HM-4400: Explore the ANSYS Interface

In this tutorial you will learn about HyperMesh’s ANSYS FE input reader, template, macro menu, and user profile.

Before you begin, copy the tuning_fork_ansys.cdb model file from <hm.zip>/interfaces/ to your working directory.

Tools Overview

In this section you will learn about ANSYS FE-input reader, ANSYS Template, ANSYS Utility menu, ANSYS Interface Online Help, ANSYS User Profile, Model Import, and Model Export.

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 > Utility Tab from the menu bar. The ANSYS Utility menu contains the following macros and tools.

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.

Import Tab

Access the Import tab by clicking File > Import > Solver Deck from the menu bar.



Figure 1.

Hover over each option to learn more.

Export Tab

Access the Export tab by clicking File > Export > Solver Deck from the menu bar.



Figure 2.

Hover over each option to learn more.

Load the ANSYS User Profile

In this step, you will load the ANSYS user profile in HyperMesh.

Setting the user profile to ANSYS saves you time.
  1. Start HyperWorks.
  2. From the menu bar, click File > Solver Interface > Ansys.


    Figure 3.

Import a Model

In this step, you will import an ANSYS deck written by the ANSYS Solver.

HyperMesh can import ANSYS model data in script format. The same procedure can be followed to read a HyperMesh-written deck.
  1. From the menu bar, click File > Import > Solver Deck.
    Note: If you are in the ANSYS user profile, HyperMesh automatically sets file type to Ansys.
  2. In the Import file dialog, select the tuning_fork_ansys.cdb file and click Open.
  3. In the Solver Import Options dialog, click Import.
The model appears in the graphics area.


Figure 4.

Export the Model

In this step, you will export a ANSYS model from HyperMesh.

HyperMesh can export ANSYS model data in script format.
  1. From the menu bar, click File > Export > Solver Deck.
    Note: If you are in the ANSYS user profile, HyperMesh automatically sets the file type to Ansys.
  2. In the Export file dialog, navigate to the location you would like to export your file to and then save the file as 4400_export.
  3. In the Solver Export Options dialog, click Export.