2008 International

ANSYS Conference
Combining the strengths of ANSYS
Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM

Peter R. Barrett, P.E.

Vice President
CAE Associates
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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Challenges of Civil / Structural Engineers today:

Increase Construction efficiency

Save Material Costs
Extend the life of existing structures
Evaluate the Risks of Terrorist Events

Solution
Develop more accurate structural analysis models
Develop automated analyses to save design time
Perform what if and design optimization tasks to create more
effective use of construction materials
Use the strengths of ANSYS Workbench and CivilFEM to achieve
these goals
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What is CivilFEM?
CivilFEM is an integrated Pre- and Postprocessor to traditional ANSYS developed by
ANSYSs Spain distributor INGECIBER

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CAE Associates
CAE Associates is one of the original ANSYS
channel partners and a CivilFEM channel partner
with unique expertise in Civil Engineering

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Combining the Strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Topics Addressed
Comparison of Workbench & CivilFEM
Applications where integration makes sense
Customization without Programming
Sample Case Study
Summary

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Comparison of Tool Strengths

ANSYS Workbench:

ANSYS CivilFEM:

Ease of use
Geometry manipulation
Graphics speed
CAD integration and
associativity
Robust meshing
Loads, BC application
Automatic assembly
and contact generation.
Uses ANSYS for
solution.

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Automated Complex
analyses
Complex loading
Material Models
Specialized Postprocessing capabilities
Driven interactively or
with batch/input scripts
Uses ANSYS for
solution.

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Workbench / ANSYS/CivilFEM FEA Road Map

CAD System

Workbench

(ProE,UG,SolidWorks,SolidEdge,Inv
entor,CATIA)

Black Window ANSYS

ANF file
(geometry only)

geometry + parameters

DesignModeler

ANF file (geometry only)

ANSYS/CivilFEM
Preprocessor

geometry + parameters

Simulation
Nodes, Elements,
BCs, Materials
Nodes, Elements,
BCs, Materials,
~CivilFEM
Command Blocks

Nodes, Elements,
BCs, Materials,
~CivilFEM
commands

ANSYS & ANSYS / CivilFEM Solver

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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Workbench Strengths in Civil
Engineering
Development of Parametric
Geometry models using
DesignModeler and/or native CAD
Defeaturing of CAD models
Robust Meshing
Named Selections for easy
interface with ANSYS/CivilFEM
Easy Accessibility to CivilFEM
features via command blocks
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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM

CivilFEM Strengths
Nonlinear Bridge Simulation
Pre-stressed Concrete
Nuclear Applications
Geotechnical Applications including tunnelling
Built-in Material Models and Code Checking
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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Applications where integration makes sense
3-D Brick/Tet Modeling
Design of Experiments and/or Optimization
Applications
Model Defeaturing
Custom Material & Code Checking Required
Customization without Programming
Accessing full suite of ANSYS and CivilFEM
options
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Example Sequential Simulation

Nonlinear Incremental Construction
Automated Tunneling

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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
CivilFEM Setup
Integrated Codes, Units, Materials

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CivilFEM Materials Command Block Example

CivilFEM Material Library and Units commands

Accessed in Workbench via Command Block

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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Complex Material Laws Concrete Cracking for
Example

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Simple Beam Example

Using DesignModeler a 3-d Parametric I-Beam
Model is created.
Ex. Parameters
Flange Geom.
Depth
Thickness

Web thickness
Beam Ht

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Simple Beam Example

Example Command Block used to activate
CivilFEM modules, define the CivilFEM working
units and define material properties for the IBeam

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Simple Beam Example

Command Block is listed in the DS.DAT file:

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Simple Beam Example

Example List of Material Properties

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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Workbench Parametric Model Results
Postprocess in WB
Stresses
Deflections
Section Cuts

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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Example Beam Results from
CivilFEM
Shear
Peak Stress
Section Data

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CivilFEM Post Accessed via Command

Blocks in Workbench

Postprocessing of Solids for Design checking

using CivilFEM Solids to Shells Automation via
Command Blocks:
SD2SH, NodeComp, ElemComp, SHVTXNUM, SHPRONUM,
MatReinf, CoverIn, CoverOut, Th, TolTh

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CivilFEM Post Accessed via Command

Blocks in Workbench

Code Checking for Concrete Sections

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CivilFEM Module Example - Seismic Analysis

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Combining the strengths of

Workbench and ANSYS/CivilFEM
Current Capabilities of Workbench make it easy to
access material laws from CivilFEM
Current WB allows for all CivilFEM features to be
accessed via Command Blocks
Current CivilFEM allows a majority of its
capabilities to be accessed via commands
Models are easily passed to ANSYS / CivilFEM
More automated Integration is expected after the
release of WB2!

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