Ansys Tips

I sometimes come across a very ugly UGLY message when I try to mesh. The description is especially misleading. Figure 1: Error!  The problem is often fixable in SpaceClaim. Here's something to try: 1. Select everything (Ctrl-A), Right-Mouse-Button then Detach All . 2. Under the Repair tab, click on Stitch and click the green check mark to complete all. Hopefully the first step would solve all problems. You could verify this using the Check Geometry feature. It's not full proof but worth a shot. Figure 2: Check Geometry This would highlight any outstanding problem areas. Other repair tools such as repairing  gaps and missing faces usually does the job. Otherwise, it may be necessary to get more fancy by removing the difficult surface by cutting it (Ctrl-X), then replacing it with blending or  fill .  A really neat trick with fill is Patch Fill. First click on Fill without selecting any geometry. Under the options, the default is Extend Fill ....

When meshing challenging bodies, it is sometimes useful to slide-and-dice bodies in SpaceClaim via Split Body and Share Topology  to isolate the trouble spots for tighter controls. In Mechanical, the bodies could be individually meshed in the 'right' sequence such that key features are respected. Figure 1: Generate Mesh on Selected Bodies This is done by first selecting the  Mesh object in the Outline. Right-mouse-button on the body, then Generate Mesh on Selected Bodies. This was done twice to generate bodies shown in Figure 2.  Figure 2: Individually Meshed Bodies

Solving for many cases with small variations using DesignXplorer is quite convenient. After setting up an initial model, a parameter could be defined in SpaceClaim or elsewhere. The solution for multiple design points are then generated as I sip on my beer (legally at home). As shown in this YouTube Video , the output parameters are single values like natural frequency, displacements and other maximum or minimum of available solution results. Unfortunately if you are interested in more complicated items that aren't easily available through the user defined results or *GET commands, how do you capture that output parameter? One way would be to retain all design point results for later post processing but that would be overkill especially since I'll have to go into everyone of them to extract out the information which is a pain. Alternately, a post-processing APDL script could be written to extract out key information at each run. An example would be the mode shape o...

The Original  Eye * SpaceClaim has a pretty neat feature of being able to import pictures. This comes in useful when trying to compare a picture of a part cross-section to the CAD. Rough dimensional analysis can be done. To take it a step further, the model could be updated so that the contours match the cross section picture. Other uses for it is to help 'inspire' CAD when the models are created from scratch. More accurate proportions and curvatures could be represented in the model. An example of which is shown below where the  vitreous humor and  crystalline lens of a  Wikipedia  picture was approximated. The Scary Eye We could insert the picture here: Insert Picture File here With the picture imported, it could be used as a background image for tracing splines to recreate key features. For example, two areas were recreated here: Adding Splines to Create Areas Another view of the model: Areas at Different Plane from Pic...

From the title, you could infer my feelings towards this nifty tool offered by Ansys. There are some who are still sticking to DesignModeler as their cleanup tool of choice. To those, I would implore you to give SpaceClaim a try. I believe the reason why some hold back from switching is due to the sunk cost fallacy . Learning DesignModeler has been such a significant learning commitment that giving it up becomes difficult. A little known fact: the software could be accessed for free without feature restriction for personal education via the Ansys Student . Say you get an IGES file and it only imports as surfaces. You could stitch it together to create a solid, then save it as a STL file. Same as DesignModeler, SpaceClaim plays nice inside Ansys Workbench. After going through the tutorials , here are my top tips I find useful: 1. Navigation - Alternative 2 I was tired of the indentation on my finger as I use the middle mouse button (MMB). My preference is Alternative 2 which uses ...

Everyone has their own workflow in doing their analysis with different goals and preferences. Here's mine and a reasoning of why I do so. I would be eager to hear thoughts from other people on this subject. Geometry Cleanup in SpaceClaim The first step here is self explanatory. The litmus test is a crude mesh. Simplification of the model while maintaining objectives is next. Named Selection in SpaceClaim For a middle to large size model, every object I need in Mechanical gets a Named Selection. This is critical in organizing contacts and mesh properties. Modeling decisions gets clarity at this stage.  Rotating, hiding different parts and visualization is simply just easier in SpaceClaim compared to Mechanical.  If any geometry changes needs to be made, much of the model could be reused (e.g. contacts, boundary conditions).  First Pass Analysis The first analysis is usually very crude. The goal is to have a  minimum viable product  on hand that can...