Simulation Basics: Chapter Two

Chapter Two
Simulation Basics
Simulation Basics
Chapter Overview Training Manual
• In this chapter, the basics of using Simulation to perform
ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

analyses will be covered, which include:
– The Simulation GUI and Operation
– Introduction to the Simulation Wizard
– Basic Analysis Procedure
• The capabilities described in this section are generally

applicable to the ANSYS DesignSpace Entra licenses and
above, unless explicitly noted with the lower-left hand
table.
ANSYS License Availability

DesignSpace Entra x August 26, 2005
DesignSpace x
Professional x Inventory
Structural x #002265
Mechanica l/Multiphysics x 2-2
Simulation Basics
A. Launching Simulation Training Manual
• Recall that there are two ways of running Simulation:

– Configured from within ANSYS Workbench …
– … or directly from a supported CAD system
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Model shown is from a sample Solid Edge assembly.
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Simulation Basics
… Simulation Interface Training Manual
• The components of the user interface are shown below:

Workbench Tabs
Menus
Toolbars
Tree Outline
Simulation
Wizard
Graphics Window
Details View
• Short descriptions of each component are covered next

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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Menus Training Manual
• The menus provide much of the functionality present in

Simulation. Covering each menu item may be tedious, so
only the more commonly used menu items are covered
below:
– The title bar lists the currently active ANSYS license
– “File > Save” to save the .dsdb Simulation database
– “File > Clean” to delete mesh and/or results from database
– “Edit > Select All” to select all current entities in the window
– “Units” to change units on-the-fly
– “Tools > Options… ” to customize settings and options
– “Help > ANSYS Simulation Help” to invoke documentation
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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Toolbars Training Manual
• There are four sets of toolbars to provide users quick access

to functionality also found in the menus.
Standard Toolbar
Graphics Toolbar
Named Selection Toolbar
Context Toolbar
– The toolbars can be repositioned anywhere on the top of the

Simulation window
– The “Context” toolbar, as will be illustrated later, will change,
depending on what branch is active in the “Outline” tree.
– Tooltips appear if the cursor is placed over the toolbar button
– A “Unit Conversion” toolbar is also available (not shown)
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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Toolbars Training Manual
• The “Standard” toolbar is shown below:

New or Open .dsdb Save .dsdb Bring up Simulation Wizard Solve Model Capture Snapshot
• The “Graphics” toolbar is used very often:
Select mode Select entities Select Adjacent Graphics Manipulation Fit All Wireframe Viewports
– The left mouse button can be either in “selection” mode or

“graphics manipulation” mode. The above toolbar buttons
grouped as “select entities” and “graphics manipulation”
control the left-mouse button behavior.
– The selection of entities of the CAD geometry can be done
either by individual selection or by box-selection. This is
controlled by the “Select Mode” icon
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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Outline Tree Training Manual
• The Outline Tree provides an easy way

of organizing the model, materials,
mesh, loads, and results for the analysis
– The “Model” branch contains the input
data required for the analysis
– The four main sections of the “Model”
branch include “Geometry,” “Contact”
(if present), “Mesh,” and “Environment.”
– The “Environment” branch contains the
loads as well as the “Solution” branch,
which holds results.
– Other branches (not covered here) are
also available.
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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Outline Tree Training Manual
• The Outline Tree shows icons for each branch, along with a

status symbol. Examples of the status symbols are below:
– Checkmark indicates branch is fully defined/OK
– Question mark indicates item has incomplete data (need input)
– Lightning bolt indicates solving is required
– Exclamation mark means problem exists1
– “X” means that item is suppressed (will not be solved)
– Transparent checkmark means body or part is hidden
– Green lightning bolt indicates item is currently being
evaluated
– Minus sign means that mapped face meshing failed
Becoming familiar with the basic status symbols allows users to

debug Simulation problems quickly.
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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Details View Training Manual
• The Details View provides a means of

inputting data. The contents will change,
depending on branch selected.
– White field: shows current input data
• Data in white text field is editable
– Gray (or Red) field: shows informative data
• Data in gray fields cannot be modified.
– Yellow field: incomplete input data
• Data in yellow fields indicates missing
information.
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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Graphics Window Training Manual
• The Graphics Window shows the geometry and results. It

can also provide worksheet (tabular) listings, the HTML
report, and a Print Preview option.
The Job Status tab provides

information on jobs being
solved remotely.
The remote solve capability
will be discussed in the
Simulation Advanced Training
Geometry Tab Worksheet Tab Course
Job Status Tab
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Simulation Basics
… GUI – Simulation Wizard Training Manual
• The Simulation Wizard is an optional component, a useful aid

to remind users steps required to complete an analysis
– The Simulation Wizard provides a list of required
steps and the status of them
– Green checkmark indicates the item is complete
– Green “i” shows an informational item
– A greyed symbol shows that the step cannot be
performed yet
– A red question mark means that there is an
incomplete item
– An “x” means that the item is not performed yet
– A lightning bolt means that the item is ready to be
solved or updated
• The Simulation Wizard can be toggled on/off by

selecting the button on the Standard Toolbar
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Simulation Basics
B. Startup Panel Training Manual
• When first attaching a model to Simulation, the Startup Panel is

shown (optionally), allowing the user to select a Simulation
Template.
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Simulation Basics
… Startup Panel Training Manual
• The benefit of the Startup Panel is that the appropriate

results and Simulation Wizard will appear
– “Stress Branch” is selected in the example below. Note that
results and the Stress Wizard are automatically chosen
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Simulation Basics
… Simulation Wizard Training Manual
• By selecting an item on the “Required Steps” checklist, a

callout appears, illustrating how that function is performed.
– In the example below, “Verify Materials” was selected, and the
callout shows the user where this item can be changed.
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Simulation Basics
… Simulation Wizard Training Manual
• The Simulation Wizard is handy for

users who do not use Simulation
every day
– Besides basic functionality, callouts
for more advanced items are also
available as shown on right
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Simulation Basics
C. Basic Procedure Training Manual
• The purpose of simulation is usually to determine the response of

the system based on some type of excitation or loading.
• It is crucial to remember that a mathematical model is used:
– CAD geometry is an idealization of the physical model
– The mesh is a mathematical representation of the CAD model
– The accuracy of answers is determined by various factors:
• How well the physical model is represented depends on the assumptions
• Numerical accuracy is determined by the mesh density
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Simulation Basics
… Basic Procedure Training Manual
• Every analysis involves four main steps:

– Preliminary Decisions Preliminary
Decisions
• What type of analysis: Static, modal, etc.?
• What to model: Part or Assembly?
• Which elements: Surface or Solid Bodies?
– Preprocessing Preprocessing
• Attach the model geometry
• Define and assign material properties to parts
• Mesh the geometry
• Apply loads and supports Solution
• Request results
– Solve the Model
– Postprocessing
• Review results Postprocessing
• Check the validity of the solution
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Simulation Basics
… Basic Procedure Training Manual
• A sample analysis using the Stress Wizard will be shown in

this section.
• The Wizards in Simulation aid the user in following the
basic analysis template discussed previously:
– Attach/import geometry
– Assign material properties
– (Mesh geometry)
• A default mesh will be supplied by Simulation if this step is not
performed manually by the user
– Apply loads and supports
– Request results
– Solve model
– Review results/postprocessing
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Simulation Basics
… Attach Geometry Training Manual
• Earlier, it was shown that geometry can be attached to

Simulation in two ways
– Direct from CAD system
• For supported CAD packages only using plug-in mode
– From within a blank Simulation session
• For all supported formats, using plug-in or reader mode
Directly launches Attaches active CAD model

Simulation and attaches (plug-in mode)
geometry (plug-in mode)
Browse for CAD file
(reader mode)
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Simulation Basics
… Assign Material Properties Training Manual
• After importing a model, the Stress Branch template was

chosen, and the Stress Wizard appears
– “Verify Materials” is selected, and the callout shows how to
change material properties in the pull-down menu
After “Verify Materials” is

selected, all of the parts
from the “Geometry”
branch are highlighted,
and the Details view shows
how to change the
material.
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Simulation Basics
• Notice that the Details View allows the user to select a material

from a pull-down menu or to import a new material
– The default material property is “Structural Steel” but can be
changed
– By selecting “Import …” the user can select a material property file
(XML format)
– Although a few material properties are supplied with Simulation for

demonstration purposes. Users should use their own material
property values in production use.
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Simulation Basics
• Materials may be individually selected for each part

– Multiple parts can be highlighted and changed at once
• Use Shift-Left mouse button to highlight all items in range
• Use Ctrl-Left mouse button to individually add/remove selection
By using a combination of Shift-

Left mouse button and Ctrl-Left
mouse button, twelve parts are
highlighted on the Outline Tree
The user can then change all
materials at once in the Details
View by selecting the material
pull-down menu.
Note that DesignSpace Entra is
limited to analysis of single
parts.
ANSYS License Availability

DesignSpace Entra August 26, 2005
DesignSpace x
Professional x Inventory
Structural x #002265
Mechanica l/Multiphysics x 2-23
Simulation Basics
• Material properties are listed, modified, imported or exported by

accessing the “Engineering Data” application via the “Data” icon
in Simulation
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Simulation Basics
• Default settings for material properties can be changed in

the Engineering Data application
– The default material can be changed from “Structural Steel”
– A list of “Favorites” can be saved for frequent access
– New materials can be added from various locations
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Simulation Basics
… Insert Loads & Supports Training Manual
• After verifying and assigning materials, the “Insert Loads”

item is selected from the Stress Wizard
– Structural (and thermal) loads are applied from the pull-down
icon in the Context toolbar.
After “Insert Loads” is

selected, notice that the
“Environment” branch is
highlighted.
By highlighting the
“Environment” branch, the
Context toolbar and Details
view change.
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Simulation Basics
• Loads and supports are applied on geometric entities

• There are two ways to accomplish this:
– Select geometry entity in Graphics Window first,
then select load or support from Context Toolbar
– Select load or support from Context Toolbar first, select

geometry entities in Graphics Window, then click on “Apply”
in Details View.
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Simulation Basics
• After assigning the load on geometric entities, the user can

enter additional data in the Details view, if necessary.
– Notice that, in the Outline Tree, the associated load branch
symbol status will also change to ‘completed’ (checkmark)
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Simulation Basics
• For some structural loads direction is

needed:
– Selection is done in Details View of load
• If “Components” is chosen, enter X, Y, or Z
Components of loading
• If “Vector” is chosen, select geometry and
enter magnitude of loading
• Defaults can be set in “Tools > Options …
> Simulation: Miscellaneous
> Load Orientation Type”
– The World Coordinate System or user
defined local coordinate systems can be
referenced
• User-Defined Coordinate Systems will be
discussed later
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Simulation Basics
– Existing geometry can be referenced to control

direction:
• In the “Details” view, select “Define By: Vector”
• Three types of existing geometry can be used
– Normal to planar face or along axis of cylindrical
face
– Along straight edge or normal to cylindrical edge
– Two vertices defining vector
• Click on “Direction” and select geometry used for
vector orientation. Use the arrows in the Graphics
window to
toggle the direction.
• Click on “Apply” when done.
• Enter magnitude for loading in “Magnitude.”
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Simulation Basics
… Mouse Controls Training Manual
– The left mouse button is used to select geometric entities OR

to manipulate the graphics display
• User can select items (vertex, edge, surface, body) or manipulate

the view (rotate, pan, zoom in/out, box zoom)
• Select mode can be single-select or box-select
– In single-select mode, click-drag with left mouse
button to “paint select” multiple items
– Use Ctrl-Left mouse button in single-select mode to select or
unselect multiple entities
– In box-select mode, click-drag from left to right selects entities
fully enclosed in bounding box
– In box-select mode, click-drag from right to left selects any
entity partially enclosed in bounding box
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Simulation Basics
… Mouse Controls Training Manual
– In select mode the middle mouse provides several short cuts

for graphics manipulation
• Click-drag middle mouse button to dynamically rotate model
• Shift-Middle mouse button pans model
• If present, the wheel can be used to zoom in/out
– The right mouse button provides context-sensitive pop-up
menu if clicked once in Graphics Window
• Click-drag right mouse button to box zoom in area of interest
• Click right mouse button once and select “Fit” to fit model in view
Click-drag right mouse

button allows user to
box-zoom in region
Single-click right mouse

button provides context- August 26, 2005
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Simulation Basics
… Applying Loads and Supports Training Manual
• By taking advantage of the mouse controls, it can be

relatively easy to apply a load (or support) to multiple faces
– In example below, user can use Ctrl-left mouse button to
single-select surfaces (highlighted in green)
– Use of middle mouse button allows user to rotate model to
more easily select certain surfaces in ‘back’ of model
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Simulation Basics
… Insert Results Training Manual
• By selecting the Stress Branch template in the beginning,

some results are already requested. However, the user can
request other results, if needed.
– By selecting “Insert Results” in the Stress Wizard, the callout
shows how to add results
Note that the “Solution”

branch is now highlighted.
Because the “Solution”
branch is selected, the
Context toolbar and Details
view changes.
Results, such as stress,
strain, and deformation can
be requested from the pull-
down icons on the Context
toolbar. New result items
will then appear under the
“Solution” branch. August 26, 2005
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Simulation Basics
… Solving the Model Training Manual
• After verifying materials, applying loads and supports, and

inserting results, the model is ready to be solved.
– Selection of “Solve” in the Stress Wizard produces a callout
showing the user that the lightning bolt icon is used to initiate
a solution
Starting the solution will include

automatically meshing the model if it
has not been done so previously.
The solution may take a few minutes to
a few hours, depending on how large
the model is and the hardware used. A
progress bar will be shown to indicate
roughly how long the solution will
take. The solution can also be
stopped via the progress bar.
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Simulation Basics
… Solving the Model (ANSYS Details) Training Manual
– During solution an ANSYS input file is generated, and the

details of the Output File can be viewed if a “Solution
Information” branch has been requested under the “Solution”
branch
In Worksheet view of the

“Solution Information” branch,
the contents of the Output File
will be updated with a frequency
as specified in the Details view.
The location of the input file
“ds.dat,” output file “solve.out,”
and scratch files are located in
the system TEMP directory by
default.
This solver directory can be
changed under “Tools >
Options… > Simulation: Solution
> Solver Working Directory”
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Simulation Basics
… View Results Training Manual
• After the solution is complete, the user can View Results

– Plot contours and vectors by highlighting the result of interest
– Animate results via the “Animation” Tab
To view results, as the callout

shows, the appropriate
branch needs to be selected.
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Simulation Basics
… View Report Training Manual
• In preparation for generating the HTML report, one can add

figures and comments from the Standard Toolbar
– Select a branch first, such as “Equivalent Stress”
– Then select the appropriate Standard Toolbar button:
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Simulation Basics
• After adding any figures or comments, select “View

Report”
– Preliminary information can be entered, such as author name
– Select “Generate Report” to create HTML report
The HTML Report can be

selected under the
“Solution” branch via
“Report Preview” tab, as
the callout indicates.
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Simulation Basics
• The HTML report will be displayed in Simulation

– Comments and figures added will appear in the report
The HTML report generator includes

all input and results associated with
the simulation, providing complete
documentation of the analysis.
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Simulation Basics
• Reports are always dynamically generated, so the user

needs to save the report, otherwise it will be overwritten
– The report can be “published” as HTML files in a different
directory or an internal web server, emailed, or sent to
Microsoft Word or PowerPoint
The Appendix at the

end of the HTML
Report will show the
location of the
various files used to
created the report.
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Simulation Basics
D. Workshop 2 – Simulation Basics Training Manual
• Workshop 2 – Simulation Basics

• Goal:
– Using the Stress Wizard, set up and solve a structural model
for stress, deflection and safety factor.
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Simulation Basics: Chapter Two

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Chapter Two

• In this chapter, the basics of using Simulation to perform

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• The capabilities described in this section are generally

ANSYS License Availability

• Recall that there are two ways of running Simulation:

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

– … or directly from a supported CAD system

August 26, 2005

• The components of the user interface are shown below:

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• Short descriptions of each component are covered next

• The menus provide much of the functionality present in

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• There are four sets of toolbars to provide users quick access

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

– The toolbars can be repositioned anywhere on the top of the

• The “Standard” toolbar is shown below:

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• The “Graphics” toolbar is used very often:

– The left mouse button can be either in “selection” mode or

• The Outline Tree provides an easy way

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

Becoming familiar with the basic status symbols allows users to

• The Details View provides a means of

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• The Graphics Window shows the geometry and results. It

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

The Job Status tab provides

Job Status Tab

Print Preview Tab Report Preview Tab August 26, 2005

• The Simulation Wizard is an optional component, a useful aid

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• The Simulation Wizard can be toggled on/off by

• When first attaching a model to Simulation, the Startup Panel is

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• The benefit of the Startup Panel is that the appropriate

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• By selecting an item on the “Required Steps” checklist, a

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• The Simulation Wizard is handy for

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• The purpose of simulation is usually to determine the response of

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• Every analysis involves four main steps:

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• A sample analysis using the Stress Wizard will be shown in

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

August 26, 2005

• Earlier, it was shown that geometry can be attached to

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

Directly launches Attaches active CAD model

August 26, 2005

• After importing a model, the Stress Branch template was