Chapter 2

FEA and ANSYS

Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
What is FEA? Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Finite Element Analysis is a way to simulate loading conditions on
a design and determine the design’s response to those
conditions.

• The design is modeled using discrete building blocks called

elements.

– Each element has exact equations Historical Note

that describe how it responds to a • The finite element method of
certain load. structural analysis was created
– The “sum” of the response of all by academic and industrial
elements in the model gives the researchers during the 1950s
and 1960s.
total response of the design.
• The underlying theory is over
– The elements have a finite number 100 years old, and was the basis
of unknowns, hence the name for pen-and-paper calculations
finite elements. in the evaluation of suspension
bridges and steam boilers.

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-2
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
...What is FEA? Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• The finite element model, which has a finite number of unknowns,
can only approximate the response of the physical system, which
has infinite unknowns.
– So the question arises: How good is the approximation?

– Unfortunately, there is no easy

answer to this question. It depends
entirely on what you are simulating
and the tools you use for the
simulation. We will, however,
attempt to give you guidelines
throughout this training course.

Physical System F.E. Model

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-3
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
...What is FEA? Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

Why is FEA needed?

• To reduce the amount of prototype testing

– Computer simulation allows multiple “what-if” scenarios to be tested
quickly and effectively.

• To simulate designs that are not suitable for prototype testing

– Example: Surgical implants, such as an artificial knee

• The bottom line:

– Cost savings
– Time savings… reduce time to market!
– Create more reliable, better-quality designs

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-4
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• ANSYS is a complete FEA software package used by engineers
worldwide in virtually all fields of engineering:
– Structural
– Thermal
– Fluid, including CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics)
– Electrical / Electrostatics
– Electromagnetics

• A partial list of industries in which ANSYS is used:

– Aerospace – Electronics & Appliances
– Automotive – Heavy Equipment & Machinery
– Biomedical – MEMS - Micro Electromechanical Systems
– Bridges & Buildings – Sporting Goods

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-5
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• ANSYS/Multiphysics is the flagship ANSYS product which
includes all capabilities in all engineering disciplines.

• There are three main component products derived from

ANSYS/Multiphysics:
– ANSYS/Mechanical - structural & thermal capabilities
– ANSYS/Emag - electromagnetics
– ANSYS/FLOTRAN - CFD capabilities

• Other product lines:

– ANSYS/LS-DYNA - for highly nonlinear structural problems
– DesignSpace - an easy-to-use design and analysis tool meant for quick
analysis within the CAD environment
– ANSYS/ProFEA - for ANSYS analysis & design optimization within
Pro/ENGINEER

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-6
 Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

ANSYS/ ANSYS/ ANSYS/
Professional Mechanical ANSYS/ Emag
Multiphysics

ANSYS/ ANSYS/
Structural ProFEA
ANSYS/
ED
ANSYS/
FLOTRAN

ANSYS/ DesignSpace
LS-DYNA ANSYS/ ANSYS/
PrepPost University

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-7
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Structural analysis is used to determine deformations, strains,
stresses, and reaction forces.

• Static analysis
–Used for static loading
conditions.
–Nonlinear behavior such
as large deflections, large
strain, contact, plasticity,
hyperelasticity, and creep
can be simulated.

Compression of a Hyperelastic Seal

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-8
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Dynamic analysis
– Includes mass and damping effects.
– Modal analysis calculates natural frequencies and mode shapes.
– Harmonic analysis determines a structure’s response to sinusoidal
loads of known amplitude and frequency.
– Transient Dynamic analysis determines a structure’s response to time-
varying loads and can include nonlinear behavior.

• Other structural capabilities

– Spectrum analysis
– Random vibrations
– Eigenvalue buckling
– Substructuring, submodeling

October 30,
2001
Mode Shape Animation Inventory
#001569
2-9
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Explicit Dynamics with ANSYS/LS-DYNA
– Intended for very large deformation simulations where inertia forces
are dominant.
– Used to simulate impact, crushing, rapid forming, etc.

October 30,
2001
Inventory
Impact Analysis of a Vehicle Crash Test #001569
2-10
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Thermal analysis is used to determine the temperature
distribution in an object. Other quantities of interest include
amount of heat lost or gained, thermal gradients, and thermal flux.

• All three primary heat transfer modes can be simulated:

conduction, convection, radiation.

• Steady-State
– Time-dependent effects are
ignored.

• Transient
– To determine temperatures, etc.
as a function of time.
– Allows phase change (melting or
freezing) to be simulated.
October 30,
Transient Temperature of a 2001
Inventory
Warming Clothes Iron #001569
2-11
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Electromagnetic analysis is used to calculate magnetic fields in
electromagnetic devices.

• Static and low-frequency electromagnetics

– To simulate devices operating with DC power sources, low-frequency
AC, or low-frequency transient signals.

– Example: solenoid actuators,

motors, transformers
– Quantities of interest include
magnetic flux density, field
intensity, magnetic forces and
torques, impedance, inductance,
eddy currents, power loss, and
flux leakage.

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-12
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• High-frequency electromagnetics
– To simulate devices with propagating electromagnetic waves.
– Example: microwave and RF passive components, waveguides,
coaxial connectors
– Quantities of interest include S-parameters, Q-factor, Return loss,
dielectric and conducting losses, and electric and magnetic fields.

Electric field (EFSUM) in a coaxial cable October 30,

2001
Inventory
#001569
2-13
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Electrostatics
– To calculate the electric field from voltage or charge excitation.
– Example: High voltage devices, micro-electromechanical systems
(MEMS), transmission lines
– Typical quantities of interest are electric field strength and
capacitance.

• Current Conduction
– To calculate current in a conductor from an applied voltage

• Circuit Coupling
– To couple electric circuits with electromagnetic devices

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-14
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Types of electromagnetic analysis:
– Static analysis calculates magnetic fields due to direct current (DC) or
permanent magnets.
– Harmonic analysis calculates magnetic fields due to alternating
current (AC).
– Transient analysis is used for time-varying magnetic fields.

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-15
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
– To determine the flow distributions and temperatures in a fluid.
– ANSYS/FLOTRAN can simulate laminar and turbulent flow,
compressible and incompressible flow, and multiple species.
– Applications: aerospace, electronic packaging, automotive design
– Typical quantities of interest are velocities, pressures, temperatures,
and film coefficients.

Velocity of Fluid in a Duct Pressure Distribution

on a Football October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-16
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Acoustics
– To simulate the interaction between a fluid medium and the surrounding
solid.
– Example: speakers, automobile interiors, sonars
– Typical quantities of interest are pressure distribution, displacements,
and natural frequencies.

• Contained-Fluid Analysis
– To simulate the effects of a contained, non-flowing fluid and calculate
hydrostatic pressures due to sloshing.
– Example: oil tankers, other liquid containers

• Heat and Mass Transport

– A one-dimensional element is used to calculate the heat generated by
mass transport between two points, such as in a pipe.

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-17
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About ANSYS Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

• Coupled-Field Analysis considers the mutual interaction between
two or more fields. The fact that each field depends upon another
makes it impossible to solve each separately, therefore you need
a program that can solve both physics problems by combining
them.

• Examples:
– Thermal-stress analysis
– Piezoelectrics (electric & structural )
– Acoustics (fluid & structural)
– Thermal-electric analysis
– Induction heating (magnetic and thermal)
– Electrostatic-structural analysis

Deflection of a bi-metal
bar due to heating

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-18
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
About the Company Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

ANSYS, Inc.

• Developer of ANSYS family of products

• Headquartered in Canonsburg, PA - USA (south of Pittsburgh)

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-19
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About the Company Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

ANSYS Support Distributors (ASDs)

• Sales and support network for ANSYS

• Over 75 offices worldwide

• Local expertise for ANSYS consulting and training

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-20
Chapter 2 - FEA and ANSYS
…About the Company Training Manual

INTRODUCTION TO ANSYS 6.0 - Part 1

ANSYS Support Coordinator (ASC)

• Contact for ANSYS at your company site

• Focal point for ANSYS correspondence; software updates, error

notices, newsletter and other mailings, etc.

For more information about ANSYS and the company:

• www.ansys.com

• On-line documentation

• Training manuals from other ANSYS courses

October 30,
2001
Inventory
#001569
2-21