In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Simulation Support Manager & Specialist Mechanical Engineer Joe Woodward to discuss the latest additions and improvements made for structural analysis in ANSYS Mechanical 2019 R2.
If you would like to learn more about what’s available in this latest release check out PADT’s webinar on Mechanical Updates Updates in ANSYS 2019 R2 here: https://bit.ly/2OuGmyP
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
With ANSYS structural analysis software, users are able to solve more complex engineering problems, faster and more efficiently than ever before. Customization and automation of structural solutions is much easier to optimize thanks to new and innovative finite element analysis (FEA) tools available in this product suite.
Once again, ANSYS is able to cement their role as industry leaders when it comes to usability, productivity, and reliability; adding innovative functionality to an already groundbreaking product offering. ANSYS structural analysis software continues to be used throughout the industry, and for good reason as it enables engineers to optimize their product design and reduce the costs of physical testing.
Join PADT’s Specialist Mechanical Engineer Joe Woodward, for an in-depth look at what’s new in the latest version of ANSYS Mechanical, including updates regarding:
Software User Interface
Topology Optimization
Rigid Body Dynamics
Post Processing
And much more
Natural frequency study of engine block in ANSYS Mechanical
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In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Lead Mechanical Engineer Doug Oatis, to discuss the tools that make up the ANSYS Additive family of products (Additive Suite, Additive Print, & Additive Prep), and how those tools help to make 3D printing more effective and easier to navigate.
If you would like to learn more about what’s available in this latest release check out PADT’s webinar on Additive Manufacturing Updates Updates in ANSYS 2019 R2 here: https://bit.ly/2JHWYxn
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
Ten years is a long time in the life of a software product. While ANSYS itself has been around since the early 1970’s and what is now known as ANSYS Mechanical is approaching 20 years old, the user interface for ANSYS Mechanical maintained the same look and feel from version 12.0 in 2009 through version 2019 R1 in 2019. That’s 10 years. Certainly, there were many, many enhancements over that 10 year period, but the look and feel of the Mechanical window remained the same.
With the release of version 2019 R2, the Mechanical user
interface has changed to a more modern ‘ribbon’ window, as shown in the red
region here:
After having used the new interface for a while, here are 5
takeaways that are hopefully useful:
It’s easy to use. Sure, it’s different but the overall process is the same with a simulation tree on the left, details to enter and adjust at lower left, graphics in the middle, message, and graphs at the bottom, and the main menus across the top.
ANSYS, Inc. has helped by providing a 12-slide (some animated) usage tips guide which pops up automatically when you launch ANSYS Mechanical 2019 R2.
As in the old menu, the ‘Context’ menu changes
based on what you have clicked on in the tree.
For example, if you have clicked on the Mesh branch, the Context menu
will display meshing controls across the top of the window.
As intuitive as the new ribbon interface is,
there are some functionalities that you may have trouble finding. Not to worry, though, as there is a new
Search field at upper right that will likely take you to the right place. Here I am interested in making a section
plane for plotting purposes. My first
thought was that it would appear in the Display menu. When I didn’t find it there, I simply typed
in ‘section’ in the search field and the first hit was the right one.
After clicking “Take me there”:
And the resulting section plot:
Some capabilities show up in the File menu other
than the expected Save and Save As functionality. For example, Solve Process Settings is now in
the File menu. However, the main
functionality is in the Solution context menu, such as using Distributed
solutions and specifying the number of cores.
In short, the 2019 R2 improvements to ANSYS Mechanical allow
for easier and faster setup of our simulations.
If you haven’t given it a try, we encourage you to do so.
In a previous life, I worked in the maritime and offshore
energy industries and used ANSYS as part of my daily routine in structural
design. I eventually discovered myself in a position where I was designing
subsea equipment for use in offshore oil and gas fields. One thing I quickly
discovered was that although subsea structures tend to be fairly simplistic
looking (think playground equipment…but 10000 feet underwater) there are
multiple design factors that can easily cause a domino effect that would
require redesign(s). Whether it was a change brought upon by the client, tool
manufacturer, or to satisfy the whims of marine warranty companies, there was
always a need to evaluate multiple variants of any subsea structure.
Sounds like a very reactive process, right? So how can we
bring this process into a more streamlined analysis workflow within ANSYS? Just
use parameters with SpaceClaim and ANSYS Mechanical!
So what can parameters do to aid in this process?
Remove repetitive tasks
Account for geometric changes to CAD models
Use a range of values for material properties
Create associative connections between CAD models
and ANSYS results
Allow for automatic goal driven design exploration
Now let’s look at some common use cases for parameters that
I’ve run into in the past:
Accelerations for Onboard Equipment and Cargo
Cargo transported on the ocean is subject to the same
accelerations that affect the vessel transporting it (surge, sway, heave,
pitch, roll, and yaw). These accelerations are then combined into three
representative accelerations and applied in multiple loadcases.
Typically, these loadcases are resolved in independent
analysis systems but we can remove all that fluff with a simple parameter
driven analysis. All one has to do is tag inputs and result items as parameters
and then input values for each load case (or Design Point). In this case I have
selected the XYZ components of an acceleration input applied to a mass point as
well as the total deformation and maximum equivalent stress. With the push of a
button ANSYS will then solve all of these design points and will amend the
table to show the selected results corresponding with each design point.
Results from the Design Points can be uploaded individually but this parametric
analysis has made it very easy for us to determine which Design Points / load
cases have the greatest influence on the design.
Geometry Influence Study
So one of the questions often asked during the design
process is “Will the design work after we change this dimension to compensate
for X?” which is often followed by a discussion on robustness (which is then
followed by a change order). So let’s skip the discussion middle-man and move
to be proactive by using parameters to quantify just how much we can change our
geometry before a problem arises.
Here we have an example subsea Pipeline End Termination
(PLET) structure and let’s say a client has asked us to verify if this design
can work for various pipeline sizes. The PLET has some major parts that can be
influenced by this change: The pipeline clamp, cradle, flanges, ball valve, and
bulkhead.
Because we can use parameters there’s no need to make a new
model. Merely tag items you wish to create parameters for in SpaceClaim:
Then ANSYS Workbench will start to populate its parameter
tables accordingly:
We can then make certain parameters dependent on others, or
define them via simple expressions. In this way we can enforce clearances and
relations between the various bodies in our model.
From here all we have to do is define our variables for our
future analyses:
Then tell ANSYS to solve all the design points with a single
click. Note that users can create charts and tables before the solve and ANSYS
will populate these live during the solution process. Individual design point
results and geometries can also be reviewed at any time.
For this particular analysis we provided the same load to
each Design Point but a good next step would be to set a goal driven analysis
and have a range of loadings on the pipeline end of the PLET to represent
various installation conditions.
Parameters are a very powerful tool within the ANSYS
toolbox. They can remove repetitive tasks within FEA, easily create loadcases,
and address concerns about design robustness by letting ANSYS and SpaceClaim
handle CAD model rework.
That’s it for this blog post! I’ll be creating a few offshore industry-specific posts in the future as well so stay tuned!
Additive manufacturing (3D Printing) has been rapidly gaining popularity as a true manufacturing process in recent years. ANSYS’ best-in-class solution for additive manufacturing enables simulation at every step in your AM process, and helps to optimize material configurations, and machine & parts setup before printing begins.
Through the use of ANSYS tools such as Additive Suite & Additive Print, paired with topology optimization capabilities in ANSYS Mechanical Workbench, the need for physical process of trial-and-error testing has been greatly reduced.
Join PADT’s Simulation Support and Application Engineer Doug Oatis for an exploration of the ANSYS tools that help to optimize additive manufacturing, and what new capabilities are available within them when upgrading to ANSYS 2019 R2. This presentation includes updates regarding:
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Eric Miller, Robin Steed of ANSYS, & Chris Robinson of PCA Engineers Limited
Description:
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by ANSYS CFX & Turbo Tools Lead Technical Product Manager Robin Steed, and Managing Director at PCA Engineers Limited, Chris Robinson, live at the 2019 ASME Turbo Expo in Phoenix Arizona, for a discussion on the past, present, and future of ANSYS CFD and its use in the realm of turbomachinery. Both Robin and Chris have multiple years of experience working in this industry, and their expertise provided some fascinating insight into what this tool is all about.
If you would like to learn more about what’s available in the latest CFD update check out PADT’s webinar on Fluids Updates in ANSYS 2019 R2 here: https://bit.ly/2J6l5We
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Simulation Support Manager Ted Harris, and Senior CFD Engineer Tom Chadwick for a discussion on what new capabilities (beta or otherwise) are available for design engineers in the latest updates made to Discovery Live in ANSYS 2019 R2.
If you would like to learn more about this update and see the tool in action, along with others in the 3D Design family of products (Discovery AIM, SpaceClaim & Live) check out PADT’s webinar on the topic here: https://bit.ly/2KfO0tK
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
ANSYS CFD goes beyond qualitative results to deliver accurate quantitative predictions of fluid interactions and trade-offs. These insights reveal unexpected opportunities for your product — opportunities that even experienced engineering analysts can miss.
Products such as ANSYS Fluent, Polyflow, and CFX work together in a constantly improving tool kit that is developed to provide ease of use improvements for engineers simulating fluid flows and it’s impacts on physical models.
Join PADT’s Simulation Support and Application Engineer, Sina Ghods, for a look at what is new and improved for fluids-related tools in ANSYS 2019 R2. This presentation includes updates regarding:
A new fluent experience
Parallel Mosaic-enabled meshing
Discrete Phase Modeling
Creating high-quality meshes for complex models
Transient elasticity for fluid structure interaction
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When it comes to the exploration of rapid 3D design, simulation provides a more efficient and optimized workflow for design engineers looking to streamline product development and improve product performance. The toolkit of flagship ANSYS 3D design products made up of Discovery SpaceClaim, Discovery Live, and Discovery AIM allow users to build, and optimize lighter and smarter products with an interface easier to use than most other simulation products.
Users can delve deeper into the details of a design with the same accuracy as other, more robust ANSYS tools, all while refining their concept and introducing multiple physics simulations to better account for real-world conditions.
Join PADT’s Simulation Support Manager Ted Harris, for a look at what’s new for this line of products with the release of ANSYS 2019 R2. Explore updates for these three tools including:
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You will only have to do this once! For all future webinars, you can simply click the link, add the reminder to your calendar and you’re good to go!
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Senior Staff Technologist, Jim Peters for a discussion on the benefits of using ANSYS Motion to enable fast and accurate analysis of rigid and flexible bodies, and give accurate evaluation of physical events through the analysis of the mechanical system as a whole. ANSYS Motion uses four tightly integrated solving schemes: rigid body, flexible body, modal and mesh-free EasyFlex. This gives the user unparalleled capabilities to analyze systems and mechanisms in any desired combination.
If you would like to learn more about this update and see the tools in action, check out PADT’s webinar covering ANSYS Motion here: https://bit.ly/2MsRATh
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
An intelligent, high-quality mesh is at the core of any effective simulation based model; creating the basis for what will help to drive valuable results for even the most complex engineering problems.
Among a variety of tools in ANSYS 2019 R2 are enhanced meshing capabilities that can help reduce pre-processing time and provide a more streamlined solution.
Join PADT’s Specialist Mechanical Engineer, Joe Woodward for a look at what new meshing capabilities are available in the latest release of ANSYS. This presentation will focus predominately on updates regarding:
If this is your first time registering for one of our Bright Talk webinars, simply click the link and fill out the attached form. We promise that the information you provide will only be shared with those promoting the event (PADT).
You will only have to do this once! For all future webinars, you can simply click the link, add the reminder to your calendar and you’re good to go!
ANSYS Mechanical is a very powerful tool right out of the box. Long gone are the days when an FEA tool was just a solver, and users had to write code to create input files and interpret the results. Most of the time you never have to write anything to effectively use ANSYS Mechanical. But, users can realize significant gains in productivity and access greater functionality through customization. And it is easy to do.
Before we talk about the four options, we need to remember how the tool, ANSYS Mechanical, is actually structured. The interface that users interact with is a version of ANSYS Workbench called ANSYS Mechanical. The interface allows users to connect to geometry, build and modify their model, set up their solution, submit a solve, and review results. The solve itself is done in ANSYS Mechanical APDL. This is the original ANSYS Multiphysics program.
When you press the solve button ANSYS Mechanical writes out commands in the languages used by ANSYS Mechanical APDL, called the ANSYS Parametric Design Language, or APDL. Yes, that is where ANSYS Mechanical APDL got its name. We like to call it MAPDL for short. (Side note: years ago we started a campaign to call it map-dul. It didn’t work.) Once the file is written, MAPDL is started, the file is read in, the solve happens, and all of the requested output files are written. Then ANSYS Mechanical reads those files and shows results to the user.
Customization Tool 1: Command Snippets for Controlling the Solver
Not every capability that is found in ANSYS Mechanical APDL
is exposed in the interface for ANSYS Mechanical. That is not a problem because users can use
the APDL language in ANSYS Mechanical to access the full capability of the
solver. These small pieces of code are
called Snippets and they are added to the tree for your ANSYS Mechanical model. When the solver file is written, ANSYS
Mechanical inserts your snippets into the command stream. Simple and elegant.
PADT has a seminar from back in 2011 that lays it all out. You can find the PowerPoint Presentation here. We do have plans to update this webinar soon.
This approach is used when you want to access capabilities
in the solver that are not supported in the interface but you want to get to
those features and keep track of them from inside your ANSYS Mechanical Model.
If you are not familiar with APDL, find a more “seasoned” user to help you. Or you can teach yourself APDL programming with PADT’s Guide to APDL .
Customization Tool 2: ANSYS Customization Toolkit (ACT) for Controlling the
User Interface and Accessing the Model
As mentioned above, ANSYS Mechanical is used to define the model
and review results. The ANSYS
Customization Toolkit (ACT) is how users customize the user interface, automate
tasks in the interface, add tools to the interface, and access the model
database. This type of customization can be as simple as a new feature, presented
as an app, or it can be used to create a focused tool to streamline a certain
type of simulation – what we call a vertical application.
A Vertical Application Written in ANSYS ACT by PADT for Automating the Design of Turbine Disks
Unlike APDL, ACT does is not have its own language. It uses
Python and is a collection of Application Programmer Interface (API) calls from
Python. This is a very powerful toolset that increases in capability at every
release. PADT has written stand alone
applications using ACT to reduce simulation time significantly. We have also written
features and apps for ourselves and users that make everyday use of ANSYS
Mechanical better.
Do note that ACT is supported in most of the major ANSYS
products and more capability is being added across the available programs over
time, not just in ANSYS Mechanical. You can also use ACT to connect ANSYS Mechanical
to in-house or 3rd party software.
Because this is a standard environment, you can share your ACT applications on the ANSYS App Store found here. Take a look and you can see what users have done with ACT across the ANSYS Product suite, including ANSYS Mechanical. PADT has two in the library, one for adding a PID controller to your model and the other is a tool for saving your ANSYS Mechanical APDL database.
Another great aspect of ACT is that it is fully
documented. If you go to the
Customization Suite documentation in the ANSYS help library you can find everything
you need.
Customization Tool 3: APDL for Automating the Solve
With Code Snippets we talked about using APDL to access solver functions from ANSYS Mechanical that were not supported in ANSYS Mechanical. You can also use APDL to automate what is going on during the solve. Every capability in the ANSYS solver is accessible through APDL.
The most common usage of APDL is to create a tool that
solves in batch mode. APDL programs are used to carry out tasks without going
back to ANSYS Mechanical. As an example,
maybe you want to solve a load step, save some information from the solve,
export it, read it in to a 3rd party program, modify it, modify some
property in your model, then solve the next load step. You can do all of that
with APDL in batch mode.
This is not for the faint of heart, you are getting into
complex programming with a custom language. But if you take the time, it can be
very powerful. All of the commands are
documented in the ANSYS Mechanical APDL help and details on the language are in
the ANSYS Parametric Design Language Guide. The PADT Blog is full of articles going back
over a decade on using APDL in this way.
Customization Tool 4: User Programable Features in the Solver
One of the most powerful capabilities in the ANSYS Mechanical ADPL solver is the ability for end-users to add their own subroutines. These User Programable Features, or UPF’s, allow you to create your own elements, make custom material models, customize loads, or customize contact behavior.
There are other general purpose FEA tools on the market that
heavily publicize their user elements and user materials and they try to use it
to differentiate themselves from ANSYS. However, ANSYS Mechanical APDL has
always had this capability. Many
universities and companies add new capability to ANSYS using this method.
To learn more about how to do create your own custom version of ANSYS, consult the Programer’s Reference in the ANSYS Help. PADT also has a webinar sharing how to make a custom material here.
Next Steps
The key to successful customization ANSYS is to know your options, understand what you really want to do, and to use the wide range of tools you have available. Everything is documented in the help and this blog has some great examples. Start small with a simple project and work your way up.
Or, you can leverage PADT’s expertise and contract with PADT to do your customization. This is what a half-dozen companies large and small have done over the years. We understand ANSYS, we get engineering, and we know how to program. A perfect combination.
Regardless of how you customize ANSYS Mechanical, you will
find it a rewording experience. Greater
functionality and more efficient usage are only a few lines of custom code
away.
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Senior Analyst and Lead Software Developer, Matt Sutton for a discussion on the industrial internet of things, and how ANSYS Digital twins helps companies make confident predictions about future product performance, reduce the cost and risk of unplanned downtime, and improve future product development processes.
If you would like to learn more about this update and see the tools in action, check out PADT’s webinar covering ANSYS Twin Builder here: http://alturl.com/ccjjq
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
Engineering simulation has traditionally been used for new product design and virtual testing, eliminating the need to build multiple prototypes prior to product launch.
Now, with the emergence of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), simulation is expanding into operations. The IIoT enables engineers to communicate with sensors and actuators on an operating product to capture data and monitor operating parameters. The result is a digital twin of the physical product or process that can be used to monitor real-time prescriptive analytics and test predictive maintenance to optimize asset performance.
Join PADT’s Senior Analyst & Lead Software Developer Matt Sutton for an in depth look at how digital twins created using ANSYS simulation tools optimize the operation of devices or systems, save money by reducing unplanned downtime and enable engineers to test solutions virtually before doing physical repairs.
This webinar will include an overview of technical capabilities, packaging for licensing, and updates made with the release of ANSYS 2019 R1.
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