HM-4400: Explore the ANSYS Interface

ANSYS FE Input Reader

ANSYS Solver is one of the leading software products in the computer aided engineering (CAE) field. This software is used to simulate designs in general engineering and aerospace industries. ANSYS has the capability to solve structural, thermal, and fluid models. Different analysis like static structural, dynamic, modal, harmonic, buckling, spectrum, steady state and transient thermal, and radiation can be solved. Both linear and non-linear analysis are supported by ANSYS.

HyperWorks has recognized ANSYS as one of the major Solvers available in the current CAE field. HyperWorks has extended its support to ANSYS Solver by recognizing its element types, solution methods, and file formats. You get benefits from using both HyperWorks tools and ANSYS Solver. During pre-processing of the model, you can define ANSYS elements and apply loads and boundary conditions that can be read by ANSYS. Once the analysis is done in ANSYS, both deck and result files can be read back in HyperMesh and HyperView. You can post-process the results of the analysis solved by ANSYS.

ANSYS Solver writes analysis model data in the form of a script file. It also writes the model in binary file format. HyperMesh and HyperView can read the model data written in script format. These files are saved with file extension .cdb. Newer versions of ANSYS use BLOCK format to write their model data in script file. HyperMesh and HyperView can transfer the ANSYS model data into HyperMesh.

ANSYS Solver writes model data in BLOCK format. Older versions of ANSYS (ANSYS 5.4 or earlier) uses APDL format.HyperMesh can read both types.

ANSYS Utility menu

To open the ANSYS Utility menu, click View > Browsers > HyperMesh > Utility from the menu bar. The ANSYS Utility menu contains the following macros and tools.

Component Manager

Create, edit, and view HyperMesh components. This tool is available across all Solvers, but it has been customized for ANSYS. From the Component Manager, you can list the element types, thickness for shell elements, property type, material name, number of elements, and nodes in the component for each component.

To update element attributes, click Table > Editable from the menu bar.

To create new components, click Action > New from the menu bar. If components were created incorrectly, the Remarks column will inform. Incorrect components will be displayed in red.

Material

Create, edit, and view material collectors in your model.

When started, you can create both MP and MPDATA material sets, and edit the name and ID of the material set, as well as material values.

Section

Create beam and shell sections.

When started, the Section dialog opens and lists all of the existing beam or shell sections with subtypes. Click New to create new sections. You can use HyperBeam to create sections and then attach them to beamsection card images. Click Edit to edit sections by their name, ID and type.

Real Sets

Create and update ANSYS real properties.

When started, a table that lists the real sets in the model opens, and you can review the values in each property set. Click New to create new real sets, or go to the card images of each real set. Click Edit to update by ID, element type or values.

ET Type

Create and update ANSYS ET Types.

When started, a table listing ET Types in the model opens and you can review the values in each ET Type. Click New to create new ET Types or to go to card images of each ET Type. Click Edit to update by ID, element type or values.

Surface Manager

Generates thermal, radiosity, and structural surface elements. The Ansys Surface Manager dialog has simple steps to create surface elements over base geometry elements.

Convert to Special 2nd Order Macro

Convert fully second order elements to special second order elements.

For more information on this marco, refer to the ANSYS Convert to Special 2nd Order Macro help.

Update Pre 8.0 HM Model

Updates old .hm files, prior to 70-SA2-043 update, to .hm 8.0 files.

Once you load an old .hm file, click Update Pre 8.0 HM Model. If you do not update old .hm files, interface data such as ANSYS element types, properties, and sections will be lost. For complete transfer of data, it is advised that you complete the model in all respects in older versions before transferring to the new interface.

Convert Legacy Documents

Converts old contact pairs to new contact pairs.

Generally, automatically converts legacy files. However if there are discontHyperMeshinuities in the model, you will need to repair them before running this macro.

Import Tab

Access the Import tab by clicking File > Import > Session, Model, Solver Deck, Geometry, or Connectors from the menu bar, or by clicking from the Standard toolbar.

Figure 1.

Export Tab

Access the Export tab by clicking File > Export > Model, Solver Deck, Geometry, Connectors or Curves from the menu bar, or clicking from the Standard toolbar.

Figure 2.