DesignXplorer 14.

0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

This tutorial gives step-by-step instructions for performing a parametric What If? study of a hitch re-
ceiver. The workshop uses the Parameter Manager to investigate the behavior of stress, mass, and
deformation in the receiver as the geometry parameters are changed during vertical loading.

Note

What If? studies use functionality inherent to ANSYS Workbench. A DesignXplorer license
is not required to complete this workshop.

This tutorial covers the following sections:

1. Getting Started
2. Promoting Input and Output Parameters
3. Working with Design Points in Workbench
4. Working with Parameters Charts in DesignXplorer
5. Viewing the Solution

1. Getting Started
Model Description
The model is composed of a multibody part (three bodies) created in DesignModeler. Constraints and
loads are shown below.

The dimensions labeled 1, 2, and 3, shown below, will be promoted to input parameters.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

Restoring the Archived the Project

1. Open ANSYS Workbench 14.0 and select File > Restore Archive from the main menu.

2. In the file browser, locate and open the file receiver.wbpz.

3. Save the project as reciever.wbpj.

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 Promoting Input and Output Parameters

2. Promoting Input and Output Parameters

Promoting Input Parameters in DesignModeler
1. On the Project Schematic, double-click the Geometry cell. Alternatively, you can right-click the Geo-
metry cell and select Edit from the context menu.

2. In DesignModeler, select Gusset in the Tree Outline.

3. In the Details View, select the parameter box next to FD1, Depth.
4. Set Parameter Name to thick_ds and click OK.

5. In the Tree Outline, expand YZPlane and select Sketch4.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

6. In the Details View, select the parameter box next to H6.

7. Set Parameter Name to horiz_ds and click OK.

8. Leave Sketch4 under the YZPlane in the Tree Outline selected.

9. In the Details View, now select the parameter box next to V7.
10. Set Parameter Name to vert_ds and click OK.

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 Promoting Input and Output Parameters

11. Return to the Project Schematic. Note that the Parameter Set bar has been added. An arrow leaves
the Parameter Set bar and connects to cell A8 Parameters, indicating that input parameters have
been defined.

Promoting Output Parameters in Mechanical

1. On the Project Schematic, double-click the Setup cell. Alternatively, you can right-click the Setup cell
and select Edit from the context menu.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

2. In DesignModeler Outline, select Geometry.

3. In Details of Geometry, expand Properties and select the parameter box next to Mass. This promotes
mass to an output parameter.

4. In the Outline view, expand Solution and select Equivalent Stress.

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 Promoting Input and Output Parameters

5. In the Details of Equivalent Stress view, expand Results and select the parameter box next to Max-
imum. This promotes the maximum equivalent stress to an output parameter.

6. In the Outline view under Solution, select Total Deformation.

7. In the Details of Total Deformation view, expand Results and select the parameter box next to
Maximum. This promotes the maximum total deformation to an output parameter.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

8. Return to the Project Schematic. Note that an arrow now leaves cell A8 Parameters and connects to
the Parameter Set bar, indicating that output parameters have been defined.

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 Working with Design Points in Workbench

3. Working with Design Points in Workbench

Adding and Updating Design Points
1. On the Project Schematic, double-click the Parameter Set bar. Alternatively, you can right-click the
Parameter Set bar and select Edit from the context menu.

2. In the Parameter workspace, add the three design points shown below to the Table of Design Points.
3. Click the Update All Design Points button.

4. Click the Show Progress button in the Status Bar at the bottom right corner of the workspace. The
Progress Bar shows the progress of the update.

When the update is complete, the Table of Design Points displays the results.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

4. Working with Parameters Charts in DesignXplorer

Working with Charts

Note

The Charts view may not be displayed by default. If you do not see the Charts view at the
bottom right of the workspace, select View > Outline from the main menu.

First, well add a chart that illustrates the relationship between a selected output parameter and each
of the design points.

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 Working with Parameters Charts in DesignXplorer

1. In the Outline of All Parameters view, under Output Parameters select P6. Note that there are no
charts in the Chart section at the bottom of the view.
2. In the Toolbox, expand Parameter Charts and double-click Design Point vs ? to add a chart.

3. Select the newly added Parameter Chart 0.

4. In the Properties of Outline view, set the Y-Axis (Left) property to P6 Total Deformation Maximum.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

The Parameter Chart 0 displays in the Chart view. Note that the design points are arranged along
the bottom of the X-axis and the P6 values are on the Y-axis on the left side of the chart, as spe-
cified in the Properties view.

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 Working with Parameters Charts in DesignXplorer

Note

An alternate method of viewing this chart is to select the parameter P6 and then double-
click on the Parameters Chart P6 vs ? option in the Toolbox.

Next, well add a chart that illustrates the relationship between a selected output parameter and each
of the design points.

1. Select any cell in the ID column of the Outline of All Parameters view.
2. In the Toolbox, double-click Parameters Parallel Chart (All) to add the chart.
3. Select the newly added Parameters Parallel Chart 0.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

The Parameters Parallel Chart 0 displays in the Chart view. Note that all the parameters are ar-
ranged along the bottom of the X-axis. The top and bottom values indicate the range relative to
each parameter. Each color-coded line on the plot represents a design point.

5. Viewing the Solution

Viewing the Solution
A solution is generated for the design point designated as Current in the Table of Design Points. If,
based on your design exploration, you decide that another design point is preferable, you can define
that design point as Current.

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 Viewing the Solution

1. In the Table of Design Points, right-click on the design point you want to designate as Current and
select Copy inputs to Current from the context menu. Note how the values in the Current row change
accordingly.

2. Right-click on the Current row and select Update Selected Design Points from the context menu.

When the update is complete, the Table of Design Points displays the results.

3. Click the Return to Project button to return to the Project Schematic.

4. On the Project Schematic, double-click the Model cell. Alternatively, you can right-click the Model
cell and select Edit from the context menu.
5. In Mechanical, under the Solution branch of the Outline view, select an output to view the solution
for the Current design point.

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DesignXplorer 14.0: Performing a Parametric What If Study

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