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4.
Preliminary Decisions
Overview
• Before starting an analysis in ANSYS, you need to make a
few decisions, such as the analysis type needed and the type
of model you want to build.
• In this chapter, we will discuss some of the decision making
process. The purpose is to give you an idea of the amount of
planning generally needed before “jumping in” to do the
analysis.
• Topics covered:
– A. Which analysis type?
– B. What to model?
– C. Which element type?
A. Which analysis type?
• The analysis type usually belongs to one of the following
disciplines:
Structural Motion of solid bodies, pressure on solid bodies,
or contact of solid bodies
Thermal Applied heat, high temperatures, or changes in
temperature
Electromagnetic Devices subjected to electric currents (AC or
DC), electromagnetic waves, and voltage or
charge excitation
Fluid Motion of gases/fluids, or contained gases/fluids
Coupled-Field Combinations of any of the above
• We will focus on structural analyses in this discussion.

...Which analysis type?
• Once you choose a structural analysis, the next questions
are:
– Static or dynamic analysis?
– Linear or nonlinear analysis?
• To answer these, remember that whenever a body is

subjected to some excitation (loading), it responds with three
types of forces:
– static forces (due to stiffness)
– inertia forces (due to mass)
– damping forces
Static vs. Dynamic Analysis
• A static analysis assumes that only the stiffness forces are
significant.
• A dynamic analysis takes into account all three types of
forces.
• For example, consider the analysis of a diving

board.
– If the diver is standing still, it might be sufficient to
do a static analysis.
– But if the diver is jumping up and down, you will
need to do a dynamic analysis.
• Inertia and damping forces are usually significant if the
applied loads vary rapidly with time.
• Therefore you can use time-dependency of loads as a way to
choose between static and dynamic analysis.
– If the loading is constant over a relatively long period of time,
choose a static analysis.
– Otherwise, choose a dynamic analysis.
• In general, if the excitation frequency is less than 1/3 of the

structure’s lowest natural frequency, a static analysis may be
acceptable.
Linear vs. Nonlinear Analysis
• A linear analysis assumes that the loading causes negligible
changes to the stiffness of the structure. Typical
characteristics are:
– Small deflections
– Strains and stresses within the elastic limit
– No abrupt changes in stiffness such as two bodies coming into
and out of contact
Stress
Elastic modulus
(EX)
Strain
• A nonlinear analysis is needed if the loading causes
significant changes in the structure’s stiffness. Typical
reasons for stiffness to change significantly are:
– Strains beyond the elastic limit (plasticity)
– Large deflections, such as with a loaded fishing rod
– Contact between two bodies
Stress
Strain
B. What to Model?
• Many modeling decisions must be made before building an
analysis model:
– How much detail should be included?
– Does symmetry apply?
– Will the model contain stress singularities?
...What to Model?
Details
• Small details that are unimportant to the analysis should not be
included in the analysis model. You can suppress such features
before sending a model to ANSYS from a CAD system.
• For some structures, however, "small" details such as fillets or
holes can be locations of maximum stress and might be quite
important, depending on your analysis objectives.
...What to Model?
Symmetry
• Many structures are symmetric in some form and allow only a
representative portion or cross-section to be modeled.
• The main advantages of using a symmetric model are:
– It is generally easier to create the model.
– It allows you to make a finer, more detailed model and thereby
obtain better results than would have been possible with the full
model.
...What to Model?
• To take advantage of symmetry, all of the following must be
symmetric:
– Geometry
– Material properties
– Loading conditions
• There are different types of symmetry:

– Axisymmetry
– Rotational
– Planar or reflective
– Repetitive or translational
...What to Model?
Axisymmetry
• Symmetry about a central axis, such as in light bulbs, straight
pipes, cones, circular plates, and domes.
• Plane of symmetry is the cross-section anywhere around the
structure. Thus you are using a single 2-D “slice” to
represent 360° — a real savings in model size!
• Loading is also assumed to be

axisymmetric in most cases.
However, if it is not, and if the
analysis is linear, the loads can be
separated into harmonic
components for independent
solutions that can be superposed.
...What to Model?
Rotational symmetry
• Repeated segments arranged about a central axis, such as in
turbine rotors.
• Only one segment of the structure needs to be modeled.
• Loading is also assumed to be symmetric about the axis.
...What to Model?
Planar or reflective symmetry
• One half of the structure is a mirror image of the other half.
The mirror is the plane of symmetry.
• Loading may be symmetric or anti-symmetric about the plane
of symmetry.
This model illustrates

both reflective and
rotational symmetry
...What to Model?
Repetitive or translational symmetry
• Repeated segments arranged along a straight line, such as a
long pipe with evenly spaced cooling fins.
• Loading is also assumed to be “repeated” along the length of
the model.
This model illustrates both repetitive and reflective symmetry.

...What to Model?
• In some cases, only a few minor details will disrupt a
structure's symmetry. You may be able to ignore such
details (or treat them as being symmetric) in order to gain the
benefits of using a smaller model. How much accuracy is
lost as the result of such a compromise might be difficult to
estimate.
...What to Model?
Stress singularities
• A stress singularity is a location in a finite element model
where the stress value is unbounded (infinite). Examples:
– A point load, such as an applied force or moment
– An isolated constraint point, where the reaction force behaves
like a point load
– A sharp re-entrant corner (with zero fillet radius)
• As the mesh density is refined at P σ = P/A

a stress singularity, the stress value As A ⇒ 0, σ ⇒ ∞
increases and never converges.
...What to Model?
• Real structures do not contain stress singularities. They are
a fiction created by the simplifying assumptions of the model.
• So how do you deal with stress singularities?
– If they are located far away from the region of interest, you can
simply ignore them by deactivating the affected zone while
reviewing results.
– If they are located in the region of interest, you will need to take
corrective action, such as:
• adding a fillet at re-entrant corners and redoing the analysis.
• replacing a point force with an equivalent pressure load.
• “spreading out” displacement constraints over a set of
nodes.
C. Which Element Type?
• This is an important decision you usually need to make
before beginning the analysis.
• Typical issues are:
– Which element category? Solid, shell, beam, etc.
– Element order. Linear or quadratic.
– Mesh density. Usually determined by the objectives of the
analysis.
...Which Element Type?
Element category
• ANSYS offers many different categories of elements. Some
of the commonly used ones are:
– Line elements
– Shells
– 2-D solids
– 3-D solids
• Line elements:
– Beam elements are used to model bolts, tubular members, C-
sections, angle irons, or any long, slender members where only
membrane and bending stresses are needed.
– Spar elements are used to model springs, bolts, preloaded bolts,
and truss members.
– Spring elements are used to model springs, bolts, or long
slender parts, or to replace complex parts by equivalent
stiffnesses.
• Shell elements:
– Used to model thin panels or curved surfaces.
– The definition of “thin” depends on the application, but as a
general guideline, the major dimensions of the shell structure
(panel) should be at least 10 times its thickness.
• 2-D Solid elements:
– Used to model a cross-section of solid objects.
– Must be modeled in the global Cartesian X-Y plane.
– All loads are in the X-Y plane, and the response (displacements)
are also in the X-Y plane.
– Element behaviour may be one of the following:
• plane stress
• plane strain
• axisymmetric
• axisymmetric harmonic Y
Z X
• Plane stress assumes zero stress
in the Z direction.
– Valid for components in which the Y
Z dimension is smaller than the X
and Y dimensions. Z X
– Z-strain is non-zero.
– Optional thickness (Z direction)
allowed.
– Used for structures such as flat
plates subjected to in-plane
loading, or thin disks under
pressure or centrifugal loading.
• Plane strain assumes zero strain in the Z
direction.
– Valid for components in which the Z
dimension is much larger than the X and Y
dimensions.
– Z-stress is non-zero. Z
– Used for long, constant-cross-section
structures such as structural beams. Y
X
• Axisymmetry assumes that the 3-D model
and its loading can be generated by revolving
a 2-D section 360° about the Y axis.
– Axis of symmetry must coincide with the
global Y axis.
– Negative X coordinates are not permitted.
– Y direction is axial, X direction is radial, and Z
direction is circumferential (hoop) direction.
– Hoop displacement is zero; hoop strains and
stresses are usually very significant.
– Used for pressure vessels, straight pipes,
shafts, etc.
• Axisymmetric harmonic is a special case of axisymmetry
where the loads can be non-axisymmetric.
– The non-axisymmetric loading decomposed into Fourier series
components, applied and solved separately, and then combined
later. No approximation is introduced by this simplification!
– Used for non-axisymmetric loads such as torque on a shaft.
• 3-D Solid elements:
– Used for structures which, because of geometry, materials,
loading, or detail of required results, cannot be modeled with
simpler elements.
– Also used when the model geometry is transferred from a 3-D
CAD system, and a large amount of time and effort is required to
convert it to a 2-D or shell form.
Element Order
• Element order refers to the polynomial order of the element’s
shape functions.
• What is a shape function?
– It is a mathematical function that gives the “shape” of the results
within the element. Since FEA solves for DOF values only at
nodes, we need the shape function to map the nodal DOF values
to points within the element.
– The shape function represents assumed behavior for a given
element.
– How well each assumed element shape function matches the
true behavior directly affects the accuracy of the solution, as
shown on the next slide.
Linear approximation
(Poor Results)
Quadratic distribution of
DOF values
Actual quadratic
curve
Linear approximation
with multiple elements Quadratic approximation
(Better Results) (Best Results)
• When you choose an element type, you are implicitly
choosing and accepting the element shape function assumed
for that element type. Therefore, check the shape function
information before you choose an element type.
• Typically, a linear element has only corner nodes, whereas a
quadratic element also has midside nodes.
Linear elements Quadratic elements
• Can support only a linear variation • Can support a quadratic variation
of displacement and therefore of displacement and therefore a
(mostly) only a constant state of linear variation of stress within a
stress within a single element. single element.
• Highly sensitive to element • Can represent curved edges and
distortion. surfaces more accurately than
linear elements. Not as sensitive
• Acceptable if you are only to element distortion.
interested in nominal stress
results. • Recommended if you are
interested in highly accurate
• Need to use a large number of stresses.
elements to resolve high stress
gradients. • Give better results than linear
elements, in many cases with
fewer number of elements and
total DOF.
• Notes:
– For shell models, the difference between linear and quadratic
elements is not as dramatic as for solid models. Linear shells
are therefore usually preferred.
– Besides linear and quadratic elements, a third kind is available,
known as p-elements. P-elements can support anywhere from a
quadratic to an 8th-order variation of displacement within a
single element and include automatic solution convergence
controls.
Mesh Density
• The fundamental premise of FEA is that as the number of
elements (mesh density) is increased, the solution gets
closer and closer to the true solution.
• However, solution time and computer resources required
also increase dramatically as you increase the number of
elements.
• The objectives of the analysis usually decide which way the
slider bar below should be moved.
• If you are interested in highly accurate stresses:
– A fine mesh will be needed, omitting no geometric details at any
location in the structure where such accuracy is needed.
– Stress convergence should be demonstrated.
– Any simplification anywhere in the model might introduce
significant error.
• If you are interested in deflections or nominal stresses:

– A relatively coarse mesh is sufficient.
– Small geometry details may be omitted.
• If you are interested in mode shapes (modal analysis):
– Small details can usually be omitted.
– Simple mode shapes can be captured using a relatively coarse
mesh.
– Complex mode shapes may require a uniform, moderately fine
mesh.
• Thermal Analyses:
– Small details can usually be omitted, but since many thermal
analyses are followed by a stress analysis, stress
considerations generally determine this.
– Mesh density is usually determined by expected thermal
gradients. A fine mesh is required for high thermal gradients,
whereas a coarse mesh may be sufficient for low gradients.

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4.

• We will focus on structural analyses in this discussion.

• To answer these, remember that whenever a body is

• For example, consider the analysis of a diving

• In general, if the excitation frequency is less than 1/3 of the

• There are different types of symmetry:

• Loading is also assumed to be

This model illustrates

This model illustrates both repetitive and reflective symmetry.

• As the mesh density is refined at P σ = P/A

• If you are interested in deflections or nominal stresses:

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