Appendix A

ANSYS Native Geometry

Creation and Best Modeling
Practices
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
Overview Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Importing geometry is convenient, but sometimes you may need
to create it in ANSYS. Some possible reasons:
– You may need to build a parametric model — one defined in terms of
variables for later use in design optimization or sensitivity studies.
– The geometry may not be available in a format ANSYS can read.
– The Connection product you need may not be available on your
computer platform.
– You may need to modify or add geometry to an imported part or
assembly.

• ANSYS has an extensive set of geometry creation tools, which we

will discuss next.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-2
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
A. Definitions Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Solid Modeling can be defined as the process of
creating solid models.

• Definitions: Volumes
– A solid model is defined by volumes, areas, lines,
and keypoints.
– Volumes are bounded by areas, areas by lines, and
lines by keypoints. Areas
– Hierarchy of entities from low to high:
keypoints < lines < areas < volumes Lines &
– You cannot delete an entity if a higher-order entity is Keypoints
attached to it.

Volumes
• Also, a model with just areas and below, such as
Areas
a shell or 2-D plane model, is still considered a
solid model in ANSYS terminology. Lines
Keypoints
February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-3
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Definitions Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• There are two approaches to creating a solid model:
– Top-down
– Bottom-up

• Top-down modeling starts with a definition of volumes (or areas),

which are then combined in some fashion to create the final
shape.

add

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-4
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Definitions Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Bottom-up modeling starts with keypoints, from which you “build
up” lines, areas, etc.

• You may choose whichever approach best suits the shape of the
model, and also freely combine both methods.

• We will now discuss each modeling approach in detail.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-5
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
B. Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Top-down modeling starts with a definition of volumes (or areas),
which are then combined in some fashion to create the final
shape.
– The volumes or areas that you initially define are called primitives.
– Primitives are located and oriented with the help of the working plane.
– The combinations used to produce the final shape are called Boolean
operations.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-6
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Primitives are predefined geometric shapes such as circles,
polygons, and spheres.

• 2-D primitives include rectangles, circles, triangles, and other

polygons.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-7
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• 3-D primitives include blocks, cylinders, prisms, spheres, and
cones.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-8
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• When you create a 2-D primitive, ANSYS defines an area, along
with its underlying lines and keypoints.

• When you create a 3-D primitive, ANSYS defines a volume, along

with its underlying areas, lines and keypoints.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-9
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• You can create primitives by specifying their dimensions or by
picking locations in the graphics window.
– For example, to create a solid circle:
• Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Areas > Circle >

Instructions

By picking

Area Input:
1.) Pick the center and radius in
graphics window...

2.) Or enter in Picker Box February 7,

2006
Inventory
#002268
A-10
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

– To create a block:
• Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create > Volumes >Block >

Instructions

By picking

Volume Input:
1.) Pick the 2 diagonal corners and
Z-depth in graphics window...

2.) Or enter in Picker Box

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-11
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Boolean operations are computations involving combinations of
geometric entities. ANSYS Boolean operations include add,
subtract, intersect, divide, glue, and overlap.

• The “input” to Boolean operations can be any geometric entity,

ranging from simple primitives to complicated volumes imported
from a CAD system.

add

Input entities Boolean operation Output entity(ies)

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-12
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• All Boolean operations are available in the GUI under Main Menu
Preprocessor > Modeling > Operate > Booleans

• By default, input entities of a Boolean operation are deleted after

the operation.

• Deleted entity numbers become “free” (i.e., they will be assigned

to a new entity created, starting with the lowest available number).

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-13
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Add
– Combines two or more entities into one.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-14
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Glue
– Attaches two or more entities by creating a common boundary
between them.
– Useful when you want to maintain the distinction between entities
(such as for different materials).

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-15
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Overlap
– Same as glue, except that the input entities overlap each other.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-16
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Subtract
– Removes the overlapping portion of one or more entities from a set of
“base” entities.
– Useful for creating holes or trimming off portions of an entity.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-17
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Divide
– Cuts an entity into two or more pieces that are still connected to each
other by common boundaries.
– The “cutting tool” may be the working plane, an area, a line, or even a
volume.
– Useful for “slicing and dicing” a complicated volume into simpler
volumes for brick meshing.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-18
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Intersect
– Keeps only the overlapping portion of two or more entities.
– If there are more than two input entities, you have two choices:
common intersection and pairwise intersection
• Common intersection finds the common overlapping region among
all input entities.
• Pairwise intersection finds the overlapping region for each pair of
entities and may produce more than one output entity.

Common Pairwise
Intersection Intersection
February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-19
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Partition
– Cuts two or more intersecting entities into multiple pieces that are still
connected to each other by common boundaries.
– Useful, for example, to find the intersection point of two lines and still
retain all four line segments, as shown below. (An intersection
operation would return the common keypoint and delete both lines.)

L2 L6
L1 Partition L3
L4
L5

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-20
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Top-Down Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Demo:
– “Drill” a hole by subtracting a circle from a rectangle (or a cylinder
from a block)
– Create two overlapping entities, save db, and do the overlap operation.
Now resume db and add the entities. Note the difference between the
two operations. (Glue is similar to overlap.)
– Interesting model:
• block,-2,2, 0,2, -2,2
• sphere,2.5,2.7
• vinv,all ! intersection

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-21
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
C. Workshop Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Refer to your Workshop Supplement for instructions on:
WAPP-A 1. Pillow Block

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-22
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
D. Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Bottom-up modeling begins with a definition of keypoints, from
which other entities are “built up.”

• To build an L-shaped object, for example, you could start by

defining the corner keypoints as shown below. You can then
create the area by simply “connecting the dots” or by first
defining lines and then defining the area by lines.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-23
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation …
Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• To define keypoints:
– Main Menu > Preprocessor > Modeling > Create >
Keypoints
– Or use the K family of commands: K, KFILL,
KNODE, etc.

• The only data needed to create a keypoint is the keypoint number

and the coordinate location.
– Keypoint number defaults to the next available number.
– The coordinate location may be provided by simply picking locations
on the working plane or by entering the X,Y,Z values.
How are the X,Y,Z values interpreted? It depends on the active
coordinate system.
February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-24
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• There are many ways to create lines, as shown here.

• If you define areas or volumes, ANSYS will automatically generate

any undefined lines, with the curvature determined by the active
CS.

• Keypoints must be available in order to create lines.

Create > Lines > Create > Lines > Create > Lines > Operate >
Lines Arcs Splines Extrude

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-25
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Creating areas using bottom-up method requires keypoints or
lines to be already defined.

• If you define volumes, ANSYS will automatically generate any

undefined areas and lines, with the curvature determined by the
active CS.

Create > Areas > Operate > Extrude

Arbitrary

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-26
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Creating volumes using bottom-up method requires keypoints or
areas to be already defined.

Create > Volumes > Operate > Extrude

Arbitrary

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-27
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Boolean operations are available for entities created by both top-
down and bottom-up modeling approaches.

• Besides Booleans, many other operations are available:

– Extrude
– Scale
– Move
– Copy
– Reflect
– Merge
– Fillet

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-28
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Extrude

• To quickly create volumes from existing areas (or areas

from lines, and lines from keypoints).

• If the area is meshed, you can extrude the elements

along with the areas.

• Four ways to extrude areas:

– Along normal — creates volume by normal offset of areas
[VOFFST] .
– By XYZ offset — creates volume by a general x-y-z offset
[VEXT]. Allows tapered extrusion.
– About axis — creates volume by revolving areas about an
axis (specified by two keypoints) [VROTAT].
– Along lines — creates volume by “dragging” areas along a
line or a set of contiguous lines [VDRAG].

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-29
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Scaling is typically needed when you want to convert the geometry to a
different set of units, say from inches to millimeters.

• To scale a model in ANSYS:

– First save the database -- Toolbar >
SAVE_DB or SAVE command.
– Then Main Menu > Preprocessor > Operate >
Scale > Volumes (choose the highest-level
entity available in the model)
• [Pick All] to pick all volumes
• Then enter desired scale factors for
RX, RY, RZ and set IMOVE to “Moved”
instead of “Copied”
– Or use the VLSCALE command:
• vlscale,all,,,25.4,25.4,25.4,,,1

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-30
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Move

• To translate or rotate an entity by

specifying DX,DY,DZ offsets.
– DX,DY,DZ are interpreted in the active CS.
– To translate an entity, make the active CS
Cartesian.
– To rotate an entity, make the active CS
cylindrical or spherical. Transfer
– Or use the commands Rotate from csys,0
• VGEN, AGEN, LGEN, KGEN -30° to csys,11
• Another option is to transfer coordinates
to a different system.
– Transfer occurs from the active CS to a
specified CS.
– This operation is useful when you need to
move and rotate an entity at the same
time.
– Or use the commands
• VTRAN, ATRAN, LTRAN, KTRAN

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-31
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Copy

• To generate multiple copies of an

entity.

• Specify the number of copies (2 or

greater) and the DX,DY,DZ offset for
Copy in
each copy. DX,DY,DZ are interpreted
local
in the active CS.
cylindrical
CS
• Useful to create multiple holes, ribs,
protrusions, etc.

Create outer
areas by
skinning
February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-32
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Reflect

• To reflect entities about a plane.

• Specify the direction of reflection:

– X for reflection about the YZ plane
– Y for XZ plane
– Z for XY plane

All directions are interpreted in the

active CS, which must be a Cartesian
system.

What is the direction of

reflection in this case?February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-33
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Merge

• To attach two entities together by removing coincident keypoints.

– Merging keypoints will automatically merge coincident higher-order entities, if
any.

• Usually required after a reflect, copy, or other operation that causes

coincident entities.

Reflect Merge or glue

required

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-34
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

Fillet

• Line fillet requires two intersecting lines with a

common keypoint at the intersection.
– If the common keypoint does not exist, do a
partition operation first.
– ANSYS does not update the underlying area (if
any), so you need to either add or subtract the fillet
region.

• Area filleting is similar. Create

fillet

Subtract from Create

base area area

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-35
Appendix – A. ANSYS Native Geometry Creation
…Bottom-Up Modeling Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Demo:
– Resume r.db (if necessary)
– Create two keypoints for the axis, at (0,0) and (0,1), then extrude the area by
revolving about the axis 60º
– Resume r.db
– Make copies of the rib tangentially about the Y-axis:
• Create a local cylindrical CS at global origin, with THYZ = -90
• Generate 7 total copies (6 new ones) with DY=15
– Create the three outer “skin” areas using ASKIN,P
– Resume r.db
– Create a 0.5R fillet between the top and right lines. (Notice that the lines
attached to the area have been modified. This is allowed in some cases.)
– Create the triangular fillet area by lines (AL,P), then subtract it from the main
area.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-36
Appendix – Workshops
E. Workshops Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• Refer to your Workshop Supplement for instructions on:
WAPP-A 2. Connecting Rod – Bottom-Up Approach
WAPP-A 3. Connecting Rod – Importation/Clean-up

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-37
Appendix – A. Best Modeling Practices
F. Best Modeling Practices Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• This section is intended to give users advice on best modeling
practices that will help the user avoid corrupt databases.
– Put as much of your ANSYS input as you can into an input file. Even simple
items such as material data and real constant data, so that your analysis is
easier to debug (and even parameterize).
– Do not keep ‘deletes’ in your database. Use the input file edit a volume or a
element size setting instead of deleting volumes or clearing a mesh.
– Perform element attributes (xATT) and Boolean operations BEFORE
meshing. (Absolutely no Booleans after meshing.)
– Don't use NUMMRG,KP to pull together non-coincident keypoints.
– Examine any imported geometry for slivers, voids, edges not meeting, or
any other geometrical issue.
– Ideally, creating the geometry in ANSYS is best for meshing, however some
users must import geometry. Users first option should be to use a
connection product and import a SAT, Parasolid, etc file. As a last resort
IGES files can also be imported. (Note: It has been some users experience
that the time spent in repeatedly ‘cleaning-up’ IGES files, makes the
purchase of a Connection Product more than worth the minimal cost.) Try
all methods and see what works best for your case.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-38
Appendix – A. Best Modeling Practices
...Best Modeling Practices Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• More Suggestions…
– Do element attribute assignment on solid model geometry (xATT). Don’t
use EMODIF or global settings (TYPE, MAT, REAL) unless you need to.
– Make backup copies periodically (such as jobname.db1, jobname.db2, etc.).
– Check the *.err file for all error messages and understand why warning
messages are printed.
– Use the /EDGE command to display common lines between all adjacent
element faces. With the edge key on, an element plot displays only the
element edges without coplanar share element edges. The NSEL,S,EXT
command will select external nodes for the selected set of elements. After
plotting these nodes, the user should only see the nodes on the edges of
the selected elements, any other nodes demonstrate problem locations.
– Do not perform any Booleans operations while you have any concatenated
lines or areas in the model.
– Don’t divide a line by a meshed line – always clear the mesh before
performing Booleans.
– Delete any FE-based elements (ie: contact, pretension, surface effect
elements) before clearing a mesh.
February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-39
Appendix – A. Best Modeling Practices
...Best Modeling Practices Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• More Suggestions…
– Import all geometry at one time - ie.: don’t import, mesh, import.
– Don't subtract or overlap coincident or tangent geometry.
For example: block,,1,,1,,1 block,,1,,1,,1 vsbv,1,2.
– Minimize use of hardpoints.
– Minimize use of dragging and skinning.
– Minimize use of cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems to create
geometry bottom-up from keypoints.
– Where surface or rotation are required, for cylinders, spheres, torus, etc.,
extrude the wire around an axis and then trim the surface as necessary.
This will eliminate the COONS patch problem by providing more precise
NURBS surfaces from the extrusion process.
– Use COONS patches generated on non-cartesian coordinate systems only
as the last resort. When these are used and the results are needed for
Boolean operations use these surfaces or their associated volumes last in
your operations.
– If using multiple load step files (LSWRITE), do this last since .s00 files only
contain loadings for FE data.
February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-40
Appendix – A. Best Modeling Practices
...Best Modeling Practices Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS - Part 1

• More Suggestions…
– Start with very simple models, using a few elements of the element type
desired and start with simple material properties before upgrading to, say, a
hyperelastic material model.
– Take a Verification Manual problem with a known solution and then start
tweaking that towards what you are trying to do.
– Use the same numbering even though it is redundant – such as TYPE 1,
REAL 1, MAT 1 for one part, and TYPE 2, REAL 2, MAT 2, for another part.
This makes attribute assignment easy to keep track of.
– Start with a working database and record all Boolean operations in a text
file. If something goes wrong, you can just edit the file and your db will be
fine.
– If the database is corrupt, you can resume the database and archive the file
with the CDWRITE as a last resort.
– Take the time before modeling to plan your approach - this will save you a
lot of time down the road.

February 7,
2006
Inventory
#002268
A-41