DesignModeler and Workbench

Meshing - 14.5 Update

Mark Leddin
ANSYS UK
1

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Agenda:

Setting the scene

Geometry Update

Meshing Update

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Setting the scene

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Setting the Scene

DesignModeler

Meshing

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Two ways to access DM and Meshing

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Taking Meshing beyond WB.....

Neutral Mesh (Mesh 200s)

Full set-up

Un-structured meshes

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 ANSYS Geometry

Update

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

ANSYS 14.5 Highlights

Geometry Interfaces
Support for new CAD releases
Speed Improvements for large models

ANSYS DesignModeler
Performance Improvements
Usability Improvements

SpaceClaim Direct Modeler

2012 Release
2012+ Release
Network installation
Workbench integration enhancements
Robustness
2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

ANSYS DesignModeler

12

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

ANSYS DesignModeler Highlights

Performance Improvements
Mixed Geometry Types (large models)
Dynamic Conversions

Usability Improvements
Shared Topologies
Part Alignment Options
Named Selections
Plane Definitions
Gap Preview

13

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Mixed Geometry Types

New option for target geometry
type on Import/Attach:
DesignModeler
Full conversion to DMs internal
representation (Parasolid)
Traditional behavior, one size fits all

New Workbench Import Option

Convert to Light-Weight B-rep
Faster import from CAD system into
DesignModeler
DM converts entities during modeling, on
the fly, as needed
Model may be in two formats at once,
managed internally
14

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Mixed Geometry Type Performance

16

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Import Time in
14.0

Import Time in 14.5

(WB geometry type)

110 minutes

5 Minutes

Performance Improvements
DesignModeler
Large model reading time
reduced
25%
10X

Smarter handling of
databases
Reload only modified parts
Associatively linked models show
biggest improvements

Transfer to Meshing faster

18

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Usability Improvement:
Axis Input via Face Selection
Use a cylindrical, conical, etc. face to define
axis for:

19

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Translation/Rotation

Extrude about axis

Etc.

Color by Named Selections Option

Legend with color assignment
to named selection

22

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Usability Improvements:
Plane Definition from a Centroid of Selections
Option to create plane from
centroid of a selection
One or more entities can be
selected as input
All entities should be of same
dimension

If entities of mixed dimensions

are selected, entities of lower
dimension (e.g., edges in a
group of edges and faces) will
be ignored
Utilize to create lumped masses
for dynamic analyses etc.

24

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench
Meshing Overview

30

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing

Areas of focus:
Workflow and usability
Robustness
Hex meshing
Fracture (crack tip) meshing

31

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Workflow and Usability

Improvements

32

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing:

Workflow and Usability

Graphics Improvements for large mesh models:

User controlled Show Mesh option
Control for Dynamic section plane

Improved display of large sets of data:

Random colors to graphically visualize long lists of named selections,
sizing controls, etc.
Added option to see longer lists
Model filtering/tags
Model views
Object Generator

Usability improvements
Annotations Preference
Hide/Show options on Named Selections
Better edge biasing

33

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing:

New Mesh Visibility Option
Compute Metrics
Find problems
Then turn on mesh

35

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing:

Object Generator

Object generator allows user to copy objects

attached to 1 object to several.

With mesh controls it provides an easy way to assign

similar controls to a group of objects. For example:
In this example multiple mesh controls
are used to define mesh for 1 part.

41

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

But there are 4 similar parts

Object Generator allows you to copy the
controls to 3 other parts in easy fashion.

14.5 Workbench Meshing:

Object Generator

Object generator copies selected control to selected bodies:

Source Faces come from a

Named Selection.
This could be created based on
instance information if it exists,
or similar sized faces, etc.

Inflation , match, etc. control s

could be generated in same
manner.
42

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing:

Edge biasing

Added new Bias Option

Bias Factor:
Same as in past
Max/Min edge length

Smooth Transition
Bias Growth Rate
Bias Growth Rate = Bias Factor ^ (1/(n-1))

45

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Improved Robustness

46

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing: Robustness

Show All failed

improved in 14.5
If Meshing fails all failed regions are
given back to user so that user can fix
all regions prior to remeshing
Helps indicate if
just a few problems
or more significant

Often user can add 1 layer of attached

faces and VT group, re-mesh,
Problem solved!

47

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

MultiZone Hex Meshing

48

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 MultiZone Hex Meshing

MultiZone improvements
Improved face meshing

Surface mesh method = Uniform

Surface mesh methods:

Program controlled, Pave, Uniform
Support for Advanced Size Function

Edge biasing and hard/soft sizes

Improved imprinting, map-ability,
side handling, inflation

49

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Surface mesh method = Pave

14.5 MultiZone Hex Meshing:

Improved surface mesh quality

Surface Mesh Method control added to MultiZone:

Program Controlled: Default, program decides on best option
Uniform: Traditional approach, uses recursive loop splitting
Pave: Gambit approach, uses paving

On model resume (reading 14.0 model to 14.5):

Surface mesh method set to Uniform so mesh is similar

Surface Mesh Method = Program Controlled

Surface Mesh Method = Uniform

In this case, program controlled is same as Pave, in others the mesh could be more uniform
50

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 MultiZone Hex Meshing:

Support for Advanced Size Function (ASF)
Curvature

Surface mesh
method=Uniform does not use
SF info, so recommend using
Program controlled or Pave
with ASF, unless using fixed
option.

Proximity

Curvature and Proximity

Fixed

51

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

All ASF Types supported

ASF is used for face and

edge sizing

14.5 MultiZone Hex Meshing:

Support for Hard Sizing

Behavior control activated for MultiZone:

Hard sizing overrides ASF sizing
With MultiZone Hard only controls Number of divisions,
biasing does not have to be respected

This edge
is altered
to support
Number
divisions
on edge C

52

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

Biasing is not respected, but divisions are

Biasing is not
respected, but
divisions are

June 25, 2013

14.5 MultiZone Hex Meshing:

Improved Side Face Handling

54

Improved level handling along sweep direction

Improved mappability of side faces with large angles

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 MultiZone Quad/Tri w/inflation

Support for inflation

Inflation defined

56

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Mesh

Mesh w/inflation

Workbench Meshing
Fracture: Crack Tip Mesh

57

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing: Fracture

New option to add
crack initiation location
and crack tip to model
Support for quadratic tet mesh
Support for curved faces (but not
corners or multiple faces)

Improved LCS options

to help locate crack tip

58

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing: Fracture

Create LCS Normal to Face:

59

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing: Fracture

X-Axis should point into solid (flip if necessary)

60

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing: Fracture

Define Crack

61

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing: Fracture

Crack inserted in base mesh: Generate Crack

62

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

14.5 Workbench Meshing: Fracture

Crack Front Named Selection Created:
Contains nodes of the crack front

63

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013

Thank you for your time!

Any Questions?

64

2011 ANSYS, Inc.

June 25, 2013