2011 ANSYS, Inc.

October 29, 2013 1

Design Modeler Tips and Tricks
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 2
User Problem It can take many clicks of
a mouse to achieve the desired function

The following will show recent usability
enhancements to significantly speed up
operations in Design Modeler
Problem statement: Too Many Clicks!
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 3
View Options can be accessed
via toolbar
Rotate
Pan
Zoom

Much quicker is Middle Mouse
Button (MMB) with key changes
Rotate
Shift + MMB : Zoom
Ctrl + MMB : Pan

Middle-Mouse Multi-Options
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 4
Often it is useful to use Box Select to lasso lots of
entities quickly
User may wish to then use Single Select to add or
remove a few entities while holding down Control key



There is a quick toggle option to move between these
modes more quickly without having to navigate the
toolbar
Hold down RMB and click and release LMB while still holding RMB
to switch between modes
Quick Toggle Single/Box Select
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 5
Escape: equivalent to New Selection (if button is not
grayed out); also accessible via the Selection Toolbar
Ctrl+A: selects three Body Types: Solid, Surface, and Line
Ctrl+B: equivalent to Selection Filter: Bodies (also
accessible via the Selection Toolbar)
Ctrl+C: equivalent to Copy (Sketching mode only; also
accessible via the Modify Toolbox)
Ctrl+E: equivalent to Selection Filter: Edges (also
accessible via the Selection Toolbar)
Ctrl+F: equivalent to Selection Filter: Faces (also
accessible via the Selection Toolbar)
Ctrl+N: equivalent to Start Over option (also accessible
via the File Menu)
Ctrl+O: equivalent to Load DesignModeler Database
option (also accessible via the File Menu)
Ctrl+P: equivalent to Selection Filter: Points (also
accessible via the Selection Toolbar)
Ctrl+S: equivalent to Save Project option (also accessible
via the File Menu)
Ctrl+V: equivalent to Paste (Sketching Mode only; also
accessible via the Modify Toolbox)
Ctrl+X: equivalent to Cut (Sketching Mode only; also
accessible via the Modify Toolbox)
Ctrl+Y: equivalent to Redo (Sketching Mode only; also
accessible via the toolbar)
Ctrl+Z: equivalent to Undo (Sketching Mode only; also
accessible via the toolbar)
F1: ANSYS Inc. online help with DesignModeler
highlighted; for more information, see Help Menu
F2: Install help
F3: Apply (during feature creation; for more information,
see Apply/Cancel in Plane)
F4: Cancel (during feature creation; for more information,
see Apply/Cancel in Plane)
F5: equivalent to Generate (also accessible via the 3D
Features toolbar)
F6: equivalent to Shaded Exterior and Edges, Shaded
Exterior, and Wireframe model appearance controls
(toggle between three; also accessible via the View
Menu)
F7: equivalent to Zoom to Fit (also accessible via the
Rotation Modes Toolbar toolbar)
Ctrl++: Expand selection
Ctrl+-: Shrink selection

Design Modeler Hot Keys
Note: Hotkeys coming for Ansys Meshing at R15
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 6
Useer Problem Requirements to
visualise more easily areas of the
geometry and understand issues quickly

The following will show recent usability
enhancements to improve visualisation
capability in Design Modeler
Problem statement: Hard to See!
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 7
Entity Selection Mode
New Selection
Single Select
Box Select
Select Points
Select Edges
Select Faces
Select Bodies
Extend Selection for multiple
entities

Toolbars: Selection Tools
Shrink Expand
Hotkeys
Ctrl+: Expand selection
Ctrl-: Shrink selection
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 8
User Problem - Early versions of Design
Modeler did not have the capability to
find overlapping bodies

The following will show usability
enhancements to find overlaps
Problem statement: Finding Body Overlaps
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 9
Enabling Beta Features
To activate Beta Options, go to
Workbench Schematic Page
Go to Tools Options
Select Appearance from tree
Scroll down and enable the check
box of Beta Options
This will activate beta features
available in the Design Modeler
such as Body Clash Detection
and Solid Extension
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 10
Identifying Body Interferences
Switch to Wireframe view for
better viewing of clash
[Main menu] View Wireframe
Locate various clashes in the
geometry as shown
In this e.g. both cases involve a
compressor casing
Adjusting/moving casing may solve
problem
Interference between
compressor casing &
center housing
Interference between
compressor blades and
casing
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 11
Tools Options Design Modeler Toolbars to add the
most used options to your GUI layout
Toolbar Customization
Add common operations to your toolbar to speed up feature
creation
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 12
Working on Areas of the Geometry
RMB
Reduce the display to work effectively on smaller areas using Hide/Expand
options
Or use Hotkey Ctrl-+
RMB
Switch off
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 13
ToolsOptionsDMGraphics
Default Highlight
Selection = Single Side
only fills surface in
direction of surface
vector when chosen
Switching to Both Sides is
recommended for CFD where
inner surfaces are often
required. This option will show
the selected face as filled
from both directions.
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 14
Handling of Multi-Body Parts
A regular support question is how to
get conformal meshes from DM/AM
In DM, where Shared Topology is set to
Automatic (default)
Faces in contact imprinted & fused to form
a single face shared between the two
bodies
Results in Conformal mesh in Ansys Meshing
Common face acts as Interior zone in
Fluent
Geometry Configuration Multi-Body Parts
Common
Shared Face
DM Part
Details
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 15
Handling of Multiple Parts
When multiple parts are attached to
a Meshing session a Contact Region
is automatically created between
those parts
2 Faces at Contact Region
Each part meshed independently
Results in a non-conformal interface
between the two parts (mesh nodes
on bodies do not line up and are
not connected)
Grid Interface in Fluent or GGI in
CFX can be defined for the faces at
the contact region
Geometry Configuration Multiple Parts
Contact Region
Independent
Faces
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 16
Handling of Multi-Body Parts
In DM, where Shared Topology is set
to Imprints
The boundaries of the faces at
contact region are imprinted on
each other resulting in like faces
Contact Region is automatically
created at like faces
Results in Non-conformal interface
Grid Interface in Fluent or GGI in
CFX can be defined for the faces at
the contact region
To create identical mesh on the
like faces use Match Control
option (mesh will remain
unconnected)

Geometry Configuration Multi-body
Parts
Two Like Faces
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 17
Simplification Tools for Fluid
Extraction
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 18
Simplification Tools for Fluid Extraction
Do you import solid parts with gaps between them ?

Closing those gaps is a necessity before using fluid extraction tools.

The following slides and demo will show you tools that can be used to
create contacts between parts in order to extract the fluid.


2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 19
Partial contact only, a small cavity would be created

Simplification Tools
Thin Surface Body Only
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 20
Surface body created from external faces
(visible by red color edge)
Simplification Tools
Thin Surface Body Only
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 21
Normal extrusion of the surface body to close gap along
the hole surface
Simplification Tools
Thin Surface Body Only
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 22
Partial contact only, small cavities would be created and
sharp angle would result from extraction

Simplification Tools
Face Delete
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 23
Details removed
Simplification Tools
Face Delete
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 24
Surface must be created to close gap between 2 pipes
Shape and topology are different (number of vertex)
Simplification Tools
Skin Loft
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 25
Vertices are projected to split edges in order to
get identical topology
Simplification Tools
Skin Loft
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 26
A surface is created from the 2 edge loops using Create /
Skin Loft
Simplification Tools
Skin Loft
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 27
All solid bodies are in contact or intersecting

Fluid Extraction Tools
Fill by Caps
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 28
Cap surfaces created using Surfaces From Edges
to limit the fluid domain
Fluid Extraction Tools
Fill by Caps
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 29
Fluid Extracted
Fluid Extraction Tools
Fill by Caps
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 30
Share Topology
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 31
Do you work from imported or created CAD with multiple
bodies and want to get a conformal mesh (node
matching) ?
Creating a multibody part with automatic option will connect
the bodies using a generalized Boolean during transfer to
ANSYS Meshing.
The Share Topology command enables you to visualize the
result in Design Modeler.

The following slides will show some tools that can help you
verify that the result is as expected
Share Topology : How to Check Result ?
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 32
Edge Display Options





Free Edges - 0 face - Blue
Single Edges - 1 face - Red
Double Edges - 2 faces - Black
Triple Edges - 3 faces - Pink
Multiple Edges (>3) - Yellow
Display Edge Direction
Display Vertices

Toolbars: Display Controls
Note user can use Share Topology option
in DM to check connectivity before
proceeding to Meshing
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 33
Share Topology Example
Case 1 : Perfectly Aligned Cylinders
Black edges :
- Edges connected to 2 surfaces only
- 2 internal surfaces
- Contact in ANSYS Meshing
- Non-conformal mesh
Before Share Topology After Share Topology
Purple edges :
- Edges connected to 3 surfaces
- Single shared surface
- No contact detected in AM
- Conformal mesh
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 34
Share Topology Example
Case 2 : Non Coaxial Cylinders
Black and Purple edges :
- Sliver surfaces were created

After Share Topology
Hard to visualize on
industrial model
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 35
Sliver surfaces generated by Share Topology can be found
using Small Entity Search Analysis Tools
Share Topology Example
Case 2 : Non Coaxial Cylinders
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 36
To help visualization of problems it is possible to change visibility of
edges depending on connection
- Hide
- Thicken

Share Topology Example
Case 2 : Non Coaxial Cylinders
Triple edge hidden,
double edge now visible
=> problem
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 37
Sometime edges are so close they cant be seen properly,
selection by box enables you to check their number
(check at the bottom of the window)
Share Topology Example
Case 2 : Non Coaxial Cylinders
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 38
Share Topology Example
Case 3 : Intersecting Cylinders
Multiple Purple edges
- Intersecting body created

After Share Topology
Check the number of bodies, and
click on Share Topology in the Tree
Outline to highlight them
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 39
Share Topo - Example
Double and triple connected
edges at same position; hard to
flag visually
Small Entity Search used post
Share Topology automatically
flags this spike
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 40
Since 14.5 default option for CAD import is Workbench so the geometry is
not converted to Parasolid
There is an impact on face faceting quality, even with Facet Quality = 10 the
rendering is poor
Workaround : convert curved parts to parasolid

Face faceting
FQ = 10 - Parasolid FQ = 10 - Workkbench
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 41
If you need to generate
a model when you
open it in DM, check
that the option
below is on Partial
and not None
Generate needed at opening ?
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 42
In Win7 Options are saved here :
C:\Users\fmeslay\AppData\Roaming\Ansys\v150\en-us
globalPreferences.xml : Workbench
agPreferences.xml : Design Modeler
dsPreferences.xml : Meshing / Mechanical
Tool / Options
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 43
Pattern handling
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 44
How to parameterize creation via patterns?
Do you need to easily create a large number of similar entities on your
model, and modify them consistently?

Reproducing entities can typically be achieved by creating patterns of
geometric objects. This is consistent with later body operations (e.g.
Boolean operations), and can be parameterized.

The hole creation is then followed by a patch generation, provided by a
semi-automatic repair tool on boundary faces.

The following slides and demo will show you the capabilities of the pattern
tool, and how the multi-entity creation and modification can be
managed at a parametric level, whatever the shape of the geometry.


2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 45
Multi-Holes Creation
The pattern tools works for three kinds
of repetition :
- linear (one direction).
- circular (around an axis).
- rectangular (two directions).

Several patterns can be performed on
the same geometry.

Pattern can be defined from cut out
geometry.

Once defined, the number of repetition
can be set as a Workbench parameter.



linear pattern
circular pattern
second pattern added
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 46
Repair tool is designed to find and repair 3D and 2D holes
3D : fill hole
2D : edge delete / surface patch / edge connect
If one wants to create surface patches quickly for the
geometry shown (and not close the holes), it can be done by
simply creating surface bodies from surfaces and apply repair
tool to those surface bodies only.

Multi-Holes Closing
Concept / Surface from face
(thickness 0)
Tools / Repair / Repair Hole
(RMB Select in All Below to
apply method to all holes)
Surface patch created
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 47
By default only 50 problems are listed in repair tool.
Limit can be changed in Tool / Option / Design Modeler
/Miscellaneous.







After patch creation the 2 extra surfaces can be deleted
with Create / Thin Surface / Surface to Remove
Multi-Holes Closing
2011 ANSYS, Inc. October 29, 2013 48
Surface is created from Sketch
Then Pattern is applied to the surface body
Pattern for 2D