Workshop 3a: APDL Input File

15.0 Release

Introduction to Mechanical
APDL (MAPDL)
1 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015
 Demonstrate use of a Parameterized
Input File to Create a Simple Model

2 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model
We will read in a parameterized input file comprised of APDL commands that
automatically creates a model of a cantilever bar with a hole in it subjected to a tip
load. The file performs the following basic steps common to all analyses:

1) Create (or import) geometry

2) Define element attributes
3) Mesh the model
4) Apply boundary conditions and loads
5) Solve
6) Post process

Details on many of the commands used in this input file will be covered later in the course.

3 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model
The steps to read in the input file are as follows:

1) Use the Mechanical APDL Product Launcher to start MAPDL in a working directory
2) Copy the text file named “APDL_basic.inp” into the same working directory
3) Use File > Read Input from… and browse for “APDL_basic.inp”, then click OK

The model runs very quickly. When completed, you should be looking at the image on the
previous slide.

Afterwards
• Open “APDL_basic.inp” using Notepad and inspect its contents. Note that the commands
are grouped according to functionality, and that a comment follows every line of APDL in
the file describing what the command does.
• Documentation of any command you see in the text file may be viewed by typing
help,command on the command line in the MAPDL GUI.

4 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model
The first set of commands leave any processor you may be in at the time the input
file is read in and clears the database. This is akin to File > Start New in many other
programs. This ensures that after editing changes are made to the file and it is
subsequently read in to MAPDL, an entirely new run is made from start to finish.
After that, view setting are established.

5 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model

The next set of commands define parameters that are substituted in the fields of
the commands that follow. Simple editing changes may be made to these
parameters to investigate their affect on results. Note that some parameters are
defined using arithmetic expressions including previously defined parameters.

6 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model

After that, the geometry is created. A rectangle is first made, then a circle. A
Boolean operation is used to subtract the circle from the rectangle.
Next, element attributes are defined, and the geometry is meshed with elements
having these attributes.

7 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model

Then boundary conditions are applied, and the problem is solved

8 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model

Finally, an annotated contour plot of results, including symbols that graphically

depict the imposed boundary conditions and load(s), is created.

9 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015

 Demonstrate use of an Input File
to Create a Simple Model

You may make editing changes to the parameters at the top of the file and rerun it,
bearing in mind that the hole radius must be less than half the height of the bar
and the x coordinate of its center must not be such that the hole falls outside of
the domain of the bar.

10 © 2015 ANSYS, Inc. March 30, 2015