Workshop8.

1
MeshingEvaluation
14.0Release

IntroductiontoANSYS
Mechanical
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 Goals
Inthisworkshopanarmfromamechanismwillbesolvedusingseveraldifferent
meshesforcomparison.
Ourgoalistoexplorehowmeshingchangescanhavedramaticeffectsonthe
qualityoftheresultsobtained.

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 Assumptions
Intheloadingconditionsbeingsimulatedthearmisexperiencingbothtensileand
bendingloadsasshownhere.
Ourareaofinterestisthewebsectionthatreinforcestheinteriorofthearm.

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 ProjectSchematic
OpentheProjectpage.
FromtheUnitsmenuverify:
ProjectunitsaresettoMetric(kg,mm,s,C,mA,mV).
DisplayValuesinProjectUnitsischecked(on).

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 ProjectSchematic
1. FromtheToolboxdoubleclickStatic
Structuraltocreateanewsystem.

1.

2. RMBthegeometrycellandImport 2.
Geometryandbrowseto
Mesh_Arm.stp.

3. DoubleclicktheModelcelltoopen 3.
theMechanicalapplication.

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 Preprocessing
4. Settheworkingunitsystem:
Units>Metric(mm,kg,N,s,mV,mA).
7.

5. Applythetensileforceonthearm:
a. Highlightthesmallerinteriorcylindricalface.
b. RMB>Insert>Force
c. Inthedetailwindowchoosethecomponentmethodand
enter5000NintheYdirection. c.

b.

a.

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 ...Preprocessing
6. Applythebendingforcetothearm:
a. Highlightthecircularfaceatthebaseofthe
a.
smallerendofthearm.
b. RMB>Insert>Force.
c. Inthedetailwindowchoosethecomponent
methodandenter1000NintheZdirection.

b.

c.

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 ...Preprocessing
7. Applythefixedsupportonthearm:
a. Selectthelargerdiameterinteriorcylindricalface.
b. RMB>Insert>FixedSupport.

b.

a.

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 Meshing
8. Meshthearmusingalldefaultsettings:
a. Highlightthemeshbranch.
b. RMB>GenerateMesh.

a.

b.

Inspection of the completed mesh shows a

very coarse result. In real applications we
would likely refine the mesh before solving.

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 ...Meshing
9. Checktheelementquality:
a. HighlighttheMeshbranch.
b. IntheStatisticsdetailssetMeshMetrictoElementQuality.

a.

b.

The element quality plot shows that many elements are of a relatively low quality.
However, to illustrate some of the practices and tools well solve the model as it is.

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 Solution
10. RequestResults:
a. HighlighttheSolutionbranch(A6).
b. RMB>Insert>Stress>EquivalentVonMises Stress.
c. RMB>Insert>Stress>Error.
b.
a.

c.

11. Solvethemodel:
a. ClickSolve.
a.

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 ResultInterpretation
12. ViewInitialResults:
Thestressresultshowsoneofthewebsections
maybeanareaofconcern.Inreviewingtheerror
plothoweverweconfirmthereisarapid
transitionfromhightolowenergyinadjacent
elements.Thisisanindicationthatmesh
refinementisrecommended.

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 ReMeshing
At this point there are numerous mesh controls we could employ to
improve the mesh. Well focus on the potential problem area
indicated in the results using several meshing controls.

13. Changetheglobalmeshsettings:
a. Highlightthemeshbranch.
b. InthedetailschangetheRelevance
CentertoMedium.

b.
a.

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 ...ReMeshing
14. Add a mesh size control:
a. Highlight the 5 faces shown below.
b. RMB > Insert > Sizing.
c. In the details set the element size to
3mm.

a.

b.

c.

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 ...ReMeshing
15. Remesh themodel: a.
a. HighlighttheMeshbranch.
b. RMB>GenerateMesh.
b.

The new mesh shows weve accomplished

refinement around the region of interest.

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 ...ReMeshing
16. Againreviewingtheelementqualitymetricfromthemeshstatisticsdetaila
definiteimprovementcanbeseen.

Original Mesh Refined Mesh

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 ...Results
Solvethemodelandreviewresultsasbefore.
Acomparisonofstressesfromouroriginalmeshshowsthemaximumvaluehas
gonefromapproximately38to43MPa

Original Mesh Refined Mesh

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 ...Results
Compareerrorplotsfortheregionofinterest.

Itscleartherefinementhasreducedtherapidtransitioninenergyvalues
whencomparedtotheoriginalmesh.

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 Conclusion
Noticethattherearestillareasofhighenergytransitioninthemodel.Ourmesh
refinementhasaddressedourstatedgoalbutnottheentiremodel.Each
simulationisuniqueandwillrequiredifferentapproachestoinsurehighquality
results.

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