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titleExpand this for more information about ANSYS and these learning modules

What is ANSYS?

ANSYS is a finite-element analysis package used widely in industry to simulate the response of a physical system to structural loading, and thermal and electromagnetic effects. ANSYS uses the finite-element method to solve the underlying governing equations and the associated problem-specific boundary conditions

Table of Contents

List of Learning Modules

These learning modules progress from simple to more complex. If you are unfamiliar with ANSYS, please begin with the first module.

Basic Learning Modules:

Intermediate Learning Modules:

...

.

About the ANSYS learning modules

This ANSYS short course consists of a set of learning modules on using ANSYS to solve problems in solid mechanics. The learning modules lead the user through the steps involved in solving a selected set of problems using ANSYS. We not only provide the solution steps but also the rationale behind them. It is worthwhile for the user to understand the underlying concepts as she goes through the learning modules in order to be able to correctly apply ANSYS to other problems. The user would be ill-served by clicking through the learning modules in zombie-mode. Each learning module is followed by problems which are geared towards strengthening and reinforcing the knowledge and understanding gained in the learning modules. Working through the problem sets is an intrinsic part of the learning process and shouldn't be skipped.

These learning modules have been developed by

...

the Swanson Engineering Simulation Program in

...

the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University. The Swanson Engineering Simulation Program has been established with the goal of integrating computer-based simulations into the mechanical engineering curriculum. This program has been endowed by Dr. John Swanson, the founder

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of ANSYS Inc.

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 and an alumnus of the Sibley School. The development of these learning modules is being supported by

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Faculty Innovation in Teaching award from Cornell University.

What is ANSYS?

ANSYS is a finite-element analysis package used widely in industry to simulate the response of a physical system to structural loading, and thermal and electromagnetic effects. ANSYS uses the finite-element method to solve the underlying governing equations and the associated problem-specific boundary conditions.

How to use these learning modules

These learning modules are designed to be used online and run side-by-side with the ANSYS software. After you launch the learning modules and ANSYS, you will have to drag the browser window to the width of the largest image (about 350 pixels). To make best use of screen real estate, move the windows around and resize them so that you approximate this screen arrangement.

System and software requirements

  • System: Any system that can run ANSYS and a web browser.
  • Screen: Resolution should be at least 1280 x 1024 pixels for optimal viewing. A 17" monitor or larger is recommended.
  • ANSYS version 7.0. These tutorials were created using ANSYS 7.0.
  • Web Browser: These tutorials work best in 5.0 or higher versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape because style sheet support is needed. These tutorials can be used with Netscape 4.x but may not render correctly.

Choose a learning module by selecting from the list at the top of this page

Conventions used

Each learning module begins with a problem specification. A solution can be obtained by following these nine steps:
1. Start-up and preliminary set-up
2. Specify element type and constants
3. Specify material properties
4. Specify geometry
5. Mesh geometry
6. Specify boundary conditions
7. Solve!
8. Postprocess the results
9. Validate the results
These steps appear at the top of each page of the learning module with the current step highlighted in red.

ANSYS uses cascading menus which are represented as follows:

Main Menu > Preprocessor > Material Props > Material Models ....

This means that in the Main Menu, click on Preprocessor. Then, in the Preprocessor menu that comes up, click on Material Props and so on.

Names of windows are in italics.

Items and options appearing within menus and dialog boxes are purple, italic, and bold.

Text and numbers that need to be entered are indicated in Courier font.

List of Learning Modules

Each learning module below contains a step-by-step tutorial that shows details of how to solve a selected problem using ANSYS, a popular tool for finite-element analysis (FEA). The tutorial topics are drawn from Cornell University courses, the Prantil et al  textbook, student/research projects etc. If a tutorial is from a course, the relevant course number is indicated below. All tutorials have a common structure and use the same high-level steps starting with Pre-Analysis and ending with Verification and Validation . Pre-Analysis includes hand calculations to predict expected results while Verification and Validation can be thought of as a formal process for checking computer results. Both these steps are extremely important in practice though often overlooked. The pedagogical philosophy behind these modules is discussed in this article from the ANSYS Advantage magazine.

Finite Element Analysis Using ANSYS Mechanical

The following ANSYS tutorials show you how to obtain an FEA solution from scratch using ANSYS Mechanical

Introductory Tutorials

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Plate With a Hole

MAE 3250/ MAE 4700--5700

Static Structural

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Bike Crank

MAE 3250/MAE 3272

Static Structural

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Bike Crank: Part 2

MAE 3272

Static Structural

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Cantilever Beam

MAE 4700-5700

Static Structural

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Plane Frame

MAE 4700-5700

Static Structural

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A stepped shaft in axial tension

Prantil et al textbook

Static Structural

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A non-slender cantilever beam
under point tip loading

Prantil et al textbook

Static Structural

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Hoop and axial stresses in
thick-walled pressure vessels

Prantil et al textbook

Static Structural

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A four-point bend test
on a T-beam

Prantil et al textbook

Static Structural   

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Planar approximations for a
two-dimensional beam analysis

Prantil et al textbook

Static Structural

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Three-dimensional analysis of
combined loading in a signpost

Prantil et al textbook

Static Structural

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Plate With a Hole: Optimization

MAE 3250/MAE 4700-5700

Optimization

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Heat Conduction in a Cylinder

MAE 4700-5700

Heat Transfer

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2D Steady Conduction in a
Rectangular Domain

MAE 3240/ MAE 6510

Heat Transfer

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Cantilever Beam Modal Analysis

MAE 4700-5700

Dynamics

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Modal Analysis of a Wing

 

Dynamics

Finite Element Analysis Using ANSYS Mechanical: Results-Interpretation

The following ANSYS tutorials focus on the interpretation and verification of FEA results (rather than on obtaining an FEA solution from scratch). The ANSYS solution files are provided as a download. We read the solution into ANSYS Mechanical and then move directly to reviewing the results critically. We are particularly interested in the comparison of FEA results with hand calculations.

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Tensile Bar

MAE 3250

Static Structural

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Plate With a Hole

MAE 3250

Static Structural

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Bending of a Curved Beam         

MAE 3250                  

Static Structural   

Advanced Tutorials

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Rat Femur

BME 4490

Static Structural

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Trachea Analysis

BME 2000

Static Structural

Under Construction

Bone Compression

 

Static Structural

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Cardiovascular Stent

 

Static Structural

 

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High Resolution FE Model
of Bone

MAE 6640

Static Structural

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Hertz Contact Mechanics

Undergrad Project

Static Structural

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Stress due to Gravity

 

Static Structural

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Advanced FEA for Large
Telescope Truss

CCAT Telescope
Project

Static Structural 

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Crack Between Neo-Hookean
Material and Rigid Body

MAE 5700

Static Structural 

Wind Turbine Blade FSI (Part 2)

MAE 4020-5020

Static Structural, FSI

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Linear Column Buckling

 

Structural

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Thermal Stresses in a Bar

 

Coupled Static 
Structural
and Heat Transfer

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Transient 2D Conduction

 

Heat Transfer

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3D Conduction

 

Heat Transfer

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Radiation Between Surfaces

 

Heat Transfer

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Modal Analysis of a Satellite

Cornell CubeSat Team

Dynamics

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Modal Analysis of a Composite  
Monocoque

Cornell Formula
SAE team

 

 

Tips and tricks

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Tips and Tricks                              

 

Finite Element Analysis Using ANSYS APDL (These tutorials are no longer being updated)

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Two-Dimensional Static Truss

ANSYS 11.0 12.0 APDL

Basic

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Plate with a hole

ANSYS 11.0 12.0 APDL

Basic

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Three-dimensional bicycle crank

ANSYS 12.0 APDL

Intermediate

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Three-dimensional curved beam

ANSYS 11.0 APDL

Intermediate

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Vibration analysis of a frame

ANSYS 7.0

Intermediate

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Semi-monocoque shell

ANSYS 10.0 APDL

Intermediate

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Semi-monocoque shell,
Part 2: Parametric study

ANSYS 10.0 APDL

Intermediate

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Orthotropic plate with a hole

ANSYS 11.0 12.0 APDL

Intermediate

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Disks in point contact

ANSYS 7.1 Classic

Intermediate

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Frequently Asked Questions

Additional explanations and related discussions are enclosed in a box.