Getting Started with ANSYS

Amit Gupta
September 27, 2004

1. Starting ANSYS
At this moment, there are two options from where you can run ANSYS: (a) from
the NANOHUB and (b) from an ECN Windows NT PC.

(a) Using the NANOHUB:

If you have not already done so, send out a request for an account on NANOHUB
(http://www.nanohub.org) so that you will be able to access and run ANSYS. ANSYS
can be found in the General Productivity section of the On-line Simulation section of the
NANOHUB. This is the preferred method to run ANSYS for this course. Please make
sure you have read all the notes and instructions before actually using ANSYS on
NANOHUB. The instructions on using NANOHUB are well documented there and will
not be discussed here. Please be patient when running ANSYS on NANOHUB. You
may have to play around with the dimensions of the screen size for the VNC session for
the most comfortable fit on your specific computer screen. It may be helpful to minimize
the ANSYS Output Window as it may get in one’s way when trying to access the
Graphical User Interface (GUI). ANSYS creates very large files when running. To save
disk space, it is advisable to delete unwanted files. Please see the section on General
Notes for the address of a web page that describes the files ANSYS creates. This
information can also be found in the ANSYS manual found in the Help option in the
Utility Menu.

(b) Windows NT

Click on Start → Programs → ECN Software → Ansys8.1 → ANSYS. As

stated above, ANSYS creates very large files, so either make sure your local directory is
big enough to store these files or redirect your output to a TEMP directory on the
computer’s hard drive. When done, move the important files to your local/working
directory. Please see the section on General Notes for the address of a web page that
describes the files ANSYS creates. Please make a note of the directory in which files you
create are saved.

General Notes:

1. Make sure you save your work occasionally when working on complex
geometries. As far as the author knows, ANSYS does not seem to have an undo
command. If a mistake is made the previously saved file will have to be reloaded
to resume work.

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 2. It is the responsibility of the user to be consistent with the units used in the
problem. ANSYS does not ask for or specify which units to use for the
parameters. This will be exemplified in the section below.
3. ANSYS creates a large amount of files and data when processing. Not all the
files are useful and need to be saved. A good description on the important files is
giving in http://www.mece.ualberta.ca/tutorials/ansys/AU/Files/Files.html. The
description of the files can also be found in the ANSYS manual from the Help
command.
4. Make extensive use of the Help command in the Utility Menu. Note that the
Help command gives different options when running ANSYS from a Windows
NT PC and when running from NANOHUB. In some dialog windows for
commands, the Help option is also given. Clicking on it will open a separate
window and describe the command.
5. Familiarize yourself with the ANSYS program. In order to be able to follow the
instructions in the following tutorial, please make sure you can locate the
following in the ANSYS program: ANSYS Utility Menu, ANSYS Main Menu,
ANSYS Command Prompt (the window with the cursor, usually below the
Utility Menu) as well as the ANSYS Toolbar.

2. ANSYS Microsized Cantilever Beam Example I

The following problem attempts to give a short introduction to ANSYS by going
through a simple 2-D example. The example attempts to model a microsized silicon
based cantilever beam, with a load applied at the edge of the free end. (Note: This
problem has been adapted from an example found in:-
http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~ema405/beam/Centilever_beam.htm). F

Fig. 1 Simple 2-D cantilever beam

Problem Description

This example is a structural static analysis of a microsized silicon based cantilever

beam. One of the edges is constrained, while the other edge is free. A single point force
of 50 nN will be applied at the center of the free end in an in-plane direction. The
cantilever beam has the following dimensions and material parameters:

Length = 200 µ m = 2e-4 m

Width = 20 µ m = 2e-5 m

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Thickness = 1 µ m = 1e-6 m
Young’s modulus = 1.3 x 1011 N/m2
Poisson’s ratio = 0.279

Pre-processing

1. Enter Jobname

a. Click on ANSYS Utility Menu → File → Change Jobname...

b. This should open a dialog window with the title Change Jobname. Enter
the name beam (jobname will be beam.db). The jobname defaults to
file.db if none is specified.
c. Click on OK to enter the new jobname and close the dialog window.

2. Specify Title

This step is not necessary as far as the analysis is concerned, but it helps in
documenting your work. The title will appear on all graphic displays and will be
included on the solution output.
a. Click on Utility Menu → File → Change Title...
b. Enter the title: Microsized Cantilever Beam.
c. Click on OK to enter and close the dialog window.

3. Select Analysis Type

Enter /PREP7 (this starts the preprocessing phase) in the Command Prompt
window followed by ANTYPE,STATIC (Hit enter after typing every command in the
ANSYS Command Prompt window). This selects the static analysis option. Static
analysis is the default analysis type. This command can also be accessed from Main
Menu → Preprocessor → Loads → –Analysis Type- → New Analysis….

Set Preferences

Setting the preferences allows one to choose the desired engineering discipline
(structural, thermal, electromagnetic etc.) for context filtering of menu choices. By
default the menu choices for all disciplines are shown, with non-applicable choices
“dimmed” based on the element type chosen for the model. By choosing the desired
discipline, the dimmed choices are not shown at all. For example, turning on the
structural filtering completely suppresses all thermal, electromagnetic, and fluid menu
options.
This problem performs a static structural analysis, so the structural discipline will
be chosen.
a. Click on ANSYS Main Menu → Preferences...
b. Click on the structural button to turn on the filtering. Leave the other
default values as they are.
c. Click on OK to apply the filtering and close the dialog window

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4. Set the Units

ANSYS does not specify what units to use and it is dependent on the user to specify
the units. In this problem SI units will be used. Type /units, si in the ANSYS
Command Prompt window. This command cannot be accessed form the menu. Please
utilize the Help command in the Utility Menu to learn more about the /unit command.

5. Define Element Types and Options

In any analysis one needs to select from a library of element types and define the
appropriate one for the analysis. The element type determines many things such as the
degree-of-freedom set (displacement, rotations, temperature etc.), the characteristic shape
of the element (line, quadrilateral, brick etc.), and whether the element is 2-D or 3-D.
Many element types also have additional element options to specify such things as
element behavior and assumptions, element results, printout options etc. For information
about the different element types, please consult the Help option in the Utility Menu.
For this problem element type PLANE42, a 2-D structural element, will be used.
For a more accurate result, a higher-order or mid-side node element, PLANE82, should
be used. In this problem, plane stress with thickness will need to be specified as an
option for PLANE42. The element thickness will be defined as a real constant.

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → Element Type →

Add/Edit/Delete...
b. Click on Add... to define the element type.
c. Choose the Structural Mass → Solid family of elements.
d. Choose the Quad 4-node 42 (PLANE42) element type.
e. Click on OK to apply the element type and close the dialog window.
f. Click on Options... in the Element Type window to define the options for
PLANE42.
g. Choose option K3 (element behavior) to select plane stress with
thickness.
h. Click on OK to apply the options and close the dialog window.
i. Click on Close.

6. Define the Real Constants

Real constants are parameters that provide additional geometry information for
element types whose geometry is not fully defined by their node locations. For example,
shell thickness for shell elements and cross-sectional properties for beam elements. All
properties required as input for a particular element type are entered as one set of real
constants. There is a possibility of multiple sets only if multiple element types are used
in the analysis. Each set is given a reference number.

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 For this problem, since the assumption is plane stress with thickness, the thickness
is entered as a real constant for PLANE42.

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → Real Constants →

Add/Edit/Delete... (The preprocessor options window should be still
open).
b. Click on Add... to add a real constant set.
c. Choose PLANE42 by clicking on OK.
d. Enter 1.0 e-6 for THK, the plane stress thickness constant.
e. Click on OK to close the dialog window and enter the real constant value.
f. Click on Close to close the Real Constants dialog window.

7. Define Material Properties

Material properties are constitutive properties of materials such as modulus of

elasticity, Poisson’s ratio, density etc and are independent of geometry. Depending on
the application, material properties may be linear, non-linear, and/or anisotropic. For this
problem, there are two material properties that are necessary for the analysis: the Young’s
modulus and Poisson’s ratio.

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → Material Props → Material

Models.
b. A Define Material Model Behavior window will open. Click on
Material Models Available → Structural → Linear → Elastic →
Isotropic. (Note: You may have to specifically select the Material
Model Number from the Material Models Defined section (left hand
side) when there are more than one element types used).
c. Enter 1.3e11 for EX (Young’s modulus).
d. Enter 0.279 for PRXY (Poisson’s ratio).
e. Click on OK to define the material property set and close the dialog
window.
f. Close the Define Material Model Behavior Property dialog window
(either by double-clicking on the right-hand x or by clicking on Material
→ Exit).

8. Save Database

Save the database that has been created so far into file beam.db. Click on ANSYS
Toolbar → SAVE_DB.

9. Move Global Triad

Before creating the geometry, the global triad symbol may be moved from the
origin to the bottom left corner of the Graphics Window so that it will not obscure the
view of the keypoint and node at the origin.

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 a. Click on Utility Menu → PlotCtrls → Window Controls → Window
Options…
b. For the option on [/TRIAD] Location of triad, select At bottom left.
c. Click on OK to apply the location change of the reference triad.

10. Create Rectangle (Beam Geometry)

There are several ways to create the model geometry within ANSYS, some of
which are more convenient than others are. These include solid modeling and direct
generation (Read more about this in the Help manual). For this problem of a simple
cantilever beam, the geometry will be generated using solid modeling. The first step is to
recognize that the simple beam is a single rectangle. There are simple predefined
geometric shapes called primitives available in ANSYS. A rectangle primitive, for
example, defines the following solid model entities in one step: one area, four lines, and
four keypoints.

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → -Modeling- → Create →

Areas→ Rectangle → By Dimensions. You will see a Create Rectangle
by Dimensions dialog window open. It will have options for X1,X2 in
the top row and options for Y1,Y2 in the bottom row.
b. Enter 0 for X1, beginning X-coordinate.
c. Enter 2e-4 for X2, ending X-coordinate.
d. Enter 0 for Y1, beginning Y-coordinate.
e. Enter 2e-5 for Y2, ending Y-coordinate.
f. Click on OK to create the rectangle primitive and close the dialog
window.
g. In the Graphics Window, the rectangle should be displayed.
h. Close the previously opened windows up to the Preprocessor options
window.

11. Save the database as model.db

Save the database created so far to a file with a name that represents the model
before meshing. When the model needs to be re-meshed, the analysis can be resumed
from this database file.

a. Click on Utility Menu → File → Save as…

b. Enter model.db for the database file name.
c. Click on OK to save the file and close the dialog window.

12. Mesh the area

ANSYS has the feature of automatically creating the mesh of the model without
specifying any mesh size control (the default mesh). If it is not clear how to determine

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the mesh density, one can start by using the default mesh. In this problem, a global
element size will be specified to control the overall mesh density.

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → -Meshing- → SizeCntrls →

-Manual Size- → -Global- → Size
b. Enter 1e-5 for SIZE Element edge length.
c. Click on OK to define the global element size and close the dialog
window.
d. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → -Meshing- → Mesh → Areas →
Free
e. Click on Pick All for the area to be meshed when the Mesh Areas dialog
box opens.
f. In the Graphics window, the meshed area should be displayed.
g. The pre-processing phase of this analysis is now complete.

13. Save the database as mesh.db

The meshed model will be saved in the file mesh.db.

a. Click on Utility Menu → File → Save as…

b. Enter mesh.db for the database file name.
c. Click on OK to save the file and close the dialog window.

Solving

The solution step is where one can define the analysis type and options (already
done in the beginning of the preprocessing phase in this example), apply loads and the
load options, and initiate the finite element solution. The loads can also be applied in the
preprocessing phase as will be shown in Example II below. All displacement constraints
and loads are ultimately applied to the nodes. However, there are methods in ANSYS to
initially apply them to the geometric primitives and ANSYS will automatically transfer or
expand the constraints or loads to the nodes. However, for this problem, the constraints
and loads will be directly applied to the nodes.

1. Apply displacement constraints

a. Click on Main Menu → Solution → Define Loads- → Apply →

-Structural- → Displacement →On Nodes +
b. In the Graphics window use the left mouse button to pick the center node
on the left-hand edge of the beam. A small circle may appear on the
picked node.
c. Click on OK to define the displacement constraints on the picked node.
d. Choose All DOF for Lab2, DOFs to be constrained.
e. Enter 0 for VALUE, Displacement value.
f. Click on Apply to apply the displacement and continue.
g. Pick the remaining nodes on the left-hand edge of the beam.

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 h. Click on OK to define the displacement constraints on the picked node.
i. Choose UX only for Lab2, DOFs to be constrained (You may have to
click on All DOF to unselect it).
j. Enter 0 for VALUE, Displacement value.
k. Click on OK to apply the displacement and close the dialog window.
l. Close all the remaining windows up to the Main Menu → Solution
options window.

2. Apply point load

a. Click on Main Menu → Solution → Define Loads → Apply →

-Structural- → Force/Moment → On Nodes +
b. Pick the center node on the right-hand edge of the beam.
c. Click on OK to define the force on the picked node.
d. Choose FY for Lab, Direction of force/mom.
e. Enter -5e-8 for VALUE, Force/moment value.
f. Click on OK to apply the force and close the dialog window.
g. Close the remaining open windows up to the Solution options window.

3. Solve

a. Click on Main Menu → Solution → -Solve- → Current LS

b. After reviewing the information in the /STATUS window, close the data
window.
c. Click on OK to begin solving the model with the current load step.
d. Click on Close to close the information window when the solution is done.

Post-processing

Postprocessing is where one reviews the results of the analysis through graphic
displays and tabular listings. The general postprocessor (POST1) is used to review
results at one sub-step (time step) over the entire model. The time-history postprocessor
(POST26) is used to review results at specific points in the model over all time steps. In
this example, only the general postprocessor needs to be used.

1. Enter the general postprocessor and read in the results

Click on Main Menu → General Postproc → Read Results → First Set.

1. Plot the element stress in the X-direction

a. Click on Main Menu → General Postprocessor → Plot Results →

Contour Plot → Element Soln…
b. Choose Elemental Solution → Stress and X-Component of stress.

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 c. Choose Undisplaced shape key → Deformed shape with undeformed
edge.
d. Click on OK to plot and close the dialog window.

A colored contour plot of the stress in the X-direction should become visible in
the ANSYS Graphics window.

2. List reaction solution

a. Click on Main Menu → General Postproc → List Results → Reaction

Solu…
b. Choose All Items for Lab, Item to be listed.
c. Click on OK to list and close the dialog window.
d. Review the Reaction Solution data and close the data window.

Printing Results

There are instructions on how to print results from NANOHUB under the section
titled ANSYS Related Information.

Exit the ANSYS Program

When done, one can exit the ANSYS program along with performing various
options. In this example, everything will be saved.
a. Click on Utility Menu → File → Exit
b. Choose Save Everything.
c. Click on OK to exit ANSYS.

3. ANSYS Microsized Cantilever Beam Example II

Cantilever Beam Example I was a simple 2-D problem, attempting to give you a
brief introduction to using ANSYS. This example will be a little more complex in that a
3-D model will be analyzed. In this example, a combination of the GUI and entering
commands by typing in the ANSYS Command Prompt window will be performed. The
assumption will be made that Example I has already been worked out prior to attempting
this problem. The steps in this problem will not be explained in as much detail as in
Example I.
F

Fig. 2 Simple 3-D cantilever beam

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Problem Description

The problem described here is similar to that in Example I, except that the model
used here is in 3-D and that a point force of 50 nN will be applied at the center of the free
end in the downward direction. The dimensions and parameters are similar to those in
Example I.

Pre-processing

1. Enter Jobname beam.db

2. Specify Title “Microsized Cantilever Beam”

3. Select Static Analysis Type (default)

4. Set no preferences
For this example, the element type is a coupled field solid. For it to be displayed
in the menu, all the disciplines will have to be selected.

5. Set the Units to SI system

6. Define Element Types and Options

In this analysis, element type SOLID5 will be used. It is a 3-D coupled field
solid. According to the manual, it has a 3-D magnetic, thermal, structural and
piezoelectric field capability with limited coupling between the fields. One can read
more about it using the Help command in the Utility Menu.

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → Element Type →

Add/Edit/Delete...
b. Click on Add... to define the element type.
c. Choose the Coupled Field family of elements (You may have to scroll
down the list a bit)
d. Choose the Scalar Brick 5 (SOLID5) element type.
e. Click on OK to apply the element type and close the dialog window.
f. Click on Options... in the Element Type window to define the options for
SOLID5.
g. Choose option Element degree(s) of freedom, K1 to select UX UY UZ.
h. Click on OK to apply the options and close the dialog window.
i. Click on Close.

There are no Real Constants to be defined for this element type.

7. Define Material Properties

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 Set the Young’s modulus, EX to 1.3e11 and Poisson’s ratio, PRXY to 0.279.

8. Save Database as beam.db

9. Move Global Triad to the bottom left location of Graphics Window

10. Create Beam Geometry

In this example, the geometry will be created differently than in Example I. The
model will be created using keypoints. The commands will be entered using the ANSYS
Command Prompt window. As a caution, please be careful when typing to avoid typos.
Save your work periodically so that if a mistake is made work can be resumed from the
previously saved file.

a. Enter K, 1, 0, 0, 0 in the ANSYS Command Prompt window. This

commands defines keypoint number 1 with coordinates 0,0,0 in the x-y-z
space (Note: Command K,1 also does the same as the default value is 0).
A 1 will appear in the Graphics Window. This command can also be
accessed from the menu as : Main Menu → Preprocessor → -Modeling-
→ Create → Keypoints → In Active CS ...
b. Enter K, 2, 2e-4, 0, 0 in the ANSYS Command Prompt window. This
defines keypoint number 2.
c. Next a copy command will be used to replicate similar keypoints. This
can be done either by entering the command directly into the ANSYS
Command Prompt window or using the GUI. Type KGEN, 2, 1, 2, 1, ,
2e-5 (careful with the commas) in the Command Prompt window. (To
access the command from the menu, go to: Main Menu → Preprocessor
→ -Modeling- → Copy → Keypoints. Please check Help on how to use
this command. ). This will display the keypoints 3 and 4.
d. Enter KGEN, 2, 1, 4, 1, , , 1e-6 in the Command Prompt window or
using the menu as above, enter 1e-6 for the DZ field. This will create four
more keypoints in consecutive order (5, 6, 7, and 8).
e. Enter L, 1, 2 in the ANSYS Command Prompt window. A line will
appear connecting keypoints 1 to 2.

11. Save the database as model.db

12. Meshing

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → -Meshing- → SizeCntrls →

ManualSize → Lines- → All Lines….
b. Enter 10 in the field NDIV, No. of element divisions. This command can
also be executed by entering LESIZE, ALL, , , 10 in the ANSYS
Command Prompt window.
c. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → -Meshing- → SizeCntrls →
ManualSize → Global- → Size.

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 d. Enter 2 in the field NDIV, No. of element divisions. This command can
also be executed by entering ESIZE, , 2 in the ANSYS Command
Prompt window.
e. Enter V, 1, 2, 4, 3, 5, 6, 8, 7 in the ANSYS Command Prompt window.
One must enter the keypoint numbers in this particular order; otherwise
the volume will be irregularly formed. One may have to sketch this out on
a piece of paper and play connect the dots to see how this volume is
formed.
f. Enter VMESH, 1 in the ANSYS Command Prompt window. A
Warning window may open up during meshing. Review the information
and close the window.

At this point, the author would like to point out a command that might be useful:
Utility-Menu → PlotCtrls → Pan, Zoom, Rotate…. Explore the various options.
Clicking on Dynamic Mode allows you to manipulate the model, to various positions,
using the different mouse buttons.

13. Save the database as mesh.db

14. Apply displacement constraints

In this example, the displacement constraints and the load application will be
done in the preprocessing phase. In this part of the example, many of the commands will
be entered using the ANSYS Command Prompt window.

a. Enter NSEL, S, LOC, X, 0 in the Command Prompt window. This

selects all the nodes in the x=0 plane (y-z plane) near the left edge of the
cantilever beam. This command can be accessed using Utility Menu →
Select → Entities…. When wanting to pick more than one node at a time,
one can use the Box option.
b. Enter D, ALL, ALL in the Command Prompt window. This constrains
the left edge of the beam in all degrees of freedom (UX, UY, and UZ).
c. Step (b) using the GUI: The above command can also be accessed from
Main Menu → Preprocessor → Loads → -Loads- → Apply →
-Structural- → Displacement →On Nodes +. Click on Pick All. This
will pick all the nodes that were selected in step (a). Click on OK to
define the displacement constraints on the picked node. Choose All DOF
for Lab2, DOFs to be constrained. Enter 0 for VALUE, Displacement
value (or leave blank as default value is 0). Click on OK to apply the
displacement and close the dialog window.
d. Enter NSEL, ALL in the ANSYS Command Prompt window. This
command basically restores all the nodes as all of them have been
reselected.

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14. Apply Point Load

a. Click on Main Menu → Preprocessor → Loads → Define Loads- →

Apply → -Structural- → Force/Moment → On Nodes +
b. Pick the center node on the right-hand edge of the beam.
c. Click on OK to define the force on the picked node.
d. Choose FZ for Lab, Direction of force/mom.
e. Enter -5e-8 for VALUE, Force/moment value.
f. Click on OK to apply the force and close the dialog window.
g. The pre-processing phase of this analysis is complete.

Solving

1. Click on Main Menu → Solution → -Solve- → Current LS

2. After reviewing the information in the /STATUS window, close the data window.
3. Click on OK to begin solving the model with the current load step (Note: If any
warning statements should open up, review them and then close them).
4. Click on Close to close the information window when the solution is done.
5. Close the Main Menu → Solution option window.

Post-Processing

Please see Example I for details on postprocessing. There are many things that
can be analyzed for this problem. It is advisable to explore the many options available.

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