Ansys - University of Alberta v4

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University of Alberta - ANSYS Tutorials

ANSYS is a general purpose finite element modeling package for numerically solving a wide
variety of mechanical problems. These problems include: static/dynamic structural analysis (both
linear and non-linear), heat transfer and fluid problems, as well as acoustic and electromagnetic
problems. Most of these tutorials have been created using ANSYS 7.0, therefore, make note of
small changes in the menu structure if you are using an older or newer version.
This web site (http://www.mece.ualberta.ca/tutorials/ansys/) has been organized into the following
six sections.
ANSYS Utilities
An introduction to using ANSYS. This includes a quick explanation of the stages of analysis, how
to start ANSYS, the use of the windows in ANSYS, convergence testing, saving/restoring jobs, and
working with Pro/E.
Command Line Files

Example problems solved using command line coding only, in addition to several files to help you
to generate your own command line files.
Basic Tutorials
Detailed tutorials outlining basic structural analysis using ANSYS. It is recommended that you
complete these tutorials in order as each tutorial builds upon skills taught in previous examples.
Intermediate Tutorials
Complex skills such as dynamic analysis and nonlinearities are explored in this section. It is
recommended that you have completed the Basic Tutorials prior to attempting these tutorials.
Advanced Tutorials
Advanced skills such as substructuring and optimization are explored in this section. It is
recommended that you have completed the Basic Tutorials prior to attempting these tutorials.
Postprocessing Tutorials
Postprocessing tools available in ANSYS such as X-sectional views of the geometry are shown in
this section. It is recommended that you have completed the Basic Tutorials prior to attempting
these tutorials.
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................9
Starting up ANSYS .........................................................................................................................................9
ANSYS 7.0 Environment...............................................................................................................................11
ANSYS Interface Graphical Interface vs. Command File Coding..................................................................12
FEM Convergence Testing ...........................................................................................................................13
ANSYS: Saving and Restoring Jobs .............................................................................................................15
ANSYS Files .................................................................................................................................................15
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................15
What to save? ...............................................................................................................................................16
Printing and Plotting ANSYS Results to a File ..............................................................................................16
Printing Text Results to a File .......................................................................................................................16
Plotting of Figures .........................................................................................................................................16
Finite Element Method using Pro/ENGINEER and ANSYS ..........................................................................19
Step 1. Make the part....................................................................................................................................19
Step 2. Create the FEM model .....................................................................................................................20
Step 3. Define the analysis ...........................................................................................................................22
Step 5. Creating the Output file .....................................................................................................................24
Step 6. Importing into ANSYS .......................................................................................................................24
Step 7. Running the ANSYS solver...............................................................................................................25
Step 8. Viewing the results ...........................................................................................................................25
Command Line Files .....................................................................................................................................26
Generating the Command File ......................................................................................................................26
Running the Command File ..........................................................................................................................27
ANSYS Command Groupings .......................................................................................................................28
ANSYS Command File Programming Features ............................................................................................31
Two Dimensional Truss ................................................................................................................................33
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................33
Problem Description......................................................................................................................................33
Preprocessing: Defining the Problem ......................................................................................................33
Solution Phase: Assigning Loads and Solving ..............................................................................................41
Postprocessing: Viewing the Results.......................................................................................................44
Command File Mode of Solution
..............................................................................................51
ANSYS Command Listing .......................................................................................................................51
Quitting ANSYS .......................................................................................................................................53
Space Frame Example ......................................................................................................................................54
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................54
Problem Description......................................................................................................................................54
Verification ....................................................................................................................................................54
Bicycle Example ...........................................................................................................................................68
Preprocessing: Defining the Problem............................................................................................................68
Solution Phase: Assigning Loads and Solving ..............................................................................................73
Postprocessing: Viewing the Results ............................................................................................................75
..............................................................................................79
3D Space Frame Example ............................................................................................................................79
ANSYS Command Listing .............................................................................................................................80
Quitting ANSYS .......................................................................................................................................82
Plane Stress Bracket .........................................................................................................................................83

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................83
Verification Example ................................................................................................................................83
..............................................................................................96
Verification Example ................................................................................................................................96
ANSYS Command Listing .............................................................................................................................96
Bracket Example .....................................................................................................................................97
Preprocessing: Defining the Problem ......................................................................................................98
Solution Phase: Assigning Loads and Solving ......................................................................................102
Post-Processing: Viewing the Results ...................................................................................................104
..................................................................................................106
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................106
ANSYS Command Listing ...........................................................................................................................107
Quitting ANSYS ..........................................................................................................................................109
Solid Model Creation .......................................................................................................................................110
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................110
Problem Description A ................................................................................................................................110
Geometry Generation .................................................................................................................................111
..................................................................................................120
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................120
Problem Description B ................................................................................................................................122
Geometry Generation .................................................................................................................................123
Quitting ANSYS ..........................................................................................................................................131
Intermediate Tutorials .................................................................................................................................132
Effect of Self Weight on a Cantilever Beam ....................................................................................................133
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................133
Preprocessing: Defining the Problem..........................................................................................................133
Solution Phase: Assigning Loads and Solving ............................................................................................135
Postprocessing: Viewing the Results ..........................................................................................................136
..................................................................................................137
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................137
Application of Distributed Loads ......................................................................................................................139
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................139
..................................................................................................144
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................145
NonLinear Analysis of a Cantilever Beam .......................................................................................................147
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................147
Solution: Assigning Loads and Solving .......................................................................................................149
General Postprocessing: Viewing the Results ............................................................................................152
..................................................................................................153
Introduction............................................................................................................................................153
Buckling ..........................................................................................................................................................155
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................155
Eigenvalue Buckling Analysis .....................................................................................................................156
Non-Linear Buckling Analysis .....................................................................................................................161
..................................................................................................169
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................170
NonLinear Materials ........................................................................................................................................173
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................173
..................................................................................................181
Introduction............................................................................................................................................182
Modal Analysis of a Cantilever Beam ..............................................................................................................184
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................184
Using the Reduced Method for Modal Analysis ..........................................................................................190
..................................................................................................192
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................192
Harmonic Analysis of a Cantilever Beam ........................................................................................................194
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................194
..................................................................................................202
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................203
Transient Analysis of a Cantilever Beam.........................................................................................................205
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................205
..................................................................................................216
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................217
Modelling Using Axisymmetry .........................................................................................................................221
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................221
..................................................................................................228
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................228

Advanced Tutorials .....................................................................................................................................230
Application of Joints and Springs in ANSYS ...................................................................................................231
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................231
..................................................................................................240
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................241
Design Optimization ........................................................................................................................................244
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................244
Preprocessing: Defining the Problem ....................................................................................................244
..................................................................................................257
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................257
Substructuring .................................................................................................................................................260
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................260
Expansion Pass: Creating the Super-element ............................................................................................261
Use Pass: Using the Super-element ...........................................................................................................264
Expansion Pass: Expanding the Results within the Super-element ............................................................270
..................................................................................................272
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................273
Using P-Elements ...........................................................................................................................................276
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................276
Melting Using Element Death ..........................................................................................................................278
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................278
Postprocessing: Prepare for Element Death ...............................................................................................284
Solution Phase: Killing Elements ................................................................................................................285
Postprocessing: Viewing Results ................................................................................................................286
..................................................................................................288
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................288
Contact Elements ............................................................................................................................................291
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................291
..................................................................................................303
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................303
ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) ................................................................................................306

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................306
Preprocessing: Use of APDL ......................................................................................................................306
..................................................................................................308
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................308
Postprocessing Tutorials.............................................................................................................................311
Viewing X-Sectional Results ...........................................................................................................................312
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................312
..................................................................................................318
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................319
Advanced X-Sectional Results: Using Paths to Post Process Results ............................................................321
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................321
Preprocessing: Defining the Problem ....................................................................................................321
Postprocessing: Viewing the Results.....................................................................................................324
..................................................................................................327
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................327
Data Plotting: Using Tables to Post Process Results ......................................................................................330
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................330
..................................................................................................337
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................337
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................339
Graphical Options .......................................................................................................................................340
ANSYS Utilities
An introduction to using ANSYS, including a quick explanation of the stages of analysis, how to
start ANSYS, and the use of the windows in ANSYS, and using Pro/ENGINEER with ANSYS.
Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
A brief introduction of the 3 stages involved in finite element analysis.
Starting up ANSYS
How to start ANSYS using windows NT and Unix X-Windows.
ANSYS Environment
An introduction to the windows used in ANSYS
ANSYS Interface
An explanation of the Graphic User Interface (GUI) in comparison to the command file approach.
Convergence Testing
This file can help you to determine how small your meshing elements need to be before you can
trust the solution.
Saving/Restoring Jobs
Description of how to save your work in ANSYS and how to resume a previously saved job.
ANSYS Files
Definitions of the different files created by ANSYS.
Printing Results
Saving data and figures generated in ANSYS.
Working with Pro Engineer
A description of how to export geometry from Pro/E into ANSYS.
Introduction
ANSYS is a general purpose finite element modeling package for numerically solving a wide
variety of mechanical problems. These problems include: static/dynamic structural analysis (both
linear and non-linear), heat transfer and fluid problems, as well as acoustic and electro-magnetic
problems.
In general, a finite element solution may be broken into the following three stages. This is a general
guideline that can be used for setting up any finite element analysis.
Preprocessing: defining the problem; the major steps in preprocessing are given below:
Define keypoints/lines/areas/volumes
Define element type and material/geometric properties
Mesh lines/areas/volumes as required
The amount of detail required will depend on the dimensionality of the analysis (i.e. 1D, 2D,
axi-symmetric, 3D).
Solution: assigning loads, constraints and solving; here we specify the loads (point or pressure),
contraints (translational and rotational) and finally solve the resulting set of equations.
Postprocessing: further processing and viewing of the results; in this stage one may wish to see:
Lists of nodal displacements
Element forces and moments
Deflection plots
Stress contour diagrams
Starting up ANSYS
Large File Sizes
ANSYS can create rather large files when running and saving; be sure that your local drive has
space for it.
Getting the Program Started

In the Mec E 3-3 lab, there are two ways that you can start up ANSYS:
Windows NT application
Unix X-Windows application
Windows NT Start Up
Starting up ANSYS in Windows NT is simple:
Start Menu
Programs
ANSYS 5.7
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Run Interactive Now
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ANSYS 7.0 Environment

The ANSYS Environment for ANSYS 7.0 contains 2 windows: the Main Window and an Output
Window. Note that this is somewhat different from the previous version of ANSYS which made use
of 6 different windows.
Main Window
Within the Main Window are 5 divisions:

Utility Menu
The Utility Menu contains functions that are available throughout the ANSYS
session, such as file controls, selections, graphic controls and parameters.
Input Lindow
The Input Line shows program prompt messages and allows you to type in
commands directly.
Toolbar
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The Toolbar contains push buttons that execute commonly used ANSYS commands.
More push buttons can be added if desired.
Main Menu
The Main Menu contains the primary ANSYS functions, organized by preprocessor,
solution, general postprocessor, design optimizer. It is from this menu that the vast
majority of modelling commands are issued. This is where you will note the greatest
change between previous versions of ANSYS and version 7.0. However, while the
versions appear different, the menu structure has not changed.
Graphics Window
The Graphic Window is where graphics are shown and graphical picking can be
made. It is here where you will graphically view the model in its various stages of
construction and the ensuing results from the analysis.
Output Window
The Output Window shows text output from the program, such as listing of data etc. It is
usually positioned behind the main window and can de put to the front if necessary.
ANSYS Interface
Graphical Interface vs. Command File Coding
There are two methods to use ANSYS. The first is by means of the graphical user interface or GUI.
This method follows the conventions of popular Windows and X-Windows based programs.
The second is by means of command files. The command file approach has a steeper learning curve
for many, but it has the advantage that an entire analysis can be described in a small text file,
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typically in less than 50 lines of commands. This approach enables easy model modifications and
minimal file space requirements.
The tutorials in this website are designed to teach both the GUI and the command file approach,
however, many of you will find the command file simple and more efficient to use once you have
invested a small amount of time into learning the code.
For information and details on the full ANSYS command language, consult:
Help > Table of Contents > Commands Manual.
FEM Convergence Testing
Introduction
A fundamental premise of using the finite element procedure is that the body is sub-divided up into
small discrete regions known as finite elements. These elements defined by nodes and interpolation
functions. Governing equations are written for each element and these elements are assembled into
a global matrix. Loads and constraints are applied and the solution is then determined.
The Problem
The question that always arises is: How small do I need to make the elements before I can trust the
solution?
What to do about it...

In general there are no real firm answers on this. It will be necessary to conduct convergence tests!
By this we mean that you begin with a mesh discretization and then observe and record the solution.
Now repeat the problem with a finer mesh (i.e. more elements) and then compare the results with
the previous test. If the results are nearly similar, then the first mesh is probably good enough for
that particular geometry, loading and constraints. If the results differ by a large amount however, it
will be necessary to try a finer mesh yet.
The Consequences
Finer meshes come with a cost however: more calculation time and large memory requirements
(both disk and RAM)! It is desired to find the minimum number of elements that give you a
converged solution.
Beam Models
For beam models, we actually only need to define a single element per line unless we are applying a
distributed load on a given frame member. When point loads are used, specifying more that one
element per line will not change the solution, it will only slow the calculations down. For simple
models it is of no concern, but for a larger model, it is desired to minimize the number of elements,
and thus calculation time and still obtain the desired accuracy.
General Models
In general however, it is necessary to conduct convergence tests on your finite element model to
confirm that a fine enough element discretization has been used. In a solid mechanics problem, this
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would be done by creating several models with different mesh sizes and comparing the resulting
deflections and stresses, for example. In general, the stresses will converge more slowly than the
displacement, so it is not sufficient to examine the displacement convergence.
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ANSYS: Saving and Restoring Jobs

Saving Your Job
It is good practice to save your model at various points during its creation. Very often you will get
to a point in the modeling where things have gone well and you like to save it at the point. In that
way, if you make some mistakes later on, you will at least be able to come back to this point.
To save your model, select Utility Menu Bar -> File -> Save As Jobname.db. Your model
will be saved in a file called jobname.db, where jobname is the name that you specified in the
Launcher when you first started ANSYS.
It is a good idea to save your job at different times throughout the building and analysis of the
model to backup your work incase of a system crash or other unforseen problems.
Recalling or Resuming a Previously Saved Job

Frequently you want to start up ANSYS and recall and continue a previous job. There are two
methods to do this:
1. Using the Launcher...
o In the ANSYS Launcher, select Interactive... and specify the previously defined
jobname.
o Then when you get ANSYS started, select Utility Menu -> File -> Resume
Jobname.db .
o This will restore as much of your database (geometry, loads, solution, etc) that you
previously saved.
2. Or, start ANSYS and select Utitily Menu -> File -> Resume from... and select your
job from the list that appears.
ANSYS Files
Introduction
A large number of files are created when you run ANSYS. If you started ANSYS without
specifying a jobname, the name of all the files created will be FILE.* where the * represents
various extensions described below. If you specified a jobname, say Frame, then the created files
will all have the file prefix, Frame again with various extensions:
frame.db
Database file (binary). This file stores the geometry, boundary conditions and any solutions.
frame.dbb
Backup of the database file (binary).
frame.err
Error file (text). Listing of all error and warning messages.
frame.out
Output of all ANSYS operations (text). This is what normally scrolls in the output window
during an ANSYS session.
frame.log
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Logfile or listing of ANSYS commands (text). Listing of all equivalent ANSYS command
line commands used during the current session.
etc...
Depending on the operations carried out, other files may have been written. These files may
contain results, etc.
What to save?
When you want to clean up your directory, or move things from the /scratch directory, what files
do you need to save?
If you will always be using the GUI, then you only require the .db file. This file stores the
geometry, boundary conditions and any solutions. Once the ANSYS has started, and the
jobname has been specified, you need only activate the resume command to proceed from
where you last left off (see Saving and Restoring Jobs).
If you plan on using ANSYS command files, then you need only store your command file
and/or the log file. This file contains a complete listing of the ANSYS commands used to
get you model to its current point. That file may be rerun as is, or edited and rerun as desired
(Command File Creation and Execution).
If you plan to use the command mode of operation, starting with an existing log file, rename
it first so that it does not get over-written or added to, from another ANSYS run.
Printing and Plotting ANSYS Results to a File

Printing Text Results to a File
ANSYS produces lists and tables of many types of results that are normally displayed on the screen.
However, it is often desired to save the results to a file to be later analyzed or included in a report.
1. Stresses: instead of using 'Plot Results' to plot the stresses, choose 'List Results'. Select
'Elem Table Data', and choose what you want to list from the menu. You can pick multiple
items. When the list appears on the screen in its own window, Select 'File'/'Save As...' and
give a file name to store the results.
2. Any other solutions can be done in the same way. For example select 'Nodal Solution' from
the 'List Results' menu, to get displacements.
3. Preprocessing and Solution data can be listed and saved from the 'List' menu in the 'Utility
Menu bar'. Save the resulting list in the same way described above.
Plotting of Figures
There are two major routes to get hardcopies from ANSYS. The first is a quick a raster-based
screen dump, while the second is a scalable vector plot.
1.0 Quick Image Save

When you want to quickly save an image of the entire screen or the current 'Graphics window',
select:
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'Utility menu bar'/'PlotCtrls'/'Hard Copy ...'.

In the window that appears, you will normally want to select 'Graphics window',
'Monochrome', 'Reverse Video', 'Landscape' and 'Save to:'.
Then enter the file name of your choice.
Press 'OK'
This raster image file may now be printed on a PostScript printer or included in a document.
2.0 Better Quality Plots

The second method of saving a plot is much more flexible, but takes a lot more work to set up as
you'll see...
Redirection
Normally all ANSYS plots are directed to the plot window on the screen. To save some plots to a
file, to be later printed or included in a document or what have you, you must first 'redirect' the plots
to a file by issuing:
'Utility menu bar'/'PlotCtrls'/'Redirect Plots'/'To File...'.
Type in a filename (e.g.: frame.pic) in the 'Selection' Window.

Now issue whatever plot commands you want within ANSYS, remembering that the plots will not
be displayed to the screen, but rather they will be written to the selected file. You can put as many
plots as you want into the plot file. When you are finished plotting what you want to the file,
redirect plots back to the screen using:
'Utility menu bar'/'PlotCtrls'/'Redirect Plots'/'To Screen'.
Display and Conversion

The plot file that has been saved is stored in a proprietary file format that must be converted into a
more common graphic file format like PostScript, or HPGL for example. This is performed by
running a separate program called display. To do this, you have a couple of options:
1. select display from the ANSYS launcher menu (if you started ANSYS that way)
2. shut down ANSYS or open up a new terminal window and then type display at the Unix
prompt.
Either way, a large graphics window will appear. Decrease the size of this window, because it most
likely covers the window in which you will enter the display plotting commands. Load your plot
file with the following command:
file,frame,pic
if your plot file is 'plots.pic'. Note that although the file is 'plots.pic' (with a period), Display wants
'plots,pic'(with a comma). You can display your plots to the graphics window by issuing the
command like
plot,n
where n is plot number. If you plotted 5 images to this file in ANSYS, then n could be any number
from 1 to 5.
Now that the plots have been read in, they may be saved to printer files of various formats:
1. Colour PostScript: To save the images to a colour postscript file, enter the following
commands in display:
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2.
3.
4.
pscr,color,2
/show,pscr
plot,n
where n is the plot number, as above. You can plot as many images as you want to postscript
files in this manner. For subsequent plots, you only require the plot,n command as the
other options have now been set. Each image is plotted to a postscript file such as
pscrxx.grph, where xx is a number, starting at 00.
Note: when you import a postscript file into a word processor, the postscript image will
appear as blank box. The printer information is still present, but it can only be viewed when
it's printed out to a postscript printer.
Printing it out: Now that you've got your color postscript file, what are you going to do
with it? Take a look here for instructions on colour postscript printing at a couple of sites on
campus where you can have your beautiful stress plot plotted to paper, overheads or even
posters!
5. Black & White PostScript: The above mentioned colour postscript files can get very large
in size and may not even print out on the postscript printer in the lab because it takes so long
to transfer the files to the printer and process them. A way around this is to print them out in
a black and white postscript format instead of colour; besides the colour specifications don't
do any good for the black and white lab printer anyways. To do this, you set the postscript
color option to '3', i.e. and then issue the other commands as before
6.
7.
8.
pscr,color,3
/show,pscr
plot,n
Note: when you import a postscript file into a word processor, the postscript image will
appear as blank box. The printer information is still present, but it can only be viewed when
it's printed out to a postscript printer.
9. HPGL: The third commonly used printer format is HPGL, which stands for Hewlett Packard
Graphics Language. This is a compact vector format that has the advantage that when you
import a file of this type into a word processor, you can actually see the image in the word
processor! To use the HPGL format, issue the following commands:
10.
11.
12.
/show,hpgl
plot,n
Final Steps
It is wise to rename these plot files as soon as you leave display, for display will overwrite the files
the next time it is run. You may want to rename the postscript files with an '.eps' extension to
indicate that they are encapsulated postscript images. In a similar way, the HPGL printer files could
be given an '.hpgl' extension. This renaming is done at the Unix commmand line (the 'mv'
command).
A list of all available display commands and their options may be obtained by typing:
help
When complete, exit display by entering

finish
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Finite Element Method using Pro/ENGINEER and ANSYS

Notes by R.W. Toogood
The transfer of a model from Pro/ENGINEER to ANSYS will be demonstrated here for a simple
solid model. Model idealizations such as shells and beams will not be treated. Also, many modeling
options for constraints, loads, mesh control, analysis types will not be covered. These are fairly easy
to figure out once you know the general procedures presented here.
Step 1. Make the part

Use Pro/E to make the part. Things to note are:
be aware of your model units

note the orientation of the model (default coordinate system in ANSYS will be the same as
in Pro/E)
IMPORTANT: remove all unnecessary and/or cosmetic features like rounds, chamfers,
holes, etc., by suppressing them in Pro/E. Too much small geometry will cause the mesh
generator to create a very fine mesh with many elements which will greatly increase your
solver time. Of course, if the feature is critical to your design, you will want to leave it. You
must compromise between accuracy and available CPU resources.
The figure above shows the original model for this demonstration. This is a model of a short
cantilevered bracket that bolts to the wall via the thick plate on the left end. Model units are inches.
A load is applied at the hole in the right end. Some cosmetic features are located on the top surface
and the two sides. Several edges are rounded. For this model, the interest is in the stress distribution
around the vertical slot. So, the plate and the loading hole are removed, as are the cosmetic features
and rounds resulting in the "de-featured" geometry shown below. The model will be constrained on
the left face and a uniform load will be applied to the right face.
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Step 2. Create the FEM model

In the pull-down menu at the top of the Pro/E window, select
Applications > Mechanica
An information window opens up to remind you about the units you are using. Press Continue
In the MECHANICA menu at the right, check the box beside FEM Mode and select the command
Structure.
A new toolbar appears on the right of the screen that contains icons for creating all the common
modeling entities (constraints, loads, idealizations). All these commands are also available using the
command windows that will open on the right side of the screen or in dialog windows that will open
when appropriate.
Notice that a small green coordinate system WCS has appeared. This is how you will specify the
directions of constraints and forces. Other coordinate systems (eg cylindrical) can be created as
required and used for the same purpose.
The MEC STRUCT menu appears on the right. Basically, to define the model we proceed down this
menu in a top-down manner. Model is already selected for you which opens the STRC MODEL
menu. This is where we specify modeling information. We proceed in a top-down manner. The
Features command allows you to create additional simulation features like datum points, curves,
surface regions, and so on. Idealizations lets you create special modeling entities like shells and
beams. The Current CSYS command lets you create or select an alternate coordinate system for
specifying directions of constraints and loads.
Defining Constraints
For our simple model, all we need are constraints, loads, and a specified material. Select
Constraints > New
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We can specify constraints on four entity types (basically points, edges, and surfaces). Constraints
are organized into constraint sets. Each constraint set has a unique name (default of the first one is
ConstraintSet1) and can contain any number of individual constraints of different types. Each
individual constraint also has a unique name (default of the first one is Constraint1). In the final
computed model, only one set can be included, but this can contain numerous individual
constraints.
Select Surface. We are going to fully constrain the left face of the
cantilever. A dialog window opens as shown above. Here you can
give a name to the constraint and identify which constraint set it
belongs to. Since we elected to create a surface constraint, we now
select the surface we want constrained (push the Surface selection
button in the window and then click on the desired surface of the
model). The constraints to be applied are selected using the buttons
at the bottom of the window. In general we specify constraints on
translation and rotation for any mesh node that will appear on the
selected entity. For each direction X, Y, and Z, we can select one
of the four buttons (Free, Fixed, Prescribed, and Function of
Coordinates). For our solid model, the rotation constraints are
irrelevant (since nodes of solid elements do not have this degree of
freedom anyway). For beams and shells, rotational constraints are
active if specified.
For our model, leave all the translation constraints as FIXED, and
select the OK button. You should now see some orange symbols
on the left face of the model, along with some text labels that
summarize the constraint settings.
Defining Loads
In the STRC MODEL menu select
Loads > New > Surface
The FORCE/MOMENT window opens as shown above.
Loads are also organized into named load sets. A load set can
contain any number of individual loads of different types. A
FEM model can contain any number of different load sets.
For example, in the analysis of a pressurized tank on a
support system with a number of nozzle connections to other
pipes, one load set might contain only the internal pressure,
another might contain the support forces, another a
temperature load, and more might contain the forces applied
at each nozzle location. These can be solved at the same
time, and the principle of superposition used to combine
them in numerous ways.
Create a load called "end_load" in the default load set (LoadSet1)
22
Click on the Surfaces button, then select the right face of the model and middle click to return to
this dialog. Leave the defaults for the load distribution. Enter the force components at the bottom.
Note these are relative to the WCS. Then select OK. The load should be displayed symbolically as
shown in the figure below.
Note that constraint and load sets appear in the model tree. You can select and edit these in the
usual way using the right mouse button.
Assigning Materials
Our last job to define the model is to specify the part material. In the STRC MODEL menu, select
Materials > Whole Part
In the library dialog window, select a material and move it to the right pane using the triple arrow
button in the center of the window. In an assembly, you could now assign this material to individual
parts. If you select the Edit button, you will see the properties of the chosen material.
At this point, our model has the necessary information for solution (constraints, loads, material).
Step 3. Define the analysis

Select
Analyses > New
23
Specify a name for the analysis, like "ansystest". Select the type (Structural or Modal). Enter a short
description. Now select the Add buttons beside the Constraints and Loads panes to add
ConstraintSet1 and LoadSet1 to the analysis. Now select OK.
Step 4. Creating the mesh

We are going to use defaults for all operations here. The MEC STRUCT window, select
Mesh > Create > Solid > Start
Accept the default for the global minimum. The mesh is created and
another dialog window opens (Element Quality Checks).
This indicates some aspects of mesh quality that may be specified
and then, by selecting the Check button at the bottom, evaluated for
the model. The results are indicated in columns on the right. If the
mesh does not pass these quality checks, you may want to go back to
specify mesh controls (discussed below). Select Close. Here is an
image of the default mesh, shown in wire frame.
24
Improving the Mesh

In the mesh command, you can select the Controls option.
This will allow you to select points, edges, and surfaces
where you want to specify mesh geometry such as hard
points, maximum mesh size, and so on. Beware that
excessively tight mesh controls can result in meshes with
many elements.
For example, setting a maximum mesh size along the curved
ends of the slot results in the following mesh. Notice the
better representation of the curved edges than in the
previous figure. This is at the expense of more than double
the number of elements. Note that mesh controls are also
added to the model tree.
Step 5. Creating the Output file

All necessary aspects of the model are now created (constraints, loads, materials, mesh). In the
MEC STRUCT menu, select
Run
This opens the Run FEM Analysis dialog window shown
here. In the Solver pull-down list at the top, select
ANSYS. In the Analysis list, select Structural. You pick
either Linear or Parabolic elements. The analysis we
defined (containing constraints, loads, mesh, and material)
is listed. Select the Output to File radio button at the
bottom and specify the output file name (default is the
analysis name with extension .ans). Select OK and read
the message window.
We are now finished with Pro/E. Go to the top pull-down
menus and select
Applications > Standard
Save the model file and leave the program.
Copy the .ans file from your Pro/E working directory to
the directory you will use for running ANSYS.
Step 6. Importing into ANSYS

Launch ANSYS Interactive and select
File > Read Input From...
25
Select the .ans file you created previously. This will read in the entire model. You can display the
model using (in the pull down menus) Plot > Elements.
Step 7. Running the ANSYS solver

In the ANSYS Main Menu on the left, select
Solution > Solve > Current LS > OK
After a few seconds, you will be informed that the solution is complete.
Step 8. Viewing the results

There are myriad possibilities for viewing FEM results. A common one is the following:
General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu
Pick the Von Mises stress values, and select Apply. You should now have a color fringe plot of the
Von Mises stress displayed on the model.
26
Command Line Files

The following files should help you to generate your own command line files.
Creating Command Files
Directions on generating and running command files.
ANSYS Command File Programming Features
This file shows some of the commonly used programming features in the ANSYS command file
language known as ADPL (ANSYS Parametric Design Language). Prompting the user for
parameters, performing calculations with paramaters and control structures are illustrated.
The following files include some example problems that have been created using command line
coding.
Basic Tutorials
This set of command line codes are from the Basic Tutorial
section.
Intermediate
Tutorials
This set of command line codes are from the Intermediate

Tutorial section.
Advanced Tutorials
This set of command line codes are from the Advanced Tutorial
section.
PostProc Tutorials
This set of command line codes are from the PostProc Tutorial
section.
Radiation Analysis
A simple radiation heat transfer between concentric cylinders.
ANSYS Command File Creation and Execution

Generating the Command File
There are two choices to generate the command file:
1. Directly type in the commands into a text file from scratch. This assumes a good knowledge
of the ANSYS command language and the associated options.
If you know what some of the commands and are unsure of others, execute the desired
operation from the GUI and then go to File -> List -> Log File. This will then open
up a new window showing the command line equivialent of all commands entered to this
point. You may directly cut and paste from here to a text editor, or if you'd like to save the
whole file, see the next item in this list.
2. Setup and solve the problem as you normally would using the ANSYS graphic user interface
(GUI). Then before you are finished, enter the command File -> Save DB Log File.
This saves the equivalent ANSYS commands that you entered in the GUI mode, to a text
27
file. You can now edit this file with a text editor to clean it up, delete errors from your GUI
use and make changes as desired.
Running the Command File

To run the ANSYS command file,
save the ASCII text commands in a text file; e.g. frame.cmd

start up either the GUI or text mode of ANSYS
GUI Command File Loading

To run this command file from the GUI, you would do the following:
From the File menu, select Read Input from.... Change to the appropriate directory
where the file (frame.cmd) is stored and select it.
Now ANSYS will execute the commands from that file. The output window shows the
progress of this procedure. Any errors and warnings will be listed in this window.
When it is complete, you may not have a full view of your structure in the graphic window.
You may need to select Plot -> Elements or Plot -> Lines or what have you.
Assuming that the analysis worked properly, you can now use the post-processor to view
element deflections, stress, etc.
If you want to fix some errors or make some changes to the command file, make those
changes in a separate window in a text editor. Save those changes to disk.
To rerun the command file, you should first of all clear the current model from ANSYS.
Select File -> Clear & Start New.
Then read in the file as before File -> Read Input from...
Command Line File Loading

Alternatively, you can also read in the command file right from the ANSYS command line.
Assuming that you started ANSYS using the commands...
/ansys52/bin/ansysu52
and then entered

/show,x11c
This has now started ANSYS in the text mode and has told it what graphic device to use (in this
case an X Windows, X11c, mode). At this point you could type in /menu,on, but you might not
want to turn on the full graphic mode if working on a slow machine or if you are executing the
program remotely. Let's assume that we don't turn the menu mode on...
If the command file is in the current directory for ANSYS, then from the ANSYS input window,
type
/input,frame,cmd
and yes that is a comma (,) between frame and cmd. If ANSYS can not find the file in the current
directory, you may need to point it to the proper directory. If the file was in the directory,
/myfiles/ansys/frame for example, you would use the following syntax
28
/input,frame,cmd,/myfiles/ansys/frame
If you want to rerun a new or modified file, it is necessary to clear the current model in memory
with the command
/clear,start
This full procedure of loading in command files and clearing jobs and starting over again can be
completed as many times as desired.
ANSYS Command Groupings

ANSYS contains hundreds of commands for generating geometry, applying loads and constraints,
setting up different analysis types and post-processing. The following is only a brief summary of
some of the more common commands used for structural analysis.
Category
Basic
Geometry
Solid
Modeling
(Primitives)
Command
Description
Syntax
keypoint definition
k,kp#,xcoord,ycoord,zcoord
straight line creation
l,kp1,kp2
larc
circular arc line

(from keypoints)
larc,kp1,kp2,kp3,rad
(kp3 defines plane)
circle
circular line creation

(creates keypoints)
see online help
spline
spline line through

keypoints
spline,kp1,kp2, ... kp6
area definition from

keypoints
a,kp1,kp2, ... kp18
al
area definition from

lines
a,l1,l2, ... l10
volume definition from

keypoints
v,kp1,kp2, ... kp8
va
volume definition from

areas
va,a1,a2, ... a10
vext
create volume from area

see online help
extrusion
vdrag
create volume by
see online help
dragging area along path
rectng
rectangle creation
rectng,x1,x2,y1,y2
block
block volume creation
block,x1,x2,y1,y2,z1,z2
29
Boolean
Operations
Elements &
Meshing
cylind
cylindrical volume
creation
cylind,rad1,rad2,z1,z2,theta1,theta2
sphere
spherical volume
creation
sphere,rad1,rad2,theta1,theta2
prism
cone
torus
various volume creation

commands
see online help
aadd
adds separate areas to

create single area
aadd,a1,a2, ... a9
aglue
creates new areas by

glueing
(properties remain
separate)
aglue,a1,a2, ... a9
asba
creat new area by area

substraction
asba,a1,a2
aina
create new area by area

intersection
aina,a1,a2, ... a9
vadd
vlgue
vsbv
vinv
volume boolean
operations
see online help
et
defines element type
et,number,type
may define as many as required; current type
is set by type
type
set current element type

pointer
type,number
define real constants for

elements
r,number,r1,r2, ... r6
is set by real
real
sets current real constant

real,number
pointer
mp
sets material properties

for elements
mp,label,number,c0,c1, ... c4
is set by mat
mat
sets current material

property pointer
mat,number
esize
sets size or number of

divisions on lines
esize,size,ndivs
use either size or ndivs
eshape
controls element shape
see online help
lmesh
mesh line(s)
lmesh,line1,line2,inc
or lmesh,all
30
Sets &
Selection
Constraints
Loads
amesh
mesh area(s)
amesh,area1,area2,inc
or amesh,all
vmesh
mesh volume(s)
vmesh,vol1,vol2,inc
or vmesh,all
ksel
select a subset of
keypoints
see online help
nsel
select a subset of nodes
see online help
lsel
select a subjset of lines
see online help
asel
select a subset of areas
see online help
nsla
select nodes within

selected area(s)
see online help
allsel
select everything
i.e. reset selection
allsel
dk
dk,kp#,label,value
defines a DOF constraint
labels:
on a keypoint
UX,UY,UZ,ROTX,ROTY,ROTZ,ALL
d,node#,label,value
defines a DOF constraint
labels:
on a node
UX,UY,UZ,ROTX,ROTY,ROTZ,ALL
dl
defines (anti)symmetry
DOF constraints on a
line
dl,line#,area#,label
labels: SYMM (symmetry); ASYM
(antisymmetry)
fk
defines a
fk,kp#,label,value
labels: FX,FY,FZ,MX,MY,MZ
defines a force at a node
f,node#,label,value
labels: FX,FY,FZ,MX,MY,MZ
31
ANSYS Command File Programming Features

The following ANSYS command listing, shows some of the commonly used programming features
in the ANSYS command file language known as ADPL (ANSYS Parametric Design Language). It
illustrates:
entering parameters (variables)

prompting the user for parameters
performing calculations with paramaters; note that the syntax and functions are similar to
FORTRAN
control structures
o if - then - else - endif
o looping
This example file does not do anything really useful in itself besides generate keypoints along a
line, but it does illustrate some of the "programming features" of the ANSYS command language.
!
/PREP7
! preprocessor phase
!
x1 = 5
! define some parameters
x2 = 10
*ask,ndivs,Enter number of divisions (default 5),5
!
! the above command prompts the user for input to be entered into the
! variable "ndivs"; if only is entered, a default of "5" is used
!
*IF,ndivs,GT,1,THEN
! if "ndivs" is greater than "1"
dx = (x2-x1)/ndivs
*DO,i,1,ndivs+1,1
! do i = 1, ndivs + 1 (in steps of one)
x = x1 + dx*(i-1)
k,i,x,0,0
*ENDDO
*ELSE
k,1,x1,0,0
k,2,x2,0,0
*ENDIF
!
/pnum,kp,1
! turn keypoint numbering on
kplot
! plot keypoints
klist,all,,,coord
! list all keypoints with coordinates
32
Basic Tutorials
The following documents will lead you through several example problems using ANSYS. ANSYS
7.0 was used to create some of these tutorials while ANSYS 5.7.1 was used to create others,
therefore, if you are using a different version of ANSYS make note of changes in the menu
structure. Complete these tutorials in order as each tutorial will build on skills taught in the previous
example.
Two Dimensional Truss
Basic functions will be shown in detail to provide you with a general knowledge of how to use
ANSYS. This tutorial should take approximately an hour and a half to complete.
Bicycle Space Frame
Intermediate ANSYS functions will be shown in detail to provide you with a more general
understanding of how to use ANSYS. This tutorial should take approximately an hour and a half
to complete.
Plane Stress Bracket
Boolean operations, plane stress and uniform pressure loading will be introduced in the creation
and analysis of this 2-Dimensional object.
Solid Modeling
This tutorial will introduce techniques such as filleting, extrusion, copying and working plane
orienation to create 3-Dimensional objects.
33
Two Dimensional Truss
Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 to solve a simple 2D Truss problem. This is the first of
four introductory ANSYS tutorials.
Problem Description
Determine the nodal deflections, reaction forces, and stress for the truss system shown below (E =
200GPa, A = 3250mm2).
(Modified from Chandrupatla & Belegunda, Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering, p.123)
Preprocessing: Defining the Problem

Give the Simplified Version a Title (such as 'Bridge Truss Tutorial').
In the Utility menu bar select File > Change Title:
The following window will appear:
Enter the title and click 'OK'. This title will appear in the bottom left corner of the 'Graphics'
Window once you begin. Note: to get the title to appear immediately, select Utility Menu >
Plot > Replot
Enter Keypoints
34
The overall geometry is defined in ANSYS using keypoints which specify various principal
coordinates to define the body. For this example, these keypoints are the ends of each truss.
o
We are going to define 7 keypoints for the simplified structure as given in the
following table
keypoint
coordinate
x
1800
3118
3600
5400
3118
7200
9000
3118
10800
(these keypoints are depicted by numbers in the above figure)

From the 'ANSYS Main Menu' select: Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active
CS
The following window will then appear:
35
To define the first keypoint which has the coordinates x = 0 and y = 0:

Enter keypoint number 1 in the appropriate box, and enter the x,y coordinates: 0, 0
in
their
appropriate
boxes
(as
shown
above).
Click 'Apply' to accept what you have typed.
o Enter the remaining keypoints using the same method.
o
Note: When entering the final data point, click on 'OK' to indicate that you are
finished entering keypoints. If you first press 'Apply' and then 'OK' for the final
keypoint,
you
will
have
defined
it
twice!
If you did press 'Apply' for the final point, simply press 'Cancel' to close this dialog
box.
Units (IMPORTANT)
Note the units of measure (i.e. in mm) were not specified. It is the responsibility of the
user to ensure that a consistent set of units are used for the problem; thus making any
conversions where necessary.
Correcting Mistakes
When defining keypoints, lines, areas, volumes, elements, constraints and loads you are
bound to make mistakes. Fortunately these are easily corrected so that you don't need to
begin from scratch every time an error is made! Every 'Create' menu for generating these
various entities also has a corresponding 'Delete' menu for fixing things up.
Form Lines
The keypoints must now be connected
We will use the mouse to select the keypoints to form the lines.
o
o
o
o
o
In the main menu select: Preprocessor > Modeling >

Create > Lines > Lines > In Active Coord. The following
window will then appear:
Use the mouse to pick keypoint #1 (i.e. click on it). It will
now be marked by a small yellow box.
Now move the mouse toward keypoint #2. A line will
now show on the screen joining these two points. Left
click and a permanent line will appear.
Connect the remaining keypoints using the same method.
When you're done, click on 'OK' in the 'Lines in Active
Coord' window, minimize the 'Lines' menu and the
'Create' menu. Your ANSYS Graphics window should
look similar to the following figure.
36
Disappearing Lines
Please note that any lines you have created may 'disappear' throughout your analysis.
However, they have most likely NOT been deleted. If this occurs at any time from the
Utility Menu select:
Plot > Lines
Define the Type of Element
It is now necessary to create elements. This is called 'meshing'. ANSYS first needs to know
what kind of elements to use for our problem:
From the Preprocessor Menu, select: Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete. The following window
will then appear:
37
Click on the 'Add...' button. The following window will appear:
For this example, we will use the 2D spar element as selected in the above figure.
Select the element shown and click 'OK'. You should see 'Type 1 LINK1' in the
'Element Types' window.
Click on 'Close' in the 'Element Types' dialog box.
Define Geometric Properties

We now need to specify geometric properties for our elements:
In the Preprocessor menu, select Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete
Click Add... and select 'Type 1 LINK1' (actually it is already selected). Click on
'OK'. The following window will appear:
38
As shown in the window above, enter the cross-sectional area (3250mm):

Click on 'OK'.
'Set 1' now appears in the dialog box. Click on 'Close' in the 'Real Constants' window.
Element Material Properties
You then need to specify material properties:
In the 'Preprocessor' menu select Material Props > Material Models
Double click on Structural > Linear > Elastic > Isotropic
39
We are going to give the properties of Steel. Enter the following field: EX 200000
o
Set these properties and click on 'OK'. Note: You may obtain the note 'PRXY will be
set to 0.0'. This is poisson's ratio and is not required for this element type. Click 'OK'
on the window to continue. Close the "Define Material Model Behavior" by clicking
on the 'X' box in the upper right hand corner.
Mesh Size
The last step before meshing is to tell ANSYS what size the elements should be. There are a
variety of ways to do this but we will just deal with one method for now.
Mesh
In the Preprocessor menu select Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines >
All Lines
In the size 'NDIV' field, enter the desired number of divisions per line. For this
example we want only 1 division per line, therefore, enter '1' and then click 'OK'.
Note that we have not yet meshed the geometry, we have simply defined the element
sizes.
40
Now the frame can be meshed.

o
In the 'Preprocessor' menu select Meshing > Mesh > Lines and click 'Pick All' in
the 'Mesh Lines' Window
Your model should now appear as shown in the following window
Plot
To show the line numbers, keypoint numbers, node numbers...
From the Utility Menu (top of screen) select PlotCtrls > Numbering...
Fill in the Window as shown below and click 'OK'
Now you can turn numbering on or off at your discretion
Numbering
41
Saving Your Work

Save the model at this time, so if you make some mistakes later on, you will at least be able to come
back to this point. To do this, on the Utility Menu select File > Save as.... Select the name and
location where you want to save your file.
It is a good idea to save your job at different times throughout the building and analysis of the
model to backup your work in case of a system crash or what have you.
Solution Phase: Assigning Loads and Solving

You have now defined your model. It is now time to apply the load(s) and constraint(s) and solve
the the resulting system of equations.
Open up the 'Solution' menu (from the same 'ANSYS Main Menu').
Define Analysis Type
First you must tell ANSYS how you want it to solve this problem:
From the Solution Menu, select Analysis Type > New Analysis.
o
o
Ensure that 'Static' is selected; i.e. you are going to do a static analysis on the truss
as opposed to a dynamic analysis, for example.
Click 'OK'.
2. Apply Constraints
It is necessary to apply constraints to the model otherwise the model is not tied down or
grounded and a singular solution will result. In mechanical structures, these constraints will
typically be fixed, pinned and roller-type connections. As shown above, the left end of the
truss bridge is pinned while the right end has a roller connection.
42
o In
the Solution menu, select Define Loads

> Apply > Structural > Displacement > On
Keypoints
o Select
the left end of the bridge
(Keypoint 1) by clicking on it in the
Graphics Window and click on 'OK' in the
'Apply ALL DOF on KPs' window.
This location is fixed which means that all translational and rotational degrees of
freedom (DOFs) are constrained. Therefore, select 'All DOF' by clicking on it and
enter '0' in the Value field and click 'OK'. You will see some blue triangles in the
graphics window indicating the displacement contraints.
o Using the same method, apply the roller connection to the right end (UY
constrained). Note that more than one DOF constraint can be selected at a time in the
"Apply U,ROT on KPs" window. Therefore, you may need to 'deselect' the 'All
DOF' option to select just the 'UY' option.
o
3. Apply Loads
As shown in the diagram, there are four downward loads of 280kN, 210kN, 280kN, and
360kN at keypoints 1, 3, 5, and 7 respectively.
Select Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > on Keypoints.
Select the first Keypoint (left end of the truss) and click 'OK' in the 'Apply F/M on KPs' window.
43
Select FY in the 'Direction of force/mom'. This indicate that we will be applying the load in the 'y'
direction
Enter a value of -280000 in the 'Force/moment value' box and click 'OK'. Note that we are using
units of N here, this is consistent with the previous values input.
The force will appear in the graphics window as a red arrow.
Apply the remaining loads in the same manner.
The applied loads and constraints should now appear as shown below.
Solving the System

We now tell ANSYS to find the solution:
In the 'Solution' menu select Solve > Current LS. This indicates that we desire the solution under
the current Load Step (LS).
44
The above windows will appear. Ensure that your solution options are the same as shown above and
click 'OK'.
Once the solution is done the following window will pop up. Click 'Close' and close the /STATUS
Command Window..
Postprocessing: Viewing the Results

Hand Calculations
We will first calculate the forces and stress in element 1 (as labeled in the problem
description).
Results Using ANSYS
45
Reaction Forces
A list of the resulting reaction forces can be obtained for this element
o
from the Main Menu select General Postproc > List Results > Reaction Solu.
Select 'All struc forc F' as shown above and click 'OK'
These values agree with the reaction forces claculated by hand above.
Deformation
o
In the General Postproc menu, select Plot Results > Deformed Shape. The
following window will appear.
46
Select 'Def + undef edge' and click 'OK' to view both the deformed and the
undeformed object.
Observe the value of the maximum deflection in the upper left hand corner
(DMX=7.409). One should also observe that the constrained degrees of freedom
appear to have a deflection of 0 (as expected!)
Deflection
For a more detailed version of the deflection of the beam,
From the 'General Postproc' menu select Plot results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solution. The
following window will appear.
47
Select 'DOF solution' and 'USUM' as shown in the above window. Leave the other
selections as the default values. Click 'OK'.
Looking at the scale, you may want to use more useful intervals. From the Utility
Menu select Plot Controls > Style > Contours > Uniform Contours...
Fill in the following window as shown and click 'OK'.
48
You should obtain the following.
The deflection can also be obtained as a list as shown below. General Postproc >
List Results > Nodal Solution select 'DOF Solution' and 'ALL DOFs' from the lists
in the 'List Nodal Solution' window and click 'OK'. This means that we want to see a
listing of all degrees of freedom from the solution.
49
Are these results what you expected? Note that all the degrees of freedom were
constrained to zero at node 1, while UY was constrained to zero at node 7.
o If you wanted to save these results to a file, select 'File' within the results window (at
the upper left-hand corner of this list window) and select 'Save as'.
o
Axial Stress
For line elements (ie links, beams, spars, and pipes) you will often need to use the Element
Table to gain access to derived data (ie stresses, strains). For this example we should obtain
axial stress to compare with the hand calculations. The Element Table is different for each
element, therefore, we need to look at the help file for LINK1 (Type help link1 into the
Input Line). From Table 1.2 in the Help file, we can see that SAXL can be obtained through
the ETABLE, using the item 'LS,1'
From the General Postprocessor menu select Element Table > Define Table
Click on 'Add...'
As shown above, enter 'SAXL' in the 'Lab' box. This specifies the name of the item
you are defining. Next, in the 'Item,Comp' boxes, select 'By sequence number' and
'LS,'. Then enter 1 after LS, in the selection box
Click on 'OK' and close the 'Element Table Data' window.
50
Plot the Stresses by selecting Element Table > Plot Elem Table
The following window will appear. Ensure that 'SAXL' is selected and click 'OK'
Because you changed the contour intervals for the Displacement plot to "User
Specified" - you need to switch this back to "Auto calculated" to obtain new values
for VMIN/VMAX.
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Contours > Uniform Contours ...
Again, you may wish to select more appropriate intervals for the contour plot
List the Stresses
From the 'Element Table' menu, select 'List Elem Table'
From the 'List Element Table Data' window which appears ensure 'SAXL' is highlighted
Click 'OK'
51
Note that the axial stress in Element 1 is 82.9MPa as predicted analytically.

The above example was solved using a mixture of the Graphical User Interface (or GUI) and the
command language interface of ANSYS. This problem has also been solved using the ANSYS
command language interface that you may want to browse. Open the .HTML version, copy and
paste the code into Notepad or a similar text editor and save it to your computer. Now go to 'File >
Read input from...' and select the file. A .PDF version is also available for printing.
(Modified from Chandrupatla & Belegunda, Introduction to Finite Elements in Engineering, p.123)
ANSYS Command Listing

! ANSYS command file to perform 2D Truss Tutorial (Chandrupatla p.123)
!
/title, Bridge Truss Tutorial
/PREP7
! preprocessor phase
!
! define parameters (mm)
height = 3118
52
width = 3600
!
! define keypoints
!
K,1,
0,
0
! keypoint, #, x, y
K,2,
width/2,height
K,3,
width, 0
K,4, 3*width/2, height
K,5,
2*width,
0
K,6, 5*width/2, height
K,7,
3*width, 0
!
! define lines
!
L,1,2
! line connecting kpoint 1 and 2
L,1,3
L,2,3
L,2,4
L,3,4
L,3,5
L,4,5
L,4,6
L,5,6
L,5,7
L,6,7
!
! element definition
!
ET,1,LINK1
R,1,3250
MP,EX,1,200e3
! element type
#1; spring element
! real constant
#1; Xsect area: 3200 mm^2
! material property #1; Young's modulus: 200 GPa
LESIZE,ALL, , ,1,1,1
! specify divisions on unmeshed lines
LMESH,all
! mesh all lines
!
FINISH
! finish pre-processor
!
/SOLU
! enter solution phase
!
! apply some constraints
DK,1,ALL,0
! define a DOF constraint at a keypoint
DK,7,UY,0
!
! apply loads
!
FK,1,FY,-280e3
! define a force load to a keypoint
FK,3,FY,-210e3
FK,5,FY,-280e3
FK,7,FY,-360e3
!
SOLVE
! solve the resulting system of equations
FINISH
! finish solution
/POST1
PRRSOL,F
PLDISP,2
PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
ETABLE,SAXL,LS, 1
PRETAB,SAXL
! List Reaction Forces

! Plot Deformed shape
! Contour Plot of deflection
! Axial Stress
! List Element Table
53
PLETAB,SAXL,NOAV
! Plot Axial Stress
Quitting ANSYS
To quit ANSYS, select 'QUIT' from the ANSYS Toolbar or select Utility Menu/File/Exit.... In the
dialog box that appears, click on 'Save Everything' (assuming that you want to) and then click on
'OK'.
54
Space Frame Example
Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 to solve a simple 3D space frame problem.
Problem Description
The problem to be solved in this example is the analysis of a bicycle frame. The problem to be
modeled in this example is a simple bicycle frame shown in the following figure. The frame is to be
built of hollow aluminum tubing having an outside diameter of 25mm and a wall thickness of 2mm.
Verification
The first step is to simplify the problem. Whenever you are trying out a new analysis type, you need
something (ie analytical solution or experimental data) to compare the results to. This way you can
be sure that you've gotten the correct analysis type, units, scale factors, etc.
The simplified version that will be used for this problem is that of a cantilever beam shown in the
following figure:
55

Give the Simplified Version a Title (such as 'Verification Model').
Utility Menu > File > Change Title
Enter Keypoints
For this simple example, these keypoints are the ends of the beam.
We are going to define 2 keypoints for the simplified structure as given in the following table
keypoint
1
2
coordinate
x
500 0
From
the
'ANSYS
Main
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS
Menu'
Form Lines
The two keypoints must now be connected to form a bar using a straight line.
Select: Preprocessor > Modeling> Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line.
Pick keypoint #1 (i.e. click on it). It will now be marked by a small yellow box.
Now pick keypoint #2. A permanent line will appear.
When you're done, click on 'OK' in the 'Create Straight Line' window.
It is now necessary to create elements on this line.
From the Preprocessor Menu, select: Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete.
select:
56
Click on the 'Add...' button. The following window will appear:
For this example, we will use the 3D elastic straight pipe element as selected in the above figure.
Select the element shown and click 'OK'. You should see 'Type 1 PIPE16' in the 'Element Types'
window.
Click on the 'Options...' button in the 'Element Types' dialog box. The following window will
appear:
Click and hold the K6 button (second from the bottom), and select 'Include Output' and click 'OK'.
This gives us extra force and moment output.
Click on 'Close' in the 'Element Types' dialog box and close the 'Element Type' menu.
We now need to specify geometric properties for our elements:
In the Preprocessor menu, select Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete
Click Add... and select 'Type 1 PIPE16' (actually it is already selected). Click on 'OK'.
Enter the following geometric properties:
57
o
o
Outside diameter
OD:
Wall thickness TKWALL:
25
2
This defines an outside pipe diameter of 25mm and a wall thickness of 2mm.
Click on 'OK'.
'Set 1' now appears in the dialog box. Click on 'Close' in the 'Real Constants' window.
You then need to specify material properties:
In the 'Preprocessor' menu select Material Props > Material Models...
Double click Structural > Linear > Elastic and select 'Isotropic' (double click on it)
Close the 'Define Material Model Behavior' Window.
We are going to give the properties of Aluminum. Enter the following field:
EX 70000
PRXY 0.33
Set these properties and click on 'OK'.

Mesh Size
In the Preprocessor menu select Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines > All Lines
In the size 'SIZE' field, enter the desired element length. For this example we want an element
length of 2cm, therefore, enter '20' (i.e 20mm) and then click 'OK'. Note that we have not yet
meshed the geometry, we have simply defined the element sizes.
(Alternatively, we could enter the number of divisions we want in the line. For an
element length of 2cm, we would enter 25 [ie 25 divisions]).
2. NOTE
It is not necessary to mesh beam elements to obtain the correct solution. However, meshing
is done in this case so that we can obtain results (ie stress, displacement) at intermediate
positions on the beam.
Mesh
In the 'Preprocessor' menu select Meshing > Mesh > Lines and click 'Pick All' in the 'Mesh Lines'
Window
Saving Your Work
Utility Menu > File > Save as.... Select the name and location where you want to save your
file.
58

From the Solution Menu, select 'Analysis Type > New Analysis'.
Ensure that 'Static' is selected and click 'OK'.
Apply Constraints
In the Solution menu, select Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Keypoints
Select the left end of the rod (Keypoint 1) by clicking on it in the Graphics Window and click on
'OK' in the 'Apply U,ROT on KPs' window.
This location is fixed which means that all translational and rotational degrees of freedom (DOFs)
are constrained. Therefore, select 'All DOF' by clicking on it and enter '0' in the Value field and
click 'OK'.
Apply Loads
As shown in the diagram, there is a vertically downward load of 100N at the end of the bar
In the Structural menu, select Force/Moment > on Keypoints.
Select the second Keypoint (right end of bar) and click 'OK' in the 'Apply F/M' window.
Click on the 'Direction of force/mom' at the top and select FY.
Enter a value of -100 in the 'Force/moment value' box and click 'OK'.
The force will appear in the graphics window as a red arrow.
Solving the System
59
We now tell ANSYS to find the solution:

Solution > Solve > Current LS

Hand Calculations
Now, since the purpose of this exercise was to verify the results - we need to calculate what
we should find.
Deflection:
The maximum deflection occurs at the end of the rod and was found to be 6.2mm as shown
above.
Stress:
The maximum stress occurs at the base of the rod and was found to be 64.9MPa as shown
above (pure bending stress).
Results Using ANSYS
Deformation
from the Main Menu select General Postproc from the 'ANSYS Main Menu'. In this menu you will
find a variety of options, the two which we will deal with now are 'Plot Results' and 'List Results'
Select Plot Results > Deformed Shape.
Select 'Def + undef edge' and click 'OK' to view both the deformed and the undeformed object.
60
Observe the value of the maximum deflection in the upper left hand corner (shown here surrounded
by a blue border for emphasis). This is identical to that obtained via hand calculations.
Deflection
For a more detailed version of the deflection of the beam,
From the 'General Postproc' menu select Plot results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solution.
Select 'DOF solution' and 'USUM'. Leave the other selections as the default values. Click 'OK'.
61
You may want to have a more useful scale, which can be accomplished by going to the Utility
Menu and selecting Plot Controls > Style > Contours > Uniform Contours
The deflection can also be obtained as a list as shown below. General Postproc > List Results >
Nodal Solution ... select 'DOF Solution' and 'ALL DOFs' from the lists in the 'List Nodal Solution'
window and click 'OK'. This means that we want to see a listing of all translational and rotational
degrees of freedom from the solution. If we had only wanted to see the displacements for example,
we would have chosen 'ALL Us' instead of 'ALL DOFs'.
62
Are these results what you expected? Again, the maximum deflection occurs at node 2, the right end
of the rod. Also note that all the rotational and translational degrees of freedom were constrained to
zero at node 1.
If you wanted to save these results to a file, use the mouse to go to the 'File' menu (at the upper lefthand corner of this list window) and select 'Save as'.
Stresses
For line elements (ie beams, spars, and pipes) you will need to use the Element Table to
gain access to derived data (ie stresses, strains).
From the General Postprocessor menu select Element Table > Define Table...
Click on 'Add...'
63
As shown above, in the 'Item,Comp' boxes in the above window, select 'Stress' and 'von Mises
SEQV'
Click on 'OK' and close the 'Element Table Data' window.
Plot the Stresses by selecting Plot Elem Table in the Element Table Menu
The following window will appear. Ensure that 'SEQV' is selected and click 'OK'
If you changed the contour intervals for the Displacement plot to "User Specified" you may need to
switch this back to "Auto calculated" to obtain new values for VMIN/VMAX.
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Contours > Uniform Contours ...
64
Again, select more appropriate intervals for the contour plot

List the Stresses
From the 'Element Table' menu, select 'List Elem Table'
From the 'List Element Table Data' window which appears ensure 'SEQV' is highlighted
Click 'OK'
Note that a maximum stress of 64.914 MPa occurs at the fixed end of the beam as
predicted analytically.
Bending Moment Diagrams
To further verify the simplified model, a bending moment diagram can be created. First, let's
look at how ANSYS defines each element. Pipe 16 has 2 nodes; I and J, as shown in the
following image.
To obtain the bending moment for this element, the Element Table must be used. The
Element Table contains most of the data for the element including the bending moment data
for each element at Node I and Node J. First, we need to obtain obtain the bending moment
data.
65
General Postproc > Element Table > Define Table... . Click 'Add...'.
In the window,
Enter IMoment as the 'User label for item' - this will give a name to the data
Select 'By sequence num' in the Item box
Select 'SMISC' in the first Comp box
Enter SMISC,6 in the second Comp box
Click 'OK'
This will save all of the bending moment data at the left hand side (I side) of each
element. Now we need to find the bending moment data at the right hand side (J
side) of each element.
Again, click 'Add...' in the 'Element Table Data' window.
Enter JMoment as the 'User label for item' - again, this will give a name to the data
Same as above
Same as above
For step D, enter SMISC,12 in the second Comp box
Click 'OK'
Click 'Close' in the 'Element Table Data' window and close the 'Element Table' Menu. Select Plot
Results > Contour Plot > Line Elem Res...
66
From the 'Plot Line-Element Results' window, select 'IMOMENT' from the pull down menu for
LabI, and 'JMOMENT' from the pull down menu for LabJ. Click 'OK'. Note again that you can
modify the intervals for the contour plot.
Now, you can double check these solutions analytically. Note that the line between
the I and J point is a linear interpolation.
Before the explanation of the above steps, enter help pipe16 in the command line as shown below
and then hit enter.
67
Briefly read the ANSYS documentation which appears, pay particular attention to the Tables near
the end of the document (shown below).
Table 1. PIPE16 Item, Sequence Numbers, and Definitions for the ETABLE
Commands
node I
name
item
Definition
MFORX
SMISC
MFORY
SMISC
MFORZ
SMISC
Member
forces at the
node
MMOMX
SMISC
MMOMY
SMISC
MMOMZ
SMISC
Member
moments at
the node
Note that SMISC 6 (which we used to obtain the values at node I) correspond to
MMOMZ - the Member moment for node I. The value of 'e' varies with different
Element Types, therefore you must check the ANSYS Documentation files for each
element to determine the appropriate SMISC corresponding to the plot you wish to
generate.

The above example was solved using the Graphical User Interface (or GUI) of ANSYS. This
problem can also been solved using the ANSYS command language interface. To see the benefits of
the command line clear your current file:
From the Utility menu select: File > Clear and Start New
Ensure that 'Read File' is selected then click 'OK'
select 'yes' in the following window.
Copy the following code into the command line, then hit enter. Note that the text following the "!"
are comments.
/PREP7
K,1,0,0,0,
K,2,500,0,0,
L,1,2
!*
ET,1,PIPE16
KEYOPT,1,6,1
moment output
!*
R,1,25,2,
thickness
!*
MP,EX,1,70000
MPa
!
!
!
!
Preprocessor
Keypoint, 1, x, y, z
Keypoint, 2, x, y, z
Line from keypoint 1 to 2
! Element Type = pipe 16

! This is the changed option to give the extra force and
! Real Constant, Material 1, Outside Diameter, Wall
! Material Properties, Young's Modulus, Material 1, 70000
68
MP,PRXY,1,0.33
0.33
!*
LESIZE,ALL,20
LMESH,1
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,0
!*
DK,1, ,0, ,0,ALL
FK,2,FY,-100
direction
/STATUS,SOLU
SOLVE
FINISH
! Material Properties, Major Poisson's Ratio, Material 1,
! Element sizes, all of the lines, 20 mm

! Mesh the lines
! Exit preprocessor
! Solution
! The type of analysis (static)
! Apply a Displacement to Keypoint 1 to all DOF
! Apply a Force to Keypoint 2 of -100 N in the y
! Solve the problem
Note that you have now finished Postprocessing and the Solution Phase with just these few lines of
code. There are codes to complete the Postprocessing but we will review these later.
Bicycle Example
Now we will return to the analysis of the bike frame. The steps which you completed in the
verification example will not be explained in great detail, therefore use the verification example as a
reference as required. We will be combining the use of the Graphic User Interface (GUI) with the
use of command lines.
Recall the geometry and dimensions of the bicycle frame:
69
Clear any old ANSYS files and start a new file

Utility Menu > File > Clear and Start New
Give the Example a Title
Utility menu > File > Change Title
Defining Some Variables
We are going to define the vertices of the frame using variables. These variables represent
the various lengths of the bicycle members. Notice that by using variables like this, it is very
easy to set up a parametric description of your model. This will enable us to quickly redefine
the frame should changes be necessary. The quickest way to enter these variables is via the
'ANSYS Input' window which was used above to input the command line codes for the
verification model. Type in each of the following lines followed by Enter.
x1
x2
y1
y2
z1
=
=
=
=
=
500
825
325
400
50
Enter Keypoints
For this space frame example, these keypoints are the frame vertices.
We are going to define 6 keypoints for this structure as given in the following table (these keypoints
are depicted by the circled numbers in the above figure):
coordinate
keypoint
x
y1
y2
x1 y2
x1
x2
z1
x2 0
-z1
Now instead of using the GUI window we are going to enter code into the 'command line'. First,
open the 'Preprocessor Menu' from the 'ANSYS Main Menu'. The preprocessor menu has to be open
in order for the preprocessor commands to be recognized. Alternatively, you can type /PREP7 into
the command line. The command line format required to enter a keypoint is as follows:
o
K, NPT, X, Y, Z
where, each Abbreviation is representative of the following:
70
Keypoint, Reference number for the keypoint, coords x/y/z
For a more detailed explanation, type help k into the command line
For example, to enter the first keypoint type:
K,1,0,y1,0
into the command line followed by Enter.

As with any programming language, you may need to add comments. The
exclamation mark indicates that anything following it is commented out. ie - for the
second keypoint you might type:
K,2,0,y2,0
! keypoint, #, x=0, y=y2, z=0
Enter the 4 remaining keypoints (listed in the table above) using the command line
Now you may want to check to ensure that you entered all of the keypoints correctly:
Utility
Menu
>
List
>
Keypoints
>
Coordinates
only
(Alternatively, type 'KLIST' into the command line)
If there are any keypoints which need to be re-entered, simply re-enter the code. A previously
defined keypoint of the same number will be redefined. However, if there is one that needs to be
deleted simply enter the following code:
o
KDELE,#
where # corresponds to the number of the keypoint.

In this example, we defined the keypoints by making use of previously defined variables
like y1 = 325. This was simply used for convenience. To define keypoint #1, for example,
we could have alternatively used the coordinates x = 0, y = 325, z = 0.
Changing Orientation of the Plot
To get a better view of our view of our model, we'll view it in an isometric view:
Select Utility menu bar > PlotCtrls > Pan, Zoom, Rotate...'
71
In the window that appears (shown

left), you have many controls. Try
experimenting with them. By turning
on the dynamic mode (click on the
checkbox beside 'Dynamic Mode')
you can use the mouse to drag the
image, translating and rotating it on
all three axes.
To get an isometric view, click on
'Iso' (at the top right). You can
either leave the 'Pan, Zoom, Rotate'
window open and move it to an
empty area on the screen, or close
it if your screen is already cluttered.
Create Lines
We will be joining the following
keypoints together:
keypoint
line
1st 2nd
1
Again, we will use the command line to

create the lines. The command format
to create a straight line looks like:
L, P1, P2
Line, Keypoint at the beginning of the line,
Keypoint at the end of line
For example, to obtain the first line, I

would write: ' L,1,2 '
Note: unlike 'Keypoints', 'Lines' will
automatically assign themselves the
72
next available reference number.

Enter the remaining lines until you get a picture like that shown below.
Again, check to ensure that you entered all of the lines correctly: type ' LLIST ' into the command
line
If there are any lines which need to be changed, delete the line by typing the following code: '
LDELE,# ' where # corresponds to the reference number of the line. (This can be obtained from the
list of lines). And then re-enter the line (note: a new reference number will be assigned)
You should obtain the following:

Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete > Add
As in the verification model, define the type of element (pipe16). As in the verification
model, don't forget to change Option K6 'Include Output' to obtain extra force and moment
output.
Preprocessor > Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete
Now specify geometric properties for the elements
Outside diameter
OD:
Wall thickness TKWALL:
25
2
73
To set Young's Modulus and Poisson's ratio, we will again use the command line. (ensure
that the preprocessor menu is still open - if not open it by clicking Preprocessor in the Main
Menu)
MP, LAB, MAT, C0
Material Property,Valid material property label, Material Reference
Number, value
To enter the Elastic Modulus (LAB = EX) of 70000 MPa, type: ' MP,EX,1,70000 '
To set Poisson's ratio (PRXY), type ' MP,PRXY,1,0.33 '
Mesh Size
As in the verification model, set the element length to
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines > All Lines
20
mm
Mesh
In the 'Preprocessor' menu select 'Mesh' > 'Lines' and click 'Pick All' in the 'Mesh Lines' Window
Saving
Utility Menu > File > Save as...
Your
Job

Close the 'Preprocessor' menu and open up the 'Solution' menu (from the same 'ANSYS Main
Menu').
Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis... > Static
Apply Constraints
Once again, we will use the command line. We are going to pin (translational DOFs will be
fixed) the first keypoint and constrain the keypoints corresponding to the rear wheel
attachment locations in both the y and z directions. The following is the command line
format to apply constraints at keypoints.
DK, KPOI, Lab, VALUE, VALUE2, KEXPND, Lab2, Lab3, Lab4, Lab5, Lab6
Displacement on K, K #, DOF label, value, value2, Expansion key, other
DOF labels
Not all of the fields are required for this example, therefore when entering the code certain
fields will be empty. For example, to pin the first keypoint enter:
DK,1,UX,0,,,UY,UZ
74
The DOF labels for translation motion are: UX, UY, UZ. Note that the 5th and 6th fields are
empty. These correspond to 'value2' and 'the Expansion key' which are not required for this
constraint. Also note that all three of the translational DOFs were constrained to 0. The
DOFs can only be contrained in 1 command line if the value is the same.
To apply the contraints to Keypoint 5, the command line code is:
DK,5,UY,0,,,UZ
Note that only UY and UZ are contrained to 0. UX is not constrained. Again, note that the
5th and 6th fields are empty because they are not required.
Apply the constraints to the other rear wheel location (Keypoint 6 - UY and UZ).
Now list the constraints ('DKLIST') and verify them against the following:
If you need to delete any of the constraints use the following command: 'DKDELE,
K, Lab' (ie 'DKDELE,1,UZ' would delete the constraint in the 'z' direction for
Keypoint 1)
Apply Loads
We will apply vertical downward loads of 600N at the seat post location (keypoint 3) and
200N at the pedal crank location (keypoint 4). We will use the command line to define these
loading conditions.
FK, KPOI, Lab, value, value2
Force loads at keypoints, K #, Force Label directions (FX, FY, FZ),
value1, value2 (if req'd)
To apply a force of 600N downward at keypoint 3, the code should look like this: '
FK,3,FY,-600 '
Apply both the forces and list the forces to ensure they were inputted correctly (FKLIST).
If you need to delete one of the forces, the code looks like this: 'FKDELE, K, Lab' (ie
'FKDELE,3,FY' would delete the force in the 'y' direction for Keypoint 3)
75
Solving the System


To begin Postprocessing, open the 'General Postproc' Menu
Deformation
Plot Results > Deformed Shape... 'Def + undef edge'
76
You may want to try plotting this from different angles to get a better idea what's going on by using
the 'Pan-Zoom-Rotate' menu that was earlier outlined.
Try the 'Front' view button (Note that the views of 'Front', 'Left', 'Back', etc depend on how the
object was first defined).
Your screen should look like the plot below:
77
Deflections
Now let's take a look at some actual deflections in the frame. The deflections have been
calculated at the nodes of the model, so the first thing we'll do is plot out the nodes and node
numbers, so we know what node(s) we're after.
Go to Utility menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering... and turn on 'Node numbers'. Turn everything else
off.
Note the node numbers of interest. Of particular interest are those nodes where the constraints were
applied to see if their displacements/rotations were indeed fixed to zero. Also note the node
numbers of the seat and crank locations.
List the Nodal Deflections (Main Menu > General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution...').
Are the displacements and rotations as you expected?
Plot the deflection as well.
General Postproc > Plot Results > (-Contour Plot-) Nodal Solution select
'DOF solution' and 'USUM' in the window
Don't forget to use more useful intervals.

Element Forces
We could also take a look at the forces in the elements in much the same way:
Select 'Element Solution...' from the 'List Results' menu.
Select 'Nodal force data' and 'All forces' from the lists displayed.
Click on 'OK'.
78
For each element in the model, the force/moment values at each of the two nodes per element will
be displayed.
Close this list window when you are finished browsing.
Then close the 'List Results' menu.
Stresses
As shown in the cantilever beam example, use the Element Table to gain access to derived
stresses.
General Postproc > Element Table > Define Table ...
Select 'Add'
Select 'Stress' and 'von Mises'
Element Table > Plot Elem Table
Again, select appropriate intervals for the contour plot

Bending Moment Diagrams
As shown previously, the bending moment diagram can be produced.
Select Element Table > Define Table... to define the table (remember SMISC,6 and
SMISC,12)
And, Plot Results > Line Elem Res... to plot the data from the Element Table
79

3D Space Frame Example
Problem Description
The problem to be modeled in this example is a simple bicycle frame shown in the following figure.
The frame is to be built of hollow aluminum tubing having an outside diameter of 25mm and a wall
thickness of 2mm for the main part of the frame. For the rear forks, the tubing will be 12mm outside
diameter and 1mm wall thickness.
80

! Command File mode of 3D Bicycle Space Frame
/title,3D Bicycle Space Frame
/prep7
! Enter the pre-processor
! Define Some Parameters

x1
x2
y1
y2
z1
=
=
=
=
=
500
825
325
400
50
!
!
!
!
!
These parameters are not required; i.e. one could

directly enter in the coordinates into the keypoint
definition below.
However, using parameters makes it very easy to
quickly make changes to your model!
! Define Keypoints
K,1, 0,y1, 0
K,2, 0,y2, 0
K,3,x1,y2, 0
K,4,x1, 0, 0
K,5,x2, 0, z1
K,6,x2, 0,-z1
! k,key-point number,x-coord,y-coord,z-coord
! Define Lines Linking Keypoints

L,1,2
L,2,3
L,3,4
L,4,1
L,4,6
L,4,5
L,3,5
L,3,6
! l,keypoint1,keypoint2
! these last two line are for the rear forks
! Define Element Type

ET,1,pipe16
KEYOPT,1,6,1
81
! Define Real Constants

! (Note: the inside diameter must be positive)
R,1,25,2
! r,real set number,outside diameter,wall thickness
R,2,12,1
! second set of real constants - for rear forks
! Define Material Properties
MP,EX,1,70000
MP,PRXY,1,0.33
! mp,Young's modulus,material number,value

! mp,Poisson's ratio,material number,value
! Define the number of elements each line is to be divided into

LESIZE,ALL,20
! lesize,line number(all lines),size of element
! Line Meshing
REAL,1
LMESH,1,6,1
REAL,2
LMESH,7,8
!
!
!
!
!
turn on real property set #1

mesh those lines which have that property set
mesh lines 1 through 6 in steps of 1
activate real property set #2
mesh the rear forks
FINISH
! Finish pre-processing
/SOLU
! Enter the solution processor
ANTYPE,0
! Analysis type,static
! Define Displacement Constraints on Keypoints

DK,1,UX,0,,,UY,UZ
DK,5,UY,0,,,UZ
DK,6,UY,0,,,UZ
! dk,keypoint,direction,displacement,,,direction,direction
! Define Forces on Keypoints

FK,3,FY,-600
FK,4,FY,-200
(dk command)
(fk command)
!fk,keypoint,direction,force
SOLVE
! Solve the problem
FINISH
! Finish the solution processor
SAVE
! Save your work to the database
/post1
! Enter the general post processor
/WIND,ALL,OFF
/WIND,1,LTOP
/WIND,2,RTOP
/WIND,3,LBOT
/WIND,4,RBOT
GPLOT
/GCMD,1, PLDISP,2
!Plot the deformed and undeformed edge
/GCMD,2, PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
! Set up Element Table information

! Element tables are tables of information regarding the solution data
82
! You must tell Ansys what pieces of information you want by using the
! etable command:
!
etable,arbitrary name,item name,data code number
! The arbitrary name is a name that you give the data in the table
! It serves as a reference name to retrieve the data later
! Use a name that describes the data and is easily remembered.
! The item name and data code number come off of the tables provided.
! Examples:
! For the VonMises (or equivalent) stresses at angle 0 at both ends of the
! element (node i and node j);
etable,vonmi0,nmisc,5
etable,vonmj0,nmisc,45
! For the Axial stresses at angle 0
etable,axii0,ls,1
etable,axij0,ls,33
! For the Direct axial stress component due to axial load (no bending)
! Note it is independent of angular location.
etable,diri,smisc,13
etable,dirj,smisc,15
! ADD OTHERS THAT YOU NEED IN HERE...
! To plot the data, simply type
!
plls, name for node i, name for node j
! for example,
/GCMD,3, PLLS,vonmi0,vonmj0
/GCMD,4, PLLS,axii0,axij0
/CONT,2,9,0,,0.27
/CONT,3,9,0,,18
/CONT,4,9,-18,,18
/FOC,ALL,-0.340000,,,1
/replot
PRNSOL,DOF,
Quitting ANSYS
To quit ANSYS, select 'QUIT' from the ANSYS Toolbar or select 'Utility Menu'/'File'/'Exit...'. In
the dialog box that appears, click on 'Save Everything' (assuming that you want to) and then click
on 'OK'.
83

Introduction
This tutorial is the second of three basic tutorials created to illustrate common features in ANSYS.
The plane stress bracket tutorial builds upon techniques covered in the first tutorial (3D Bicycle
Space Frame), it is therefore essential that you have completed that tutorial prior to beginning this
one.
The 2D Plane Stress Bracket will introduce boolean operations, plane stress, and uniform pressure
loading.
Problem Description
The problem to be modeled in this example is a simple bracket shown in the following figure. This
bracket is to be built from a 20 mm thick steel plate. A figure of the plate is shown below.
This plate will be fixed at the two small holes on the left and have a load applied to the larger hole
on the right.
Verification Example
The simplified version that will be used for this problem is that of a flat rectangular plate with a
hole shown in the following figure:
84

Give the Simplified Version a Title
Form Geometry
Boolean operations provide a means to create complicated solid models. These procedures
make it easy to combine simple geometric entities to create more complex bodies.
Subtraction will used to create this model, however, many other Boolean operations can be
used in ANSYS.
Create the main rectangular shape
Instead of creating the geometry using keypoints, we will create an area
(using GUI)
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Rectangle > By 2
Corners
Fill in the window as shown above. This will create a rectangle where the bottom left corner has the
coordinates 0,0,0 and the top right corner has the coordinates 200,100,0.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above command is
BLC4,0,0,200,100)
Create the circle
85
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Circle > Solid Circle
Fill in the window as shown above. This will create a circle where the center has the coordinates
100,50,0 (the center of the rectangle) and the radius of the circle is 20 mm.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above command is
CYL4,100,50,20 )
Subtraction
Now we want to subtract the circle from the rectangle. Prior to this operation,
your image should resemble the following:
To perform the Boolean operation, from the Preprocessor menu select:
86
Modeling > Operate > Booleans > Subtract > Areas

At this point a 'Subtract Areas' window will pop up and the ANSYS Input window will display the
following message: [ASBA] Pick or enter base areas from which to subtract (as shown
below)
Therefore, select the base area (the rectangle) by clicking on it. Note: The selected area will turn
pink once it is selected.
The following window may appear because there are 2 areas at the location you clicked.
Ensure that the entire rectangular area is selected (otherwise click 'Next') and then click 'OK'.
Click 'OK' on the 'Subtract Areas' window.
Now you will be prompted to select the areas to be subtracted, select the circle by clicking on it and
then click 'OK'.
You should now have the following model:
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is ASBA,1,2)
87

It is now necessary to define the type of element to use for our problem:
Preprocessor Menu > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete
Add the following type of element: Solid (under the Structural heading) and the Quad 82 element,
as shown in the above figure.
PLANE82 is a higher order version of the two-dimensional, four-node element

(PLANE42). PLANE82 is an eight noded quadrilateral element which is better suited
to model curved boundaries.
For this example, we need a plane stress element with thickness, therefore
Click on the 'Options...' button. Click and hold the K3 button, and select 'Plane strs w/thk', as shown
below.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is ET,1,PLANE82 followed
by KEYOPT,1,3,3)
As in previous examples Preprocessor menu > Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete
Enter a thickness of 20 as shown in the figure below. This defines a plate thickness of 20mm)
88
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is R,1,20)
As shown in previous examples, select Preprocessor > Material Props > Material models >
Structural > Linear > Elastic > Isotropic
We are going to give the properties of Steel. Enter the following when prompted:
EX 200000
PRXY 0.3
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is MP,EX,1,200000
followed by MP,PRXY,1,0.3)
Mesh Size
To tell ANSYS how big the elements should be, Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls >
Manual Size > Areas > All Areas
Select an element edge length of 25. We will return later to determine if this was adequate for the
problem.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is AESIZE,ALL,25,)
Mesh
89
In the 'Preprocessor' menu select Meshing > Mesh > Areas > Free and select the area when
prompted
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is AMESH,ALL)
You should now have the following:
Saving
Your
Job

Ensure that a Static Analysis will be performed (Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis).
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is ANTYPE,0)
Apply Constraints
As shown previously, the left end of the plate is fixed.
In the Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Lines
Select the left end of the plate and click on 'Apply' in the 'Apply U,ROT on Lines' window.
Fill in the window as shown below.
90
This location is fixed which means that all DOF's are constrained. Therefore, select 'All DOF' by
clicking on it and enter '0' in the Value field as shown above.
You will see some blue triangles in the graphics window indicating the displacement
contraints.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is DL,4,,ALL,0)
Apply Loads
As shown in the diagram, there is a load of 20N/mm distributed on the right hand side of the plate.
To apply this load:
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Pressure > On Lines
When the window appears, select the line along the right hand edge of the plate and click 'OK'
Calculate the pressure on the plate end by dividing the distributed load by the thickness of the plate
(1 MPa).
Fill in the "Apply PRES on lines" window as shown below. NOTE:
The pressure is uniform along the surface of the plate, therefore the last field is left blank.
The pressure is acting away from the surface of the plate, and is therefore defined as a negative
pressure.
91
Solving the System


Hand Calculations
Now, since the purpose of this exercise was to verify the results - we need to calculate what
we should find.
Deflection: The maximum deflection occurs on the right hand side of the plate and was
calculated to be 0.001 mm - neglecting the effects of the hole in the plate (ie - just a flat
plate). The actual deflection of the plate is therefore expected to be greater but in the same
range of magnitude.
Stress: The maximum stress occurs at the top and bottom of the hole in the plate and was
found to be 3.9 MPa.
Convergence using ANSYS
At this point we need to find whether or not the final result has converged. We will do this
by looking at the deflection and stress at particular nodes while changing the size of the
meshing element.
92
Since we have an analytical solution for the maximum stress point, we will check the
stress at this point. First we need to find the node corresponding to the top of the hole
in the plate. First plot and number the nodes
Utility Menu > Plot > Nodes
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering...
The plot should look similar to the one shown below. Make a note of the node closest to the top of
the circle (ie. #49)
List the stresses (General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution > Stress, Principals SPRIN)
and check the SEQV (Equivalent Stress / von Mises Stress) for the node in question. (as shown
below in red)
93
The equivalent stress was found to be 2.9141 MPa at this point. We will use smaller
elements to try to get a more accurate solution.
Resize Elements
To change the element size, we need to go back to the Preprocessor Menu
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Manual Size > Areas >
All Areas
now decrease the element edge length (ie 20)
Now remesh the model (Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Areas > Free). Once you have
selected the area and clicked 'OK' the following window will appear:
Click 'OK'. This will remesh the model using the new element edge length.
Solve the system again (note that the constraints need not be reapplied). ( Solution Menu >
Current LS )
Repeat steps 'a' through 'd' until the model has converged. (note - the number of the node at the top
of the hole has most likely changed. It is essential that you plot the nodes again to select the
appropriate node). Plot the stress/deflection at varying mesh sizes as shown below to confirm that
convergence has occured.
94
Note the shapes of both the deflection and stress curves. As the number of elements in the
mesh increases (ie - the element edge length decreases), the values converge towards a final
solution.
The von Mises stress at the top of the hole in the plate was found to be approximatly 3.8
MPa. This is a mere 2.5% difference between the analytical solution and the solution found
using ANSYS.
The approximate maximum displacement was found to be 0.0012 mm, this is 20% greater
than the analytical solution. However, the analytical solution does not account for the large
hole in the center of the plate which was expected to significantly increase the deflection at
the end of the plate.
Therefore, the results using ANSYS were determined to be appropriate for the verification
model.
Deformation
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape > Def + undeformd to view both the deformed
and the undeformed object.
Observe the locations of deflection.

Deflection
General Postproc > Plot Results > Nodal Solution... Then select DOF solution, USUM in the
window.
95
Alternatively, obtain these results as a list. (General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution...)
Are these results what you expected? Note that all translational degrees of freedom were
constrained to zero at the left end of the plate.
Stresses
General Postproc > Plot Results > Nodal Solution... Then select Stress, von Mises in the window.
96
You can list the von Mises stresses to verify the results at certain nodes
General Postproc > List Results. Select Stress, Principals SPRIN


Verification Example
The simplified version that will be used for this problem is that of a flat rectangular plate with a
hole shown in the following figure:

! Command File mode of 2D Plane Stress Verification
/title, 2D Plane Stress Verification
97
/PREP7
BLC4,0,0,200,100
height
CYL4,100,50,20
ASBA,1,2
! Preprocessor
! rectangle, bottom left corner coords, width,
ET,1,PLANE42
KEYOPT,1,3,3
thickness
!element Type = plane 42

! This is the changed option to give the plate a
R,1,20
! Real Constant, Material 1, Plate Thickness
MP,EX,1,200000
1, 200000 MPa
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
Material 1, 0.3
! Material Properties, Young's Modulus, Material
! circle,center coords, radius

! substract area 2 from area 1
! Material Properties, Major Poisson's Ratio,
AESIZE,ALL,5
AMESH,ALL
! Element sizes, all of the lines, 5 mm

! Mesh the lines
FINISH
/SOLU
! Exit preprocessor
! Solution
ANTYPE,0
! The type of analysis (static)
DL,4, ,ALL,0
SFL,2,PRES,-1
! Apply a Displacement to Line 4 to all DOF

! Apply a Distributed load to Line 2
SOLVE
FINISH
! Solve the problem
/POST1
PLNSOL,S,EQV
Bracket Example
Now we will return to the analysis of the bracket. A combination of GUI and the Command line
will be used for this example.
98
on the right.

Give the Bracket example a Title
Form Geometry
Again, Boolean operations will be used to create the basic geometry of the Bracket.
Create the main rectangular shape
The main rectangular shape has a width of 80 mm, a height of 100mm and the
bottom left corner is located at coordinates (0,0)
Ensure that the Preprocessor menu is open. (Alternatively type /PREP7 into the command line
window)
Now instead of using the GUI window we are going to enter code into the 'command line'. Now I
will explain the line required to create a rectangle:
BLC4, XCORNER, YCORNER, WIDTH, HEIGHT

BLC4, X coord (bottom left), Y coord (bottom
left), width, height
Therefore, the command line for this rectangle is BLC4,0,0,80,100

Create the circular end on the right hand side
The center of the circle is located at (80,50) and has a radius of 50 mm
The following code is used to create a circular area:
CYL4, XCENTER, YCENTER, RAD1
CYL4, X coord for the center, Y coord for the center,
radius
Therefore, the command line for this circle is CYL4,80,50,50

Now create a second and third circle for the left hand side using the following dimensions:
parameter circle 2 circle 3
XCENTER 0
YCENTER 20
80
RADIUS
20
20
Create a rectangle on the left hand end to fill the gap between the two small circles.
99
XCORNER -20
YCORNER 20
WIDTH
20
HEIGHT
60
b. Your screen should now look like the following...
c.
Boolean Operations - Addition
We now want to add these five discrete areas together to form one area.
To perform the Boolean operation, from the Preprocessor menu select:
Modeling > Operate > Booleans > Add > Areas
In the 'Add Areas' window, click on 'Pick All'
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is AADD,ALL)
You should now have the following model:
100
Create the Bolt Holes

We now want to remove the bolt holes from this plate.
Create the three circles with the parameters given below:
parameter circle 1 circle 2 circle 3
WP X
80
WP Y
50
20
80
radius
30
10
10
Now select
Preprocessor > Modeling > Operate > Booleans > Subtract >
Areas
Select the base areas from which to subract (the large plate that was created)
Next select the three circles that we just created. Click on the three circles that you just created and
click 'OK'.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is ASBA,6,ALL)
Now you should have the following:
101

As in the verification model, PLANE82 will be used for this example
Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete
Use the 'Options...' button to get a plane stress element with thickness
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is ET,1,PLANE82 followed
by KEYOPT,1,3,3)
Under the Extra Element Output K5 select nodal stress.
Define Geometric Contants
Preprocessor > Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete
Enter a thickness of 20mm.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is R,1,20)
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Library > Structural > Linear > Elastic > Isotropic
We are going to give the properties of Steel. Enter the following when prompted:
EX 200000
PRXY 0.3
102
(The command line code for the above step is MP,EX,1,200000 followed by
MP,PRXY,1,0.3)
Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Manual Size > Areas > All Areas
Select an element edge length of 5. Again, we will need to make sure the model has converged.
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is AESIZE,ALL,5,)
Mesh
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Areas > Free and select the area when prompted
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is AMESH,ALL)
2.
3. Saving
Your
Job

'Solution' > 'New Analysis' and select 'Static'.
103
(Alternatively, the command line code for the above step is ANTYPE,0)
Apply Constraints
As illustrated, the plate is fixed at both of the smaller holes on the left hand side.
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Nodes
Instead of selecting one node at a time, you have the option of creating a box, polygon, or circle of
which all the nodes in that area will be selected. For this case, select 'circle' as shown in the window
below. (You may want to zoom in to select the points Utilty Menu / PlotCtrls / Pan, Zoom,
Rotate...) Click at the center of the bolt hole and drag the circle out so that it touches all of the
nodes on the border of the hole.
Click on 'Apply' in the 'Apply U,ROT on Lines' window and constrain all DOF's in the 'Apply
U,ROT on Nodes' window.
Repeat for the second bolt hole.
Apply Loads
As shown in the diagram, there is a single vertical load of 1000N, at the bottom of the large
bolt hole. Apply this force to the respective keypoint ( Solution > Define Loads > Apply >
Structural > Force/Moment > On Keypoints Select a force in the y direction of -1000)
104
Solving the System

Post-Processing: Viewing the Results

We are now ready to view the results. We will take a look at the deflected shape and the stress
contours once we determine convergence has occured.
Convergence using ANSYS
As shown previously, it is necessary to prove that the solution has converged.
Reduce the mesh size until there is no longer a sizeable change in your convergence
criteria.
Deformation
General Postproc > Plot Results > Def + undeformed to view both the deformed and the
undeformed object.
The graphic should be similar to the following
105
Observe the locations of deflection. Ensure that the deflection at the bolt hole is indeed 0.
Deflection
To plot the nodal deflections use General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal
Solution then select DOF Solution - USUM in the window.
Alternatively, obtain these results as a list. (General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution...)
106
Are these results what you expected? Note that all translational degrees of freedom were
constrained to zero at the bolt holes.
Stresses
General Postproc > Plot Results > Nodal Solution... Then select von Mises Stress in the window.
You can list the von Mises stresses to verify the results at certain nodes
General Postproc > List Results. Select Stress, Principals SPRIN


Introduction
107
This tutorial is the second of three basic tutorials created to illustrate commom features in ANSYS.
The plane stress bracket tutorial builds upon techniques covered in the first tutorial (3D Bicycle
Space Frame), it is therefore essential that you have completed that tutorial prior to beginning this
one.
The 2D Plane Stress Bracket will introduce boolean operations, plane stress, and uniform pressure
loading.
Problem Description
on the right.

! Command File mode of 2D Plane Stress Bracket
/title, 2D Plane Stress Bracket
/prep7
! Enter the pre-processor
! Create Geometry
BLC4,0,0,80,100
CYL4,80,50,50
CYL4,0,20,20
CYL4,0,80,20
BLC4,-20,20,20,60
AADD,ALL
! Boolean Addition - add all of the areas together
CYL4,80,50,30
! Create Bolt Holes
108
CYL4,0,20,10
CYL4,0,80,10
ASBA,6,ALL
6) from base area 6
! Boolean Subtraction - subtracts all areas (other than
! Define Element Type

ET,1,PLANE82
KEYOPT,1,3,3
! Plane stress element with thickness
! Define Real Constants

! (Note: the inside diameter must be positive)
R,1,20
! r,real set number, plate thickness
! Define Material Properties
MP,EX,1,200000
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
! mp,Young's modulus,material number,value

! mp,Poisson's ratio,material number,value
! Define the number of elements each line is to be divided into

AESIZE,ALL,5
! lesize,all areas,size of element
! Area Meshing
AMESH,ALL
! amesh, all areas
FINISH
! Finish pre-processing
/SOLU
! Enter the solution processor
ANTYPE,0
! Analysis type,static
! Define Displacement Constraints on Lines

DL, 7,
DL, 8,
DL, 9,
DL,10,
DL,11,
DL,12,
DL,13,
DL,14,
,ALL,0
,ALL,0
,ALL,0
,ALL,0
,ALL,0
,ALL,0
,ALL,0
,ALL,0
! There is probably a way to do these all at once...
! Define Forces on Keypoints

FK,9,FY,-1000
(dl command)
(fk command)
!fk,keypoint,direction,force
SOLVE
! Solve the problem
FINISH
! Finish the solution processor
SAVE
! Save your work to the database
/post1
! Enter the general post processor
/WIND,ALL,OFF
109
/WIND,1,LTOP
/WIND,2,RTOP
/WIND,3,LBOT
/WIND,4,RBOT
GPLOT
/GCMD,1, PLDISP,2
/GCMD,2, PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
! Plot the deformed and undeformed edge

! Plot the deflection USUM
/GCMD,3, PLNSOL,S,EQV,0,1
/GCMD,4, PLNSOL,EPTO,EQV,0,1
! Plot the equivalent stress

! Plot the equivalent strain
/CONT,2,10,0,,0.0036
/CONT,3,10,0,,8
/CONT,4,10,0,,0.05e-3
! Set contour ranges
/FOC,ALL,-0.340000,,,1
! Focus point
/replot
PRNSOL,DOF,
! Prints the nodal solutions
Quitting ANSYS
To quit ANSYS, click 'QUIT' on the ANSYS Toolbar or select Utility Menu > File > Exit... In the
window that appears, select 'Save Everything' (assuming that you want to) and then click 'OK'.
110
Solid Model Creation

Introduction
This tutorial is the last of three basic tutorials devised to illustrate commom features in ANSYS.
Each tutorial builds upon techniques covered in previous tutorials, it is therefore essential that you
complete the tutorials in order.
The Solid Modelling Tutorial will introduce various techniques which can be used in ANSYS to
create solid models. Filleting, extrusion/sweeping, copying, and working plane orientation will be
covered in detail.
Two Solid Models will be created within this tutorial.
Problem Description A
We will be creating a solid model of the pulley shown in the following figure.
111
Geometry Generation
We will create this model by first tracing out the cross section of the pulley and then sweeping this
area about the y axis.
Creation of Cross Sectional Area

Create 3 Rectangles
Main Menu > Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > Rectangle > By 2 Corners
BLC4, XCORNER, YCORNER, WIDTH, HEIGHT
The geometry of the rectangles:
WP X (XCORNER)
WP Y (YCORNER)
WIDTH
HEIGHT
Rectangle 1
Rectangle 2
Rectangle 3
2
0
1
5.5
3
2
5
1
8
0
0.5
5
Add the Areas

Main Menu > Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Operate > (-Boolean-) Add > Areas
AADD, ALL
ANSYS will label the united area as AREA 4 and the previous three areas will be deleted.
Create the rounded edges using circles
112
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > (-Areas-) Circle > Solid circles
CYL4,XCENTER,YCENTER,RAD
The geometry of the circles:

Circle 1
Circle 2
3
5.5
0.5
8.5
0.2
0.2
WP X (XCENTER)
WP Y (YCENTER)
RADIUS
Subtract the large circle from the base

Preprocessor > Operate > Subtract > Areas
ASBA,BASE,SUBTRACT
Copy the smaller circle for the rounded edges at the top
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Copy > Areas
Click on the small circle and then on OK.
The following window will appear. It asks for the x,y and z offset of the copied area. Enter the y
offset as 4.6 and then click OK.
Copy this new area now with an x offset of -0.5

You should obtain the following
113
Add the smaller circles to the large area.

Preprocessor > Operate > Add > Areas
AADD,ALL
Fillet the inside edges of the top half of the area

Preprocessor > Create > (-Lines-) Line Fillet
Select the two lines shown below and click on OK.
114
The following window will appear prompting for the fillet radius. Enter 0.1
Follow the same procedure and create a fillet with the same radius between the following lines
Create the fillet areas

As shown below, zoom into the fillet radius and plot and number the lines.
115
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > (-Areas-) Arbitrary > By Lines

Select the lines as shown below
Repeat for the other fillet

Add all the areas together
Preprocessor > Operate > Add > Areas
AADD,ALL
Plot the areas (Utility Menu > Plot - Areas)
Sweep the Cross Sectional Area

Now we need to sweep the area around a y axis at x=0 and z=0 to create the pulley.
Create two keypoints defining the y axis
Create keypoints at (0,0,0) and (0,5,0) and number them 1001 and 1002
respectively. (K,#,X,Y,Z)
By default the graphics will now show all keypoints. Plot Areas
116
Sweep the area about the y axis

Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Operate > Extrude > (-Areas-) About axis
You will first be prompted to select the areas to be swept so click on the area.
Then you will be asked to enter or pick two keypoints defining the axis.
Plot the Keypoints (Utility Menu > Plot > Keypoints. Then select the following two keypoints
The following window will appear prompting for sweeping angles. Click on OK.
You should now see the following in the graphics screen.
117
Create Bolt Holes

Change the Working Plane
By default, the working plane in ANSYS is located on the global Cartesian X-Y plane.
However, for us to define the bolt holes, we need to use a different working plane. There are
several ways to define a working plane, one of which is to define it by three keypoints.
Create the following Keypoints
#2001
#2002
#2003
X
0
1
0
Y
3
3
3
Z
0
0
1
Switch the view to top view and plot only keypoints.

Align the Working Plane with the Keypoints
Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Align WP with > Keypoints +
Select Keypoints 2001 then 2002 then 2003 IN THAT ORDER. The first keypoint (2001) defines
the origin of the working plane coordinate system, the second keypoint (2002) defines the x-axis
orientation, while the third (2003) defines the orientation of the working plane. The following
warning will appear when selecting the keypoint at the origin as there are more than one in this
location.
118
Just click on 'Next' until the one selected is 2001.

Once you have selected the 3 keypoints and clicked 'OK' the WP symbol (green) should appear in
the Graphics window. Another way to make sure the active WP has moves is:
Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Show WP Status
note the origin of the working plane. By default those values would be 0,0,0.
Create a Cylinder (solid cylinder) with x=5.5 y=0 r=0.5 depth=1 You should see the following in
the graphics screen
119
We will now copy this volume so that we repeat it every 45 degrees. Note that you must
copy the cylinder before you use boolean operations to subtract it because you cannot copy
an empty space.
We need to change active CS to cylindrical Y
Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Change Active CS to > Global Cylindrical Y
This will allow us to copy radially about the Y axis
Create 8 bolt Holes
Preprocessor > Copy > Volumes
Select the cylinder volume and click on OK. The following window will appear; fill in the blanks as
shown,
Youi should obtain the following model,
120
Subtract the cylinders from the pulley hub (Boolean operations) to create the boltholes. This will
result in the following completed structure:

Solid Model Creation

Introduction
This tutorial is the last of three basic tutorials devised to illustrate commom features in ANSYS.
Each tutorial builds upon techniques covered in previous tutorials, it is therefore essential that you
complete the tutorials in order.
The Solid Modelling Tutorial will introduce various techniques which can be used in ANSYS to
create solid models. Filleting, extrusion/sweeping, copying, and working plane orientation will be
covered in detail.
Two Solid Models will be created within this tutorial.
We will create a solid model of the pulley shown in the following figure.
121

Pulley Model
/PREP7
BLC4,2,0,1,5.5
BLC4,3,2,5,1
BLC4,8,0,0.5,5
! Create rectangles
AADD,ALL
! Add the areas together
CYL4,3,5.5,0.5
CYL4,8.5,0.2,0.2
! Create circles
ASBA,4,1
! Subtract an area
AGEN,2,2,,,,4.6
AGEN,2,1,,,-0.5
! Mirrors an area
AADD,ALL
! Adds all areas
122
LFILLT,22,7,0.1,,
lines 30 and 7
LFILLT,26,7,0.1,,
!Create a fillet radius of 0.1mm between
AL,3,6,9
using lines 9,10,11)
AL,10,11,14
! Creates fillet area (arbitrary area
AADD,ALL
! Sweep
K,1001,0,0,0
K,1002,0,5,0
! Keypoints
VROTAT,3, , , , , ,1001,1002,360, ,
keypoints 1001 and 1002
! Sweep area 4 about axis formed by
K,2001,0,3,0
K,2002,1,3,0
K,2003,0,3,1
KWPLAN,1,2001,2002,2003
CSYS,5
!Align WorkPlane with keypoints

! Change Active CS to Global Cartesian Y
CYL4,5.5,0,0.5, , , ,1
! Create circle
VGEN,8,5, , , ,45, , ,0
! Pattern the circle every 45 degrees
!Subtract areas
vsbv,all,5
vsbv,13,6
vsbv,all,7
vsbv,4,8
vsbv,all,9
vsbv,2,10
vsbv,all,11
vsbv,2,12
Problem Description B
We will be creating a solid model of the Spindle Base shown in the following figure.
123
Geometry Generation
We will create this model by creating the base and the back and then the rib.
Create the Base

Create the base rectangle
WP X (XCORNER)
0
WP Y (YCORNER)
0
WIDTH
109
Create the curved edge (using keypoints and lines to create an area)
Create the following keypoints
Keypoint 5
Keypoint 6
Keypoint 7
Keypoint 8
o
-20
-20
0
0
82
20
82
20
0
0
0
0
HEIGHT
102
124
Create arcs joining the keypoints

Main Menu > Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > (-Lines-) Arcs > By
End KPs & Rad
Select keypoints 4 and 5 (either click on them or type 4,5 into the command line) when prompted.
Select Keypoint 7 as the center-of-curvature when prompted.
Enter the radius of the arc (20) in the 'Arc by End KPs & Radius' window
Repeat to create an arc from keypoints 1 and 6
(Alternatively, type LARC,4,5,7,20 followed by LARC,1,6,8,20 into the command
line)
Create a line from Keypoint 5 to 6
Main Menu > Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > (-Lines-) Lines >
Straight Line
L,5,6
Create an Arbitrary area within the bounds of the lines

Main Menu > Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > (-Areas-) Arbitrary
> By Lines
AL,4,5,6,7
Combine the 2 areas into 1 (to form Area 3)
125
Main Menu > Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Operate > (-Booleans-) Add >
Volumes
AADD,1,2
2. You should obtain the following image:
3.
Create the 4 holes in the base
We will make use of the 'copy' feature in ANSYS to create all 4 holes
Create the bottom left circle (XCENTER=0, YCENTER=20, RADIUS=10)
Copy the area to create the bottom right circle (DX=69)
(AGEN,# Copies (include original),Area#,Area2# (if 2 areas to be
copied),DX,DY,DZ)
Copy both circles to create the upper circles (DY=62)
Subtract the three circles from the main base
(ASBA,3,ALL)
126
Extrude the base

Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Operate > Extrude > (-Areas-) Along Normal
The following window will appear once you select the area
Fill in the window as shown (length of extrusion = 26mm). Note, to extrude the area in the negative
z direction you would simply enter -26.
(Alternatively, type VOFFST,6,26 into the command line)
Create the Back

Change the working plane
As in the previous example, we need to change the working plane. You may have observed
that geometry can only be created in the X-Y plane. Therefore, in order to create the back of
the Spindle Base, we need to create a new working plane where the X-Y plane is parallel to
the back. Again, we will define the working plane by aligning it to 3 Keypoints.
127
#100
#101
#102
X
109
109
159
Y
102
2
102
Z
0
0
sqrt(3)/0.02
Align the working plane to the 3 keypoints

Recall when defining the working plane; the first keypoint defines the origin, the
second keypoint defines the x-axis orientation, while the third defines the orientation
of
the
working
plane.
(Alternatively, type KWPLAN,1,100,101,102 into the command line)
Create the back area
Create the base rectangle (XCORNER=0, YCORNER=0, WIDTH=102, HEIGHT=180)
Create a circle to obtain the curved top (XCENTER=51, YCENTER=180, RADIUS=51)
Add the 2 areas together
Extrude the area (length of extrusion = 26mm)
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Operate > Extrude > (-Areas-) Along Normal
VOFFST,27,26
Add the base and the back together

Add the two volumes together
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Operate > (-Booleans-) Add > Volumes
VADD,1,2
You should now have the following geometry
Note that the planar areas between the two volumes were not added together.
128
Add the planar areas together (don't forget the other side!)
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Operate > (-Booleans-) Add > Areas
AADD, Area 1, Area 2, Area 3
Create the Upper Cylinder

Create the outer cylinder (XCENTER=51, YCENTER=180, RADIUS=32, DEPTH=60)
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > (-Volumes-) Cylinder > Solid
Cylinder
CYL4,51,180,32, , , ,60
Add the volumes together

Create the inner cylinder (XCENTER=51, YCENTER=180, RADIUS=18.5, DEPTH=60)
Subtract the volumes to obtain a hole
You should now have the following geometry:
Create the Rib

Change the working plane
First change the active coordinate system back to the global coordinate system (this will make it
easier to align to the new coordinate system)
Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Align WP with > Global Cartesian
(Alternatively, type WPCSYS,-1,0 into the command line)
X
129
-20
0
-20
#200
#201
#202
61
61
61
26
26
30
Align the working plane to the 3 keypoints

Recall when defining the working plane; the first keypoint defines the origin, the
second keypoint defines the x-axis orientation, while the third defines the orientation
of
the
working
plane.
(Alternatively, type KWPLAN,1,200,201,202 into the command line)
Change active coordinate system
We now need to update the coordiante system to follow the working plane changes (ie make
the new Work Plane origin the active coordinate)
Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Change Active CS to > Working Plane
CSYS,4
Create the area

Create the keypoints corresponding to the vertices of the rib
#203
#204
129-(0.57735*26)
129-(0.57735*26) + 38
0
sqrt(3)/2*76
0
0
Create the rib area through keypoints 200, 203, 204

Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > (-Areas-) Arbitrary > Through
KPs
A,200,203,204
Extrude the area (length of extrusion = 20mm)

Add the volumes together
130
We will also create a solid model of the Spindle Base shown in the following figure.
Spindle Base Model

/PREP7
BLC4,0,0,109,102
! Create rectangle
K,5,-20,82
K,6,-20,20
K,7,0,82
K,8,0,20
! Keypoints
LARC,4,5,7,20
LARC,1,6,8,20
L,5,6
! Line arcs
AL,4,5,6,7
! Creates area from 4 lines
AADD,1,2
CYL4,0,20,10
AGEN,2,1, , ,69
! Now called area 3

! Area 1
! Mirrors area 1
131
AGEN,2,1,2, , ,62
ASBA,3,ALL
! Mirrors again
! Subtracts areas
VOFFST,6,26
! Creates volume from area
K,100,109,102,0
K,101,109,2,0
K,102,159,102,sqrt(3)/0.02
! Keypoints
KWPLAN,-1,100,101,102
! Defines working plane
BLC4,0,0,102,180
CYL4,51,180,51
AADD,25,26
! Create rectangle
! Create circle
! Add them together
VOFFST,27,26
! Volume from area
VADD,1,2
! Add volumes
AADD,33,34,38
AADD,32,36,37
! Add areas
CYL4,51,180,32, , , ,60
VADD,1,3
CYL4,51,180,18.5, , , ,60
VSBV,2,1
! Create cylinder
! Add volumes
! Another cylinder
! Subtract it
WPCSYS,-1,0
coordinate system
! This re-aligns the WP with the global
K,200,-20,61,26
K,201,0,61,26
K,202,-20,61,30
! Keypoints
KWPLAN,-1,200,201,202
CSYS,4
! Shift working plane

! Change active coordinate system
K,203,129-(0.57735*26),0,0
K,204, 129-(0.57735*26) + 38, sqrt(3)/2*76,0
! Keypoints
A,200,203,204
! Create area from keypoints
VOFFST,7,20,
VADD, ALL
! Volume from area

! Add it together
Quitting ANSYS
To quit ANSYS, select 'QUIT' from the ANSYS Toolbar or select 'Utility Menu'/'File'/'Exit...'. In
the dialog box that appears, click on 'Save Everything' (assuming that you want to) and then click
on 'OK'.
132
Intermediate Tutorials
The majority of these examples are simple verification problems to show you how to use the
intermediate techniques in ANSYS. You may be using a different version of ANSYS than what was
used to create these tutorials, therefore, make note of small changes in the menu structure. These
tutorials can be completed in any order, however, it is expected that you have completed the Basic
Tutorials before attempting these.
Effect of Self Weight
Incorporating the weight of an object into the finite element analysis is shown in this simple
cantilever beam example.
Distributed Loading
The application of distributed loads and the use of element tables to extract data is expalined in this
tutorial.
NonLinear Analysis
A large moment is applied to the end of a cantilever beam to explore Geometric Nonlinear
behaviour (large deformations). There is also an associated tutorial for an explanation of the
Graphical Solution Tracking (GST) plot.
Buckling
In this tutorial both the Eigenvalue and Nonlinear methods are used to solve a simple buckling
problem.
NonLinear Materials
The purpose of the tutorial is to describe how to include material nonlinearities in an ANSYS
model.
Dynamic Analysis
These tutorial explore the dynamic analyis capabilities of ANSYS. Modal, Harmonic, and
Transient Analyses are shown in detail.
Thermal Examples
Analysis of a pure conduction, a mixed convection/conduction/insulated boundary condition
example, and a transient heat conduction analysis.
Modelling Using Axisymmetry
Utilizing axisymmetry to model a 3-D structure in 2-D to reduce computational time.
133
Effect of Self Weight on a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of the tutorial is to show the required
steps to account for the weight of an object in ANSYS.
Loads will not be applied to the beam shown below in order to observe the deflection caused by the
weight of the beam itself. The beam is to be made of steel with a modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa.

Give example a Title
Utility Menu > File > Change Title ...
/title, Effects of Self Weight for a Cantilever Beam
Open preprocessor menu

ANSYS Main Menu > Preprocessor
/PREP7
Define Keypoints
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS...
K,#,x,y,z
We are going to define 2 keypoints for this beam as given in the following table:
Keypoint Coordinates (x,y,z)
1
(0,0)
(1000,0)
134
Create Lines
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > In Active Coord
L,1,2
Create a line joining Keypoints 1 and 2

Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete...
For this problem we will use the BEAM3 (Beam 2D elastic) element. This element
has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y axes, and rotation about the
Z axis).
Define Real Constants
Preprocessor > Real Constants... > Add...
In the 'Real Constants for BEAM3' window, enter the following geometric
properties:
Cross-sectional area AREA: 500
Area moment of inertia IZZ: 4166.67
Total beam height: 10
This defines a beam with a height of 10 mm and a width of 50 mm.
Define Element Material Properties
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear > Elastic >
Isotropic
In the window that appears, enter the following geometric properties for steel:
Young's modulus EX: 200000
Poisson's Ratio PRXY: 0.3
Define Element Density
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear > Density
In the window that appears, enter the following density for steel:
Density DENS: 7.86e-6
Define Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Lines > All Lines...
135
For this example we will use an element edge length of 100mm.

Mesh the frame
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Lines > click 'Pick All'

Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Static
ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Keypoints
Fix keypoint 1 (ie all DOF constrained)
Define Gravity
It is necessary to define the direction and magnitude of gravity for this problem.
Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Inertia > Gravity...
The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to define an acceleration of 9.81m/s2 in the y
direction.
Note: Acceleration is defined in terms of meters (not 'mm' as used throughout the
problem). This is because the units of acceleration and mass must be consistent to
give the product of force units (Newtons in this case). Also note that a positive
acceleration in the y direction stimulates gravity in the negative Y direction.
There should now be a red arrow pointing in the positive y direction. This indicates
that
an
acceleration
has
been
defined
in
the
y
direction.
136
DK,1,ALL,0,
ACEL,,9.8
The applied loads and constraints should now appear as shown in the figure below.
Solve the System

SOLVE

Hand Calculations
Hand calculations were performed to verify the solution found using ANSYS:
The maximum deflection was shown to be 5.777mm
Show the deformation of the beam
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape ... > Def + undef edge
PLDISP,2
137
As observed in the upper left hand corner, the maximum displacement was found to be
5.777mm. This is in agreement with the theortical value.

Effect of Self Weight on a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of the tutorial is to show the required
steps to account for the weight of an object in ANSYS.
Loads will not be applied to the beam shown below in order to observe the deflection caused by the
weight of the beam itself. The beam is to be made of steel with a modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa.
138

/Title, Effects of Self Weight
/PREP7
Length = 1000
Width = 50
Height = 10
K,1,0,0
K,2,Length,0
! Create Keypoints
L,1,2
ET,1,BEAM3
! Set element type
R,1,Width*Height,Width*(Height**3)/12,Height
MP,EX,1,200000
! Young's Modulus
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
! Poisson's ratio
MP,DENS,1,7.86e-6
! Density
!** = exponent
LESIZE,ALL,Length/10,
LMESH,1
! Size of line elements

! Mesh line 1
FINISH
/SOLU
! Enter solution mode
ANTYPE,0
DK,1,ALL,0,
ACEL,,9.8
! Static analysis
! Constrain keypoint 1
! Set gravity constant
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
PLDISP,2
! Display deformed shape
139
Application of Distributed Loads

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0. The purpose of this tutorial is to explain how to
apply distributed loads and use element tables to extract data. Please note that this material was also
covered in the 'Bicycle Space Frame' tutorial under 'Basic Tutorials'.
A distributed load of 1000 N/m (1 N/mm) will be applied to a solid steel beam with a rectangular
cross section as shown in the figure below. The cross-section of the beam is 10mm x 10mm while
the modulus of elasticity of the steel is 200GPa.

/PREP7

/title, Distributed Loading
Create Keypoints
K,#,x,y
140
We are going to define 2 keypoints (the beam vertices) for this structure as given in
the following table:
Keypoint Coordinates (x,y)
1
(0,0)
(1000,0)
Define Lines
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Lines > Lines > Straight Line
L,K#,K#
Create a line between Keypoint 1 and Keypoint 2.

Define Element Types
For this problem we will use the BEAM3 element. This element has 3 degrees of
freedom (translation along the X and Y axis's, and rotation about the Z axis). With
only 3 degrees of freedom, the BEAM3 element can only be used in 2D analysis.
properties:
Area Moment of Inertia IZZ: 833.333
Total beam height HEIGHT: 10
This defines an element with a solid rectangular cross section 10mm x 10mm.
Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
141
For this example we will use an element length of 100mm.

Mesh the frame
Plot Elements
Utility Menu > Plot > Elements
You may also wish to turn on element numbering and turn off keypoint numbering
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering ...

ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Pin Keypoint 1 (ie UX and UY constrained) and fix Keypoint 2 in the y direction
(UY constrained).
Apply Loads
142
We will apply a distributed load, of 1000 N/m or 1 N/mm, over the entire length of the
beam.
Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Pressure > On Beams
Click 'Pick All' in the 'Apply F/M' window.
As shown in the following figure, enter a value of 1 in the field 'VALI Pressure value at node I' then
click 'OK'.
Note:
143
To have the constraints and loads appear each time you select 'Replot' you must
change some settings. Select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Symbols.... In the window
that appears, select 'Pressures' in the pull down menu of the 'Surface Load Symbols'
section.
Solve the System
SOLVE

Plot Deformed Shape
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape
PLDISP.2
Plot Principle stress distribution

As shown previously, we need to use element tables to obtain principle stresses for line
elements.
Select General Postproc > Element Table > Define Table
Click 'Add...'
In the window that appears
enter 'SMAXI' in the 'User Label for Item' section
In the first window in the 'Results Data Item' section scroll down and select 'By sequence num'
In the second window of the same section, select 'NMISC, '
144
In the third window enter '1' anywhere after the comma

click 'Apply'
Repeat steps 2 to 4 but change 'SMAXI' to 'SMAXJ' in step 3a and change '1' to '3' in step 3d.
Click 'OK'. The 'Element Table Data' window should now have two variables in it.
Click 'Close' in the 'Element Table Data' window.
Select: General Postproc > Plot Results > Line Elem Res...
Select 'SMAXI' from the 'LabI' pull down menu and 'SMAXJ' from the 'LabJ' pull down menu
Note:
ANSYS can only calculate the stress at a single location on the element. For this example, we
decided to extract the stresses from the I and J nodes of each element. These are the nodes that are
at the ends of each element.
For this problem, we wanted the principal stresses for the elements. For the BEAM3 element this is
categorized as NMISC, 1 for the 'I' nodes and NMISC, 3 for the 'J' nodes. A list of available codes
for each element can be found in the ANSYS help files. (ie. type help BEAM3 in the ANSYS Input
window).
As shown in the plot below, the maximum stress occurs in the middle of the beam with a
value of 750 MPa.

145
Application of Distributed Loads

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0. The purpose of this tutorial is to explain how to
apply distributed loads and use element tables to extract data. Please note that this material was also
covered in the 'Bicycle Space Frame' tutorial under 'Basic Tutorials'.
A distributed load of 1000 N/m (1 N/mm) will be applied to a solid steel beam with a rectangular
cross section as shown in the figure below. The cross-section of the beam is 10mm x 10mm while
the modulus of elasticity of the steel is 200GPa.

/title, Distributed Loading of a Beam
/PREP7
K,1,0,0
K,2,1000,0
! Define the keypoints
L,1,2
! Create the line
ET,1,BEAM3
! Beam3 element type
R,1,100,833.333,10
! Real constants - area,I,height
MP,EX,1,200000
MP,PRXY,1,0.33
! Young's Modulus
! Poisson's ratio
ESIZE,100
! Mesh size
146
LMESH,ALL
! Mesh line
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,0
! Static analysis
DK,1,UX,0,,,UY
DK,2,UY,0
! Pin keypoint 1
! Roller on keypoint 2
SFBEAM,ALL,1,PRES,1
! Apply distributed load
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
PLDISP,2
! Plot deformed shape
ETABLE,SMAXI,NMISC, 1
ETABLE,SMAXJ,NMISC, 3
PLLS,SMAXI,SMAXJ,1,0
! Create data for element table

! Plot ETABLE data
147
NonLinear Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to outline the steps
required to do a simple nonlinear analysis of the beam shown below.
There are several causes for nonlinear behaviour such as Changing Status (ex. contact elements),
Material Nonlinearities and Geometric Nonlinearities (change in response due to large
deformations). This tutorial will deal specifically with Geometric Nonlinearities .
To solve this problem, the load will added incrementally. After each increment, the stiffness matrix
will be adjusted before increasing the load.
The solution will be compared to the equivalent solution using a linear response.

Create Keypoints
We are going to define 2 keypoints (the beam vertices) for this structure to create a
beam with a length of 5 inches:
1
(0,0)
148
(5,0)
Define Lines
Create a line between Keypoint 1 and Keypoint 2.
has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y axis's, and rotation about the
Z axis). With only 3 degrees of freedom, the BEAM3 element can only be used in
2D analysis.
properties:
Cross-sectional area AREA: 0.03125
Area Moment of Inertia IZZ: 4.069e-5
Total beam height HEIGHT: 0.125
This defines an element with a solid rectangular cross section 0.25 x 0.125 inches.
Isotropic
Young's modulus EX: 30e6
If you are wondering why a 'Linear' model was chosen when this is a non-linear
example, it is because this example is for non-linear geometry, not non-linear
material properties. If we were considering a block of wood, for example, we would
have to consider non-linear material properties.
Define Mesh Size
149
For this example we will specify an element edge length of 0.1 " (50 element
divisions along the line).
Mesh the frame
LMESH,ALL
Solution: Assigning Loads and Solving

Solution > New Analysis > Static
ANTYPE,0
Set Solution Controls

Select Solution > Analysis Type > Sol'n Control...
The following image will appear:
Ensure the following selections are made (as shown above)

Ensure Large Static Displacements are permitted (this will include the effects of large deflection in
the results)
Ensure Automatic time stepping is on. Automatic time stepping allows ANSYS to determine
appropriate sizes to break the load steps into. Decreasing the step size usually ensures better
accuracy, however, this takes time. The Automatic Time Step feature will determine an appropriate
150
balance. This feature also activates the ANSYS bisection feature which will allow recovery if
convergence fails.
Enter 5 as the number of substeps. This will set the initial substep to 1/5 th of the total load.
The following example explains this: Assume that the applied load is 100
lb*in. If the Automatic Time Stepping was off, there would be 5 load steps
(each increasing by 1/5 th of the total load):
20 lb*in
40 lb*in
60 lb*in
80 lb*in
100 lb*in
Now, with the Automatic Time Stepping is on, the first step size will still be
20 lb*in. However, the remaining substeps will be determined based on the
response of the material due to the previous load increment.
Enter a maximum number of substeps of 1000. This stops the program if the solution does not
converge after 1000 steps.
Enter a minimum number of substeps of 1.
Ensure all solution items are writen to a results file.
NOTE
There are several options which have not been changed from their default values. For
more information about these commands, type help followed by the command into
the command line.
Function
Command Comments
Load Step
KBC
Loads are either linearly interpolated (ramped)

from the one substep to another (ie - the load
will increase from 10 lbs to 20 lbs in a linear
fashion) or they are step functions (ie. the load
steps directly from 10 lbs to 20 lbs). By default,
the load is ramped. You may wish to use the
stepped loading for rate-dependent behaviour or
transient load steps.
Output
OUTRES
This command controls the solution data written

to the database. By default, all of the solution
items are written at the end of each load step.
You may select only a specific iten (ie Nodal
DOF solution) to decrease processing time.
Stress Stiffness
SSTIF
This command activates stress stiffness effects

in nonlinear analyses. When large static
deformations are permitted (as they are in this
151
case), stress stiffening is automatically included.

For some special nonlinear cases, this can cause
divergence because some elements do not
provide a complete consistent tangent.
Newton Raphson
NROPT
By default, the program will automatically

choose the Newton-Raphson options. Options
include the full Newton-Raphson, the modified
Newton-Raphson, the previously computed
matrix, and the full Newton-Raphson with
unsymmetric matrices of elements.
Convergence Values CNVTOL By default, the program checks the out-ofbalance load for any active DOF.
Apply Constraints
Fix Keypoint 1 (ie all DOFs constrained).
Apply Loads
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On Keypoints
Place a -100 lb*in moment in the MZ direction at the right end of the beam
(Keypoint 2)
Solve the System
SOLVE
The following will appear on your screan for NonLinear Analyses
This shows the convergence of the solution.
152
General Postprocessing: Viewing the Results

View the deformed shape
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape... > Def + undeformed
PLDISP,1
View the deflection contour plot

General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu... > DOF solution, UY
PLNSOL,U,Y,0,1
153
List Horizontal Displacement

If this example is performed as a linear model there will be no nodal deflection in the
horizontal direction due to the small deflections assumptions. However, this is not
realistic for large deflections. Modeling the system non-linearly, these horizontal
deflections are calculated by ANSYS.
General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution...> DOF solution, UX
Other results can be obtained as shown in previous linear static analyses.

NonLinear Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
required to do a simple nonlinear analysis of the beam shown below.
There are several causes for nonlinear behaviour such as Changing Status, Material
Nonlinearities and Geometric Nonlinearities (change in response due to large deformations). This
tutorial will deal specifically with Geometric Nonlinearities .
To solve this problem, the load will added incrementally. After each increment, the stiffness matrix
will be adjusted before increasing the load.
154
The solution will be compared to the equivalent solution using a linear response.

/prep7
! start preprocessor
/title,NonLinear Analysis of Cantilever Beam
k,1,0,0,0
k,2,5,0,0
! define keypoints
! 5" beam (length)
l,1,2
! define line
et,1,beam3
r,1,0.03125,4.069e-5,0.125
mp,ex,1,30.0e6
mp,prxy,1,0.3
!
!
!
!
Beam
area, izz, height of beam
Young's Modulus
Poisson's ratio
esize,0.1
lmesh,all
! element size of 0.1"

! mesh the line
finish
/solu
! stop preprocessor
! start solution phase
antype,static
nlgeom,on
! static analysis
! turn on non-linear geometry analysis
autots,on
! auto time stepping
nsubst,5,1000,1
! Size of first substep=1/5 of the total load, max #
substeps=1000, min # substeps=1
outres,all,all
! save results of all iterations
dk,1,all
! constrain all DOF on ground
fk,2,mz,-100
! applied moment
solve
/post1
pldisp,1
PRNSOL,U,X
! display deformed mesh

! lists horizontal deflections
155
Buckling
Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 to solve a simple buckling problem.
It is recommended that you complete the NonLinear Tutorial prior to beginning this tutorial
Buckling loads are critical loads where certain types of structures become unstable. Each load has
an associated buckled mode shape; this is the shape that the structure assumes in a buckled
condition. There are two primary means to perform a buckling analysis:
Eigenvalue
Eigenvalue buckling analysis predicts the theoretical buckling strength of an ideal elastic
structure. It computes the structural eigenvalues for the given system loading and
constraints. This is known as classical Euler buckling analysis. Buckling loads for several
configurations are readily available from tabulated solutions. However, in real-life,
structural imperfections and nonlinearities prevent most real-world structures from reaching
their eigenvalue predicted buckling strength; ie. it over-predicts the expected buckling loads.
This method is not recommended for accurate, real-world buckling prediction analysis.
Nonlinear
Nonlinear buckling analysis is more accurate than eigenvalue analysis because it employs
non-linear, large-deflection, static analysis to predict buckling loads. Its mode of operation
is very simple: it gradually increases the applied load until a load level is found whereby the
structure becomes unstable (ie. suddenly a very small increase in the load will cause very
large deflections). The true non-linear nature of this analysis thus permits the modeling of
geometric imperfections, load perterbations, material nonlinearities and gaps. For this type
of analysis, note that small off-axis loads are necessary to initiate the desired buckling mode.
156
This tutorial will use a steel beam with a 10 mm X 10 mm cross section, rigidly constrained at the
bottom. The required load to cause buckling, applied at the top-center of the beam, will be
calculated.
Eigenvalue Buckling Analysis

/PREP7

/title,Eigen-Value Buckling Analysis
Define Keypoints
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > In Active CS ...
K,#,X,Y
We are going to define 2 Keypoints for this beam as given in the following table:
Keypoints Coordinates (x,y)
1
(0,0)
(0,100)
Create Lines
L,1,2

Z axis).
157
properties:
Area moment of inertia IZZ: 833.333
Total Beam Height HEIGHT: 10
Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
For this example we will specify an element edge length of 10 mm (10 element
Mesh the frame
LMESH,ALL

ANTYPE,0
Activate prestress effects

To perform an eigenvalue buckling analysis, prestress effects must be activated.
You must first ensure that you are looking at the unabridged solution menu so that you can select
Analysis Options in the Analysis Type submenu. The last option in the solution menu will either
be 'Unabridged menu' (which means you are currently looking at the abridged version) or 'Abriged
Menu' (which means you are looking at the unabridged menu). If you are looking at the abridged
menu, select the unabridged version.
Select Solution > Analysis Type > Analysis Options
In the following window, change the [SSTIF][PSTRES] item to 'Prestress ON', which ensures the
stress stiffness matrix is calculated. This is required in eigenvalue buckling analysis.
158
Apply Constraints
Fix Keypoint 1 (ie all DOF constrained).
Apply Loads
The eignenvalue solver uses a unit force to determine the necessary buckling load.
Applying a load other than 1 will scale the answer by a factor of the load.
Apply a vertical (FY) point load of -1 N to the top of the beam (keypoint 2).
159
Solve the System

SOLVE
Exit the Solution processor

Close the solution menu and click FINISH at the bottom of the Main Menu.
FINISH
Normally at this point you enter the postprocessing phase. However, with a buckling
analysis you must re-enter the solution phase and specify the buckling analysis. Be sure to
close the solution menu and re-enter it or the buckling analysis may not function properly.
Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Eigen Buckling
ANTYPE,1
Specify Buckling Analysis Options

Complete the window which appears, as shown below. Select 'Block Lanczos' as an extraction
method and extract 1 mode. The 'Block Lanczos' method is used for large symmetric eigenvalue
problems and uses the sparse matrix solver. The 'Subspace' method could also be used, however it
tends to converge slower as it is a more robust solver. In more complex analyses the Block Lanczos
method may not be adequate and the Subspace method would have to be used.
160
Solve the System

SOLVE
Exit the Solution processor

Close the solution menu and click FINISH at the bottom of the Main Menu.
FINISH
Again it is necessary to exit and re-enter the solution phase. This time, however, is for an
expansion pass. An expansion pass is necessary if you want to review the buckled mode
shape(s).
Expand the solution
Select Solution > Analysis Type > Expansion Pass... and ensure that it is on. You may have to
select the 'Unabridged Menu' again to make this option visible.
Select Solution > Load Step Opts > ExpansionPass > Single Expand > Expand Modes ...
Complete the following window as shown to expand the first mode
161
Solve the System

SOLVE

View the Buckling Load
To display the minimum load required to buckle the beam select General Postproc
> List Results > Detailed Summary. The value listed under 'TIME/FREQ' is the
load (41,123), which is in Newtons for this example. If more than one mode was
selected in the steps above, the corresponding loads would be listed here as well.
/POST1
SET,LIST
Display the Mode Shape

Select General Postproc > Read Results > Last Set to bring up the data for the last mode
calculated.
Select General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape
Non-Linear Buckling Analysis

Ensure that you have completed the
tutorial
NonLinear Tutorial

prior to beginning this portion of the
162
/PREP7

/TITLE, Nonlinear Buckling Analysis
Create Keypoints
K,#,X,Y
beam with a length of 100 millimeters:
1
(0,0)
(0,100)
Define Lines
Create
line
between
Keypoint
and
Keypoint
2.
L,1,2

has 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y axis's, and rotation about the
Z axis). With only 3 degrees of freedom, the BEAM3 element can only be used in
2D analysis.
properties:
Area Moment of Inertia IZZ: 833.333
Total beam height HEIGHT: 10
This defines an element with a solid rectangular cross section 10 x 10 millimeters.
163
Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Lines > All Lines...
divisions
along
the
line).
ESIZE,1
Mesh the frame

LMESH,ALL

ANTYPE,0

Ensure the following selections are made under the 'Basic' tab (as shown above)
164
the results)
convergence fails.
Ensure the following selection is made under the 'Nonlinear' tab (as shown below)
Ensure Line Search is 'On'. This option is used to help the Newton-Raphson solver converge.
Ensure Maximum Number of Iterations is set to 1000
NOTE
the command line.
Apply Constraints
165
Apply Loads
Place a -50,000 N load in the FY direction on the top of the beam (Keypoint 2). Also
apply a -250 N load in the FX direction on Keypoint 2. This horizontal load will
persuade the beam to buckle at the minimum buckling load.
The model should now look like the window shown below.
Solve the System

SOLVE
The following will appear on your screen for NonLinear Analyses
166

View the deformed shape
To view the element in 2D rather than a line: Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape
and turn 'Display of element' ON (as shown below).
General
Postproc
>
Plot
Results
>
Deformed
Shape...
>
Def
undeformed
PLDISP,1

General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu... > DOF
solution, UY
PLNSOL,U,Y,0,1
167
Time History Postprocessing: Viewing the Results

As shown, you can obtain the results (such as deflection, stress and bending moment diagrams) the
same way you did in previous examples using the General Postprocessor. However, you may wish
to view time history results such as the deflection of the object over time.
Define Variables
Select: Main Menu > TimeHist Postpro. The following window should open automatically.
If it does not open automatically, select Main Menu > TimeHist Postpro >
Variable Viewer
168
Click the add button
in the upper left corner of the window to add a variable.
Double-click Nodal Solution > DOF Solution > Y-Component of displacement (as shown
below) and click OK. Pick the uppermost node on the beam and click OK in the 'Node for Data'
window.
To add another variable, click the add button again. This time select Reaction Forces > Structural
Forces > Y-Component of Force. Pick the lowermost node on the beam and click OK.
On the Time History Variable window, click the circle in the 'X-Axis' column for FY_3. This will
make the reaction force the x-variable. The Time History Variables window should now look like
this:
Graph Results over Time

Click on UY_2 in the Time History Variables window.
169
Click the graphing button
in the Time History Variables window.
The labels on the plot are not updated by ANSYS, so you must change them manually. Select
Utility Menu > Plot Ctrls > Style > Graphs > Modify Axes and re-label the X and Y-axis
appropriately.
The plot shows how the beam became unstable and buckled with a load of
approximately 40,000 N, the point where a large deflection occured due to a small
increase in force. This is slightly less than the eigen-value solution of 41,123 N,
which was expected due to non-linear geometry issues discussed above.

Buckling
170
Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 to solve a simple buckling problem.
It is recommended that you complete the NonLinear Tutorial prior to beginning this tutorial
Buckling loads are critical loads where certain types of structures become unstable. Each load has
an associated buckled mode shape; this is the shape that the structure assumes in a buckled
condition. There are two primary means to perform a buckling analysis:
Eigenvalue
Eigenvalue buckling analysis predicts the theoretical buckling strength of an ideal elastic
structure. It computes the structural eigenvalues for the given system loading and
constraints. This is known as classical Euler buckling analysis. Buckling loads for several
configurations are readily available from tabulated solutions. However, in real-life,
structural imperfections and nonlinearities prevent most real-world structures from reaching
their eigenvalue predicted buckling strength; ie. it over-predicts the expected buckling loads.
This method is not recommended for accurate, real-world buckling prediction analysis.
Nonlinear
Nonlinear buckling analysis is more accurate than eigenvalue analysis because it employs
non-linear, large-deflection, static analysis to predict buckling loads. Its mode of operation
is very simple: it gradually increases the applied load until a load level is found whereby the
structure becomes unstable (ie. suddenly a very small increase in the load will cause very
large deflections). The true non-linear nature of this analysis thus permits the modeling of
geometric imperfections, load perterbations, material nonlinearities and gaps. For this type
of analysis, note that small off-axis loads are necessary to initiate the desired buckling mode.
This tutorial will use a steel beam with a 10 mm X 10 mm cross section, rigidly constrained at the
bottom. The required load to cause buckling, applied at the top-center of the beam, will be
calculated.

Eigenvalue Buckling
FINISH
! These two commands clear current data
171
/CLEAR
/TITLE,Eigenvalue Buckling Analysis
/PREP7
! Enter the preprocessor
ET,1,BEAM3
R,1,100,833.333,10
MP,EX,1,200000
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
!
!
!
!
K,1,0,0
K,2,0,100
! Define the geometry of beam (100 mm high)
L,1,2
! Draw the line
ESIZE,10
LMESH,ALL,ALL
! Set element size to 1 mm

! Mesh the line
FINISH
/SOLU
! Enter the solution mode
ANTYPE,STATIC
PSTRES,ON
DK,1,ALL
FK,2,FY,-1
Define the element of the beam to be buckled

Real Consts: type 1, area (mm^2), I (mm^4), height (mm)
Young's modulus (in MPa)
Poisson's ratio
!
!
!
!
!
Before you can do a buckling analysis, ANSYS

needs the info from a static analysis
Prestress can be accounted for - required
during buckling analysis
Constrain the bottom of beam
!
!
!
!
Load the top vertically with a unit load.

This is done so the eigenvalue calculated
will be the actual buckling load, since
all loads are scaled during the analysis.
SOLVE
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,BUCKLE
BUCOPT,LANB,1
SOLVE
FINISH
! Enter the solution mode again to solve buckling

! Buckling analysis
! Buckling options - subspace, one mode
/SOLU
EXPASS,ON
MXPAND,1
SOLVE
FINISH
! Re-enter solution mode to expand info - necessary

! An expantion pass will be performed
! Specifies the number of modes to expand
/POST1
SET,LIST
!
!
!
!
!
SET,LAST
PLDISP
Enter post-processor
List eigenvalue solution - Time/Freq listing is the
force required for buckling (in N for this case).
Read in data for the desired mode
Plots the deflected shape
NonLinear Buckling
FINISH
/CLEAR
! These two commands clear current data
172
/TITLE, Nonlinear Buckling Analysis

/PREP7
ET,1,BEAM3
! Define element as beam3
MP,EX,1,200000
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
! Young's modulus (in Pa)

! Poisson's ratio
R,1,100,833.333,10
! area, I, height
K,1,0,0,0
K,2,0,100,0
! Lower node
! Upper node (100 mm high)
L,1,2
! Draws line
ESIZE,1
LMESH,ALL
! Sets element size to 1 mm

! Mesh line
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,STATIC
NLGEOM,ON
OUTRES,ALL,ALL
NSUBST,20
NEQIT,1000
AUTOTS,ON
LNSRCH,ON
!
!
!
!
!
!
/ESHAPE,1
! Plots the beam as a volume rather than line
DK,1,ALL,0
! Constrain bottom
FK,2,FY,-50000
!
!
!
!
Apply load slightly greater than predicted

required buckling load to upper node
Add a horizontal load (0.5% FY) to initiate
buckling
/POST26
RFORCE,2,1,F,Y
NSOL,3,2,U,Y
XVAR,2
PLVAR,3
!
!
!
!
!
Time history post processor

Reads force data in variable 2
Reads y-deflection data into var 3
Make variable 2 the x-axis
Plots variable 3 on y-axis
/AXLAB,Y,DEFLECTION
/AXLAB,X,LOAD
/REPLOT
! Changes y label
! Changes X label
FK,2,FX,-250
Static analysis (not buckling)

Non-linear geometry solution supported
Stores bunches of output
Load broken into 5 load steps
Use 20 load steps to find solution
Auto time stepping
SOLVE
FINISH
173
NonLinear Materials
Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of the tutorial is to describe how to
include material nonlinearities in an ANSYS model. For instance, the case when a large force is
applied resulting in a stresses greater than yield strength. In such a case, a multilinear stress-strain
relationship can be included which follows the stress-strain curve of the material being used. This
will allow ANSYS to more accurately model the plastic deformation of the material.
For this analysis, a simple tension speciment 100 mm X 5 mm X 5 mm is constrained at the bottom
and has a load pulling on the top. This specimen is made out of a experimental substance called
"WhoKilledKenium". The stress-strain curve for the substance is shown above. Note the linear
section up to approximately 225 MPa where the Young's Modulus is constant (75 GPa). The
material then begins to yield and the relationship becomes plastic and nonlinear.

/title, NonLinear Materials
Create Keypoints
174

/PREP7
K,#,X,Y
beam with a length of 100 millimeters:
1
(0,0)
(0,100)
Define Lines
Create
line
between
Keypoint
and
Keypoint
2.
L,1,2

For this problem we will use the LINK1 (2D spar) element. This element has 2
degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y axis's) and can only be used in 2D
analysis.
In the 'Real Constants for LINK1' window, enter the following geometric properties:
Initial Strain: 0
This defines an element with a solid rectangular cross section 5 x 5 millimeters.
Isotropic
Now that the initial properties of the material have been outlined, the stress-strain
data must be included.
175
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Nonlinear >
Elastic
>
Multilinear
Elastic
The following window will pop up.
Fill in the STRAIN and STRESS boxes with the following data. These are
points from the stress-strain curve shown above, approximating the curve
with linear interpolation between the points. When the data for the first point
is input, click Add Point to add another. When all the points have been
inputed, click Graph to see the curve. It should look like the one shown
above. Then click OK.
Curve
Points
Strain Stress
0.001
75
0.002
150
0.003
225
0.004
240
0.005
250
0.025
300
0.060
355
0.100
390
10
0.150
420
11
0.200
435
12
0.250
449
13
0.275
450
176
To get the problem geometry back, select Utility Menu > Plot > Replot.
/REPLOT
Define Mesh Size

Preprocessor > Meshing > Manual Size > Size Cntrls > Lines > All Lines...
Mesh the frame
LMESH,ALL

ANTYPE,0

the results)
177
convergence fails.
Ensure all solution items are writen to a results file. This means rather than just recording the data
for the last load step, data for every load step is written to the database. Therefore, you can plot
certain parameters over time.
Ensure Line Search is 'On'. This option is used to help the Newton-Raphson solver converge.
NOTE
the command line.
Apply Constraints
178
Apply Loads
Place a 10,000 N load in the FY direction on the top of the beam (Keypoint 2).
Solve the System
SOLVE
The following will appear on your screen for NonLinear Analyses

To view the element in 2D rather than a line: Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape
and turn 'Display of element' ON (as shown below).
179

General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu... > DOF solution, UY
PLNSOL,U,Y,0,1
Time History Postprocessing: Viewing the Results

As shown, you can obtain the results (such as deflection, stress and bending moment diagrams) the
same way you did in previous examples using the General Postprocessor. However, you may wish
to view time history results such as the deflection of the object over time.
Define Variables
Select: Main Menu > TimeHist Postpro. The following window should open automatically.
180
If it does not open automatically, select Main Menu > TimeHist Postpro >
Variable Viewer
Click the add button
in the upper left corner of the window to add a variable.
Select Nodal Solution > DOF Solution > Y-Component of displacement (as shown below) and
click OK. Pick the uppermost node on the beam and click OK in the 'Node for Data' window.
To add another variable, click the add button again. This time select Reaction Forces > Structural
Forces > Y-Component of Force. Pick the lowermost node on the beam and click OK.
On the Time History Variable window, click the circle in the 'X-Axis' column for FY_3. This will
make the reaction force the x-variable. The Time History Variables window should now look like
this:
Graph Results over Time
181
Click on UY_2 in the Time History Variables window.

Click the graphing button
in the Time History Variables window.
The labels on the plot are not updated by ANSYS, so you must change them manually. Select
Utility Menu > Plot Ctrls > Style > Graphs > Modify Axes and re-label the X and Y-axis
appropriately.
This plot shows how the beam deflected linearly when the force, and subsequently
the stress, was low (in the linear range). However, as the force increased, the
deflection (proportional to strain) began to increase at a greater rate. This is because
the stress in the beam is in the plastic range and thus no longer relates to strain
linearly. When you verify this example analytically, you will see the solutions are
very similar. The difference can be attributed to the ANSYS solver including large
deflection calculations.

182
NonLinear Materials
Introduction
include material nonlinearities in an ANSYS model. For instance, the case when a large force is
applied resulting in a stresses greater than yield strength. In such a case, a multilinear stress-strain
relationship can be included which follows the stress-strain curve of the material being used. This
will allow ANSYS to more accurately model the plastic deformation of the material.
For this analysis, a simple tension speciment 100 mm X 5 mm X 5 mm is constrained at the bottom
and has a load pulling on the top. This specimen is made out of a experimental substance called
"WhoKilledKenium". The stress-strain curve for the substance is shown above. Note the linear
section up to approximately 225 MPa where the Young's Modulus is constant (75 GPa). The
material then begins to yield and the relationship becomes plastic and nonlinear.

finish
/clear
/prep7
k,1,0,0
k,2,0,100
l,1,2
! Enter Preprocessor
! Keypoints
ET,1,LINK1
R,1,25
! Element type
! Area of 25
MP,EX,1,75000
! Young's modulus
! Line connecting keypoints
183
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
! Poisson's ratio
TB,MELA,1,1,12,
! Create a table of 12 data points

! to map the stress-strain curve
TBPT,,.001,75
TBPT,,.002,150
TBPT,,.003,225
TBPT,,.004,240
TBPT,,.005,250
TBPT,,.025,300
TBPT,,.06,355
TBPT,,.1,390
TBPT,,.15,420
TBPT,,.2,435
TBPT,,.25,449
TBPT,,.275,450
! Data points
ESIZE,5
LMESH,all
! Element size 5
! Line mesh all lines
FINISH
/SOLU
! Enter solution phase
NLGEOM,ON
NSUBST,20,1000,1
OUTRES,ALL,ALL
AUTOTS,ON
LNSRCH,ON
NEQIT,1000
!
!
!
!
!
!
ANTYPE,0
DK,1,all
FK,2,FY,10000
! Static analysis
! Load on keypoint 2
Nonlinear geometry on
20 load steps
Output data for all load steps
Auto time-search on
Line search on
1000 iteration maximum
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
/ESHAPE,1
PLNSOL,U,Y,0,1
! Enter post processor

! Show element shape
! Plot deflection contour
FINISH
/POST26
RFORCE,2,1,F,Y
NSOL,3,2,U,Y
XVAR,2
PLVAR,3
/AXLAB,Y,DEFLECTION
/AXLAB,X,LOAD
/REPLOT
!
!
!
!
Enter time history

Reads force data in variable 2
Reads y-deflection data into var 3
Make variable 2 the x-axis
! Changes y label
! Changes X label
184
Modal Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
required to do a simple modal analysis of the cantilever beam shown below.

The simple cantilever beam is used in all of the Dynamic Analysis Tutorials. If you haven't created
the model in ANSYS, please use the links below. Both the command line codes and the GUI
commands are shown in the respective links.

Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Modal
ANTYPE,2
Set options for analysis type:

Select: Solution > Analysis Type > Analysis Options..
The following window will appear
185
As shown, select the Subspace method and enter 5 in the 'No. of modes to extract'
Check the box beside 'Expand mode shapes' and enter 5 in the 'No. of modes to expand'
Click 'OK'
Note that the default mode extraction method chosen is the Reduced Method. This
is the fastest method as it reduces the system matrices to only consider the Master
Degrees of Freedom (see below). The Subspace Method extracts modes for all
DOF's. It is therefore more exact but, it also takes longer to compute (especially
when the complex geometries).
The following window will then appear
186
For a better understanding of these options see the Commands manual.

For this problem, we will use the default options so click on OK.
Apply Constraints
Solve the System
SOLVE

Verify extracted modes against theoretical predictions
Select: General Postproc > Results Summary...
187
The following table compares the mode frequencies in Hz predicted by theory and
ANSYS.
Mode Theory ANSYS Percent Error
1
8.311
8.300
0.1
51.94
52.01
0.2
145.68
145.64
0.0
285.69
285.51
0.0
472.22
472.54
0.1
Note: To obtain accurate higher mode frequencies, this mesh would have to be
refined even more (i.e. instead of 10 elements, we would have to model the
cantilever using 15 or more elements depending upon the highest mode frequency of
interest).
View Mode Shapes
Select: General Postproc > Read Results > First Set
This selects the results for the first mode shape
Select General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed shape . Select 'Def + undef edge'
The first mode shape will now appear in the graphics window.
To view the next mode shape, select General Postproc > Read Results > Next Set . As above choose
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed shape . Select 'Def + undef edge'.
The first four mode shapes should look like the following:
188
Animate Mode Shapes

Select Utility Menu (Menu at the top) > Plot Ctrls > Animate > Mode Shape
Keep the default setting and click 'OK'

The animated mode shapes are shown below.
Mode 1
189
Mode 2
Mode 3
190
Mode 4
Using the Reduced Method for Modal Analysis

This method employs the use of Master Degrees of Freedom. These are degrees of freedom that
govern the dynamic characteristics of a structure. For example, the Master Degrees of Freedom for
the bending modes of cantilever beam are
For this option, a detailed understanding of the dynamic behavior of a structure is required.
However, going this route means a smaller (reduced) stiffness matrix, and thus faster calculations.
The steps for using this option are quite simple.
Instead of specifying the Subspace method, select the Reduced method and specify 5 modes for
extraction.
Complete the window as shown below
191
Note:For this example both the number of modes and frequency range was specified.
ANSYS then extracts the minimum number of modes between the two.
Select Solution > Master DOF > User Selected > Define
When prompted, select all nodes except the left most node (fixed).
Select UY as the 1st degree of freedom (shown above).

The same constraints are used as above.
The following table compares the mode frequencies in Hz predicted by theory and ANSYS
(Reduced).
Mode Theory ANSYS Percent Error
1
8.311
8.300
0.1
51.94
52.01
0.1
145.68
145.66
0.0
192
285.69
285.71
0.0
472.22
473.66
0.3
As you can see, the error does not change significantly. However, for more complex structures,
larger errors would be expected using the reduced method.

Modal Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
required to do a simple modal analysis of the cantilever beam shown below.

FINISH
/CLEAR
193
/TITLE, Dynamic Analysis

/PREP7
K,1,0,0
K,2,1,0
! Enter keypoints
L,1,2
! Create line
ET,1,BEAM3
! Element type
R,1,0.0001,8.33e-10,0.01
! Real Const: area,I,height
MP,EX,1,2.068e11
MP,PRXY,1,0.33
MP,DENS,1,7830
! Young's modulus
! Poisson's ratio
! Density
LESIZE,ALL,,,10
LMESH,1
! Element size
! Mesh line
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,2
MODOPT,SUBSP,5
EQSLV,FRONT
MXPAND,5
!
!
!
!
Modal analysis
Subspace, 5 modes
Frontal solver
Expand 5 modes
DK,1,ALL
! Constrain keypoint one
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
SET,LIST
! List solutions
SET,FIRST
PLDISP
! Display first mode shape
ANMODE,10,0.5, ,0
! Animate mode shape
194
Harmonic Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to explain the steps
required to perform Harmonic analysis the cantilever beam shown below.
We will now conduct a harmonic forced response test by applying a cyclic load (harmonic) at the
end of the beam. The frequency of the load will be varied from 1 - 100 Hz. The figure below depicts
the beam with the application of the load.
ANSYS provides 3 methods for conducting a harmonic analysis. These 3 methods are the Full ,
Reduced and Modal Superposition methods.
This example demonstrates the Full method because it is simple and easy to use as compared to the
other two methods. However, this method makes use of the full stiffness and mass matrices and thus
is the slower and costlier option.
195


Define Analysis Type (Harmonic)
Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Harmonic
ANTYPE,3
Set options for analysis type:

Select: Solution > Analysis Type > Analysis Options..
As shown, select the Full Solution method, the Real + imaginary DOF printout format and do not
use lumped mass approx.
Click 'OK'
The following window will appear. Use the default settings (shown below).
196
Apply Constraints
Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Nodes
The following window will appear once you select the node at x=0 (Note small
changes in the window compared to the static examples):
Constrain all DOF as shown in the above window

Apply Loads:
Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On Nodes
Select the node at x=1 (far right)
The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to apply a load with a real value of 100 and
an imaginary value of 0 in the positive 'y' direction
197
Note: By specifying a real and imaginary value of the load we are providing
information on magnitude and phase of the load. In this case the magnitude of the
load is 100 N and its phase is 0. Phase information is important when you have two
or more cyclic loads being applied to the structure as these loads could be in or out
of phase. For harmonic analysis, all loads applied to a structure must have the
SAME FREQUENCY.
Set the frequency range
Select Solution > Load Step Opts > Time/Frequency > Freq and Substps...
As shown in the window below, specify a frequency range of 0 - 100Hz, 100 substeps and stepped
b.c..
By doing this we will be subjecting the beam to loads at 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 3 Hz, ..... 100
Hz. We will specify a stepped boundary condition (KBC) as this will ensure that the
same amplitude (100 N) will be applyed for each of the frequencies. The ramped
option, on the other hand, would ramp up the amplitude where at 1 Hz the amplitude
would be 1 N and at 100 Hz the amplitude would be 100 N.
You should now have the following in the ANSYS Graphics window
198
Solve the System

SOLVE

We want to observe the response at x=1 (where the load was applyed) as a function of frequency.
We cannot do this with General PostProcessing (POST1), rather we must use TimeHist
PostProcessing (POST26). POST26 is used to observe certain variables as a function of either time
or frequency.
Open the TimeHist Processing (POST26) Menu
Select TimeHist Postpro from the ANSYS Main Menu.
Define Variables
In here we have to define variables that we want to see plotted. By default, Variable 1 is
assigned either Time or Frequency. In our case it is assigned Frequency. We want to see
the displacement UY at the node at x=1, which is node #2. (To get a list of nodes and their
attributes, select Utility Menu > List > nodes).
Select TimeHist Postpro > Variable Viewer... and the following window should pop up.
199
Select Add (the green '+' sign in the upper left corner) from this window and the following window
should appear
We are interested in the Nodal Solution > DOF Solution > Y-Component of displacement. Click
OK.
Graphically select node 2 when prompted and click OK. The 'Time History Variables' window
should now look as follows
200
List Stored Variables

In the 'Time History Variables' window click the 'List' button, 3 buttons to the left of 'Add'
The following window will appear listing the data:
Plot UY vs. frequency

In the 'Time History Variables' window click the 'Plot' button, 2 buttons to the left of 'Add'
The following graph should be plotted in the main ANSYS window.
201
Note that we get peaks at frequencies of approximately 8.3 and 51 Hz. This
corresponds with the predicted frequencies of 8.311 and 51.94Hz.
To get a better view of the response, view the log scale of UY.
Select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Graphs > Modify Axis
202
As marked by an 'A' in the above window, change the Y-axis scale to 'Logarithmic'
Select Utility Menu > Plot > Replot
You should now see the following
This is the response at node 2 for the cyclic load applied at this node from 0 - 100
Hz.
For ANSYS version lower than 7.0, the 'Variable Viewer' window is not available. Use the 'Define
Variables' and 'Store Data' functions under TimeHist Postpro. See the help file for instructions.

203
Harmonic Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to explain the steps
required to perform Harmonic analysis the cantilever beam shown below.
We will now conduct a harmonic forced response test by applying a cyclic load (harmonic) at the
end of the beam. The frequency of the load will be varied from 1 - 100 Hz. The figure below depicts
the beam with the application of the load.
ANSYS provides 3 methods for conducting a harmonic analysis. These 3 methods are the Full ,
Reduced and Modal Superposition methods.
This example demonstrates the Full method because it is simple and easy to use as compared to the
other two methods. However, this method makes use of the full stiffness and mass matrices and thus
is the slower and costlier option.
204

FINISH
/CLEAR
/PREP7
K,1,0,0
K,2,1,0
! Enter keypoints
L,1,2
! Create line
ET,1,BEAM3
! Element type
R,1,0.0001,8.33e-10,0.01
! Real Const: area,I,height
MP,EX,1,2.068e11
MP,PRXY,1,0.33
MP,DENS,1,7830
! Young's modulus
! Poisson's ratio
! Density
LESIZE,ALL,,,10
LMESH,1
! Element size
! Mesh line
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,3
! Harmonic analysis
DK,1,ALL
FK,2,FY,100
! Apply force
HARFRQ,0,100,
NSUBST,100,
KBC,1
! Frequency range
! Number of frequency steps
! Stepped loads
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST26
NSOL,2,2,U,Y, UY_2
STORE,MERGE
! Get y-deflection data
PRVAR,2
PLVAR,2
! Print data
! Plot data
205
Transient Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to show the steps
involved to perform a simple transient analysis.
Transient dynamic analysis is a technique used to determine the dynamic response of a structure
under a time-varying load.
The time frame for this type of analysis is such that inertia or damping effects of the structure are
considered to be important. Cases where such effects play a major role are under step or impulse
loading conditions, for example, where there is a sharp load change in a fraction of time.
If inertia effects are negligible for the loading conditions being considered, a static analysis may be
used instead.
For our case, we will impact the end of the beam with an impulse force and view the response at the
location of impact.
206
Since an ideal impulse force excites all modes of a structure, the response of the beam should
contain all mode frequencies. However, we cannot produce an ideal impulse force numerically. We
have to apply a load over a discrete amount of time dt.
After the application of the load, we track the response of the beam at discrete time points for as
long as we like (depending on what it is that we are looking for in the response).
The size of the time step is governed by the maximum mode frequency of the structure we wish to
capture. The smaller the time step, the higher the mode frequency we will capture. The rule of
thumb in ANSYS is
time_step = 1 / 20f
where f is the highest mode frequency we wish to capture. In other words, we must resolve our step
size such that we will have 20 discrete points per period of the highest mode frequency.
It should be noted that a transient analysis is more involved than a static or harmonic
analysis. It requires a good understanding of the dynamic behavior of a structure. Therefore,
a modal analysis of the structure should be initially performed to provide information about
the structure's dynamic behavior.
In ANSYS, transient dynamic analysis can be carried out using 3 methods.
207
The Full Method: This is the easiest method to use. All types of non-linearities are allowed. It is
however very CPU intensive to go this route as full system matrices are used.
The Reduced Method: This method reduces the system matrices to only consider the Master
Degrees of Freedom (MDOFs). Because of the reduced size of the matrices, the calculations are
much quicker. However, this method handles only linear problems (such as our cantilever case).
The Mode Superposition Method: This method requires a preliminary modal analysis, as factored
mode shapes are summed to calculate the structure's response. It is the quickest of the three
methods, but it requires a good deal of understanding of the problem at hand.
We will use the Reduced Method for conducting our transient analysis. Usually one need not go
further than Reviewing the Reduced Results. However, if stresses and forces are of interest than, we
would have to Expand the Reduced Solution.


Select Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Transient
The following window will appear. Select 'Reduced' as shown.
Define Master DOFs

Select Solution > Master DOFs > User Selected > Define
Select all nodes except the left most node (at x=0).
The following window will open, choose UY as the first dof in this window
208
For an explanation on Master DOFs, see the section on Using

for modal analysis.
the Reduced Method
Constrain the Beam

Solution Menu > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On nodes
Fix the left most node (constrain all DOFs).
Apply Loads
We will define our impulse load using Load Steps. The following time history curve shows
our load steps and time steps. Note that for the reduced method, a constant time step is
required throughout the time range.
We can define each load step (load and time at the end of load segment) and save them in a
file for future solution purposes. This is highly recommended especially when we have
many load steps and we wish to re-run our solution.
We can also solve for each load step after we define it. We will go ahead and save each load
step in a file for later use, at the same time solve for each load step after we are done
defining it.
Load Step 1 - Initial Conditions
209
Define Load Step

We need to establish initial conditions (the condition at Time = 0). Since the
equations for a transient dynamic analysis are of second order, two sets of
initial conditions are required; initial displacement and initial velocity.
However, both default to zero. Therefore, for this example we can skip this
step.
Specify Time and Time Step Options
Select Solution > Load Step Opts > Time/Frequenc > Time - Time Step ..
set a time of 0 for the end of the load step (as shown below).
set [DELTIM] to 0.001. This will specify a time step size of 0.001 seconds to be used for this load
step.
Write Load Step File

Select Solution > Load Step Opts > Write LS File
210
Enter LSNUM = 1 as shown above and click 'OK'

The load step will be saved in a file jobname.s01
Load Step 2
Define Load Step
Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On Nodes and select
the right most node (at x=1). Enter a force in the FY direction of value -100 N.
Select Solution > Load Step Opts > Time/Frequenc > Time - Time Step .. and set a time of 0.001
for the end of the load step
Solution > Load Step Opts > Write LS File
Enter LSNUM = 2
Load Step 3
Define Load Step
Select Solution > Define Loads > Delete > Structural > Force/Moment > On Nodes and delete the
load at x=1.
Select Solution > Load Step Opts > Time/Frequenc > Time - Time Step .. and set a time of 1 for the
end of the load step
Solution > Load Step Opts > Write LS File
Enter LSNUM = 3
Solve the System
Select Solution > Solve > From LS Files
The following window will appear.
211
Complete the window as shown above to solve using LS files 1 to 3.

To view the response of node 2 (UY) with time we must use the TimeHist PostProcessor
(POST26).
Define Variables
In here we have to define variables that we want to see plotted. By default, Variable 1 is
assigned either Time or Frequency. In our case it is assigned Frequency. We want to see
the displacement UY at the node at x=1, which is node #2. (To get a list of nodes and their
attributes, select Utility Menu > List > nodes).
Select TimeHist Postpro > Variable Viewer... and the following window should pop up.
212
Select Add (the green '+' sign in the upper left corner) from this window and the following window
should appear
We are interested in the Nodal Solution > DOF Solution > Y-Component of displacement. Click
OK.
Graphically select node 2 when prompted and click OK. The 'Time History Variables' window
should now look as follows
213
List Stored Variables

In the 'Time History Variables' window click the 'List' button, 3 buttons to the left of 'Add'
The following window will appear listing the data:
Plot UY vs. frequency

In the 'Time History Variables' window click the 'Plot' button, 2 buttons to the left of 'Add'
The following graph should be plotted in the main ANSYS window.
A few things to note in the response curve

There are approximately 8 cycles in one second. This is the first mode of the cantilever beam and
we have been able to capture it.
214
We also see another response at a higher frequency. We may have captured some response at the
second mode at 52 Hz of the beam.
Note that the response does not decay as it should not. We did not specify damping for our system.
Expand the Solution

For most problems, one need not go further than Reviewing the Reduced Results as the
response of the structure is of utmost interest in transient dynamic analysis.
However, if stresses and forces are of interest, we would have to expand the reduced
solution.
Let's say we are interested in the beam's behaviour at peak responses. We should then
expand a few or all solutions around one peak (or dip). We will expand 10 solutions within
the range of 0.08 and 0.11 seconds.
Expand the solution
Select Finish in the ANSYS Main Menu
Select Solution > Analysis Type > ExpansionPass... and switch it to ON in the window that pops
open.
Select Solution > Load Step Opts > ExpansionPass > Single Expand > Range of Solu's
Complete the window as shown below. This will expand 10 solutions withing the range of 0.08 and
0.11 seconds
Solve the System

SOLVE
Review the results in POST1
215
Review the results using either General Postprocessing (POST1) or TimeHist

Postprocessing (POST26). For this case, we can view the deformed shape at each of the
10 solutions we expanded.
Damped Response of the Cantilever Beam

We did not specify damping in our transient analysis of the beam. We specify damping at the same
time we specify our time & time steps for each load step.
We will now re-run our transient analysis, but now we will consider damping. Here is where the use
of load step files comes in handy. We can easily change a few values in these files and re-run our
whole solution from these load case files.
Open up the first load step file (Dynamic.s01) for editing Utility Menu > File > List > Other >
Dynamic.s01. The file should look like the following..
/COM,ANSYS RELEASE 5.7.1 UP20010418

14:44:02
08/20/2001
/NOPR
_LSNUM=
1
ANTYPE, 4
TRNOPT,REDU,,DAMP
BFUNIF,TEMP,_TINY
DELTIM, 1.000000000E-03
TIME, 0.00000000
TREF, 0.00000000
ALPHAD, 0.00000000
BETAD, 0.00000000
DMPRAT, 0.00000000
TINTP,R5.0, 5.000000000E-03,,,
TINTP,R5.0, -1.00000000
, 0.500000000
, -1.00000000
NCNV,
1, 0.00000000
,
0, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
ERESX,DEFA
ACEL, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
OMEGA, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
,
0
DOMEGA, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
CGLOC, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
CGOMEGA, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
DCGOMG, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
, 0.00000000
D,
D,
D,
/GOPR
1,UX ,
1,UY ,
1,ROTZ,
0.00000000
0.00000000
0.00000000
,
,
,
0.00000000
0.00000000
0.00000000
Change the damping value BETAD from 0 to 0.01 in all three load step files.
We will have to re-run the job for the new load step files. Select Utility Menu > file > Clear and
Start New.
216
Repeat the steps shown above up to the point where we select MDOFs. After selecting MDOFs,
simply go to Solution > (-Solve-) From LS files ... and in the window that opens up select files
from 1 to 3 in steps of 1.
After the results have been calculated, plot up the response at node 2 in POST26. The damped
response should look like the following

217
Transient Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to show the steps
involved to perform a simple transient analysis.
Transient dynamic analysis is a technique used to determine the dynamic response of a structure
under a time-varying load.
The time frame for this type of analysis is such that inertia or damping effects of the structure are
considered to be important. Cases where such effects play a major role are under step or impulse
loading conditions, for example, where there is a sharp load change in a fraction of time.
If inertia effects are negligible for the loading conditions being considered, a static analysis may be
used instead.
For our case, we will impact the end of the beam with an impulse force and view the response at the
location of impact.
Since an ideal impulse force excites all modes of a structure, the response of the beam should
contain all mode frequencies. However, we cannot produce an ideal impulse force numerically. We
have to apply a load over a discrete amount of time dt.
218
After the application of the load, we track the response of the beam at discrete time points for as
long as we like (depending on what it is that we are looking for in the response).
The size of the time step is governed by the maximum mode frequency of the structure we wish to
capture. The smaller the time step, the higher the mode frequency we will capture. The rule of
thumb in ANSYS is
time_step = 1 / 20f
where f is the highest mode frequency we wish to capture. In other words, we must resolve our step
size such that we will have 20 discrete points per period of the highest mode frequency.
It should be noted that a transient analysis is more involved than a static or harmonic
analysis. It requires a good understanding of the dynamic behavior of a structure. Therefore,
a modal analysis of the structure should be initially performed to provide information about
the structure's dynamic behavior.
In ANSYS, transient dynamic analysis can be carried out using 3 methods.
The Full Method: This is the easiest method to use. All types of non-linearities are allowed. It is
however very CPU intensive to go this route as full system matrices are used.
The Reduced Method: This method reduces the system matrices to only consider the Master
Degrees of Freedom (MDOFs). Because of the reduced size of the matrices, the calculations are
much quicker. However, this method handles only linear problems (such as our cantilever case).
The Mode Superposition Method: This method requires a preliminary modal analysis, as factored
mode shapes are summed to calculate the structure's response. It is the quickest of the three
methods, but it requires a good deal of understanding of the problem at hand.
We will use the Reduced Method for conducting our transient analysis. Usually one need not go
further than Reviewing the Reduced Results. However, if stresses and forces are of interest than, we
would have to Expand the Reduced Solution.
219

finish
/clear
/FILNAME,Dynamic,0
/PREP7
K,1,0,0
K,2,1,0
L,1,2
! This sets the jobname to 'Dynamic'

! Enter preprocessor
! Keypoints
! Connect keypoints with line
ET,1,BEAM3
R,1,0.0001,8.33e-10,0.01
! Element type
! Real constants
MP,EX,1,2.068e11
MP,PRXY,1,0.33
MP,DENS,1,7830
! Young's modulus
! Poisson's ratio
! Density
LESIZE,ALL,,,10
LMESH,1
! Element size
! Mesh the line
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE, TRANS
! Transient analysis
TRNOPT,REDUC,
DELTIM,0.001
! reduced solution method

! Specifies the time step sizes
!At time equals 0s

NSEL,S,,,2,11,
M,All,UY, , ,
NSEL,ALL
! select nodes 2 - 11
! Define Master DOFs
! Reselect all nodes
D,1,ALL
! Constrain left end
F,2,FY,-100
!*
! Load right end
!At time equals 0.001s

TIME,0.001
KBC,0
FDELE,2,ALL
!*
! Sets time to 0.001 seconds

! Ramped load step
! Delete the load at the end
!At time equals 1s

TIME,1
KBC,0
!*
! Sets time to 1 second

! Ramped load step
LSSOLVE,1,3,1
! solve multiple load steps
FINISH
/POST26
! Enter time history
FILE,'Dynamic','rdsp','.'
! Calls the dynamic file
NSOL,2,2,U,Y, UY_2
STORE,MERGE
! Calls data for UY deflection at node 2

! Stores the data
220
PLVAR,2,
! Plots vs. time
!Please note, if you are using a later version of ANSYS,

!you will probably have to issue the LSWRITE command at the
!end of each load step for the LSSOLVE command to function
!properly. In this case, replace the !* found in the code
!with LSWRITE and the problem should be solved.
221

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 This tutorial is intended to outline the steps required
to create an axisymmetric model.
The model will be that of a closed tube made from steel. Point loads will be applied at the center of
the top and bottom plate to make an analytical verification simple to calculate. A 3/4 cross section
view of the tube is shown below.
As a warning, point loads will create discontinuities in the your model near the point of application.
If you chose to use these types of loads in your own modelling, be very careful and be sure to
understand the theory of how the FEA package is applying the load and the assumption it is making.
In this case, we will only be concerned about the stress distribution far from the point of
application, so the discontinuities will have a negligable effect.

222

/title, Axisymmetric Tube

/PREP7
Create Areas
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Rectangle > By Dimensions
RECTNG,X1,X2,Y1,Y2
For an axisymmetric problem, ANSYS will rotate the area around the y-axis at x=0.
Therefore, to create the geometry mentioned above, we must define a U-shape.
We are going to define 3 overlapping rectangles as defined in the following table:
Rectangle X1 X2 Y1 Y2
1
0 20 0
15 20 0 100
0 20 95 100
Add Areas Together

Preprocessor > Modeling > Operate > Booleans > Add > Areas
AADD,ALL
Click the Pick All button to create a single area.

For this problem we will use the PLANE2 (Structural, Solid, Triangle 6node)
element. This element has 2 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y axes).
Many elements support axisymmetry, however if the Ansys Elements Reference
(which can be found in the help file) does not discuss axisymmetric applications for
a particular element type, axisymmetry is not supported.
Turn on Axisymmetry
While the Element Types window is still open, click the Options... button.
Under Element behavior K3 select Axisymmetric.
223

Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Areas > All Areas
Mesh the frame
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Areas > Free > click 'Pick All'
Your model should know look like this:
224

ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > Symmetry B.C. > On Lines
Pick the two edges on the left, at x=0, as shown below. By using the symmetry B.C.
command, ANSYS automatically calculates which DOF's should be constrained for
the line of symmetry. Since the element we are using only has 2 DOF's per node, we
could have constrained the lines in the x-direction to create the symmetric boundary
conditions.
Utility Menu > Select > Entities

Select Nodes and By Location from the scroll down menus. Click Y coordinates
and type 50 into the input box as shown below, then click OK.
225
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural >

Displacement > On Nodes > Pick All
Constrain the nodes in the y-direction (UY). This is
required to constrain the model in space, otherwise it
would be free to float up or down. The location to
constrain the model in the y-direction (y=50) was chosen
because it is along a symmetry plane. Therefore, these
nodes won't move in the y-direction according to theory.
In the select entities window, click Sele All to
reselect all nodes. It is important to always
reselect all entities once you've finished to ensure
future commands are applied to the whole model
and not just a few entities. Once you've clicked
Sele All, click on Cancel to close the window.
Apply Loads
Pick the top left corner of the area and click OK. Apply a load of 100 in the FY direction.
Pick the bottom left corner of the area and click OK. Apply a load of -100 in the FY direction.
Solve the System
226

SOLVE

Hand Calculations
Hand calculations were performed to verify the solution found using ANSYS:
The stress across the thickness at y = 50mm is 0.182 MPa.
Determine the Stress Through the Thickness of the Tube

Utility Menu > Select > Entities...
Select Nodes > By Location > Y coordinates and
type 45,55 in the Min,Max box, as shown below
and click OK.
General Postproc > List Results > Nodal Solution >
Stress > Components SCOMP
The following list should pop up.
227
If you take the average of the stress in the y-direction over the thickness of the tube, (0.18552 +
0.17866)/2, the stress in the tube is 0.182 MPa, matching the analytical solution. The average is
used because in the analytical case, it is assumed the stress is evenly distributed across the
thickness. This is only true when the location is far from any stress concentrators, such as corners.
Thus, to approximate the analytical solution, we must average the stress over the thickness.
Plotting the Elements as Axisymmetric
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Symmetry Expansion > 2-D Axi-symmetric...
The following window will appear. By clicking on 3/4 expansion you can produce
the figure shown at the beginning of this tutorial.
228


Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 This tutorial is intended to outline the steps required
to create an axisymmetric model.
The model will be that of a closed tube made from steel. Point loads will be applied at the center of
the top and bottom plate to make an analytical verification simple to calculate. A 3/4 cross section
view of the tube is shown below.
As a warning, point loads will create discontinuities in the your model near the point of application.
If you chose to use these types of loads in your own modelling, be very careful and be sure to
understand the theory of how the FEA package is appling the load and the assumption it is making.
In this case, we will only be concerned about the stress distribution far from the point of
application, so the discontinuities will have a negligable effect.
229

finish
/clear
/title, Axisymmetric Tube
/prep7
/triad,off
! Turns off origin triad marker
rectng,0,20,0,5
rectng,15,20,0,100
rectng,0,20,95,100
! Create 3 overlapping rectangles
aadd,all
! Add the areas together
et,1,plane2
keyopt,1,3,1
mp,ex,1,200000
mp,prxy,1,0.3
!
!
!
!
esize,2
amesh,all
! Mesh size
! Mesh the area
Define element type

Turns on axisymmetry
Young's Modulus
Poisson's ratio
finish
/solu
antype,0
! Static analysis
lsel,s,loc,x,0
dl,all,,symm
lsel,all
! Select the lines at x=0

! Symmetry constraints
! Re-select all lines
nsel,s,loc,y,50
d,all,uy,0
nsel,all
! Node select at y=50

! Constrain motion in y
! Re-select all nodes
fk,1,fy,-100
fk,12,fy,100
! Apply point loads in center
solve
finish
/post1
nsel,s,loc,y,45,55
prnsol,s,comp
nsel,all
/expand,27,axis,,,10
/view,1,1,2,3
/replot
! Select nodes from y=45 to y=55

! List stresses on those nodes
! Re-select all nodes
! Expand the axisymmetric elements
! Change the viewing angle
230
Advanced Tutorials
The majority of these examples are simple verification problems to show you how to use the more
advanced techniques in ANSYS. You may be using a different version of ANSYS than what was
used to create these tutorials, therefore, make note of small changes in the menu structure. These
tutorials can be completed in any order, however, it is expected that you have completed the Basic
Tutorials.
Springs and Joints
The creation of models with multiple elements types will be explored in this tutorial. Additionally,
elements COMBIN7 and COMBIN14 will be explained as well as the use of parameters to store
data.
Design Optimization
The use of Design Optimization in ANSYS is used to solve for unknown parameters of a beam.
Substructuring
The use of Substructuring in ANSYS is used to solve a simple problem.
Coupled Structural/Thermal Analysis
The use of ANSYS physics environments to solve a simple structural/thermal problem.
Using P-Elements
The stress distribution of a model is solved using p-elements and compared to h-elements.
Melting Using Element Death
Using element death to model a volume melting.
Contact Elements
Model of two beams coming into contact with each other.
ANSYS Parametric Design Language
Design a truss using parametric variables.
231
Application of Joints and Springs in ANSYS

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 5.7.1. This tutorial will introduce:
the use of multiple elements in ANSYS
elements COMBIN7 (Joints) and COMBIN14 (Springs)
obtaining/storing scalar information and store them as parameters.
A 1000N vertical load will be applied to a catapult as shown in the figure below. The catapult is
built from steel tubing with an outer diameter of 40 mm, a wall thickness of 10, and a modulus of
elasticity of 200GPa. The springs have a stiffness of 5 N/mm.

/PREP7
232

/title,Catapult

For this problem, 3 types of elements are used: PIPE16, COMBIN7 (Revolute Joint),
COMBIN14 (Spring-Damper) . It is therefore required that the types of elements are defined
prior to creating the elements. This element has 6 degrees of freedom (translation along the
X, Y and Z axis, and rotation about the X,Y and Z axis).
Define PIPE16
With 6 degrees of freedom, the PIPE16 element can be used to create the 3D structure.
Preprocessor > Element Type > Add/Edit/Delete... > click 'Add'
Select 'Pipe', 'Elast straight 16'
Click on 'Apply' You should see 'Type 1 PIPE16' in the 'Element Types' window.
Define COMBIN7
COMBIN7 (Revolute Joint) will allow the catapult to rotate about nodes 1 and 2.
Select 'Combination', 'Revolute Joint 7'
Click 'Apply'.
Define COMBIN14
Now we will define the spring elements.
Select 'Combination', 'Spring damper 14'
Click on 'OK'
In the 'Element Types' window, there should now be three types of elements defined.
Real Constants must be defined for each of the 3 element types.
PIPE16
Preprocessor > Real Constants > Add/Edit/Delete... > click 'Add'
Select Type 1 PIPE16 and click 'OK'
Enter the following properties, then click 'OK'
OD = 40
TKWALL = 10
a. 'Set 1' will now appear in the dialog box

COMBIN7 (Joint)
Five of the degrees of freedom (UX, UY, UZ, ROTX, and ROTY) can be
constrained with different levels of flexibility. These can be defined by the 3 real
constants: K1 (UX, UY), K2 (UZ) and K3 (ROTX, ROTY). For this example, we
233
will use high values for K1 through K3 since we only expect the model to rotate
about the Z axis.
Click 'Add'
Select 'Type 2 COMBIN7'. Click 'OK'.
In the 'Real Constants for COMBIN7' window, enter the following geometric properties (then click
'OK'):
X-Y transnational stiffness K1: 1e9
Z directional stiffness K2: 1e9
Rotational stiffness K3: 1e9
'Set 2' will now appear in the dialog box.
Note: The constants that we define in this problem refer to the relationship
between the coincident nodes. By having high values for the stiffness in the
X-Y plane and along the Z axis, we are essentially constraining the two
coincident nodes to each other.
COMBIN14 (Spring)
Click 'Add'
Select 'Type 3 COMBIN14'. Click 'OK'.
Enter the following geometric properties:
Spring constant K: 5
b. In the 'Element Types' window, there should now be three types of elements defined.
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models
In the 'Define Material Model Behavior' Window, ensure that Material Model Number 1 is selected
Select Structural > Linear > Elastic > Isotropic
In the window that appears, enter the give the properties of Steel then click 'OK'.
Define Nodes
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > Nodes > In Active CS...
N,#,x,y,z
We are going to define 13 Nodes for this structure as given in the following table (as
depicted by the circled numbers in the figure above):
Node Coordinates (x,y,z)
234
(0,0,0)
(0,0,1000)
(1000,0,1000)
(1000,0,0)
(0,1000,1000)
(0,1000,0)
(700,700,500)
(400,400,500)
(0,0,0)
10
(0,0,1000)
11
(0,0,500)
12
(0,0,1500)
13
(0,0,-500)
Create PIPE16 elements

Define element type
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > Elements > Elem Attributes ...
The following window will appear. Ensure that the 'Element type number' is set to 1
PIPE16, 'Material number' is set to 1, and 'Real constant set number' is set to 1. Then
click 'OK'.
Create elements
235
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > Elements > (-Auto Numbered-) Thru
Nodes
E, node a, node b
Create the following elements joining Nodes 'a' and Nodes 'b'.
Note: because it is difficult to graphically select the nodes you may wish to use the
command line (for example, the first entry would be: E,1,6).
Node a Node b
1
10
12
13
12
13
You should obtain the following geometry (Oblique view)
Create COMBIN7 (Joint) elements

Define element type
236
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > Elements > Elem Attributes

Ensure that the 'Element type number' is set to 2 COMBIN7 and that 'Real
constant set number' is set to 2. Then click 'OK'
Create elements
When defining a joint, three nodes are required. Two nodes are coincident at the point of rotation.
The elements that connect to the joint must reference each of the coincident points. The other node
for the joint defines the axis of rotation. The axis would be the line from the coincident nodes to the
other node.
Nodes
E,node a, node b, node c
Create the following lines joining Node 'a' and Node 'b'
Node a Node b Node c
1
11
10
11
Create COMBIN14 (Spring) elements

Define element type
Preprocessor > (-Modeling-) Create > Elements > Elem Attributes
Ensure that the 'Element type number' is set to 3 COMBIN7 and that 'Real
constant set number' is set to 3. Then click 'OK'
Create elements
Nodes
E,node a, node b
Create the following lines joining Node 'a' and Node 'b'
Node a Node b
5
2. NOTE: To ensure that the correct nodes were used to make the correct element in the above
table, you can list all the elements defined in the model. To do this, select Utilities Menu >
List > Elements > Nodes + Attributes.
Meshing
Because we have defined our model using nodes and elements, we do not need to mesh our
model. If we initially defined our model using keypoints and lines, we would have had to
237
create elements in our model by meshing the lines. It is the elements that ANSYS uses to
solve the model.
Plot Elements
Utility Menu > Plot > Elements
You may also wish to turn on element numbering and turn off keypoint numbering
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering ...

ANTYPE,0
Allow Large Deflection

Solution > Sol'n Controls > basic
NLGEOM, ON
Because the model is expected to deform considerably, we need to include the effects of
large deformation.
Apply Constraints
Solution > (-Loads-) Apply > (-Structural-) > Displacement > On Nodes
238
Fix Nodes 3, 4, 12, and 13. (ie - all degrees of freedom are constrained).
Apply Loads
Solution > (-Loads-) Apply > (-Structural-) > Force/Moment > On Nodes
Apply a vertical point load of 1000N at node #7.
Note: To have the constraints and loads appear each time you select 'Replot' in ANSYS, you
must change some settings under Utility Menu > Plot Ctrls > Symbols.... In the window
that appears check the box beside 'All Applied BC's' in the 'Boundary Condition Symbol'
section.
Solve the System

Solution > (-Solve-) Current LS
SOLVE
Note: During the solution, you will see a yellow warning window which states that the
"Coefficient ratio exceeds 1.0e8". This warning indicates that the solution has relatively
large displacements. This is due to the rotation about the joints.

Plot Deformed Shape
239
General Postproc > Plot Results > Deformed Shape

PLDISP.2
Extracting Information as Parameters

In this problem, we would like to find the vertical displacement of node #7. We will do this
using the GET command.
Select Utility Menu > Parameters > Get Scalar Data...
The following window will appear. Select 'Results data' and 'Nodal results' as shown then click 'OK'
Fill in the 'Get Nodal Results Data' window as shown below:
240
To view the defined parameter select Utility Menu > Parameters > Scalar Parameters...
Therefore the vertical displacement of Node 7 is 323.78 mm. This can be repeated
for any of the other nodes you are interested in.

241
Application of Joints and Springs in ANSYS

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 5.7.1. This tutorial will introduce:
the use of multiple elements in ANSYS
elements COMBIN7 (Joints) and COMBIN14 (Springs)
obtaining/storing scalar information and store them as parameters.
A 1000N vertical load will be applied to a catapult as shown in the figure below. The catapult is
built from steel tubing with an outer diameter of 40 mm, a wall thickness of 10, and a modulus of
elasticity of 200GPa. The springs have a stiffness of 5 N/mm.

/title, Catapult
/PREP7
ET,1,PIPE16
ET,2,COMBIN7
ET,3,COMBIN14
! Element type 1
! Element type 2
! Element type 3
242
R,1,40,10
R,2,1e9,1e9,1e9
R,3,5, , ,
! Real constants 1
! Real constants 2
! Real constants 3
MP,EX,1,200000
MP,PRXY,1,0.33
! Young's modulus (Material 1)

! Poisson's ratio (Material 1)
N, 1,
0,
0,
0
N, 2,
0,
0,1000
N, 3,1000,
0,1000
N, 4,1000,
0,
0
N, 5,
0,1000,1000
N, 6,
0,1000,
0
N, 7, 700, 700, 500
N, 8, 400, 400, 500
N, 9,
0,
0,
0
N,10,
0,
0,1000
N,11,
0,
0, 500
N,12,
0,
0,1500
N,13,
0,
0,-500
! Node locations
TYPE,1
REAL,1
MAT,1
! Turn on Element 1
! Turn on Real constants 1
! Turn on Material 1
E, 1, 6
E, 2, 5
E, 1, 4
E, 2, 3
E, 3, 4
E,10, 8
E, 9, 8
E, 7, 8
E,12, 5
E,13, 6
E,12,13
E, 5, 3
E, 6, 4
! Element connectivity
TYPE,2
REAL,2
! Turn on Element 2
E, 1, 9, 11
E, 2, 10, 11
TYPE,3
REAL,3
! Turn on Element 3
E,5,8
E,8,6
/PNUM,KP,0
/PNUM,ELEM,1
/REPLOT
! Number nodes
! Number elements
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,0
NLGEOM,ON
! Static analysis
! Non-linear geometry on
243
NSUBST,5
! 5 Load steps of equal size
D,3,ALL,0,,,4,12,13
F,7,FY,-1000
! Constrain nodes 3,4,12,13

! Load node 7
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
PLDISP,2
*GET,VERT7,NODE,7,U,Y
244
Design Optimization
Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce a method
of solving design optimization problems using ANSYS. This will involve creating the geometry
utilizing parameters for all the variables, deciding which variables to use as design, state and
objective variables and setting the correct tolerances for the problem to obtain an accurately
converged solution in a minimal amount of time. The use of hardpoints to apply forces/constraints
in the middle of lines will also be covered in this tutorial.
A beam has a force of 1000N applied as shown below. The purpose of this optimization problem is
to minimize the weight of the beam without exceeding the allowable stress. It is necessary to find
the cross sectional dimensions of the beam in order to minimize the weight of the beam. However,
the width and height of the beam cannot be smaller than 10mm. The maximum stress anywhere in
the beam cannot exceed 200 MPa. The beam is to be made of steel with a modulus of elasticity of
200 GPa.

/title, Design Optimization
Enter initial estimates for variables

To solve an optimization problem in ANSYS, parameters need to be defined for all design
variables.
245
Select: Utility Menu > Parameters > Scalar Parameters...

In the window that appears (shown below), type W=20 in the Selection section
Click Accept. The 'Scalar Parameters' window will stay open.

Now type H=20 in the Selection section
Click Accept'
Click Close in the Scalar Parameters window.
NOTE: None of the variables defined in ANSYS are allowed to have negative values.
Define Keypoints
K,#,x,y
We are going to define 2 Keypoints for this beam as given in the following table:
Keypoints Coordinates (x,y)
1
(0,0)
(1000,0)
Create Lines
L,1,2

Create Hard Keypoints
Hardpoints are often used when you need to apply a constraint or load at a location where a
keypoint does not exist. For this case, we want to apply a force 3/4 of the way down the
246
beam. Since there are not any keypoints here and we can't be certain that one of the nodes
will be here we will need to specify a hardpoint
Select Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Keypoints > Hard PT on line > Hard PT by ratio.
This will allow us to create a hardpoint on the line by defining the ratio of the location of the point
to the size of the line
Select the line when prompted
Enter a ratio of 0.75 in the 'Create HardPT by Ratio window which appears.
You have now created a keypoint labelled 'Keypoint 3' 3/4 of the way down the beam.
Z axis).
properties: (Note that '**' is used instead '^' for exponents)
Cross-sectional area AREA: W*H
Area moment of inertia IZZ: (W*H**3)/12
Thickness along Y axis: H
NOTE: It is important to use independent variables to define dependent variables
such as the moment of inertia. During the optimization, the width and height will
change for each iteration. As a result, the other variables must be defined in relation
to the width and height.
Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
247
Mesh the frame
LMESH,ALL

ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Pin Keypoint 1 (ie UX, UY constrained) and constrain Keypoint 2 in the Y direction.
Apply Loads
Apply a vertical (FY) point load of -2000N at Keypoint 3
248
Solve the System

SOLVE

Extracting Information as Parameters:
To perform an optimization, we must extract the required information.
In this problem, we would like to find the maximum stress in the beam and the volume as a result of
the width and height variables.
Define the volume
Select General Postproc > Element Table > Define Table... > Add...
The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to obtain the volume of the beam.
Note that this is the volume of each element. If you were to list the element table you
would get a volume for each element. Therefore, you have to sum the element values
together to obtain the total volume of the beam. Follow the instructions below to do
this.
Select General Postproc > Element Table > Sum of Each Item...
A little window will appear notifying you that the tabular sum of each element table will be
calculated. Click 'OK'
You will obtain a window notifying you that the EVolume is now 400000 mm2
Store the data (Volume) as a parameter
In the window which appears select 'Results Data' and 'Elem table sums'
249
the following window will appear. Select the items shown to store the Volume as a parameter.
Now if you view the parameters (Utility Menu > Parameters > Scalar Parameters...)
you will see that Volume has been added.
Define the maximum stress at the i node of each element in the beam
The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to obtain the maximum stress at the i node of
each element and store it as 'SMAX_I'.
Note that nmisc,1 is the maximum stress. For further information type Help beam3
into the command line
Now we will need to sort the stresses in descending order to find the maximum stress
Select General Postproc > List Results > Sorted Listing > Sort Elems
Complete the window as shown below to sort the data from 'SMAX_I' in descending order
250
Store the data (Max Stress) as a parameter

In the window which appears select 'Results Data' and 'Other operations'
In the that appears, fill it in as shown to obtain the maximum value.
Define maximum stress at the j node of each element for the beam
Fill this table as done previously, however make the following changes:
save the data as 'SMAX_J' (instead of 'SMAX_I')
The element table data enter NMISC,3 (instead of NMISC,1). This will give you the max stress at
the j node.
Select General Postproc > List Results > Sorted Listing > Sort Elems to sort the stresses in
descending order.
However, select 'SMAX_J' in the Item, Comp selection box
Store the data (Max Stress) as a parameter
In the window which appears select 'Results Data' and 'Other operations'
In the that appears, fill it in as shown previously , however, name the parameter 'SMaxJ'.
Select the largest of SMAXJ and SMAXI
Type SMAX=SMAXI>SMAXJ into the command line
251
This will set the largest of the 2 values equal to SMAX. In this case the maximum
values for each are the same. However, this is not always the case.
View the parametric data
Utility Menu > Parameters > Scalar Parameters
Note that the maximum stress is 281.25 which is much larger than the allowable stress of
200MPa
Design Optimization
Now that we have parametrically set up our problem in ANSYS based on our initial width and
height dimensions, we can now solve the optimization problem.
Write the command file
It is necessary to write the outline of our problem to an ANSYS command file. This is so
that ANSYS can iteratively run solutions to our problem based on different values for the
variables that we will define.
Select Utility Menu > File > Write DB Log File...
In the window that appears type a name for the command file such as optimize.txt
Click OK.
If you open the command file in a text editor such as Notepad, it should similar to this:
/BATCH
! /COM,ANSYS RELEASE 7.0
UP20021010
/input,start70,ans,'C:\Program Files\Ansys
Inc\v70\ANSYS\apdl\',,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1
*SET,W , 20
*SET,H , 20
/PREP7
K,1,0,0,,
K,2,1000,0,,
L,
1,
2
!*
HPTCREATE,LINE,1,0,RATI,0.75,
!*
ET,1,BEAM3
!*
!*
R,1,W*H,(W*H**3)/12,H, , , ,
!*
!*
MPTEMP,,,,,,,,
MPTEMP,1,0
MPDATA,EX,1,,200000
MPDATA,PRXY,1,,.3
!*
LESIZE,ALL,100, , , ,1, , ,1,
LMESH,
1
16:10:03
05/26/2003
252
FINISH
/SOL
!*
ANTYPE,0
FLST,2,1,3,ORDE,1
FITEM,2,1
!*
/GO
DK,P51X, , , ,0,UX,UY, , , , ,
FLST,2,1,3,ORDE,1
FITEM,2,2
!*
/GO
DK,P51X, , , ,0,UY, , , , , ,
FLST,2,1,3,ORDE,1
FITEM,2,3
!*
/GO
FK,P51X,FY,-2000
! /STATUS,SOLU
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
AVPRIN,0,0,
ETABLE,EVolume,VOLU,
!*
SSUM
!*
*GET,Volume,SSUM, ,ITEM,EVOLUME
AVPRIN,0,0,
ETABLE,SMax_I,NMISC, 1
!*
ESORT,ETAB,SMAX_I,0,1, ,
!*
*GET,SMaxI,SORT,,MAX
AVPRIN,0,0,
ETABLE,SMax_J,NMISC, 3
!*
ESORT,ETAB,SMAX_J,0,1, ,
!*
*GET,SMaxJ,SORT,,MAX
*SET,SMAX,SMAXI>SMAXJ
! LGWRITE,optimization,,C:\Temp\,COMMENT
Several small changes need to be made to this file prior to commencing the optimization. If
you created the geometry etc. using command line code, most of these changes will already
be made. However, if you used GUI to create this file there are several occasions where you
used the graphical picking device. Therefore, the actual items that were chosen need to be
entered. The code 'P51X' symbolizes the graphical selection. To modify the file simply open
it using notepad and make the required changes. Save and close the file once you have made
all of the required changes. The following is a list of the changes which need to be made to
this file (which was created using the GUI method)
Line 32 - DK,P51X, ,0, ,0,UX,UY, , , , ,
Change this to: DK,1, ,0, ,0,UX,UY,
This specifies the constraints at keypoint 1
Line 37 - DK,P51X, ,0, ,0,UY, , , , , ,
253
Change to: DK,2, ,0, ,0,UY,

This specifies the constraints at keypoint 2
Line 42 - FK,P51X,FY,-2000
Change to: FK,3,FY,-2000
This specifies the force applied on the beam
There are also several lines which can be removed from this file. If you are comfortable with
command line coding, you should remove the lines which you are certain are not required.
Assign the Command File to the Optimization
Select Main Menu > Design Opt > Analysis File > Assign
In the file list that appears, select the filename that you created when you wrote the command file.
Click OK.
Define Variables and Tolerances
ANSYS needs to know which variables are critical to the optimization. To define variables,
we need to know which variables have an effect on the variable to be minimized. In this
example our objective is to minimize the volume of a beam which is directly related to the
weight of the beam.
ANSYS categorizes three types of variables for design optimization:
Design Variables (DVs)
Independent variables that directly effect the design objective. In this example, the width
and height of the beam are the DVs. Changing either variable has a direct effect on the
solution of the problem.
State Variables (SVs)
Dependent variables that change as a result of changing the DVs. These variables are
necessary to constrain the design. In this example, the SV is the maximum stress in the
beam. Without this SV, our optimization will continue until both the width and height are
zero. This would minimize the weight to zero which is not a useful result.
Objective Variable (OV)
The objective variable is the one variable in the optimization that needs to be minimized. In
our problem, we will be minimizing the volume of the beam.
NOTE: As previously stated, none of the variables defined in ANSYS are allowed to have
negative values.
Now that we have decided our design variables, we need to define ranges and tolerances for
each variable. For the width and height, we will select a range of 10 to 50 mm for each.
Because a small change in either the width or height has a profound effect on the volume of
the beam, we will select a tolerance of 0.01mm. Tolerances are necessary in that they tell
ANSYS the largest amount of change that a variable can experience before convergence of
the problem.
For the stress variable, we will select a range of 195 to 200 MPa with a tolerance of
0.01MPa.
254
Because the volume variable is the objective variable, we do not need to define an allowable
range. We will set the tolerance to 200mm3. This tolerance was chosen because it is
significantly smaller than the initial magnitude of the volume of 400000mm3 (20mm x
20mm x 1000mm).
Define the Design Variables (width and height of beam)
Select Main Menu > Design Opt > Design Variables... > Add...
Complete the window as shown below to specify the variable limits and tolerances for the height of
the beam.
Repeat the above steps to specify the variable limits for the width of the beam (identical to
specifications for height)
Define the State Variables
Select Main Menu > Design Opt > State Variables... > Add...
In the window fill in the following sections
Select 'SMAX' in the Parameter Name section.
Enter: Lower Limit (MIN = 195)
Upper Limit (MAX = 200)
Feasibility Tolerance (TOLER = 0.001)
Define the Objective Variable
Select Main Menu > Design Opt > Objective...
Select VOLUME in the Parameter Name section.
Under Convergence Tolerance, enter 200.
Define the Optimization Method
255
There are several different methods that ANSYS can use to solve an optimization problem.
To ensure that you are not finding a solution at a local minimum, it is advisable to use
different solution methods. If you have trouble with getting a particular problem to converge
it would be a good idea to try a different method of solution to see what might be wrong.
For this problem we will use a First-Order Solution method.
Select Main Menu > Design Opt > Method / Tool...
In the Specify Optimization Method window select First-Order
Click OK
Enter: Maximum iterations (NITR = 30), Percent step size SIZE = 100, Percent forward diff.
DELTA = 0.2
Click OK.
Note: the significance of the above variables is explained below:
NITR
Max number of iterations. Defaults to 10.
SIZE
% that is applied to the size of each line search step. Defaults to 100%
DELTA
forward difference (%) applied to the design variable range that is used to compute the
gradient. Defaults to 0.2%
Run the Optimization
Select Main Menu > Design Opt > Run...
In the Begin Execution of Run window, confirm that the analysis file, method/type and maximum
iterations are correct.
Click OK.
The solution of an optimization problem can take awhile before convergence. This problem
will take about 15 minutes and run through 19 iterations.
View the Results

View Final Parameters
Utility Menu > Parameters > Scalar Parameters...
You will probably see that the width=13.24 mm, height=29.16 mm, and the stress is
equal to 199.83 MPa with a volume of 386100mm2.
View graphical results of each variable during the solution
Select Main Menu > Design Opt > Design Sets > Graphs / Tables...
Complete the window as shown to obtain a graph of the height and width of the beam changing
with each iteration
For the X-variable parameter select Set number.
256
For the Y-variable parameter select H and W.

Ensure that 'Graph' is selected (as opposed to 'List')
Now you may wish to specify titles for the X and Y axes
Select Utility Menu > Plot Ctrls > Style > Graphs > Modify Axes...
In the window, enter Number of Iterations for the X-axis label section.
Enter Width and Height (mm) for the Y-axis label.
Click 'OK'
Select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls
In the graphics window, you will see a graph of width and height throughout the
optimization. You can print the plot by selecting Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Hard Copy...
257
You can plot graphs of the other

variables in the design by following the
above steps. Instead of using width and
height for the y-axis label and
variables, use whichever variable is
necessary to plot. Alternatively, you
could list the data by selecting Main
Menu > Design Opt > Design Sets >
List... . In addition, all of the results
data (ie stress, displacement, bending
moments) are available from the
General Postproc menu.

Design Optimization
Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce a method
of solving design optimization problems using ANSYS. This will involve creating the geometry
utilizing parameters for all the variables, deciding which variables to use as design, state and
objective variables and setting the correct tolerances for the problem to obtain an accurately
converged solution in a minimal amount of time. The use of hardpoints to apply forces/constraints
in the middle of lines will also be covered in this tutorial.
A beam has a force of 1000N applied as shown below. The purpose of this optimization problem is
to minimize the weight of the beam without exceeding the allowable stress. It is necessary to find
the cross sectional dimensions of the beam in order to minimize the weight of the beam. However,
the width and height of the beam cannot be smaller than 10mm. The maximum stress anywhere in
the beam cannot exceed 200 MPa. The beam is to be made of steel with a modulus of elasticity of
200 GPa.
258

/prep7
*set,H,20
*set,W,20
K,1,0,0
K,2,1000,0
L,1,2
HPTCREATE,LINE,1,0,RATI,.75,
! Set an initial height of 20 mm

! Set an initial width of 20 mm
! Keypoint locations
! Create line
! Create hardpoint 75% from left side
ET,1,BEAM3
R,1,W*H,(W*H**3)/12,H,,,,
'^'),height
MP,EX,1,200000
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
! Element type
! Real consts: area,I (note '**', not
ESIZE,100
LMESH,ALL
! Mesh size
! Mesh line
! Young's modulus
! Poisson's ratio
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,0
! Static analysis
DK,1,UX,0
DK,1,UY,0
DK,2,UY,0
! Pin keypoint 1
FK,3,FY,-2000
! Force at hardpoint
! Support keypoint 2
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
ETABLE,EVolume,VOLU,
SSUM
*GET,Volume,SSUM,,ITEM,EVOLUME
beam
! Volume of single element

! Sum all volumes
! Create parameter 'Volume' for volume of
259
ETABLE,SMAX_I,NMISC,1
at I node
ESORT,ETAB,SMAX_I,0,1,,
*GET,SMAXI,SORT,,MAX
! Create parameter 'SMaxI' for max stress
ETABLE,SMAX_J,NMISC,3
at J node
ESORT,ETAB,SMAX_J,0,1,,
*GET,SMAXJ,SORT,,MAX
! Create parameter 'SMaxJ' for max stress
*SET,SMAX,SMAXI>SMAXJ
! Create parameter 'SMax' as max stress
LGWRITE,optimize,txt,C:\TEMP
! Save logfile to C:\Temp\optimize.txt
/OPT
OPANL,'optimize','txt','C:\Temp\'
! Assign optimize.txt as analysis file
OPVAR,H,DV,10,50,0.001
50 mm, tolerance 0.001mm
OPVAR,W,DV,10,50,0.001
mm, tolerance 0.001mm
OPVAR,SMAX,SV,195,200,0.001
200 MPa, tolerance 0.001 MPa
OPVAR,VOLUME,OBJ,,,200
mm^2
! Height design variable, min 10 mm, max

! Width design variable, min 10 mm, max 50
! Height state variable, min 195 MPa, max
! Volume as object variable, tolerance 200
OPTYPE,FIRS
OPFRST,30,100,0.2,
Percent forward difference
OPEXE
! First-order analysis
! Max iteration, Percent step size,
PLVAROPT,H,W
/AXLAB,X,Number of Iterations
/AXLAB,Y,Width and Height (mm)
/REPLOT
! Graph optimation data
! Run optimization
260
Substructuring
Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of the tutorial is to show the how to use
substructuring in ANSYS. Substructuring is a procedure that condenses a group of finite elements
into one super-element. This reduces the required computation time and also allows the solution of
very large problems.
A simple example will be demonstrated to explain the steps required, however, please note that this
model is not one which requires the use of substructuring. The example involves a block of wood (E
=10 GPa v =0.29) connected to a block of silicone (E = 2.5 MPa, v = 0.41) which is rigidly attached
to the ground. A force will be applied to the structure as shown in the following figure. For this
example, substructuring will be used for the wood block.
The use of substructuring in ANSYS is a three stage process:

Generation Pass
Generate the super-element by condensing several elements together. Select the degrees of freedom
to save (master DOFs) and to discard (slave DOFs). Apply loads to the super-element
Use Pass
Create the full model including the super-element created in the generation pass. Apply remaining
loads to the model. The solution will consist of the reduced solution tor the super-element and the
complete solution for the non-superelements.
Expansion Pass
Expand the reduced solution to obtain the solution at all DOFs for the super-element.
Note that a this method is a bottom-up substructuring (each super-element is created separately and
then assembled in the Use Pass). Top-down substructuring is also possible in ANSYS (the entire
model is built, then super-element are created by selecting the appropriate elements). This method is
261
suitable for smaller models and has the advantage that the results for multiple super-elements can be
assembled in postprocessing.
Expansion Pass: Creating the Super-element

Give Generation Pass a Jobname
Utility Menu > File > Change Jobname ...
Enter 'GEN' for the jobname
/PREP7
Create geometry of the super-element

Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Rectangle > By 2 Corners
BLC4,XCORNER,YCORNER,WIDTH,HEIGHT
Create a rectangle with the dimensions (all units in mm):

XCORNER (WP X) = 0
YCORNER (WP Y) = 40
Width = 100
Height = 100

For this problem we will use PLANE42 (2D structural solid). This element has 4
nodes, each with 2 degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y axes).
Isotropic
In the window that appears, enter the following geometric properties for wood:
Young's modulus EX: 10000 (MPa)
Define Mesh Size
262
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Manual Size > Areas > All Areas ...
Mesh the block
AMESH,1

Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Substructuring
ANTYPE,SUBST
Select Substructuring Analysis Options

It is necessary to define the substructuring analysis options
The following window will appear. Ensure that the options are filled in as shown.
Sename (the name of the super-element matrix file) will default to the jobname.
In this case, the stiffness matrix is to be generated.
With the option SEPR, the stiffness matrix or load matrix can be printed to the output window if
desired.
Select Master Degrees of Freedom
263
Master DOFs must be defined at the interface between the super-element and other elements
in addition to points where loads/constraints are applied.
Select Solution > Master DOFs > User Selected > Define
Select the Master DOF as shown in the following figure.
In the window that appears, set the 1st degree of freedom to All DOF
Apply Loads
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On Nodes
Place a load of 5N in the x direction on the top left hand node
264
The model should now appear as shown in the figure below.
Save the database

Utility Menu > File > Save as Jobname.db
SAVE
Save the database to be used again in the expansion pass

Solve the System
SOLVE
Use Pass: Using the Super-element

The Use Pass is where we model the entire model, including the super-elements from the
Generation Pass.

Clear the existing database
Utility Menu > File > Clear & Start New
Give Use Pass a Jobname
265

FILNAME, USE
Enter 'USE' for the jobname

/PREP7
Now we need to bring the Super-element into the model

Define the Super-element Type
Select 'Super-element' (MATRIX50)
Create geometry of the non-superelement (Silicone)
BLC4,XCORNER,YCORNER,WIDTH,HEIGHT
Create a rectangle with the dimensions (all units in mm):

XCORNER (WP X) = 0
YCORNER (WP Y) = 0
Width = 100
Height = 40
Define the Non-Superelement Type

We will again use PLANE42 (2D structural solid).
Isotropic
In the window that appears, enter the following geometric properties for silicone:
Young's modulus EX: 2.5 (MPa)
Define Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > Manual Size > Areas > All Areas ...
266
For this block we will again use an element edge length of 10mm. Note that is is
imperative that the nodes of the non-superelement match up with the super-element
MDOFs.
Mesh the block
AMESH,1
Offset Node Numbering

Since both the super-element and the non-superelement were created independently, they
contain similarly numbered nodes (ie both objects will have node #1 etc.). If we bring in the
super-element with similar node numbers, the nodes will overwrite existing nodes from the
non-superelements. Therefore, we need to offset the super-element nodes
Determine the number of nodes in the existing model
Select Utility Menu > Parameters > Get Scalar Data ...
The following window will appear. Select Model Data, For Selected set as shown.
Fill in the following window as shown to set MaxNode = the highest node number
Offset the node numbering
267
Select Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Elements > Super-elements > BY CS Transfer
Fill in the following window as shown to offset the node numbers and save the file as GEN2
Read in the super-element matrix

Select Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Elements > Super-elements > From .SUB File...
Enter 'GEN2' as the Jobname of the matrix file in the window (shown below)
Utility Menu > Plot > Replot

Couple Node Pairs at Interface of Super-element and Non-Superelements
Select the nodes at the interface
Select Utility Menu > Select > Entities ...
The following window will appear. Select Nodes, By Location, Y coordinates, 40 as shown.
268
Couple the pair nodes at the interface

Select Preprocessor > Coupling / Ceqn > Coincident Nodes
Re-select all of the nodes
Select Utility Menu > Select > Entities ...
In the window that appears, click 'Nodes > By Num/Pick > From Full > Sele All'

ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Lines
Fix the bottom line (ie all DOF constrained)
Apply super-element load vectors
Determine the element number of the super-element (Select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls >
Numbering...)
You should find that the super-element is element 41
Select Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Load Vector > For Super-element
The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to apply the super-element load vector.
269
Save the database

Utility Menu > File > Save as Jobname.db
SAVE
Save the database to be used again in the expansion pass

Solve the System
SOLVE

Show the Displacement Contour Plot
General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solution ... > DOF solution,
Translation USUM
PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
270
Note that only the deformation for the non-superelements is plotted. This results agree with
what was found without using substructuring (see figure below).
Expansion Pass: Expanding the Results within the Superelement

To obtain the solution for all elements within the super-element you will need to perform an
expansion pass.

Clear the existing database
Utility Menu > File > Clear & Start New
Change the Jobname back to Generation pass Jobname
FILNAME, GEN
Enter 'GEN' for the jobname

Resume Generation Pass Database
271
Utility Menu > File > Resume Jobname.db ...

RESUME

Activate Expansion Pass
Enter the Solution mode by selecting Main Menu > Solution or by typing /SOLU into the command
line.
Type 'EXPASS,ON' into the command line to initiate the expansion pass.
Enter the Super-element name to be Expanded
Select Solution > Load STEP OPTS > ExpansionPass > Single Expand >Expand Superelem ...
The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to select the super-element.
Enter the Super-element name to be Expanded

Select Solution > Load Step Opts > ExpansionPass > Single Expand > By Load Step...
The following window will appear. Fill it in as shown to expand the solution.
Solve the System

SOLVE

Show the Displacement Contour Plot
272
General Postproc > Plot Results > (-Contour Plot-) Nodal Solution ... > DOF
solution, Translation USUM
PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
Note that only the deformation for the super-elements is plotted (and that the contour
intervals have been modified to begin at 0). This results agree with what was found without
using substructuring (see figure below).

273
Substructuring
Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of the tutorial is to show the how to use
substructuring in ANSYS. Substructuring is a procedure that condenses a group of finite elements
into one super-element. This reduces the required computation time and also allows the solution of
very large problems.
A simple example will be demonstrated to explain the steps required, however, please note that this
model is not one which requires the use of substructuring. The example involves a block of wood (E
=10 GPa v =0.29) connected to a block of silicone (E = 2.5 MPa, v = 0.41) which is rigidly attached
to the ground. A force will be applied to the structure as shown in the following figure. For this
example, substructuring will be used for the wood block.
The use of substructuring in ANSYS is a three stage process:

Generation Pass
Generate the super-element by condensing several elements together. Select the degrees of freedom
to save (master DOFs) and to discard (slave DOFs). Apply loads to the super-element
Use Pass
Create the full model including the super-element created in the generation pass. Apply remaining
loads to the model. The solution will consist of the reduced solution tor the super-element and the
complete solution for the non-superelements.
Expansion Pass
Expand the reduced solution to obtain the solution at all DOFs for the super-element.
274
Note that a this method is a bottom-up substructuring (each super-element is created separately and
then assembled in the Use Pass). Top-down substructuring is also possible in ANSYS (the entire
model is built, then super-element are created by selecting the appropriate elements). This method is
suitable for smaller models and has the advantage that the results for multiple super-elements can be
assembled in postprocessing.

! Bottom-Up Substructuring
! GENERATION PASS - Build the superelement portion of the model
FINISH
/CLEAR, START
/FILNAME,GEN
! Change jobname
/PREP7
! Create Geometry
blc4,0,40,100,100
! Creates rectangle
! Define material properties of wood section

ET,1,PLANE42
! Element type
MP,EX,1, 10000
! Young's Modulus
MP,PRXY,1,0.29
! Poisson's ratio
! meshing
AESIZE,1,10,
amesh,1
! Element size
! Mesh area
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,SUBST
SEOPT,GEN,,2
! SUBSTRUCTURE GENERATION PASS

! Name = GEN and no printed output
NSEL,S,EXT
M,ALL,ALL
NSEL,ALL
! Select all external nodes

! Make all selected nodes master DOF's
NSEL,S,LOC,Y,140
NSEL,R,LOC,X,0
F,ALL,FX,5
! Select the corner node
NSEL,ALL
SAVE
SOLVE
FINISH
! Saves file to jobname.db

! GEN.SUB created
! USE PASS
FINISH
/CLEAR
/FILNAME,USE
/PREP7
! Load it
! Change jobname to use
! Create Geometry of non superelements

blc4,0,0,100,40
! Creates rectangle
! Define material properties
275
ET,2,PLANE42
TYPE,2
MP,EX,2, 2.5
MP,PRXY,2,0.41
! Meshing
AESIZE,1,10,
mat,2
real,2
amesh,1
! Superelement
ET,1,MATRIX50
TYPE,1
*GET,MaxNode,NODE,,NUM,MAX
SETRAN,GEN,,MaxNode,GEN2
SE,GEN2
NSEL,S,LOC,Y,40
CPINTF,ALL
NSEL,ALL
! Element type
! Turns on element type 2
! Second material property set for silicon
!
!
!
!
Element size
Turns on Material 2
Turns on real constants 2
Mesh the area
! MATRIX50 is the superelement type

! Turns on element type 1
! determine the max number of nodes
! node number offset
! Read in superelement matrix
! Select nodes at interface
! Couple node pairs at interface
FINISH
/SOLU
ANTYPE,STATIC
! Static analysis
NSEL,S,LOC,Y,0
D,ALL,ALL,0
NSEL,ALL
! Select all nodes at y = 0

! Constrain those nodes
ESEL,S,TYPE,,1
SFE,ALL,1,SELV,,1
ESEL,ALL
! Element select
! Apply super-element load vector
! Reselect all elements
SAVE
SOLVE
FINISH
/POST1
PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
FINISH
! EXPANSION PASS
/CLEAR
/FILNAME,GEN
RESUME
/SOLU
EXPASS,ON,YES
SEEXP,GEN2,USE
EXPSOL,1,1,
SOLVE
superelement solution written
FINISH
/POST1
PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
! Enter post processing

! Clear database
! Change jobname back to generation pass jobname
! Restore generation pass database
! Enter SOLUTION
! Activate expansion pass
! Superelement name to be expanded
! Expansion pass info
! Initiate expansion pass solution.
to GEN.RST
Full
276
Using P-Elements
Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0. This tutorial outlines the steps necessary for solving
a model meshed with p-elements. The p-method manipulates the polynomial level (p-level) of the
finite element shape functions which are used to approximate the real solution. Thus, rather than
increasing mesh density, the p-level can be increased to give a similar result. By keeping mesh
density rather coarse, computational time can be kept to a minimum. This is the greatest advantage
of using p-elements over h-elements.
A uniform load will be applied to the right hand side of the geometry shown below. The specimen
was modeled as steel with a modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa.

/title, P-Method Meshing
Activate the p-Method Solution Options

ANSYS Main Menu > Preferences
/PMETH,ON
Select p-Method Struct. as shown below
277

/PREP7
Define Keypoints
K,#,x,y,z
We are going to define 12 keypoints for this geometry as given in the following table
278
Melting Using Element Death

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of the tutorial is to outline the steps
required to use element death to model melting of a material. Element death is the "turning off" of
elements according to some desired criterion. The elements are still technically there, they just have
zero stiffness and thus have no affect on the model.
This tutorial doesn't take into account heat of fusion or changes in thermal properties over
temperature ranges, rather it is concerned with the element death procedure. More accurate models
using element death can then be created as required. Element birth is also possible, but will not be
discussed here. For further information, see Chapter 10 of the Advanced Guide in the ANSYS help
file regarding element birth and death.
The model will be an infinitely long rectangular block of material 3cm X 3cm as shown below. It
will be subject to convection heating which will cause the block to "melt".

/title, Element Death

/PREP7
Create Rectangle
Fill in the window with the following dimensions:
279
WP X = 0
WP Y = 0
Width = 0.03
Height = 0.03
BLC4,0,0,0.03,0.03

For this example, we will use PLANE55 (Thermal Solid, Quad 4node 55). This
element has 4 nodes and a single DOF (temperature) at each node. PLANE55 can
only be used for 2 dimensional steady-state or transient thermal analysis.
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Thermal > Conductivity >
Isotropic
In the window that appears, enter the following properties:
Thermal Conductivity KXX: 1.8
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Thermal > Specific Heat
Specific Heat C: 2040
Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Thermal > Density
Density DENS: 920
Define Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Areas > All Areas...
For this example we will use an element edge length of 0.0005m.
Mesh the frame
280

Solution > Analysis Type > New Analysis > Transient
The window shown below will pop up. We will use the defaults, so click OK.
ANTYPE,4
Turn on Newton-Raphson solver

Due to a glitch in the ANSYS software, there is no apparent way to do this with the
graphical user interface. Therefore, you must type NROPT,FULL into the
commmand line. This step is necessary as element killing can only be done when the
N-R solver has been used.
Solution > Analysis Type > Sol'n Controls
The following window will pop up.
281
A) Set Time at end of loadstep to 60 and Automatic time stepping to OFF.

B) Set Number of substeps to 20.
C) Set the Frequency to Write every substep.
Click on the NonLinear tab at the top and fill it in as shown
D) Set Line search to ON .

E) Set the Maximum number of iterations to 100.
282
For a complete description of what these options do, refer to the help file. Basically,
the time at the end of the load step is how long the transient analysis will run and the
number of substeps defines how the load is broken up. By writing the data at every
step, you can create animations over time and the other options help the problem
converge quickly.
Apply Initial Conditions
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Initial Condit'n > Define > Pick All
Fill in the IC window as follows to set the initial temperature of the material to 268
K:
Apply Boundary Conditions

For thermal problems, constraints can be in the form of Temperature, Heat Flow,
Convection, Heat Flux, Heat Generation, or Radiation. In this example, all external surfaces
of the material will be subject to convection with a coefficient of 10 W/m^2*K and a
surrounding temperature of 368 K.
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Thermal > Convection > On Lines > Pick All
Fill in the pop-up window as follows, with a film coefficient of 10 and a bulk
temperature of 368.
283
The model should now look as follows:
Solve the System

SOLVE
284
Postprocessing: Prepare for Element Death

Read Results
General Postproc > Read Results > Last Set
SET,LAST
Create Element Table

Element death can be used in various ways. For instance, the user can manually kill, or turn
off, elements to create the desired effect. Here, we will use data from the analysis to kill the
necessary elements to model melting. Assume the material melts at 273 K. We must create
an element table containing the temperature of all the elements.
From the General Postprocessor menu select Element Table > Define Table...
Click on 'Add...'
Fill the window in as shown below, with a title Melty and select DOF solution > Temperature
TEMP and click OK.
We can now select elements from this table in the temperature range we desire.
Select Elements to Kill
Assume that the melting temperature is 273 K, thus any element with a temperature of 273
or greater must be killed to simulate melting.
Use the scroll down menus to select Elements > By Results > From Full and click
OK.
285
Ensure the element table Melty is selected and enter a VMIN value of 273 as shown.
Solution Phase: Killing Elements

Restart the Analysis
Solution > Analysis Type > Restart > OK
You will likely have two messages pop up at this point. Click OK to restart the analysis, and
close the warning message. The reason for the warning is ANSYS defaults to a multi-frame
restart, which this analysis doesn't call for, thus it is just warning the user.
Kill Elements
286
The easiest way to do this is to type ekill,all into the command line. Since all elements
above melting temperature had been selected, this will kill only those elements.
The other option is to use Solution > Load Step Opts > Other > Birth & Death > Kill
Elements and graphically pick all the melted elements. This is much too time consuming in
this case.
Postprocessing: Viewing Results

Select Live Elements
Fill in the window as shown with Elements > Live Elem's > Unselect and click
Sele All.
With the window still open, select Elements > Live Elem's > From Full and click
OK.
287
View Results
General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu > DOF solution >
Temperature TEMP
The final melted shape should look as follows:
288
This procedure can be programmed in a loop, using command line code, to more accurately
model element death over time. Rather than running the analysis for a time of 60 and killing
any elements above melting temperature at the end, a check can be done after each substep
to see if any elements are above the specified temperature and be killed at that point. That
way, the prescribed convection can then act on the elements below those killed, more
accurately modelling the heating process.

Using P-Elements
Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0. This tutorial outlines the steps necessary for solving
a model meshed with p-elements. The p-method manipulates the polynomial level (p-level) of the
finite element shape functions which are used to approximate the real solution. Thus, rather than
increasing mesh density, the p-level can be increased to give a similar result. By keeping mesh
density rather coarse, computational time can be kept to a minimum. This is the greatest advantage
of using p-elements over h-elements.
A uniform load will be applied to the right hand side of the geometry shown below. The specimen
was modeled as steel with a modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa.
289

finish
/clear
/title, Convection Example
/prep7
! define geometry
k,1,0,0
k,2,0.03,0
k,3,0.03,0.03
k,4,0,0.03
a,1,2,3,4
! Define keypoints
! Connect the keypoints to form area
! mesh 2D areas
ET,1,Plane55
! Element type
MP,Dens,1,920
mp,c,1,2040
mp,kxx,1,1.8
! Define density
! Define specific heat
! Define heat transfer coefficient
esize,0.0005
amesh,all
! Mesh size
! Mesh area
finish
/solu
antype,4
! Transient analysis
time,60
! Time at end of analysis
nropt,full
lumpm,0
nsubst,20
neqit,100
autots,off
lnsrch,on
outres,all,all
kbc,1
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
IC,all,temp,268
! Initial conditions, temp = 268
nsel,s,ext
sf,all,conv,10,368
nsel,all
/gst,off
!
!
!
!
Node select all exterior nodes

Apply a convection BC
Reselect all nodes
Turn off graphical convergence monitor
!
!
!
!
Enter postprocessor
Read in last subset of data
Create an element table
Select all elements from table above 273
Newton Raphson - full

Lumped mass off
Number of substeps, 20
Max no. of iterations
Auto time search off
Line search on
Output data for all substeps
Load applied in steps, not ramped
solve
finish
/post1
set,last
etable,melty,temp,
esel,s,etab,melty,273
finish
290
/solu
antype,,rest
ekill,all
esel,all
!
!
!
!
Re-enter solution phase

Restart analysis
Kill all selected elements
Re-select all elements
!
!
!
!
Re-enter postprocessor
Read in last subset of data
Select all live elements
Plot the temp contour of the live elements
finish
/post1
set,last
esel,s,live
plnsol,temp
291
Contact Elements
Introduction
utilize contact elements to simulate how two beams react when they come into contact with each
other.
The beams, as shown below, are 100mm long, 10mm x 10mm in cross-section, have a Young's
modulus of 200 GPa, and are rigidly constrained at the outer ends. A 10KN load is applied to the
center of the upper, causing it to bend and contact the lower.

/title, Contact Elements

/PREP7
Define Areas
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Area > Rectangle > By 2 Corners
BLC4,WP X, WP Y, Width, Height
We are going to define 2 rectangles as described in the following table:
292
Rectangle Variables (WP X,WP Y,Width,Height)

1
(0, 15, 100, 10)
(50, 0, 100, 10)

For this problem we will use the PLANE42 (Solid, Quad 4node 42) element. This
element has 2 degrees of freedom at each node (translation along the X and Y).
While the Element Types window is still open, click Options.... Change Element behavior K3 to
Plane strs w/thk as shown below. This allows a thickness to be input for the elements.

In the 'Real Constants for PLANE42' window, enter the following geometric
properties:
Thickness THK: 10
This defines a beam with a thickness of 10 mm.
Isotropic
293
Define Mesh Size

Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Areas > All Lines...
Mesh the frame
Define the Type of Contact Element
For this problem we will use the CONTAC48 (Contact, pt-to-surf 48) element.
CONTAC48 may be used to represent contact and sliding between two surfaces (or
between a node and a surface) in 2-D. The element has two degrees of freedom at
each node: translations in the nodal x and y directions. Contact occurs when the
contact node penetrates the target line.
While the Element Types window is still open, click Options.... Change Contact time/load
prediction K7 to Reasonabl T/L inc. This is an important step. It initiates a process during the
solution calculations where the time step or load step, depending on what the user has specified in
the solution controls, incremements slowly when contact is immenent. This way, one surface won't
penetrate too far into the other and cause the solution to fail.
It is important to note, CONTAC48 elements are created in the space between two surfaces
prescribed by the user. This will be covered below. As the surfaces approach each other, the
contact element is slowly "crushed" until it's upper node(s) lie along the same line as the
lower node(s). Thus, ANSYS can calculate when the two prescribed surfaces have made
contact. Other contact elements, such as CONTA175, require a target element, such as
TARGE169, to function. When using contact elements in your own analyses, be sure to
understand how the elements work. The ANSYS help file has plenty of useful information
regarding contact elements and is worth reading.
Define Real Constants for the Contact Elements
294

In the 'Real Constants for CONTAC48' window, enter the following properties:
Normal contact stiffness KN: 200000
CONTAC48 elements basically use a penalty approach to model contact. When one surface comes
into "contact" with the other, ANSYS numerically puts a spring of stiffness KN between the two.
ANSYS recommends a value between 0.01 and 100 times Young's modulus for the material. Since
this "spring" is so stiff, the behaviour of the model is like the two surfaces have made contact. This
KN value can greatly affect your solution, so be sure to read the help file on contact so you can
recognize when your solution is not converging and why. A good rule of thumb is to start with a
low value of KN and see how the solution converges (start watching the ANSYS Output Window).
If there is too much penetration, you should increase KN. If it takes a lot of iterations to converge
for a single substep, you should decrease KN.
Target length tolerance TOLS: 10
Real constant TOLS is used to add a small tolerance that will internally increase the length of the
target. This is useful for problems when node to node contact is likely to occur, rather than node to
element edge. In this situation, the contact node may repeatedly "slip" off one of the target nodes,
resulting in convergence difficulties. A small value of TOLS, given in %, is usually enough to
prevent such difficulties.
The other real constants can be used to model sliding friction, tolerances, etc.
Information about these other constants can be found in the help file.
Define Nodes for Creating Contact Elements
Unlike the normal meshing sequence used for most elements, contact elements must
be defined in a slightly different manner. Sets of nodes that are likely to come into
contact must be defined and used to generate the necessary elements. ANSYS has
many recommendations about which nodes to select and whether they should act as
target nodes or source nodes. In this simple case, source nodes are those that will
move into contact with the other surface, where as target nodes are those that are
contacted. These terms are important when using the automatic contact element
mesher to ensure the elements will correctly model contact between the surfaces. A
strong understanding of how the elements work is important when using contact
elements for your own analysis.
First, the source nodes will be selected.
Select Areas and By Num/Pick from the pull down menus, select From Full from the radio
buttons and click OK. Select the top beam and click OK. This will ensure any nodes that are
selected in the next few steps will be from the upper beam. In this case, it is not too hard to ensure
you select the correct nodes. However, when the geometry is complex, you may inadvertantly select
a node from the wrong surface and it could cause problems during element generation.
295

Select Nodes and By Location from the pull down menus, Y coordinates and Reselect from the
radio buttons and enter a value of 15 and click OK. This will select all nodes along the bottom of
the upper beam.

Select Nodes and By Location from the pull down menus, X coordinates and Reselect from the
radio buttons and enter values of 50,100. This will select the nodes above the lower beam.
296
Now if you list the selected nodes, Utility Menu > List > Nodes... you should only have the
following nodes remaining.
It is important to try and limit the number of nodes you use to create contact
elements. If you have a lot of contact elements, it takes a great deal of
297
computational time to reach a solution. In this case, the only nodes that could
make contact with the lower beam are those directly above it, thus those are
the only nodes we will use to create the contact elements.
Utility Menu > Select > Comp/Assembly > Create Component
Enter the component name Source as shown below, and click OK. Now we can use this
component, Source, as a list of nodes to be used in other functions. This can be very useful in other
applications as well.
Now select the target nodes.
Using the same procedure as above, select the nodes on the lower beam directly
under the upper beam. Be sure to reselect all nodes before starting to select others.
This is done by opening the entity select menu, Utility Menu > Select > Entities...,
clicking the Also Select radio button, and click the Sele All button.
These values will be the ones you'll use.

Click the lower area for the area select.
The Y coordinate is 10
The X coordinates vary from 50 to 100.
When creating the component this time, enter the name Target.
IMPORTANT: Be sure to reselect all the nodes before continuing. This is done by
opening the entity select menu, Utility Menu > Select > Entities..., clicking the
Also Select radio button, and click the Sele All button.
Generate Contact Elements
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Elements > Elem Attributes
Fill the window in as shown below. This ensures ANSYS knows that you are dealing
with the contact elements and the associated real constants.
298
Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling> Create > Elements > Surf / Contact > Node
to Surf
The following window will pop up. Select the node set SOURCE from the first drop
down menu (Ccomp) and TARGET from the second drop down menu (Tcomp). The
rest of the selections remain unchanged.
At this point, your model should look like the following.
Unfortunately, the contact elements don't get plotted on the screen so it is sometimes
difficult to tell they are there. If you wish, you can plot the elements (Utility Menu > Plot >
Elements) and turn on element numbering (Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering >
299
Elem/Attrib numbering > Element Type Numbers). If you zoom in on the contact areas, you
can see little purple stars (Contact Nodes) and thin purple lines (Target Elements) numbered
"2" which correspond to the contact elements, shown below.
The preprocessor stage is now complete.

ANTYPE,0

300
convergence fails.
NOTE
the command line.
1. These solution control values are extremely important in determining if your analysis will
succeed or fail. If you have too few substeps, the contact nodes may be driven through the
target elements before ANSYS "realizes" it has happened. In this case the solution will
resemble that of an analysis that didn't have contact elements defined at all. Therefore it is
important to choose a relatively large number of substeps initially to ensure the model is
defined properly. Once everything is working, you can reduce the number of substeps to
optimize the computational time. Also, if the maximum number of substeps or iterations is
301
left too low, ANSYS may stop the analysis before it has a chance to converge to a solution.
Again, leave these relatively high at first.
Apply Constraints
Fix the left end of the upper beam and the right end of the lower beam (ie all DOF
constrained)
Apply Loads
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Force/Moment > On Nodes
Apply a load of -10000 in the FY direction to the center of the top surface of the
upper beam. Note, this is a point load on a 2D surface. This type of loading should
be avoided since it will cause a singularity. However, the displacement or stress near
the load is not of interest in this analyis, thus we will use a point load for simplicity.
Solve the System

SOLVE

Open postprocessor menu
ANSYS Main Menu > General Postproc
/POST1
Adjust Graphical Scaling

Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Displacement Scaling
Click the 1.0 (true scale) radio button, then click ok. This is of huge importance! I
lost many hours trying to figure out why the contact elements weren't working, when
in fact it was just due to the displacement scaling to which ANSYS defaulted. If you
leave the scaling as default, many times it will look like your contact nodes have
gone through the target elements.
302
Show the Stress Distribution in the Beams

General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu > Stress > von Mises
Adjust Contour Scale
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Contours > Non-Uniform Contours
Fill in the window as follows:
This should produce the following stress distribution plot:
303
As seen in the figure, the load on the upper beam caused it to deflect and come in
contact with the lower beam, producing a stress distribution in both.

Contact Elements
Introduction
utilize contact elements to simulate how two beams react when they come into contact with each
other.
The beams, as shown below, are 100mm long, 10mm x 10mm in cross-section, have a Young's
modulus of 200 GPa, and are rigidly constrained at the outer ends. A 10KN load is applied to the
center of the upper, causing it to bend and contact the lower.

finish
/clear
/title,Contact Elements
304
/prep7
! Top Beam
X1=0
Y1=15
L1=100
H1=10
! Bottom Beam
X2=50
Y2=0
L2=100
H2=10
! Create Geometry
blc4,X1,Y1,L1,H1
blc4,X2,Y2,L2,H2
! define element type
ET,1,plane42
keyopt,1,3,3
type,1
R, 1, 10
! element type 1
! plane stress w/thick
! activate element type 1
! thickness 0.01
! define material properties

MP,EX, 1, 200e3
MP,NUXY,1, 0.3
! Young's modulus
! Poisson's ratio
! meshing
esize,2
amesh,all
ET,2,contac48
keyo,2,7,1
r,2,200000,,,,10
TYPE,2
real,2
! set meshing size

! mesh area 1
! defines second element type - 2D contact elements
! contact time/load prediction
! activates or sets this element type
! activates or sets the real constants
! define contact nodes and elements

! first the contact nodes
asel,s,area,,1
!
nsla,s,1
!
nsel,r,loc,y,Y1
!
nsel,r,loc,x,X2,(X2+L2/2)!
cm,source,node
!
select top area

select the nodes within this area
select bottom layer of nodes in this area
select the nodes above the other beam
call this group of nodes 'source'
! then the target nodes

allsel
!
asel,s,area,,2
!
nsla,s,1
!
nsel,r,loc,y,H2
!
nsel,r,loc,x,X2,(X2+L2/2)!
cm,target,node
!
relect everything
select bottom area
select nodes in this area
select bottom layer of nodes in this area
select the nodes above the other beam
call this selection 'target'
gcgen,source,target,3
finish
! generate contact elements between defined nodes
305
/solut
antype,0
time,1
autots,on
nsubst,100,1000,20
outres,all,all
neqit,100
!
!
!
!
!
Sets time at end of run to 1 sec

Auto time-stepping on
Number of sub-steps
Write all output
Max number of iterations
nsel,s,loc,x,X1
! Constrain top beam
nsel,r,loc,y,Y1,(Y1+H1)
d,all,all
nsel,all
nsel,s,loc,x,(X2+L2)
! Constrain bottom beam
nsel,r,loc,y,Y2,(Y2+H2)
d,all,all
nsel,all
nsel,s,loc,x,(L1/2+X1) ! Apply load
nsel,r,loc,y,(Y1+H1)
f,all,fy,-10000
nsel,all
solve
finish
/post1
/dscale,1,1
/CVAL,1,20,40,80,160,320,640,1280,2560
PLNSOL,S,EQV,0,1
306
ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL)

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to familiarize the user
with the ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). This will be a very basic introduction to
APDL, covering things like variable definition and simple looping. Users familiar with basic
programming languages will probably find the APDL very easy to use. To learn more about APDL
and see more complex examples, please see the APDL Programmer's Guide located in the help file.
This tutorial will cover the preprocessing stage of constructing a truss geometry. Variables
including length, height and number of divisions of the truss will be requested and the APDL code
will construct the geometry.
Preprocessing: Use of APDL

Shown below is the APDL code used to construct the truss shown above, using a length of 200 m, a
height of 10 m and 20 divisions. The following discussion will attempt to explain the commands
used in the code. It is assumed the user has been exposed to basic coding and can follow the logic.
finish
/clear
/prep7
*ask,LENGTH,How long is the truss,100
*ask,HEIGHT,How tall is the truss,20
*ask,DIVISION,How many cross supports even number,2
DELTA_L
NUM_K =
COUNT =
X_COORD
= (LENGTH/(DIVISION/2))/2
DIVISION + 1
-1
= 0
*do,i,1,NUM_K,1
COUNT = COUNT + 1
OSCILATE = (-1)**COUNT
X_COORD = X_COORD + DELTA_L
*if,OSCILATE,GT,0,THEN
307
k,i,X_COORD,0
*else
k,i,X_COORD,HEIGHT
*endif
*enddo
KEYP = 0
*do,j,1,DIVISION,1
KEYP = KEYP + 1
L,KEYP,(KEYP+1)
*if,KEYP,LE,(DIVISION-1),THEN
L,KEYP,(KEYP+2)
*endif
*enddo
et,1,link1
r,1,100
mp,ex,1,200000
mp,prxy,1,0.3
esize,,1
lmesh,all
finish
*ASK Command
The *ASK command prompts the user to input data for a variable. In this case,
*ask,LENGTH,How long is the truss,100 prompts the user for a value
describing the length of the truss. This value is stored under the variable LENGTH.
Thus in later parts of the code, LENGTH can be used in other commands rather than
typing in 200 m. The 100 value at the end of the string is the default value if the user
were to enter no value and just hit the enter key.
Variable Definition Using the "=" Command
ANSYS allows the user to define a variable in a few ways. As seen above, the *ASK
command can be used define a variable, but this is usually only used for data that
will change from run to run. The *SET command can also be used to define
variables. For more information on this command, see the help file. However, the
most intutitive method is to use "=". It is used in the following manner: 'the variable
you wish to define' = 'some arguement'. This argument can be a single value, or a
mathematical expression, as seen in the line defining DELTA_L
*DO Loops
Do-loops are useful when you want to repeat a command a known number of times.
The syntax for the expression is *DO, Par, IVAL, FVAL, INC, where Par is the
parameter that will be incremented by the loop, IVAL is the initial value the
308
parameter starts as, FVAL is the final value the parameter will reach, and INC is the
increment value that the parameter will be increased by during each iteration of the
loop. For example, *do,i,1,10_K,1 is a do-loop which increases the parameter "i"
from 1 to 10 in steps of 1, (ie 1,2,3...8,9,10). It is necessary to use a *ENDDO
command at the end of the loop to locate where ANSYS should look for the next
command once the loop has finished. In between the *DO and *ENDDO, the user
can place code that will utilize the repetative characteristics of the loop.
*IF Statement
If-statements can be used as decision makers, determining if a certain case has
occured. For example, in the code above there is a statement:
*if,OSCILATE,GT,0,THEN. This translates to "if the variable, OSCILATE, is greater
than zero, then...". Any code directly following the *if command will be carried out
if the statement is true. If it is not true it will skip to the *else command. This
command is only used in conjunction with the *if command. Any code directly
following the *else command will be carried out when the original statement is false.
An *endif command is necessary after all code in the *if and *else sections to define
an ending.

ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL)

Introduction
This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to familiarize the user
with the ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). This will be a very basic introduction to
APDL, covering things like variable definition and simple looping. Users familiar with basic
programming languages will probably find the APDL very easy to use. To learn more about APDL
and see more complex examples, please see the APDL Programmer's Guide located in the help file.
This tutorial will cover the preprocessing stage of constructing a truss geometry. Variables
including length, height and number of divisions of the truss will be requested and the APDL code
will construct the geometry.
309

finish
/clear
/prep7
*ask,LENGTH,How long is the truss,100
*ask,HEIGHT,How tall is the truss,20
*ask,DIVISION,How many cross supports even number,2
DELTA_L
NUM_K =
COUNT =
X_COORD
= (LENGTH/(DIVISION/2))/2
DIVISION + 1
-1
= 0
*do,i,1,NUM_K,1
COUNT = COUNT + 1
OSCILATE = (-1)**COUNT
X_COORD = X_COORD + DELTA_L
*if,OSCILATE,GT,0,THEN
k,i,X_COORD,0
*else
k,i,X_COORD,HEIGHT
*endif
*enddo
KEYP = 0
*do,j,1,DIVISION,1
KEYP = KEYP + 1
L,KEYP,(KEYP+1)
310
*if,KEYP,LE,(DIVISION-1),THEN
L,KEYP,(KEYP+2)
*endif
*enddo
et,1,link1
r,1,100
mp,ex,1,200000
mp,prxy,1,0.3
esize,,1
lmesh,all
finish
311
Postprocessing Tutorials
These tutorials were created to show some of the tools available in ANSYS for postprocessing. You
may be using a different version of ANSYS than what was used to create these tutorials, therefore,
make note of small changes in the menu structure. These tutorials can be completed in any order,
however, it is expected that you have completed the Basic Tutorials.
Viewing Cross Sectional Results
The method to view cross sectional results for a volume are shown in this tutorial.
Advanced X-Sectional Results: Using Paths to Post Process Results
The purpose of this tutorial is to create and use 'paths' to provide extra detail during post processing.
Data Plotting: Using Tables to Post Process Results
The purpose of this tutorial is to outline the steps required to plot results using tables, a special type
of array.
Changing Graphical Properties
This tutorial outlines some of the basic graphical changes that can be made to the main screen and
model.
312
Viewing X-Sectional Results

Introduction
required to view cross sectional results (Deformation, Stress, etc.) of the following example.

/title, Cross-Sectional Results of a Simple Cantilever Beam

/PREP7
Create Block
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Volumes > Block > By 2 Corners & Z
BLC4,0,0,Width,Height,Length
Where:
Width:
Height:
Length:
40mm
60mm
400mm
313

For this problem we will use the SOLID45 (3D Structural Solid) element. This
element has 8 nodes each with 3 degrees of freedom (translation along the X, Y and
Z directions).
Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Global > Size
esize,20
For this example we will use an element size of 20mm.

Mesh the volume
Preprocessor > Meshing > Mesh > Volumes > Free > click 'Pick All'
vmesh,all

ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Displacement > On Areas
Fix the left hand side (should be labeled Area 1).
Apply Loads
Apply a load of 2500N downward on the back right hand keypoint (Keypoint #7).
Solve the System
314
Solution > (-Solve-) Current LS

SOLVE

Now since the purpose of this tutorial is to observe results within different cross-sections of the
colume, we will first outline the steps required to view a slice.
Offset the working plane for a cross section view (WPOFFS)
Select the TYPE of display for the section(/TYPE). For this example we are trying to display a
section, therefore, options 1, 5, or 8 are relevant and are summarized in the table below.
Type
Description
SECT
or (1)
Section display. Only the selected section is

shown without any remaining faces or edges
shown
CAP
or (5)
Capped hidden diplay. This is as though you

have cut off a portion of the model and the
remaining model can be seen
ZQSL
or (8)
QSLICE Z-buffered display. This is the same

as SECT but the outline of the entire model is
shown.
Visual Representation
Align the cutting plane with the working plane(/CPLANE)

Deflection
Before we begin selecting cross sections, let's view deflection of the entire model.
Select: General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu
315
From this one may wish to view several cross sections through the YZ plane.
To illustrate how to take a cross section, let's take one halfway through the beam in the YZ
plane
First, offset the working plane to the desired position, halfway through the beam
Select: Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Offset WP by Increments
In the window that appears, increase Global X to 30 (Width/2) and rotate Y by +90 degrees
Select the type of plot and align the cutting plane with the working plane (Note that in GUI, these
two steps are combined)
Select: Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Hidden-Line Options
Fill in the window that appears as shown below to select /TYPE=ZQSL and
/CPLANE=Working Plane
316
As desired, you should now have the following:
This can be repeated for any slice, however, note that the command lines required to
do the same are as follows:
WPOFFS,Width/2,0,0
view
WPROTA,0,0,90
/CPLANE,1
/TYPE,1,8
PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
! Offset the working plane for cross-section

! Rotate the working plane
! Cutting plane defined to use the WP
Also note that to realign the working plane with the active coordinate system, simply
use: WPCSYS,-1,0
317
Equivalent Stress
Again, let's view stresses within the entire model.
First we need to realign the working plane with the active coordinate system. Select:
Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Align WP with > Active Coord Sys (NOTE: To
check the position of the WP, select Utility Menu > WorkPlane > Show WP Status)
Next we need to change /TYPE to the default setting(no hidden or section
operations). Select: Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Hidden Line Options...
And change the 'Type of Plot' to 'Non-hidden'
Select: General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu > Stress > von Mises
Let's say that we want to take a closer look at the base of the beam through the XY
plane. Because it is much easier, we are going to use command line:
WPOFFS,0,0,1/16*Length
/CPLANE,1
/TYPE,1,5
PLNSOL,S,EQV,0,1
! Offset the working plane

! Cutting plane defined to use the WP
! Use the capped hidden display
Note that we did not need to rotate the WP because we want to look at the XY plane
which is the default). Also note that we are using the capped hidden display this
time.
You should now see the following:
318
Animation
Now, for something a little more impressive, let's show an animation of the Von Mises
stress through the beam. Unfortunately, the ANSYS commands are not as user friendly as
they could be... but please bear with me.
Select: Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Animate > Q-Slice Contours
In the window that appears, just change the Item to be contoured to 'Stress' 'von Mises'
You will then be asked to select 3 nodes; the origin, the sweep direction, and the Y axis. In the
graphics window, select the node at the origin of the coordinate system as the origin of the sweep
(the sweep will start there). Next, the sweep direction is in the Z direction, so select any node in the
z direction (parallel to the first node). Finally, select the node in the back, bottom left hand side
corner as the Y axis.
You should now see an animated version of the contour slices through the beam. For
more information on how to modify the animation, type help ancut into the
command line.

319
Viewing X-Sectional Results

Introduction
required to view cross sectional results (Deformation, Stress, etc.) of the following example.

FINISH
/CLEAR
/Title, Cross-Sectional Results of a Simple Cantilever Beam
/PREP7
! All dims in mm
Width = 60
Height = 40
Length = 400
BLC4,0,0,Width,Height,Length
! Creates a rectangle
/ANGLE, 1 ,60.000000,YS,1
/REPLOT,FAST
! Rotates the display

! Fast redisplay
ET,1,SOLID45
! Element type
MP,EX,1,200000
MP,PRXY,1,0.3
! Young's Modulus
! Poisson's ratio
esize,20
vmesh,all
! Element size
! Mesh the volume
FINISH
/SOLU
! Enter solution mode
ANTYPE,0
! Static analysis
320
ASEL,S,LOC,Z,0
DA,All,ALL,0
ASEL,ALL
! Area select at z=0

! Constrain the area
! Reselect all areas
KSEL,S,LOC,Z,Length
KSEL,R,LOC,Y,Height
KSEL,R,LOC,X,Width
FK,All,FY,-2500
KSEL,ALL
! Select certain keypoint
SOLVE
FINISH
! Solve
/POST1
! Enter post processor
PLNSOL,U,SUM,0,1
WPOFFS,Width/2,0,0
WPROTA,0,0,90
/CPLANE,1
/TYPE,1,8
!
!
!
!
!
WPCSYS,-1,0
! Deflines working plane location
WPOFFS,0,0,1/16*Length
/CPLANE,1
/TYPE,1,5
PLNSOL,S,EQV,0,1
!
!
!
!
! Force on keypoint
! Reselect all keypoints
Plot deflection
Offset the working plane for cross-section view
Rotate working plane
Cutting plane defined to use the WP
QSLICE display
Offset the working plane

Cutting plane defined to use the WP
Use the capped hidden display
Plot equivalent stress
!Animation
ANCUT,43,0.1,5,0.05,0,0.1,7,14,2 ! Animate the slices
321
Advanced X-Sectional Results: Using Paths to Post Process

Results
Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to create and use 'paths' to
provide extra detail during post processing. For example, one may want to determine the effects of
stress concentrators along a certain path. Rather than plotting the entire contour plot, a plot of the
stress along that path can be made.
In this tutorial, a steel plate measuring 100 mm X 200 mm X 10 mm will be used. Three holes are
drilled through the vertical centerline of the plate. The plate is constrained in the y-direction at the
bottom and a uniform, distributed load is pulling on the top of the plate.

Give the example a Title
/title, Use of Paths for Post Processing

/PREP7
Define Rectangular Ares

BLC4,0,0,200,100
Create a rectangle where the bottom left corner has the coordinates 0,0 and the width and height are
200 and 100 respectively.
322
Create Circles
Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Circle > Solid Circle
cyl4,WP X,WP Y,Radius
Create three circles with parameters shown below.

Circle
Parameters
WP X WP Y Radius
50
50
10
100
50
10
150
50
10
Subtract the Circles

Preprocessor > Modeling > Operate > Booleans > Subtract > Areas
First, select the area to remain (ie. the rectangle) and click OK. Then, select the areas to be
subtracted (ie. the circles) and click OK.
The remaining area should look as shown below.

For this problem we will use the PLANE2 (Solid Triangle 6node) element. This element has 2
degrees of freedom (translation along the X and Y axes).
In the 'Element Types' window, click 'Options...' and set 'Element behavior' to Plane strs w/thk
In the 'Real Constants for PLANE2' window, enter a thickness of 10.
323

Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models > Structural > Linear > Elastic > Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
Preprocessor > Meshing > Size Cntrls > ManualSize > Areas > All Areas...
Mesh the Area

Solution
>
Analysis
Type
>
New
Analysis
ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Constrain the bottom of the area in the UY direction.
Apply Loads
Solution > Define Loads > Apply > Structural > Pressure > On Lines
Apply a constant, uniform pressure of -200 on the top of the area.
The model should now look like the figure below.
>
Static
324
Solve the System

SOLVE

To see the stress distribution on the plate, you could create a normal contour plot, which would
have the distribution over the entire plate. However, if the stress near the holes are of interest, you
could create a path through the center of the plate and plot the stress on that path. Both cases will be
plotted below on a split screen.
Contour Plot
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Window Controls > Window Layout
Fill in the 'Window Layout' as seen below
General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solu > Stress > von Mises
The display should now look like this.
325
To ensure the top plot is not erased when the second plot is created, you must make a
couple of changes.
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Window Controls > Window On or Off. Turn window 1 'off'.
To keep window 1 visible during replots, select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Erase Option > Erase
Between Plots and ensure there is no check-mark, meaning this function off.
To have the next graph plot in the bottom half of the screen, select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls >
Window Controls > Window Layout and select 'Window 2 > Bottom Half > Do not replot'.
Create Path
General PostProc > Path Operations > Define Path > By Location
In the window, shown below, name the path Cutline and set the 'Number of divisions' to 1000
Fill the next two window in with the following parameters

Parameters
Path Point Number X Loc Y Loc Z Loc
50
200
50
When the third window pops up, click 'Cancle' because we only enabled two points
on the path in the previous step.
Map the Stress onto the Path

Now the path is defined, you must choose what to map to the path, or in other words,
what results should be available to the path. For this example, equivalent stress is
desired.
General Postproc > Path Operations > Map onto Path
Fill the next window in as shown below [Stress > von Mises] and click OK.
326
The warning shown below will probably pop up. This is just saying that some of the 1000 points
you defined earlier are not on interpolation points (special points on the elements) therefore there is
no data to map. This is of little concern though, since there are plenty of points that do lie on
interpolation points to produce the necessary plot, so disregard the warning.
Plot the Path Data

General Postproc > Path Operations > Plot Path Item > On Geometry
Fill the window in as shown below
327
2. The display should look like the following. Note, there will be dots on the plot showing
node locations. Due to resolution restrictions, these dots are not shown here.
3. This plot makes it easy to see how the stress is concentrated around the holes.

Advanced X-Sectional Results: Using Paths to Post Process

Results
Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 The purpose of this tutorial is to create and use 'paths' to
provide extra detail during post processing. For example, one may want to determine the effects of
stress concentrators along a certain path. Rather than plotting the entire contour plot, a plot of the
stress along that path can be made.
328
In this tutorial, a steel plate measuring 100 mm X 200 mm X 10 mm will be used. Three holes are
drilled through the vertical centerline of the plate. The plate is constrained in the y-direction at the
bottom and a uniform, distributed load is pulling on the top of the plate.

finish
/clear
/title, Defining Paths
/PREP7
! create geometry
BLC4,0,0,200,100
cyl4,50,50,10
cyl4,100,50,10
cyl4,150,50,10
asba,1,all
et,1,plane2,,,3
R,1,10
mp,ex,1,200000
mp,prxy,1,0.3
!
!
!
!
Plane element
thickness of plane
Young's Modulus
Poisson's ratio
esize,5
amesh,all
! mesh size
! area mesh
finish
/solu
! apply constraints
lsel,s,loc,y,0
dl,all,,UY
allsel
! apply loads
allsel
lsel,s,loc,y,100
SFL,all,PRES,-2000/10
! select line for contraint application

! constrain all DOF's on this face
! restore entire selection

! apply a pressure load on a line
329
allsel
solve
finish
! plot results
/window,1,top
/POST1
PLNSOL,S,eqv,2,1
edge)
/window,1,off
/noerase
/window,2,bot
nsel,all
nsel,s,loc,y,50
path,cutline,2,,1000
ppath,1,,0,50
ppath,2,,200,50
PDEF,,S,eqv,AVG
nsel,all
PLPAGM,SEQV,200,NODE
! solve resulting system of equations
! define a window (top half of screen)

! plot stress in xx direction (deformed and undeformed
!
!
!
!
!
define
define
choose
define
define
a window (bottom half of screen)

nodes to define path
nodes half way through structure
a path labeled cutline
endpoint nodes on path
! calculate equivalent stress on path

! show graph on plot with nodes
330

Introduction
required to plot Vertical Deflection vs. Length of the following beam using tables, a special type of
array. By plotting this data on a curve, rather than using a contour plot, finer resolution can be
achieved.
This tutorial will use a steel beam 400 mm long, with a 40 mm X 60 mm cross section as shown
above. It will be rigidly constrained at one end and a -2500 N load will be applied to the other.

Give the example a Title
/title, Use of Tables for Data Plots

/PREP7
Define Keypoints
K,#,x,y,z
We are going to define 2 keypoints for this beam as given in the following table:
331
Keypoint Coordinates (x,y,z)

1
(0,0)
(400,0)
Create Lines
L,1,2

Z axis).
properties:
Area moment of inertia IZZ: 320e3
Total beam height: 40
Isotropic
Define Mesh Size
Mesh the frame
332

ANTYPE,0
Apply Constraints
Fix keypoint 1 (ie all DOF constrained)
Apply Loads
Apply a load of -2500N on keypoint 2.
The model should now look like the figure below.
Solve the System

SOLVE
333

It is at this point the tables come into play. Tables, a special type of array, are basically matrices that
can be used to store and process data from the analysis that was just run. This example is a
simplified use of tables, but they can be used for much more. For more information type help in the
command line and search for 'Array Parameters'.
Number of Nodes
Since we wish to plot the verticle deflection vs length of the beam, the location and verticle
deflection of each node must be recorded in the table. Therefore, it is necessary to determine
how many nodes exist in the model. Utility Menu > List > Nodes... > OK. For this example
there are 21 nodes. Thus the table must have at least 21 rows.
Create the Table
Utility Menu > Parameters > Array Parameters > Define/Edit > Add
The window seen above will pop up. Fill it out as shown [Graph > Table > 22,2,1]. Note there are
22 rows, one more than the number of nodes. The reason for this will be explained below. Click OK
and then close the 'Define/Edit' window.
Enter Data into Table
First, the horizontal location of the nodes will be recorded
Utility Menu > Parameters > Get Array Data ...
In the window shown below, select Model Data > Nodes
334
Fill the next window in as shown below and click OK [Graph(1,1) > All > Location > X]. Naming
the array parameter 'Graph(1,1)' fills in the table starting in row 1, column 1, and continues down
the column.
Next, the vertical displacement will be recorded.

Utility Menu > Parameters > Get Array Data ... > Results data > Nodal results
Fill the next window in as shown below and click OK [Graph(1,2) > All > DOF solution > UY].
Naming the array parameter 'Graph(1,2)' fills in the table starting in row 1, column 2, and continues
down the column.
Arrange the Data for Ploting
335
Users familiar with the way ANSYS numbers nodes will realize that node 1 will be on the
far left, as it is keypoint 1, node 2 will be on the far right (keypoint 2), and the rest of the
nodes are numbered sequentially from left to right. Thus, the second row in the table
contains the data for the last node. This causes problems during plotting, thus the
information for the last node must be moved to the final row of the table. This is why a table
with 22 rows was created, to provide room to move this data.
Utility Menu > Parameters > Array Parameters > Define/Edit > Edit
The data for the end of the beam (X-location = 400, UY = -0.833) is in row two. Cut one of the cells
to be moved (right click > Copy or Ctrl+X), press the down arrow to get to the bottom of the table,
and paste it into the appropriate column (right click > Paste or Ctrl+V). When both values have
been moved check to ensure the two entries in row 2 are zero. Select File > Apply/Quit
Plot the Data
Utility Menu > Plot > Array Parameters
The following window will pop up. Fill it in as shown, with the X-location data on the X-axis and
the vertical deflection on the Y-axis.
336
To change the axis labels select Utility Menu > Plot Ctrls > Style > Graphs > Modify Axes ...
To see the changes to the labels, select Utility Menu > Replot
The plot should look like the one seen below.
337


Introduction
required to plot Vertical Deflection vs. Length of the following beam using tables, a special type of
array. By plotting this data on a curve, rather than using a contour plot, finer resolution can be
achieved.
This tutorial will use a steel beam 400 mm long, with a 40 mm X 60 mm cross section as shown
above. It will be rigidly constrained at one end and a -2500 N load will be applied to the other.

finish
/clear
/title, Use of Tables for Data Plots
/prep7
elementsize = 20
length = 400
et,1,beam3
r,1,2400,320e3,40
! Beam3 element
! Area,I,Height
338
mp,ex,1,200000
mp,prxy,1,0.3
! Youngs Modulus
! Poisson's Ratio
k,1,0,0
k,2,length,0
! Geometry
l,1,2
esize,elementsize
lmesh,all
! Mesh size
! Mesh
finish
/solu
antype,static
! Static analysis
dk,1,all
! Constrain one end fully
fk,2,fy,-2500
! Apply load to other end
solve
finish
/post1
! Note, there are 21 nodes in the mesh.
! the table must have (#nodes + 1) rows
For the procedure below
rows = ((length/elementsize + 1) + 1)
*DIM,graph,TABLE,rows,2,1
*vget,graph(1,1),node,all,loc,x
direction
! Creat a table called "graph"

! 22 rows x 2 columns x 1 plane
! Put node locations in the x
! in the first column for all nodes
*vget,graph(1,2),node,all,u,y
! Put node deflections in the y direction

! in the second column
*set,graph(2,1),0
400
! Delete data in (2,1) which is for x =

! otherwise graph is not plotted properly
*set,graph(2,2),0
= 400
! Delete data in (2,2) which is for UY @ x

! otherwise graph is not plotted properly
*vget,graph(rows,1),node,2,loc,x
the end
*vget,graph(rows,2),node,2,u,y
! Re-enter the data for x = 400, but at
*vplot,graph(1,1),graph(1,2)
! Plot the data in the table
/axlab,x,Length
/axlab,y,Vertical Deflection
/replot
! Change the axis labels
! of the table
339
Changing Graphical Properties

Introduction
This tutorial was created using ANSYS 7.0 This tutorial covers some of the methods that can be
employed to change how the output to the screen looks. For instance, changing the background
colour, numbering the nodes, etc.
Since the purpose of this tutorial is not to build or analysis a model, please copy the following code
and paste it into the input line below the utility menu.
finish
/clear
/title, Changing Graphical Properties
/prep7
K,1,0,0
K,2,100,0
L,1,2
et,1,beam3
r,1,100,833.333,10
mp,ex,1,200000
mp,prxy,1,0.3
esize,5
lmesh,all
finish
/solu
antype,0
dk,1,all,all
fk,2,fy,-100
solve
finish
You should obtain the following screen:
340
Graphical Options
Number the Nodes
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Numbering...
From this window you can select which items you wish to number. When you click
OK, the window will disappear and your model should be numbered appropriately.
However, sometimes the numbers won't show up. This could be because you had
341
previously selected a plot of a different item. To remedy this problem, select the
same item you just numbered from the Utility > Plot menu and the numbering will
show up.
For instance, select the node numbering and plot the nodes. You should get the
following:
As shown, the nodes have been numbered. You can also see some other information
that ANSYS is providing. The arrows on the left and the right are the force that was
applied and the resulting external reactive forces and moments. The triangles on the
left are the constraints and the coordinate triad is also visible. These extra symbols
may not be necessary, so the next section will show how to turn these symbols off.
Symbol Toggles
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Symbols
342
This window allows the user to toggle many symbols on or off. In our case, there are
no Surface or Body Loads, or Initial Conditions, so those sections won't be used.
Under the Boundary conditions section, click on None to turn off all the force and
reaction symbols.
The result should be as follows:
Triad Toggle
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Window Controls > Window Options
343
This window also allows the user to toggle many things on and off. In this case, it is
things associated with the window background. As shown in the window, the legend
or title can be turned off, etc. To turn off the triad, select Not Shown from the
Location of triad drop down menu. The following output should be the result.
Notice how it is much easier to see the node numbers near the origin now.
Element Shape
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Size and Shape...
344
When using line elements, such as BEAM3, it is sometime difficult to visualize what
the elements really look like. To aid in this process, ANSYS can display the
elements shapes based on the real constant description. Click on the toggle box
beside [/ESHAPE] to turn on element shapes and click OK to close the window.
If there is no change in output, don't be alarmed. Recall we selected a plot of just the
nodes, thus elements are not going to show up. Select Utility Menu > Plot >
Elements. The following should appear.
As shown, the elements are no longer just a line, but they have volume according to
the real constants. To get a better 3-D view of the model, you can change the view
orientation.
View Orientation
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Pan Zoom Rotate...
345
This window allows the user to rotate the view, translate the view and
zoom. You can also select predefined views, such as isometric or
oblique. Basic rotating, translating and zooming can also be done
using the mouse. This is very handy when you just want to quickly
change the orientation of the model. By holding the Control button on
the keyboard and holding the Left mouse button the model will
translate. By holding the Control button on the keyboard and holding
the Middle mouse button the model will zoom or rotate on the plane
of the screen. By holding the Control button on the keyboard and
holding the Right mouse button the model will rotate about all axis.
Using these options, it's easy to see the elements in 3-D.
Changing Contours
First, plot the deformation contour for the beam.
General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour Plot > Nodal Solution > DOF Solution >
USUM
If the contour divisions are not appropriate, they can be changed.
346
Utility Meny > PlotCtrls > Style > Contours

Either Uniform or Non-uniform Contours can be selected. Under uniform
contours, be sure to click on User specified if you are inputing your own contour
divisions. Under non-uniform contours, you can create a logarithmic contour
division or some similiar contour where uniform divisions don't capture the
information you desire.
If you don't like the colours of the contour, those can also be changed.
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Colours > Contour Colours...
The colours for each division can be selected from the drop down menus.
Changing Background Colour

Perhaps you desire to use a plot for a presentation, but don't want a black
background.
Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Style > Colours > Window Colours...
Select the background colour you desire for the window you desire. Here we are
only using Window 1, and we'll set the background colour to white.
347
The resulting display is shown below. Notice how all the text disappeared. This is
because the text colour is also white. If there is information that needs to be added,
such as contour values, this can be done in other graphic editors. To save the display,
select Utility Menu > PlotCtrls > Capture Image. Under the File heading, select
Save As...
There are lots of other option that can be used to change the presentation of data in ANSYS, these
are just a few. If you are looking for a specific option, the PlotCtrls menu is a good place to start, as
is the help file.
348

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University of Alberta - ANSYS Tutorials

Command Line Files

Plane Stress Bracket .........................................................................................................................................83

ANSYS Command Listing ...........................................................................................................................229

ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL) ................................................................................................306

Getting the Program Started

Run Interactive Now

ANSYS 7.0 Environment

Within the Main Window are 5 divisions:

FEM Convergence Testing

What to do about it...

ANSYS: Saving and Restoring Jobs

Recalling or Resuming a Previously Saved Job

Printing and Plotting ANSYS Results to a File

1.0 Quick Image Save

'Utility menu bar'/'PlotCtrls'/'Hard Copy ...'.

2.0 Better Quality Plots

Type in a filename (e.g.: frame.pic) in the 'Selection' Window.

Display and Conversion

When complete, exit display by entering

Finite Element Method using Pro/ENGINEER and ANSYS

Step 1. Make the part

be aware of your model units

Step 2. Create the FEM model

Step 3. Define the analysis

Step 4. Creating the mesh

Improving the Mesh

Step 5. Creating the Output file

Step 6. Importing into ANSYS

Step 7. Running the ANSYS solver

Step 8. Viewing the results

Command Line Files

This set of command line codes are from the Intermediate

A simple radiation heat transfer between concentric cylinders.

ANSYS Command File Creation and Execution

Running the Command File

save the ASCII text commands in a text file; e.g. frame.cmd

GUI Command File Loading

Command Line File Loading

and then entered

ANSYS Command Groupings

straight line creation

circular arc line

circular line creation

see online help

spline line through

spline,kp1,kp2, ... kp6

area definition from

a,kp1,kp2, ... kp18

area definition from

a,l1,l2, ... l10

volume definition from

v,kp1,kp2, ... kp8

volume definition from

va,a1,a2, ... a10

create volume from area

block volume creation

various volume creation

see online help

adds separate areas to

creates new areas by

creat new area by area

create new area by area