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Introduction
This is not an ANSYS manual! ANSYS is a general purpose finite element package whose full documentation is available
as online help and would fill half a bookshelf when printed. There are numerous tutorials and sample problems available on
the internet, but all of them serve different, and mostly specific purposes, reflecting the numerous areas of applicability of
ANSYS (structural, thermal, electrical, etc.).
This little quick reference collects hints to the most important features in the context of the course Finite Element Lab within
the Master Program in Computational Mechanics at the TU Mnchen. It is intended to serve as a help to get started with
ANSYS. After getting familiar with these basic steps it should be no problem to handle more complex applications with the
help of the aforementioned online manual.
Disclaimer: We do not take any responsibility for the information herein. This quick reference is not licensed, sponsored or
connected in any other way to ANSYS. If you downloaded this document and you are not a student of CoMe.TUM, please
drop us a note (bischoff@bv.tum.de).
General Procedure
ANSYS provides two principally different methods to issue commands: Either using a menu structure or a command line.
Professionals who use ANSYS usually work with the command line because it is more efficient and provides an easy
possibility to use readily prepared macros (often used command sequences). To get started, however, it is recommended to
use the menus. They help to lo lead you through the process of model creation, meshing, solving and plotting the results and
provide a quick overview of the possibilities that the program offers. And its much more fun.
Solution
Postprocessing
Preprocessing
Command at
the input line
Preprocessing commands
Start Preprocessor
To get into the preprocessing part of ANSYS. From here all
preprocessing commands are accepted.
Geometric Model
Modeling
Create Arcs
Create Arbitrary
Creates an arbitrary polygonal area.
Create Rectangle
Create Circle
/prep7
K,NPT,X,Y,Z
Defining Keypoints
in the input line is
very efficient and
therefore
recommended!
L,KPstart,KPend
A,KP1,KP2,KP3,
Copy Objects
Easy modeling of repeated geometric objects or geometries with
periodic properties. Offset depends on active coordinate system.
Model Operations
Boolean operations to merge geometric primitives or remove
intersecting areas.
> Annulus
> Partial Annulus
> By End Points
> By dimensions
Copy
> Keypoints
> Lines
> Areas
Operate Booleans> Add
> Subtract
> Divide
> Glue
ET,ETNr,Ename
R,SetNr,Value1,
Mesh
Clear
Refine
Close
On Keypoints
> On Nodes
automatically generate symmetric and antisymmetric boundary
conditions (Caution: The program needs to guess the symmetry plane
from the given model because it does, of course, not know the real
structure. Always verify that that the generated boundary conditions are
correct).
Loads > Define Loads > Apply >
Concentrated Loads and Moments
Pressure Loads
To apply pressure loads, i.e. loads that are perpendicular to the given
geometric entity
Delete Loads and Boundary Conditions
Force/Moment
> On Keypoints
> On Nodes
Loads > Define Loads > Apply >
Pressure
> On Lines
> On Areas
> On Nodes
Loads > Delete >
> All Load Data
> Displacement
> Force/Moment
> Pressure
Solution Commands
Main Menu > Solution
Start Solution Part
Now only solution commands are accepted at the input line.
Analysis Type > Soln Control
Control the Solution Procedure
Several solution options, mostly for non-linear computations
Solve > Current LS
Solve Problem
Solves the current finite element system of equations (applying iterative
incremental schemes in the case of non-linear problems). Be sure to
select everything prior to solving!
/Solu
Postprocessing Commands
Start Postprocessor
Now only postprocessing commands are accepted at the input line
Generate result plots
After a successful computation you can create various plots of the
results like deformations, stresses, etc. You can choose between nodal
solutions mostly used for deformation results and element solutions,
usually for stress plots. To change appearance of plots use plotctrls.
Generate List of Results
All data can also be listed as numbers, e.g. nodal values for the
displacements etc.
Work with sections / Path operations
To display results at user defined sections, for example to perform
equilibrium checks, paths have to be defined. Along these paths all data
can be plotted and listed. It is also possible to do certain computations,
for example to obtain a moment out of stress values and coordinates
(i.e. the excentriticity). Note: All path data will be lost when leaving
POST1 (but you can store the data in a file).
To visualize a stress distribution on a path:
- define a path
- map the corresponding values onto the path by defining a name and
the specified value, e.g. stress in x-direction (SX). Mind the option of
average results over the element!
- plot the corresponding path items either on the geometry (adjust the
scale factor!) or on a special graph (which allows more items in one
plot).
- The following procedure is an example to obtain a moment for an
equlibrium check: map the stresses on the path; do multiply this item
with the geometry distance (e.g. YG) and give it a new item-name;
do integrate this new item over the geometry; the result is shown in
the output window (DOS-Box).
Path Operations
> Define Path > By Nodes
> On Working Pl
> By Location
> Delete Path
> Plot Paths
> Recall Path
> Map onto Path
> Plot Path Item > On Graph
> Plot Path Item > On Geometry
> Plot Path Item > List Path
Items
> Various Calculations
> Archive Path >Store/Retrieve
/Post1
Element Table
> Define Table
> Plot Elem Table
> List Elem Table
> Find Maximum/Find Minimum
Utility Menu
File
Creates a text file (ascii) with all commands of the whole history of the current session. It is sensible to save
your work up to a certain stage once in a while (can be used later like an undo option).
Read commands out of text file (see above).
View the current Log File.
Everything
Selecting parts of the finite element model. All subsequently issued commands refer exclusively to the current
selection. By default (at the beginning of your project) everything is selected.
Select individual entities of the model (nodes, elements, lines, areas keypoints) either graphically (By Num/Pick)
or with the help of certain properties (e.g. coordinates).
Selects everything. Has to be done each time before starting a computation!
List
Provides the possibility to list every kind of information like working-files, program-status, geometrical data, finite
element data, etc.
Plot
To plot all individual objects. Useful during modeling to organize the screen.
Multi-Plots
PlotCtrls
Controls all plot options. As there is a huge number of options, only the most important are listed below.
Opens a window for easy controlling of zoom, viewing angle, etc. To view the entire model click Fit
As all objects and attributes are numbered it is sometimes useful to plot the numbers. Especially for element
attributes with different materials or real constants.
Useful to display boundary conditions and forces (also as arrows instead of face outlines)
It is possible to change the number of contours to control the quality of the plot.
Select
Entities
Symbols
Style > Contours >
Uniform Contours
Animate > Deformed
Results
Redirect Plots
Capture Image
MultiWindow Layout
WorkPlane
Nice tool to animate your computation and see what happens (non-linear problems).
Export into other graphic standards. Redirect to screen to switch it back.
For screenshots to compare different plots.
More than one window.
Work Plane controls
Display Working
Shows working plane triad.
Plane
WP Settings
Tool to control working plane as grid, activate snapping, etc.
Change Active CS to Changes coordinate system to cartesian, cylindrical or spherical for all modeling commands (lines,
keypoints,). During preprocessing the status is shown in the title of the graphics window.
Parameters
Scalar Parameters
Parameters are used as variables. For example a load can be defined as a variable F and then set to different
values. Useful in general, needed for optimization problems.
Tool to define, set and check all parameters.