Pre-Analysis & Start-Up

Pre-Analysis

The following equations give the frequencies of the modes and the mode shapes and are derived from Euler-Bernoulli Beam Theory.

Start ANSYS Workbench & Load Files

In this section we will launch ANSYS Workbench and then load the project file, "cantilever.wbpj" that was created in the "Cantilever Beam" tutorial.

Start > All Programs > ANSYS 12.1 > Workbench

File > Open
Then choose the "cantilever.wbpj" file that you created in the "Cantilever Beam" tutorial.

Management of Screen Real Estate

This tutorial is specially configured, so the user can have both the tutorial and ANSYS open at the same time as shown below. It will be beneficial to have both ANSYS and your internet browser displayed on your monitor simultaneously. Your internet browser should consume approximately one third of the screen width while ANSYS should take the other two thirds as shown below.

If the monitor you are using is insufficient in size, you can press the Alt and Tab keys simultaneously to toggle between ANSYS and your internet browser.

Modal (ANSYS) Project Selection

Left, click on Modal ANSYS, , and drag it to the right of the "Cantilever" project. You should then see a red box to the right of the "Cantilever" project that says "Create standalone system" as shown below.

Now, release the left mouse button. Your Project Schematic window should now look comparable to the image below.

Rename Modal (ANSYS)

Double click on Modal (ANSYS) and rename it to "Cantilever Modal".

Engineering Data

In this section we will input the properties of aluminum (as defined in the the Problem Specification) in to ANSYS. First, double click Engineering Data,
, in the "Cantilever Modal" Project. Next, click where it says "Click here to add a new material" as shown in the image below.

Next, enter "Aluminum" and press enter. You should now have Aluminum listed as one of the materials in table called "Outline of Schematic B2: Engineering Data", as shown below.




Then, (expand) Linear Elastic, as shown below.



Now, (Double Click) Isotropic Elasticity. Then set Young's Modulus to 70e9 Pa and set Poisson's Ratio to 0.35 , as shown below.




Next, (expand) Physical Properties, as shown below.



Now, (Double Click) Density. Then, set Density to 2,700 kg / m^3 , as shown below.




Now, the material properties for Aluminum have been specified. Lastly, (Click) Return To Project, .

Save

Save your project now and periodically, as you work. ANSYS does not have an auto-save feature.


Go to Step 2: Geometry

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