Lecture 2

Introduction to Workbench
16.0 Release

Introduction to ANSYS
Explicit STR
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 ANSYS Workbench Overview
What is ANSYS Workbench?
ANSYS Workbench provides powerful methods for interacting with the ANSYS family of
solvers. This environment provides a unique integration with CAD systems, and your design
process.
ANSYS Workbench is comprised of various applications :
Mechanical for performing structural and thermal analyses using the ANSYS solver
Explicit Dynamics for performing non-linear dynamic analyses using the AUTODYN solver.
Geometry (DesignModeler) for creating and modifying CAD geometry to prepare the solid
model for use in Mechanical.
Meshing for generating Structural and CFD meshes
Advanced Meshing for generating Structural and CFD meshes using ICEM CFD
Design Exploration for optimization
Finite Element Modeler (FE Modeler) for translating a NASTRAN and ABAQUS mesh for use
in ANSYS
AUTODYN for explicit dynamics simulations featuring modeling of nonlinear dynamics
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 ANSYS Workbench Overview
The Workbench environment supports two types of applications:
Native applications (workspaces): Current native applications are Project Schematic, Engineering
Data and Design Exploration.
Native applications are launched and run entirely in the Workbench window.
Data Integrated Applications: current applications include Mechanical, Explicit Dynamics
(Mechanical), Fluent, CFX, AUTODYN and others.

Native Application
Data Integrated Application
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 Starting Workbench
There are two methods of launching Workbench:
From the Windows start menu:

From the CAD system

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 The Workbench Environment
For most situations the Workbench GUI is divided into 2 primary sections (there
are other optional sections well see in a moment):

Project Schematic

Toolbox

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 The Toolbox
The toolbox contains 5 subgroups:
Analysis systems: predefined templates that can be
placed in the schematic.
Component systems: various applications that can be
accessed to build, or expand, analysis systems.
Custom Systems: predefined analysis systems for
coupled applications (FSI, thermal-stress, etc.).
Users can also create their own predefined systems.
Design Exploration: Parametric management and
optimization tools.
External Connection Systems: Allows external applications to participate in the workflow
defined in the Project Schematic.

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 The Toolbox
The systems and components
displayed in the toolbox will
depend on the installed
products.

Using the check boxes in the

View All / Customize
window, the items displayed
in the toolbox can be toggled
on or off.

The toolbox customization

window is normally left
closed when not in use.

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 The Project Schematic
The Workbench project schematic is a graphical representation of the workflow defining a
system or group of systems.
The workflow in the project schematic is always left to right.
There are currently several applications which are native to Workbench, meaning they run
entirely in the Workbench window:
Project Schematic, Engineering Data and Design Exploration
Non-native applications (called data-integrated) run in their own window:
DesignModeler, Mechanical (formerly Simulation), Mechanical APDL (formerly ANSYS), ANSYS
AUTODYN, ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS CFX, Etc . . .
Blocks of cells can be deleted by RMB menu selection.

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 The Project Schematic
In this example an Explicit Dynamics analysis type is selected for the project schematic.
From the toolbox the selection can be dragged and dropped onto the schematic or simply
double clicked.

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 The Project Schematic
By dropping applications and/or analyses into various locations in the schematic, an
overall analysis project is defined
Connectors indicate the level of collaboration between systems.
In the example below an Explicit Dynamics system is dragged and dropped onto a Static
Structural system at the Model cell (A4)
Before completing the operation notice there are a number of optional drop locations
that will provide various types of linkage between systems

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 The Project Schematic
By completing the operation from the previous page, notice the linkage here is
only at the Model level and above
In this case there would be no coupling of the Static Structural pre-stressing to the
Explicit Dynamics system

Notice each system block is given an alphabetic designation (A, B, C, etc)

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 The Project Schematic
By dragging and dropping the Explicit Dynamics system onto the Static Structural
System at the Solution cell (A6), we obtain an Explicit Dynamics system that is
coupled to the Static Structural solution (i.e. pre-stressing).

Notice, the candidate drop

location indicates data will be
shared from fields A2 to A4,
and transferred from A6 to B5.

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 The Project Schematic
A schematic can also be constructed by RMB and choosing to Transfer
Data To New or Transfer Data From New.
This method shows you all transfer possibilities.
The transfer possibilities will vary depending on which cell is highlighted.

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 The Project Schematic
Identifying cell states:
Unfulfilled: missing upstream data.
Attention required: may need to correct this or upstream cells.
Refresh required: upstream data has changed. Need to refresh cell. An update will also
refresh the cell and regenerate any output data (e.g. mesh, results).
Update required: the data has changed and the output of the cell must be regenerated.

Up to date.
Input changes pending: cell is locally up to date but may change when the next update is
performed due to upstream changes.
Interrupted: solver was manually stopped before it finished. Can use Resume or Update to
continue to solving.
Pending: a batch process is in progress
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 The Project Schematic
Example
Cell A performs a Static Structural
analysis
Cell B performs an Explicit Dynamics
analysis. It shares the same material
models (Engineering Data), Geometry
and Mesh (Model) as Cell A
Cell C is a Duplicate of Cell B. Once
created, it can be modified
independently of Cell B
Cell D performs an Explicit Dynamics
analysis. It shares the same material
models (Engineering Data), Geometry
and Mesh (Model) as Cell A and Uses
the Solution from A as an initial pre- RMB
stress state
Cell E performs an Explicit Dynamics
analysis on a completely different
model

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 Optional Workbench Windows
The View menu (and RMB) allows additional information to be displayed in the
Workbench environment.
Below, the geometry is highlighted and the properties are displayed.

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 Workbench File Management
Workbench creates a project file and a series of subdirectories to manage all
associated files.
Users should allow Workbench to manage the content of these directories. Please do
NOT manually modify the content or structure of the project directories.
When a project is saved a project file is created (.wbpj), using the user specified file
name (e.g. MyFile.wbpj).
A project directory will be created using the project name. In the above example the
directory would be MyFile_files.
A number of subdirectories will be created in the project directory

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 Workbench File Management

From the Workbench View menu activate the Files option to

display a window containing file details and locations.

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 Workbench File Management
Archive: quickly generates a single compressed file containing
all pertinent files.

File is compressed and can be opened using the Restore Archive .

. . utility in Workbench.

Several options are available when archiving systems as shown

here.

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 Working With Units
The Units menu in Workbench:
Allows access to predefined unit systems.
Allows the creation of custom unit systems.
Controls unit display for Engineering Data, Parameters and
Charts.
Activate the Units System dialog to control.

Units can be displayed in the

active Project system or as they
were defined in their source
(e.g. CAD system).
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 . . . Working With Units
Create custom unit systems by duplicating existing systems then modifying.
Custom unit systems can be exported and imported.

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 License Preferences
Workbench license control is handled through the user interface shown
below, activated from the Workbench project page (Tools > License
Preferences . . . ).

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 License Preferences
With the available licenses displayed, the activation and use order can be
specified using the up/down arrows.
0 = off, 1 = on
License order represents the preference order for license use.

The license control allows Workbench users

to specify whether a single license is used
when multiple applications are open, or if all
open applications access their own license.

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 License Preferences
In the example shown, a user could have 3 Mechanical models open simultaneously.
Using the license control they may choose to open 3 licenses or use only 1 that is
shared. In the shared scenario, only the active Mechanical session uses the license
(the remaining will be read only).

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 Processing an Explicit Dynamics analysis
From the Toolbox, select Explicit Dynamics (ANSYS)
and drag and drop it onto the Project Schematic (or
simply double click).
Follow the steps in the Project Schematic to setup,
solve and post-process the analysis.
Engineering Data (Native)
Define material data
Geometry (DesignModeler)
Create, import, modify geometry
Model (Mechanical Explicit Dynamics)
Mesh the geometry
Setup (Mechanical Explicit Dynamics)
Set control parameters, initial conditions and
boundary conditions
Solution (Mechanical Explicit Dynamics)
Solve the Analysis
Results (Mechanical Explicit Dynamics)
Look at results
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 Edit in Read Only Mode
Allows a user to open Mechanical to review the model and any existing results
without consuming a license.
Note You will be able to see results that have been generated with a license , but
not insert new results.

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 Importing CAD Geometry from files
RMB Geometry in the Project Schematic
Select Import Geometry
Select Browse and search for the geometry file to import

File types that can be

imported

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 Engineering Data
The Engineering Data application provides overall control for material properties.
Engineering data is a part of every project.
Engineering data can be opened stand alone (as a precursor to starting a project for example).

To open the Engineering Data To edit the Engineering Data in an

standalone, add from the component existing project RMB > Edit or double
systems in the toolbox (drag/drop or click
double click), then RMB > Edit or double
click. Recommended method Automatically
customizes models for Explicit Dynamics
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 Engineering Data Application
The Engineering Data application is displayed below. Individual controls and
components are described next.

Data Sources
Property Table

Individual Materials
Toolbox
Property
Chart
Material Properties

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 Engineering Data Application
The 2 icons in the toolbar control the basic display of engineering data.
The first toggles a filter for the materials shown in the toolbox:
ON = only materials relevant to the current analysis types are displayed.
OFF = all material properties are displayed.
The second toggles the display of either the project materials or the data source
materials:
ON: data sources (libraries) are displayed.
OFF: materials for the current project are displayed.

Physics Filter for Toolbox Engineering Data Source

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 Engineering Data Application
With data sources displayed the windows provide a cascading data presentation.
To view or modify materials one generally follows a work flow shown here:
Data Source > Material > Property

Choose Data Source

(Library)
Display Property in
tabular and
graphical format
Choose Material

Choose Property

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 Engineering Data Application
Data Sources Check box allows library to be unlocked
The Favorites field represents the materials for editing. Libraries must be unlocked
which will be available in every project. before materials can be modified.

The list of available material

libraries is displayed here. These
may be ANSYS supplied or user
defined.

New user material libraries may be added by Browse for existing libraries
entering a name and a location. or choose new library
location.
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 Engineering Data Application
To add a material from an existing library to the current project click the plus sign (+) next
to that material.

Highlight the desired library

Click the + next to the

desired material

Materials can be made available for all projects by

designating them as Favorites
IMPORTANT!: A material that is not displayed in the current engineering data will not be available
in the current analysis.

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 Engineering Data Application
To create a new material toggle to the
project materials display.
Enter a name, and description if desired,
for the new material.

From the Toolbox double

click or drag and drop the
desired properties.
Finally enter values for the
properties.
Note: properties can be
added to existing materials
using the same technique.

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 Engineering Data Application
Units menu in Engineering Data:
You may choose to display Values as Defined or Values in Project
Units.
As Defined units are controlled individually.

Project Units are taken from

the current Units menu
selection.

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 Workshop 1 Taylor Test (Cylinder Impact)
Goal
Simulate the impact of rod into a plate (typically known as a Taylor Test)

Procedure
Create an Explicit Dynamics (ANSYS) Analysis System
Project
Select the unit system and assign the material
properties
Import the rod and plate geometry.
Mesh the two parts and set the initial velocity
condition of the rod
Define the analysis settings, boundary conditions,
and applied loads
Solve and review the results
Walkthrough
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