ANSYS, Inc.

is an American Computer-aided engineering software developer headquartered south of Pittsburgh

in Cecil Township, Pennsylvania, United States. Ansys publishes engineering analysis software across a range of
disciplines including finite element analysis, structural analysis, computational fluid dynamics, explicit and implicit
methods, and heat transfer.

Structural Analysis
ANSYS Autodyn

ANSYS Autodyn is computer simulation tool for simulating the response of materials to short duration severe
loadings from impact, high pressure or explosions.[5]

ANSYS Mechanical

ANSYS Mechanical is a finite element analysis tool for structural analysis, including linear, nonlinear and dynamic
studies. Thiscomputer simulation product provides finite elements to model behavior, and supports material models
and equation solvers for a wide range of mechanical design problems. ANSYS Mechanical also includes thermal
analysis and coupled-physics capabilities involving acoustics, piezoelectric, thermal–structural and thermo-electric
analysis.[6]

Fluid Dynamics
ANSYS Fluent, CFD, CFX

ANSYS Fluent, CFD, CFX, and related software are Computational Fluid Dynamics software tools used by engineers
for design and analysis.[7] These tools can simulate fluid flows in a virtual environment — for example, the fluid
dynamics of ship hulls; gas turbine engines (including the compressors, combustion chamber, turbines and
afterburners); aircraft aerodynamics; pumps, fans, HVAC systems, mixing vessels, hydrocyclones, vacuum cleaners,
etc.

Electronics
ANSYS HFSS

ANSYS HFSS is a Finite Element Analysis tool for simulating full-wave electromagnetic fields. HFSS
incorporates finite element, integral equation, and hybrid methods to solve a wide range of microwave, RF and high-
speed digital applications.[8]

ANSYS Maxwell[

ANSYS Maxwell is a Finite Element Analysis tool for electromagnetic field simulation, primarily for engineers
tasked with designing and analyzing electromagnetic and electromechanical devices, including motors, actuators,
transformers, sensors and coils. ANSYS Maxwell incorporates finite element method solvers to solve static,
frequency-domain, and time-varying electromagnetic and electric fields.[9]
ANSYS SIwave

ANSYS SIwave is a specialized design platform for power integrity, signal integrity and Electromagnetic
interference (EMI) analysis of electronic packages and PCBs.[10]

ANSYS, Inc. headquarters building in Cecil Township, Pennsylvania.

Suites
ANSYS Multiphysics and ANSYS Workbench provide multiple ANSYS tools in a single package.

Availability
A free student version is available for download, and supports up to 32,000 nodes/elements. [11]

History
The company was founded in 1970. by John A. Swanson as Swanson Analysis Systems, Inc (SASI). Its primary
purpose was to develop and market finite element analysis software for structural physics that could simulate static
(stationary), dynamic (moving) and thermal (heat transfer) problems. SASI developed its business in parallel with the
growth in computer technology and engineering needs. The company grew by 10 percent to 20 percent each year, and
in 1994 it was sold to TA Associates. The new owners took SASI’s leading software, called ANSYS, as their flagship
product and designated ANSYS, Inc. as the new company name.

Acquisitions
Ansys has acquired a number of companies since 2000, including ICEM CFD Engineering, Space-claim, CADOE
S.A., of Lyon, France, a company specializing in parametric analysis, and with numerous French clients,
including Michelin, Renault and Airbus,[12] and CFX (2003); Century Dynamics, Harvard Thermal, and Fluent Inc.
(2006); Ansoft Corporation (2008); Apache Design Solutions (2011); Esterel Technologies (2012); EVEN and
Reaction Design (2013);[13] and Spaceclaim Corporation (2014).[14]

Ansys was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 1996. In 2011, Investor's Business Daily gave the firm a top
score on its SmartSelect composite ratings.[15] The organization claims to reinvest 15 percent of its revenues each year
into research to continually refine the software.[16]
 ANSYS

4.0 INTRODUCTION

ANSYS is general-purpose finite element analysis (FEA) software package. Finite Element
Analysis is a numerical method of deconstructing a complex system into very small pieces (of user-
designated size) called elements. The software implements equations that govern the behaviour of
these elements and solves them all; creating a comprehensive explanation of how the system acts as
a whole. These results then can be presented in tabulated or graphical forms. This type of analysis is
typically used for the design and optimization of a system far too complex to analyze by hand.
Systems that may fit into this category are too complex due to their geometry, scale, or governing
equations.

ANSYS is the standard FEA teaching tool within the Mechanical Engineering Department at
many colleges. ANSYS is also used in Civil and Electrical Engineering, as well as the Physics and
Chemistry departments.

ANSYS provides a cost-effective way to explore the performance of products or processes in

a virtual environment. This type of product development is termed virtual prototyping.

With virtual prototyping techniques, users can iterate various scenarios to optimize the
product long before the manufacturing is started. This enables a reduction in the level of risk, and in
the cost of ineffective designs. The multifaceted nature of ANSYS also provides a means to ensure
that users are able to see the effect of a design on the whole behavior of the product, be it
electromagnetic, thermal, mechanical etc.

5.1 Generic Steps to solving any Problem in ANSYS:

Like solving any problem analytically, you need to define (1) your solution domain, (2) the physical
model, (3) boundary conditions and (4) the physical properties. You then solve the problem and
present the results. In numerical methods, the main difference is an extra step called mesh
generation. This is the step that divides the complex model into small elements that become
solvable in an otherwise too complex situation. Below describes the processes in terminology slightly
more attune to the software.

6.1.1 Build Geometry

Construct a two or three dimensional representation of the object to be modeled

and tested using the work plane coordinates system within ANSYS.

6.1.2 Define Material Properties

Now that the part exists, define a library of the necessary materials that compose
the object (or project) being modeled. This includes thermal and mechanical
properties.

6.1.3 Generate Mesh

At this point ANSYS understands the makeup of the part. Now define how the
modeled system should be broken down into finite pieces.

6.1.4 Apply Loads

Once the system is fully designed, the last task is to burden the system with
constraints, such as physical loadings or boundary conditions.

6.1.5 Obtain Solution

This is actually a step, because ANSYS needs to understand within what state (steady
state, transient… etc.) the problem must be solved.

6.1.6 Present the Results

After the solution has been obtained, there are many ways to present ANSYS’ results, choose from
many options such as tables, graphs, and contour plots.
6.2 SPECIFIC CAPABALITIES OF ANSYS

6.2.1 Structural

Structural analysis is probably the most common application of the finite element method as
it implies bridges and buildings, naval, aeronautical, and mechanical structures such as ship
hulls, aircraft bodies, and machine housings, as well as mechanical components such as
pistons, machine parts, and tools.

 Static Analysis - Used to determine displacements, stresses, etc. under static loading
conditions. ANSYS can compute both linear and nonlinear static analyses.
Nonlinearities can include plasticity, stress stiffening, large deflection, large strain,
hyper elasticity, contact surfaces, and creep.
 Transient Dynamic Analysis - Used to determine the response of a structure to
arbitrarily time-varying loads. All nonlinearities mentioned under Static Analysis
above are allowed
 Buckling Analysis - Used to calculate the buckling loads and determine the buckling
mode shape. Both linear (Eigen value) buckling and nonlinear buckling analyses are
possible.
In addition to the above analysis types, several special-purpose features are available such
as Fracture mechanics, Composite material analysis, Fatigue, and both p-Method and Beam
analyses.

6.2.2 Thermal Analysis:

ANSYS is capable of both steady state and transient analysis of any solid with thermal
boundary conditions.
Steady-state thermal analyses calculate the effects of steady thermal loads on a system or
component. Users often perform a steady-state analysis before doing a transient thermal
analysis, to help establish initial conditions. A steady-state analysis also can be the last step
of a transient thermal analysis; performed after all transient effects have diminished. ANSYS
can be used to determine temperatures, thermal gradients, heat flow rates, and heat fluxes in
an object that are caused by thermal loads that do not vary over time. Such loads include the
following:
 Convection
 Radiation
 Heat flow rates
 Heat fluxes (heat flow per unit area)
 Heat generation rates (heat flow per unit volume)
 Constant temperature boundaries
A steady-state thermal analysis may be either linear, with constant material properties; or
nonlinear, with material properties that depend on temperature. The thermal properties of most
material vary with temperature. This temperature dependency being appreciable, the analysis
becomes nonlinear. Radiation boundary conditions also make the analysis nonlinear. Transient
calculations are time dependent and ANSYS can both solve distributions as well as create video for
time incremental displays of models.

6.2.3Model Analysis

A model analysis is typically used to determine the vibration characteristics (natural

frequencies and mode shapes) of a structure or a machine component while it is being designed. It
can also serve as a starting point for another, more detailed, dynamic analysis, such as a harmonic
response or full transient dynamic analysis.

Model analyses, while being one of the most basic dynamic analysis types available in
ANSYS, can also be more computationally time consuming than a typical static analysis. A
reduced solver, utilizing automatically or manually selected master degrees of freedom is
used to drastically reduce the problem size and solution time.

6.2.4 Fluid flow Analysis

The ANSYS/FLOTRAN CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) offers comprehensive

tools for analyzing two-dimensional and three-dimensional fluid flow fields. ANSYS is
capable of modeling a vast range of analysis types such as: airfoils for pressure analysis of
airplane wings (lift and drag), flow in supersonic nozzles, and complex, three-dimensional
flow patterns in a pipe bend. In addition, ANSYS/FLOTRAN could be used to perform tasks
including:

 Calculating the gas pressure and temperature distributions in an engine exhaust

manifold
 Studying the thermal stratification and breakup in piping systems
 Using flow mixing studies to evaluate potential for thermal shock
 Doing natural convection analyses to evaluate the thermal performance of chips in
electronic enclosures
 Conducting heat exchanger studies involving different fluids separated by solid
regions

FLOTRAN analysis provides an accurate way to calculate the effects of fluid flows in
complex solids without having to use the typical heat transfer analogy of heat flux as fluid
flow. Types of FLOTRAN analysis that ANSYS is able to perform include:

 Laminar or Turbulent Flows

 Thermal Fluid Analysis
 Adiabatic Conditions
 Free surface Flow
 Compressible or incompressible Flows
 Newtonian or Non-Newtonian Fluids
 Multiple species transport
*NOTE: These types of analyses are not mutually exclusive. For example, a laminar analysis can be
thermal or adiabatic. A turbulent analysis can be compressible or incompressible.

6.2.5Harmonic Analysis
 Used extensively by companies who produce rotating machinery, ANSYS Harmonic analysis
is used to predict the sustained dynamic behavior of structures to consistent cyclic loading.
Examples of rotating machines which produced or are subjected to harmonic loading are:

 Turbines
o Gas Turbines for Aircraft and Power Generation
o Steam Turbines
o Wind Turbine
o Water Turbines
 Turbo pumps
 Internal Combustion engines
 Electric motors and generators
 Gas and fluid pumps
 Disc drives

A harmonic analysis can be used to verify whether or not a machine design will successfully
overcome resonance, fatigue, and other harmful effects of forced vibrations.

Why is it that such a simple model is used?

During this tutorial a simple geometry is used, the objective of that is that the student
masters the steps to get to run a simple simulation, once that’s done the student can model
any kind of geometry he sees necessary for his studied case.

Step1: Launch ANSYS ,by going to the start-up menu and double clicking on workbench
file in the ANSYS 13.0 folder.
Figure8.1: A reminder that not all lab machines have the ANSYS software installed on
them.

Step2: Once the program is launched it should look like as shown below. Go to Analysis
Systems Fluid Flow (CFX) and double click.

Figure8.2: You might have to wait a bit till ANSYS gets running, the student is encouraged
to use the provided help with the software, it has lots of useful hints here and there.

Step3: Next Double click on the Geometry. This stage is for getting the required geometry
read into the software, note that there is a blue question mark icon beside the geometry text.
Looking at the bottom of the window you will see two windows one having the title of
Messages, this title confirms that the imported geometry has no problems with it, the next
window has the title Progress and that is necessary to prove that state of the progress and if
there is a problem it will state the problem.

Figure8.3: At the moment the illustration are a bit simplified for the user and will get
complex with time.

Step4: Once ANSYS Workbench window is active you will get a window asking to specify
working units for the model dimension chose meters and press ok. For the user this step might
seem secondary in importance but as a matter of fact it’s of great importance, because at later
stages you will have to specify the box size (discrete element dimension). Box size dimension
leads to finer mesh, the finer the used mesh is the more accurate is the captured data. The
captured data term refers to the fluid flow structures.
Figure8.4: Depending on your studied case the selection of serial or parallel is taken, also
depending on the hardware provided in the computer lab dual core or quad core etc.

Step5: Go to file and choose Import External Geometry File…. .

Figure 8.5: You can model your geometry using the sketching tools provided with
Design Modeler
Step 6: A window having a title open will be visible to the user, choose File type Para
solid(*x_t;*xmt_txt;*x_b;*xmt_bin) then go to the folder that has the required file .

Figure 8.6: Mesh generation software has its own structure in its generated data sets. There
are lots of software that are used to generate meshes, depending on the software used the file
extension text would be, in our case we are using Solid Works to generate the mesh and then
exporting it in Para solid format. A question comes to the mind of the student why do I have to
specify the file extension. The answer is that each mesh generation software has its own
structure in its generated data sets. A simple example
Step7: Looking at the Design Modeler window, we can’t see the imported geometry yet,
what is required next is to press on the generate icon that is represented by a yellow thunder
icon.

Figure8.7: The Design Modeler will read in the imported data file, and will construct the
required mesh.
Step8: The imported Geometry Domain should look something like this, still that doesn’t
give any hints to the user, relating to the inner structure of the domain

Step9: Go to view and chose wireframe

Figure 8.8: This step is necessary to view the inner structure of the domain.
Step 9a: Once the student gets to this stage, that means he has finished from the Design
Modeler and has to proceed to the Meshing part

Figure 9a: Rotate the view and check that the Geometry satisfies the design requirements.

Step 9b: Go to the workbench and check that there is a green tick sign beside the Geometry
and then double click on the Mesh Icon.

Figure 9b: Congratulations you have finished from Design Modeler and now have started
with the Meshing part.

Step 10a: The Meshing part of the project has started, notice that beside the Mesh there is a
yellow thunder icon.

Figure 10a: The scale shown at the bottom helps you make the right decision on the box
sizing, so that we can see that the largest value on the scale is 0.200(m) which means we have
to choose a value less than 0.050(m).
Step 10b: Right click on Mesh and chose Insert and then chose Method

Figure 10b: At this stage we come to the point where we have to choose what kind of mesh
are we going to use wither regular or irregular or etc.

Step 10c: Click on the positive sign beside the Mesh you should get a tree sub branch have
automatic Method using the left button click on the grey box domain, as a result it should by
highlighted in green, then you see that the geometry text is highlighted in blue press the apply.

Figure 10c: Choose the parallel option in the projection mode, which will come handy later
on, when you want to use the measure command or choosing the appropriate slice plane for
your study.
Step 11: Go to method and choose Tetrahedrons.

Figure8.11: Now that you have specified the mesh properties, you can proceed to the next
step .

Step13: Press the Update icon and then press on the Generate Mesh icon.

Figure8.13: For our case we will want to now the dimensions of the inflow section of the
pipe.
Step14: Click on mesh, now it’s visible to the user the generated mesh.

Figure 8.14: Click on the middle button to rotate the view to inspect your mesh.

Step15: Go to work bench, you will see there is a green tick beside the mesh congratulations
you can now proceed to the setup.

Figure8.15: Check the messages window if there are any errors you will have to go back in
steps and check where you went wrong
Usual Sequence for using Ansys Workbench

Before attempting FEA, it is normal to remove any features that are not of interest to the

analysis or will cause problems to FEA. This is likely to include:-

- parts whose FEA is not needed because they are not in doubt,

- part features irrelevant in FEA models, e.g. threads,

- welds: modelling of welds and their effects is complex

- symmetrical or repeated features: analyse only fraction or simplest area

Typical workflows for Ansys Workbench is set out below, but other routes may be possible.

5.1 Inventor model Ansys WB Ansys WB open. Ansys WB Design Modeler Design Modeler
started from used to import used to create Inventor menu bar OR CAD geometry OR CAD
geometry. & linked to from Inventor file. (3D solids) CAD geometry. (3D solids & assblys) (3D
surfaces) (3D solids & assblys) (3D IGES surfaces) (3D frames)

(5.2 Ansys Design Modeller (DM) generates & checks model is in suitable condition.)

5.3 Ansys Simulation takes the Inventor or Design Modeller model.

5.4 Irrelevant parts of assembly models can be suppressed.

5.5 Material of each (relevant) part defined and Engineering Data input for each material.

5.6 Contacts between (relevant) parts defined & type of contact selected.

5.7 Mesh of Finite Elements defined.

5.8 Coordinate systems (defined if necessary).

5.9 Supports defined.

5.10 Loads defined.

5.11 Types of Solution defined (e.g. Static Structural).

5.12 Model is Solved.

5.13 Results are reviewed.

5.14 If desired, changes made to the CAD model in Inventor and saved.

5.15 Model (Import) “refreshed” in Design Modeller.

5.16 In Project Tab, Simulation updated from CAD model.

5.17 Re-Solve the model and review results: repeat until satisfied.

5.18 Use “camera” to take images of results. Preview Report automatically produces report.

5.19 Generate report and check report.