Submodeling using ANSYS Workbench v12.

1 Patrick Cunningham 1/18/2011

2009 CAE Associates

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

Although submodeling using the ANSYS Workbench environment is not currently supported at release v12.1 it can be accomplished using APDL command blocks. The method involves setting up the global model and the submodel in the same Workbench project as shown here.

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

The general procedure is as follows:

1. 2.

3.

4.

5.

Generate the solution on the global model using the Mechanical tool. Create the submodel in a separate Mechanical window and use a command block to generate a node file file. Go back to the global model and use command blocks to perform the cut boundary interpolation forcing Mechanical to not regenerate the solution. Go to the submodel and use a command block to read the cut boundary y displacements. Generate the submodel solution.

One advantage to using Workbench for submodeling is that both the global model and submodel can be open during the process. The v12 license manager g will share the Mechanical license with the two models.

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

The following example problem is used to illustrate the set up in detail detail.

Submodel region

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

The submodeling method for Workbench v12 v12.1 1 is as follows: 1. Bring the CAD geometry into DesignModeler and defeature the global model as needed. For illustration purposes the cut boundaries are included in the global geometry model (not required) required).

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

2 2.

Bring the DesignModeler geometry into the Mechanical tool tool. Set up the model as needed (material assignment, mesh control, loads, supports, etc.).

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

3 3.

Add a command block to the Solution folder with a command to copy the ANSYS result file to a known location using the /system command:

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

4 4.

Generate the solution for the global model:

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

5 5.

Return to the Project page and duplicate the DesignModeler geometry:

RMB

Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

6 6.

Open the duplicate geometry item and cut out the submodel (suppress or delete the remainder). For this case a fillet was added to the submodel geometry.

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

7 7.

Drag and drop a new Structural Analysis system onto the submodel geometry. Open the new Mechanical window, mesh the geometry and create a Named Selection consisting of the cut boundary faces. Note: Be sure to set the active unit system consistent with the global model.

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

8 8.

Add two command blocks to the Static Structural folder of the submodel:
a.

1st pass Write Node File Selects the nodes attached to the Named Selection surfaces and writes a node file to a user defined location location. Adds a /eof command to halt the solution process.

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

8 8.

Submodel command blocks continued:

a.

2nd pass Reads a cut boundary displacement file from a known location.

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

9 9.
d pass Read CBD Suppress the 2 2nd CBD command block and Solve to generate the node file.

RMB - Suppress

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

10 10.

Return to the global Mechanical model and suppress the Solution command block that copies the original result file.

RMB > Suppress

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

11 11.

Add a command block to the Static Structural folder that copies the original result file back to the solution directory. Exit the solution processor using the finish command to stop ANSYS from resolving the global model. Do not use /eof.

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

12 12.

Add a command block to the Solution folder to generate a file with global model displacements interpolated onto the cut boundary nodes. Note: For the sake of simplicity the CBD file is written to the same directory as the node file and the global .rst rst file. file

node file

CBD file

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

13 13.

14.

Make sure that the 1st pass command block is suppressed and that the 2nd pass command blocks (Static Structural and Solution) are active. Solve.

Active

Suppressed Active

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

15 15.

16.

17.

Return to the submodel Mechanical window window. Suppress the command block used to write the node file in the first pass. Add a command block in the Static Structural file reads the CBD file from the specified directory directory. Solve.

Suppress Add

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

Check the submodel results for proper mapping of the displacements displacements. If the cut boundaries exist in the global model this is easily accomplished. Otherwise cut plane displays and the result probe can be used as an approximation.

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

Use the result Probe to compare the stresses at the cut boundary boundary. Good agreement is an indication that the boundary is far enough away from the stress concentration.

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Submodeling in ANSYS Workbench

The example models have been provided in the ANSYS archive file v12_submodel_example.zip. The file should be opened using the File > Restore utility on the v12 project page page.

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