Introduction

ANSA version 13.x.x Tutorial Guide

BETA CAE Systems S.A.

ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction

ANSA version 13.x.x Tutorial Guide

PDF document for version 13.x August 2009 COPYRIGHT 1990-2010 BETA CAE SYSTEMS S.A. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This ANSA Tutorial Guide is an integral part of the ANSA software. This Tutorial Guide, in whole or in part, may not be copied, reproduced, translated, transferred, or reduced to any form, including electronic medium or machine-readable form, or transmitted or publicly performed by any means, electronic or otherwise, unless BETA CAE Systems consents in writing in advance. Use of the software and its documentation has been provided under a software license agreement. BETA CAE Systems assumes no responsibility or liability for any damages or data loss caused by installation or use of the software. Information described in this documentation is furnished for information only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by BETA CAE Systems. BETA CAE Systems assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document. The software and its documentation contain valuable trade secrets and proprietary information and are protected by copyright laws. Unauthorized use of the software or its documentation can result in civil damages and criminal prosecution. All other company and product names, mentioned in the software and its documentation, are property, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

BETA CAE Systems S.A. Kato Scholari, Thessaloniki, GR-57500 Epanomi, Greece Tel: +30-2392 021420 Fax: +30-2392 021417 E-mail: ansa@beta-cae.gr URL: http://www.beta-cae.gr

BETA CAE Systems S.A.

ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction

INTRODUCTION
1. About this Tutorial Guide
This Tutorial Guide introduces ANSA to new users. The tutorials are described in detail so that one can perform all the tasks without any previous experience of ANSA. A short Getting Started section is included to familiarize the user with the interface. This document can be used in combination with the ANSA v13.x Users Guide, where detailed descriptions of all the demonstrated functionalities can be found, in order to provide more insight to the user. The document will be updated regularly to include additional examples and more advanced ANSA functionalities. Although not all tutorials may be relevant to your applications, it is still worth studying them, as they will familiarize you with the main menus of ANSA, TOPO, MESH, DECK and MORPH.

For any queries related to this Tutorial Guide you can refer to Technical Support (e-mail: ansa@beta-cae.gr).

BETA CAE Systems S.A.

ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction 2. Annotations and Symbols

Throughout this guide the following text presentation conventions are followed to distinguish the various text interpretations. Object - Action ANSA buttons, functions ANSA Entities ANSA Windows Text Window messages Files, variables, OS commands Warning Presentation All capitals First letter capital Italics Italics Courier New ! Example CUT Face DECK Parameters window Please select PART ANSA.defaults ! Do not cut Macros at locations

Due to the nature of the program a lot of graphical conventions are also used. Mouse and keyboard icons, arrows, cursors etc. are widely utilized. Some examples are presented below: Cursor position in the ANSA display window where left mouse button is pressed Click and drag with left mouse button movement Cursor position over menus and entry cards Keyboard for alphanumerical input

All ANSA buttons are displayed graphically as shown: Pressed button T OPO > Not-pressed button M ESH > Activated flag button
HIDDEN

Not-activated flag button

SHADOW

menu

As a function is referenced in the guide its button is presented in its not pressed state, prior to selection. INSERT Some commands have sub-options displayed in the pull down menu that appears when the button is pressed. In the guide only the option of interest is presented for simplification. For example if the user selects the option NORMAL from the command PROJECT which belongs to the CONS group of the TOPO > menu, the button below is presented: In addition in the text the command PROJECT path is stated: NORMA TOPO>CONS>PROJECT L [NORMAL] Many times the root path (TOPO > in this case) is omitted, as it is apparent.

group

command

option

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ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction 3. Getting Started

The following sections describe some key points about ANSA that the user should be familiar with, before performing the tutorials. 3.1. ANSA GUI The main features of the Graphical User Interface are highlighted and described below:

2. Access t o On Line Help 1. Main pull down menu-

3. But t ons for T ask Manager 4 . Menu but t ons Bat ch Mesh for Part Manager - T OPO Propert ies/Mat erials - MESH Dat a Management - DECK Dat abase Browser - MORPH

5. Group of Funct ions 7. Addit ional Groups (G eometry or Qu al i ty) 8. Focus Group

6. Visibilit y flags and view

9. ANSA Info window

1. Main pull down menu: menu that contains all the functions for data Input/Output, Windows, Modules. 2. Help: Access to Online Help and sodtware documentation pages. 3. Buttons for: Batch Mesh tool, Part Manager, Properties and Materials, Task Manager, Data Management. 4. Menu buttons: Switch between the three main menus of TOPO, MESH, DECKs and MORPH. 5. Function Groups: The functions are arranged in Groups, depending on the Entity that they are applicable to. The number in parentheses next to the Group Name indicates the number of additional commands located in the Buffer Menu of each Group. The buffer menu can be accessed by pressing on the Group Name with the right mouse button. 6. Visibility Flags and View modes: These are flag buttons that control the visibility of different entities. In addition there are flags or toggle buttons that control the view mode like Colouring by ENT (Entity) or PID (Property ID), or SHADOW or WIRE mode etc. 7. Additional Groups: Geometry, Quality Criteria Groups, Deck UTIL and Weld Spots. 8. Focus Group: This group contains all the functions that are used to isolate and control the visibility of selected entities in order to build a clear image of the working area of the model. 9. Text Window: Instructions and reporting of the program are printed in the Text Window.

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ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction
3.2. Basic terminology In the TOPO menu the following entities appear:

3D Point Triple CONS Single CONS

3D Curve

Double CONS

Hot Point Weld Spot

Face

Surface Cross hatch Connecting Spot

Correspondingly, in the MESH and DECK menus:

FE-model elements

Perimeter Node

Perimeter Segment

Hot Point Weld Spot

Macro Area

Connecting Spot

FE-model elements

For a more detailed description please refer to the ANSA Users Guide, sections 4.1 and 9.1.

BETA CAE Systems S.A.

ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction
3.3. View Control Basic view control can be achieved though the mouse: Rotate With the Ctrl key pressed, rotate the model with the left mouse button.

Ct rl Translate With the Ctrl key pressed, translate the model with the middle mouse button.

Ct rl Zoom With the Ctrl button pressed, zoom in and out with both left and middle mouse buttons pressed. Moving left and down the view zooms in and moving right and up the view zooms out.

Ct rl or the Function keys of the keyboard: F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F1

TOP

FRONT

LEFT BOTTOM BACK

RIGHT ZOOM IN

ZOOM OUT

ZOOM ALL

Default View

For a more detailed description you can refer to the ANSA Users Guide, sections 3.3 and 3.4.

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ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction
3.4. Detail on Demand effect By default ANSA displays a model with variable detail depending on the current zoom level. This means when you view a model from far less detail is displayed (for example you cannot see the WIRE of the mesh). As you zoom in you begin to see more and more details like the mew wireframe.

Zoom out low det ail

Zoom in high det ail

highe r de t ail 3.5. Most important key actions

The strength of this effect, called detail on demand, is controlled by the lowe r de t ail F11 key, Presentation Parameters tab with a slide bar. F1

The mouse buttons are mainly used to: The left mouse button (1): - activate menu buttons - select or define entities The middle mouse button (2): - confirm selections or processes The right mouse button (3): - perform the opposite action of left mouse button (e.g. select/unselect or insert/delete) - reapply last action to other entities The ESC key cancels operations, exits from functions and closes windows at any step of the process. So if in doubt, press ESC.

Esc

Pause Bre ak

The Pause/Break key can be used to interrupt a function during running (for example aborts a SHADOW or Volume mesh operations during its calculation if this takes too long). The F11 key gives access to the Presentation Parameters window, where the user can specify quality criteria definitions and threshold values, as well as other presentation attributes. The F12 key gives access to the Database Browser, from which the user can control the visibility status of different types of FE-model entities (line elements, shells, solids etc.).

F1

F1

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ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide

Introduction
3.6. Making Selections Selections are performed with left mouse button. Selected entities are highlighted in white and can be de-selected with right mouse button if so required. Selections can be made in any of the following ways: Box selection Left click and drag to create a Box to select all entities in it. In addition, when selection are required the Feature Selection Tool bar opens with some of the following options: Feature Angle Selection

Left click on one entity, ANSA selects all neighbouring ones within the user specified feature angle. PID Region selection

Left click on one entity and ANSA selects all the connected entities of the same Property.

Macro Area selection

Left click or Box selection to pick whole Macro Areas.

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ANSA v.13.x.x Tutorial Guide