Using the ‘Worksheet’ Page in Mechanical

Categories:

One of the least used, but most powerful, features within ANSYS Mechanical is the Worksheet page.  In versions older that R12.0, this was accessed by clicking a separate tab on the Graphics Window, at R12.1 it moved to a button on the toolbar. 

2010%2f11%2flocations

What the Worksheet does is show you a tabular summary of a particular branch.  Here’s a quick summary of the ‘big items’ shown for each branch:

Geometry Branch Material, Volume, # Nodes
Coordinate Systems Origin and Axis Data for all coordinate systems
Connections Behavior, Formulation, Stiffness Update
Mesh

Mesh control type, Active/Suppressed Status

Analysis Settings Solution controls for every load step
Solution Element table results available (only for R12 and newer)
Solution Information ANSYS Solver Output window

Here’s a picture showing what it actually looks like:

 

2010%2f11%2ffinal

In addition to listing out a large amount of information, you can also sort by any column heading.  You’re probably thinking, “wow, that’s awesome…I can list and sort information about various levels of my model, but how come I can’t edit anything in the worksheet?”  Great question, and this is where the power of ‘Go To’ (see my previous article, err…blog) comes into play.  Simply select the rows that you want to edit, then Right-Mouse-Button > Go To Selected Items.  This will go through and highlight all the corresponding items in the Outline Tree.  Settings can then be changed in the Details Window, and will be propagate to all selected items. 

So let’s say you have a bunch of contact pairs in your model, some of which are defined as being frictional and need to have the same coefficient of friction applied.  Simply click on the ‘Connections’ branch, then select ‘Worksheet’, then select the ‘Type’ column to group all of the frictional pairs together. 

2010%2f11%2ffirst steps

Next, hold down shift and do a flood-selection of all of the frictional pars, RMB > Go To Selected Item. 

2010%2f11%2fsecond steps

Finally, type in the coefficient into the details window.  Done…all frictional contact pairs now have that value defined.

2010%2f11%2flast step2

Long story short, by combining the ‘Go To’ capability with the Worksheet view, you can become the feared “über-efficient Voltron of ANSYS Users”.  Well, maybe nothing that cool, but you’ll at least got a lot of work done.

2010%2f11%2fvoltran

Side note:  According to Wikipedia, Voltron is owned by Sony Pictures Television.  This was a cartoon I remember watching as a kid where a giant robot was formed by connecting five robot lions piloted by the heros of the show.  I even had the toys to go along with the show, and yes, they joined together to form awesomeness in its purest form, I mean, the fists were spring-launched lion heads!!!  It was a sad day when I found that I had lost one of the lions heads…I believe that’s when my childhood officially ended.

Get Your Ansys Products & Support from the Engineers who Contribute to this Blog.

Technical Expertise to Enable your Additive Manufacturing Success.

Share this post:

Upcoming Events

Apr 29
, 2025
New NVH Tools & Workflows in Ansys 2025 R1 - Webinar
Apr 29
, 2025
Design, Debug, and Test your Ansys Scade One Model - Webinar
May 01
, 2025
Applying Digital Engineering across Space Mission Analysis and Design - Webinar
May 07
, 2025
Meshing Updates in Ansys 2025 R1 - Webinar
May 07
, 2025
Transforming Robot Arm Design with Topology Optimization - Webinar
May 13
, 2025
Ansys Virtual Workshop - PCB Reliability with Sherlock
May 13
, 2025
Dynamic RF Interference: HFSS and STK for Antenna Array Control - Webinar
May 15
, 2025
Applying Digital Engineering across Space Mission Analysis and Design: Satellite - Webinar
May 21
, 2025
Optics Updates in Ansys 2025 R1 - Webinar
May 29
, 2025
Applying Digital Engineering across Space Mission Analysis and Design: Payload - Webinar
Jun 04
, 2025
Composites & Structural Optimization Updates in Ansys 2025 R1 - Webinar
Jun 09
- Jun 11
, 2025
TechConnect World 2025
Jun 18
, 2025
Fluent CPU - UI & UX Updates in Ansys 2025 R1 - Webinar
Jun 16
- Jun 20
, 2025
Turbo Expo
Jun 25
, 2025
E-Mobility and Clean Energy Summit
Jul 02
, 2025
Electric Machine & Consumer Electronics Updates in Ansys 2025 R1 - Webinar
Jul 11
, 2025
2025 Aerospace, Aviation, Defense and Manufacturing Conference
Jul 16
, 2025
HFSS Updates in Ansys 2025 R1 - Webinar
Aug 10
- Aug 13
, 2025
SmallSat 2025

Search the PADT Site

Contact Us

Most of our customers receive their support over the phone or via email. Customers who are close by can also set up a face-to-face appointment with one of our engineers.

For most locations, simply contact us: