{"id":25878,"date":"2013-06-20T15:37:00","date_gmt":"2013-06-20T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.padtinc.com\/2013\/06\/20\/duh-three-ansys-mechanical-features-i-should-know-but-didnt\/"},"modified":"2022-03-29T19:04:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-29T19:04:17","slug":"duh-three-ansys-mechanical-features-i-should-know-but-didnt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.padtinc.com\/2013\/06\/20\/duh-three-ansys-mechanical-features-i-should-know-but-didnt\/","title":{"rendered":"Duh! Three ANSYS Mechanical Features I Should Know But Didn’t"},"content":{"rendered":"

Selection Information, Manage Views, and Changing Settings on Multiple Load Steps<\/h2>\n

There is no way to hide the embarrassing reality. I am supposed to be an expert. I am introduced to people as such. People all over the world read stuff I write about how to use ANSYS products more effectively.  But last week and this week, humility has struck a devastating blow on my ego.  I found three very useful things in ANSYS Mechanical that I either didn\u2019t know, or forgot about. I even mentioned one of them (Manage Views) in an update presentation as \u201ccool and very important feature\u201d then promptly forgot it was there.<\/p>\n

As payment for my sins, I will share a brief description of each with all of you, in the hopes that I will: 1) make you feel better about yourself because you already knew this stuff, or 2) give you the knowledge you need to avoid the embarrassment, and lost productivity, that my ignorance has brought me.  <\/p>\n

Selection Information<\/h2>\n

I mention this one first because it was pointed out to me by no less than the ANSYS Mechanical product manager at ANSYS, Inc. Yikes.  I believe he actually did a face palm when I asked him \u201cWhat is Selection Information? There is an Icon with an i on the toolbar? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There it is, right next to the Worksheet icon, an icon I use all the time.  What it does is give you information about geometry, CAD and nodes, in your model.  There are three ways to get it, not just the icon on the toolbar:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Click the Icon<\/li>\n
  2. In the menu go to View>Windows>Selection Information<\/li>\n
  3. Double-click on the Selection details at the bottom of the ANSYS Mechanical Window<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    However you use it, you will get a new window, embedded with the existing windows, that shows you information about the geometry entity of entities that you select. Normal selection options apply. You can pick vertices, edges, surfaces, or bodies. I like to drag it out as it\u2019s own window so I can see it all.  (Notice how I talk like I do this all the time\u2026 yea, whatever.  I just figured out that it is a lot better if I drag it out and look at it by itself.)  <\/p>\n

    My sample model is just a cylinder, so If I pick the end and the cylinder I get:<\/p>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    See how it lists the two faces, and a summary. There is some internal info in there as well like ID\u2019s that ANSYS mechanical uses to do stuff. The toolbar across the top lets you select a coordinate system to do the calculations in, set options (the green checkbox) or  control if you want individual info, summary info, or both.  <\/p>\n

    The options are useful because by default, everything is on. Turning some stuff off can reduce the clutter.<\/p>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    For nodes, I can get location, node number, and body information:<\/p>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    When you are in the window there are some useful things you can do with the list. The first is sort by clicking on the column headers.  What node is at your max X position in your cylindrical coordinate system?  Just set the Coordinate System and click on X(in) twice to sort from max o min:<\/p>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    If you select any of the cells, you can right mouse click and get a context menu that lets you reselect the entities being listed, export to a text or Excel file, Refresh, or copy to the clipboard:<\/p>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Give it a shot next time your in a model and want to know some stuff.<\/p>\n

    Manage Views<\/h2>\n

    One of the more useful capabilities in ANSYS Mechanical APDL is the ability to define views in a macro and call them back up again, getting the same standard views every time. Well you have been able to do that in Workbench when the introduced the \u201cScary Eye\u201d icon at I think 14.5 (maybe 14):<\/p>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Although it looks like a secret Masonic symbol, the icon actually represents a handy tool for saving views not only in your model but to files.  It is also available in View->Windows->Manage Views.<\/p>\n

    Not only that, it lets you save the view commands to an external file that you can use with other models or even go in and edit to create a very specific view.<\/p>\n

    When you start it up, it brings up its own little window as well, that has eye themed icons to control your view saving\/recall experience. <\/p>\n

    \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n