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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
ANSYS Workbench provides powerful methods for interacting with the ANSYS family of solvers. This environment provides a unique integration with CAD systems, and your design process.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
Data Integrated Applications: current applications include Mechanical, Explicit Dynamics (Mechanical), Fluent, CFX, AUTODYN and others.
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Introduction to Workbench
Starting Workbench
There are two methods of launching Workbench:
From the Windows start menu:
Training Manual
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
For most situations the Workbench GUI is divided into 2 primary sections (there are other optional sections well see in a moment):
The Toolbox
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Introduction to Workbench
The Toolbox
The toolbox contains 4 subgroups: Analysis systems: predefined templates that can be placed in the schematic. Component systems: various applications that can be accessed to build, or expand, analysis systems. Custom Systems: predefined analysis systems for coupled applications (FSI, thermal-stress, etc.). Users can also create their own predefined systems. Design Exploration: Parametric management and optimization tools.
Training Manual
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Introduction to Workbench
The Toolbox
The systems and components displayed in the toolbox will depend on the installed products. Using the check boxes in the View All / Customize window, the items displayed in the toolbox can be toggled on or off. The toolbox customization window is normally left closed when not in use.
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
Training Manual
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
The Workbench project schematic is a graphical representation of the workflow defining a system or group of systems. The workflow in the project schematic is always left to right. There are currently several applications which are native to Workbench, meaning they run entirely in the Workbench window:
Project Schematic, Engineering Data and Design Exploration
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
In this example an Explicit Dynamics analysis type is selected for the project schematic. From the toolbox the selection can be dragged and dropped onto the schematic or simply double clicked.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
By dropping applications and/or analyses into various locations in the schematic, an overall analysis project is defined. Connectors indicate the level of collaboration between systems. In the example below a structural system is dragged and dropped onto a thermal system at the Model cell (A4). Before completing the operation notice there are a number of optional drop locations that will provide various types of linkage between systems (continued next page).
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
By completing the operation from the previous page, notice the linkage here is only at the Model level and above. In this case there would be no thermal/structural coupling.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
By dropping the structural system at the Solution level we obtain a structural system that is coupled to the thermal solution.
Notice, the candidate drop location indicates data will be shared from fields A2 to A4, and transferred from A6.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
A schematic can also be constructed by RMB and choosing to Transfer Data To New or Transfer Data From New. In using the RMB transfer feature all transfer possibilities (upstream and downstream) are displayed. These selections will vary depending on which cell in a particular system you highlight.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
Refresh required: upstream data has changed. Need to refresh cell. An update will also refresh the cell and regenerate any output data (e.g. mesh, results). Update required: the data has changed and the output of the cell must be regenerated. Up to date. Input changes pending: cell is locally up to date but may change when the next update is performed due to upstream changes. Interrupted: solver was manually stopped before it finished. Can use Resume or Update to continue to solving. Pending: a batch process is in progress
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
The View menu (and RMB) allows additional information to be displayed in the Workbench environment.
Below, the geometry is highlighted and the properties are displayed.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
Workbench creates a project file and a series of subdirectories to manage all associated files. Users should allow Workbench to manage the content of these directories. Please do NOT manually modify the content or structure of the project directories. When a project is saved a project file is created (.wbpj), using the user specified file name (e.g. MyFile.wbpj). A project directory will be created using the project name. In the above example the directory would be MyFile_files. A number of subdirectories will be created in the project directory (explained next).
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
Units can be displayed in the active Project system or as they were defined in their source (e.g. CAD system).
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
Create custom unit systems by duplicating existing systems then modifying. Custom unit systems can be exported and imported.
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Introduction to Workbench
License Preferences
Training Manual
Workbench license control is handled through the user interface shown below, activated from the Workbench project page (Tools > License Preferences . . . ).
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Introduction to Workbench
License Preferences
Training Manual
With the available licenses displayed, the activation and use order can be specified using the up/down arrows.
0 = off, 1 = on License order represents the preference order for license use.
The license control allows Workbench users to specify whether a single license is used when multiple applications are open, or if all open applications access their own license.
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Introduction to Workbench
License Preferences
Training Manual
In the example shown, a user could have 3 Mechanical models open simultaneously. Using the license control they may choose to open 3 licenses or use only 1 that is shared. In the shared scenario, only the active Mechanical session uses the license (the remaining will be read only).
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
Geometry (DesignModeler)
Create, import, modify geometry
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
RMB Geometry in the Project Schematic Select Import Geometry Select Browse and search for the geometry file to import
File types that can be imported DesignModeler (.agdb) files will be imported and used for all hand-on examples used for this course
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Introduction to Workbench
Training Manual
DesignModeler
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Introduction to Workbench
DesignModeler
DesignModeler (DM) is a component system of ANSYS Workbench. A CAD-like modeler with analysis modeling goals: Performs unique geometry modification capabilities for simulation: Feature Simplification Enclosure Operation Fill Operation Spot Welds Split Surfaces Surface Model Extraction Planar Body Extraction Beam Modeling
Training Manual
DesignModeler
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Introduction to Workbench
DesignModeler
Contains parametric modeling capability: 2D Sketcher with Dimensions and Constraints Integrates directly with Ansys Workbench modules Mechanical (Explicit Dynamics) Meshing Advanced Meshing (ICEM) DesignXplorer
Training Manual
DesignModeler
This course does not cover DesignModeler. ANSYS provides an independent 2 day training course for DesignModeler. If you intend to use DM, you should consider taking this course
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary 2009 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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