two vertices defining vector
Click on Direction and select geometry used for
vector orientation. Use the arrows in the Graphics
window to
toggle the direction.
Click on Apply when done.
Enter magnitude for loading in Magnitude.
Existing geometry can be referenced to control

direction:
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Mouse Controls
Training Manual
User can select items (vertex, edge, surface, body) or manipulate

the view (rotate, pan, zoom in/out, box zoom)
Select mode can be single-select or box-select
In single-select mode, click-drag with left mouse
button to paint select multiple items
Use Ctrl-Left mouse button in single-select mode to select or
unselect multiple entities
In box-select mode, click-drag from left to right selects entities
fully enclosed in bounding box
In box-select mode, click-drag from right to left selects any
entity partially enclosed in bounding box
The left mouse button is used to select geometric entities OR

to manipulate the graphics display
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Simulation Basics
Mouse Controls
Training Manual
Click-drag middle mouse button to dynamically rotate model

Shift-Middle mouse button pans model
If present, the wheel can be used to zoom in/out
The right mouse button provides context-sensitive pop-up

menu if clicked once in Graphics Window
Click-drag right mouse button to box zoom in area of interest
Click right mouse button once and select Fit to fit model in view
Click-drag right mouse
button allows user to
box-zoom in region
Single-click right mouse

button provides contextsensitive pop-up menu
In select mode the middle mouse provides several short cuts

for graphics manipulation
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Simulation Basics
Applying Loads and Supports
By taking advantage of the mouse controls, it can be

relatively easy to apply a load (or support) to multiple faces
In example below, user can use Ctrl-left mouse button to
single-select surfaces (highlighted in green)
Use of middle mouse button allows user to rotate model to
more easily select certain surfaces in back of model
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Insert Results
By selecting the Stress Branch template in the beginning,

some results are already requested. However, the user can
request other results, if needed.
By selecting Insert Results in the Stress Wizard, the callout
shows how to add results
Note that the Solution

branch is now highlighted.
Because the Solution
branch is selected, the
Context toolbar and Details
view changes.
Results, such as stress,
strain, and deformation can
be requested from the pulldown icons on the Context
toolbar. New result items
will then appear under the
Solution branch.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Solving the Model
After verifying materials, applying loads and supports, and

inserting results, the model is ready to be solved.
Selection of Solve in the Stress Wizard produces a callout
showing the user that the lightning bolt icon is used to initiate
a solution
Starting the solution will include

automatically meshing the model if it
has not been done so previously.
The solution may take a few minutes to
a few hours, depending on how large
the model is and the hardware used. A
progress bar will be shown to indicate
roughly how long the solution will
take. The solution can also be
stopped via the progress bar.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
Solving the Model (ANSYS Details)
Training Manual
In Worksheet view of the

Solution Information branch,
the contents of the Output File
will be updated with a frequency
as specified in the Details view.
The location of the input file
ds.dat, output file solve.out,
and scratch files are located in
the system TEMP directory by
default.
This solver directory can be
changed under Tools >
Options > Simulation: Solution
> Solver Working Directory
Advanced ANSYS Details
During solution an ANSYS input file is generated, and the

details of the Output File can be viewed if a Solution
Information branch has been requested under the Solution
branch
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Simulation Basics
View Results
After the solution is complete, the user can View Results

Plot contours and vectors by highlighting the result of interest
Animate results via the Animation Tab
To view results, as the callout

shows, the appropriate
branch needs to be selected.
Training Manual
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Simulation Basics
View Report
In preparation for generating the HTML report, one can add

figures and comments from the Standard Toolbar
Select a branch first, such as Equivalent Stress
Then select the appropriate Standard Toolbar button:
Training Manual
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Simulation Basics
View Report
After adding any figures or comments, select View
Report
Preliminary information can be entered, such as author name

Select Generate Report to create HTML report
The HTML Report can be

selected under the
Solution branch via
Report Preview tab, as
the callout indicates.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
View Report
The HTML report will be displayed in Simulation
Comments and figures added will appear in the report
The HTML report generator includes

all input and results associated with
the simulation, providing complete
documentation of the analysis.
This provides time-saving yet
customizable report that can easily be
generated by the user.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
View Report
Reports are always dynamically generated, so the user

needs to save the report, otherwise it will be overwritten
The report can be published as HTML files in a different
directory or an internal web server, emailed, or sent to
Microsoft Word or PowerPoint
The Appendix at the

end of the HTML
Report will show the
location of the
various files used to
created the report.
Training Manual
August
Simulation Basics
D. Workshop 2 Simulation Basics

Workshop 2 Simulation Basics
Goal:
Using the Stress Wizard, set up and solve a structural model
for stress, deflection and safety factor.
Training Manual
August

Ansys Simulation Basics

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Chapter Two

In this chapter, the basics of using Simulation to perform

The capabilities described in this section are generally

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

or directly from a supported CAD system

Model shown is from a sample Solid Edge assembly.

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

Short descriptions of each component are covered next

The menus provide much of the functionality present in

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

There are four sets of toolbars to provide users quick access

The toolbars can be repositioned anywhere on the top of the

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

Tooltips appear if the cursor is placed over the toolbar button

New or Open .dsdb

Bring up Simulation Wizard

The Graphics toolbar is used very often:

The left mouse button can be either in selection mode or

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

The Standard toolbar is shown below:

GUI Outline Tree

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

GUI Outline Tree

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

GUI Details View

Gray (or Red) field: shows informative data

Yellow field: incomplete input data

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

GUI Graphics Window

The Graphics Window shows the geometry and results. It

The Job Status tab provides

The remote solve capability

Job Status Tab

Print Preview Tab

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

Report Preview Tab

GUI Simulation Wizard

The Simulation Wizard is an optional component, a useful aid

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

The Simulation Wizard can be toggled on/off by

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

Stress Branch is selected in the example below. Note that

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

By selecting an item on the Required Steps checklist, a

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

The purpose of simulation is usually to determine the response of

It is crucial to remember that a mathematical model is used:

Finite Element Mesh

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

What to model: Part or Assembly?

Attach the model geometry

Solve the Model

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

Check the validity of the solution

A sample analysis using the Stress Wizard will be shown in

The Wizards in Simulation aid the user in following the

Apply loads and supports

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

From within a blank Simulation session

Attaches active CAD model

ANSYS Workbench Simulation

Assign Material Properties