Part and Assembly Modeling

with ANSYS DesignModeler 14

Huei-Huang Lee

Contents

Contents
Preface 2
Section A. Sketching

Exercise 1.

Arm 6

Exercise 1a.

Structural Analysis of the Arm

Exercise 2.

Ratchet Stop

Exercise 3.

Ratchet Wheel

Exercise 4.

Cover Plate

Section B. Part Modeling

21

28
35

44

54

Exercise 5.

Crank 55

Exercise 6.

Geneva Gear Index

Exercise 7.

Yoke

Exercise 8.

Support

Exercise 8a.

Structural Analysis of the Support

Exercise 9.

Wheel

Exercise 10.

Pipe

Exercise 11.

C-Bar Dynamometer

Exercise 11a.

Deformation of the C-Bar

Exercise 12.

Threaded Shaft

Exercise 13.

Lifting Fork

Exercise 14.

Caster Frame

64

72
79
88

94
98
106
111

119

124
130

Section C. Assembly Modeling

144

Exercise 15.

Threaded Shaft Assembly 145

Exercise 16.

Universal Joint

152

Exercise 16a.

Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

Exercise 17.

Clamping Mechanism

Exercise 17a.

Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

Section D. Concept Modeling

165

176
197

215

Exercise 18.

2D Solid Modeling (Arm) 216

Exercise 18a.

Structural Analysis of the Arm Using 2D Model

219

Exercise 19.

Surface Modeling (Support)

Exercise 19a.

Structural Analysis of the Support Using Surface Model

Exercise 20.

Line Modeling (Space Truss)

Exercise 20a.

Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

225
234
240

230

2

Preface

Preface
Use of the Book
This book is designed for those who want to learn how to create parts and assembly models using ANSYS
DesignModeler. The author assumes no previous CAD/CAE experiences to begin with the book.

This book is mainly designed as an auxiliary tutorial in a course using ANSYS as a CAE platform. In particular,

this book can serve as a preparation to the author's another book Finite Element Simulations with ANSYS Workbench 14,
which emphasizes on finite element simulations rather than geometry modeling such that the exercises on geometry
modeling (especially assembly modeling) may not be adequate.

ANSYS DesignModeler
ANSYS DesignModeler is a CAD program running under ANSYS Workbench environment. The DesignModeler can
create geometries as sophisticated as any other CAD programs. Yet, many engineers choose to create geometry
models using other CAD programs (e.g., Pro/Engineer, SolidWorks) and then import them into an ANSYS simulation
module (such as Mechanical) for simulations. One of the reasons may be that, other than the training materials
provided by the ANSYS Inc., there exist no tutorials in the bookstore. That is the main reason that I created this book.

The DesignModeler is designed specifically for creating models which can be seamlessly imported into an ANSYS

simulation modules (such as Mechanical). Therefore, if a geometry model is solely used for ANSYS simulations, I
strongly suggest that we create the model from scratch using DesignModeler, rather than other CAD programs, to
avoid any unnecessary incompatibilities.

Structure of the Book

There are 20 exercises and 8 appendices in the book; each of them is designed in a step-by-step tutorial style. The 20
exercises involve creating parts and assemblies models, while the 8 appendices show how to perform simulations using
some of the models. If you are not currently interested in simulations, you may freely skip the 8 appendices without
affecting the learning of the 20 exercises.

An assembly consists of two or more parts. Each part can be viewed as boolean operations (union, subtraction,

etc.) of simpler 3D bodies. Each of the 3D bodies usually can be created by a two-step operation: drawing a 2D sketch
on a 2D plane and then generate the 3D body by extrusion, revolution, sweeping, or skin/lofting.

The book is divided into 4 sections. Section A lets students familiarize with sketching techniques. Section B

contains exercises of part modeling. Section C consists of exercises of assembly modeling. The last section introduces
the creations of concept models, including 2D models, surface models, and line models. A concept model is a
simplification of a 3D models, and is usually easier to create and more efficient to be simulated.

Preface

Companion Webpage
A webpage dedicated to this book is maintained by the author:
http://myweb.ncku.edu.tw/~hhlee/Myweb_at_NCKU/ADM14.html
The webpage contains links to finished project files of each exercise and appendix. If everything works smoothly, you
do not need them at all. Every model can be built from scratch according to the steps described in the book. The
author provides these project files just in some cases you need them. For examples, if you have troubles to follow the
geometry details in the textbook, you may need to look up the geometry details from the project files.

Huei-Huang Lee
Associate Professor
Department of Engineering Science
National Cheng Kung University
Tainan, Taiwan
[email protected]
myweb.ncku.edu.tw/~hhlee

4

Section A. Sketching

Section A
Sketching

An assembly is a combination of parts. From manufacture point of view, a part is a basic unit for manufacturing
process. Many parts can be created by a two-step operation: drawing a 2D sketch on a plane and then generate a 3D
body by extrusion, revolution, sweeping, or skin/lofting.


The exercises in Section A are designed to introduce the 2D sketching techniques provided by the
DesignModeler. Each part created in Section A involves drawing a sketch and then extrude to generate a 3D solid
body representing the part.


Although it can be used as a general purpose CAD software, the DesignModeler is particularly designed for
creating geometric models to be analyzed (simulated) under the ANSYS environment. To let the readers understand
what it means by analysis (simulation) as early as possible, an exercise (Exercise 1a) is appended right after Exercise 1
to perform a structural analysis for the part created in Exercise 1. However, the reader has option to skip Exercise 1a
without affect the subsequent learning of geometric modeling.

6

Exercise 1. Arm

Exercise 1
Arm

1-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we will create a 3D
solid model for an arm, which is a
part of a clamping mechanism [1].
The clamping mechanism will be
introduced in Exercise 17 and
simulated in Exercise 17a.


The arm model consists of a
single solid body, which can be
generated by extruding a sketch by a
thickness of 0.125 inches [2].


Before creating a geometry
model, we must set up a global
coordinate system. For this exercise,
we arbitrarily choose the global
coordinate system as shown [3].
Note that the origin is on the back
surface of the part.

[1] The arm is a part

of a clamping
mechanism.

R0.313

1.375

R0.313

X
3 D0.25

[3] The global

coordinate
system.

2.25

R0.25

[2] Details of
the arm.

Unit: in.
Thickness: 0.125 in.

R0.5

Exercise 1. Arm

1-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS

Workbench.

[2] The <Workbench GUI>

(graphical user interface) shows up.

[3] Click the plus sign (+) to

expand <Component
Systems>. The plus sign
becomes minus sign.

[7] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up the DesignModeler.

[5] A <Geometry> system

is created in the <Project
Schematic> area.

[4] Double-click to create

a <Geometry> system.

[6] You may click here to

show the messages from
ANSYS Inc. To hide the
message, click it again.

8

Exercise 1. Arm

[8] <DesignModeler GUI>

shows up.

[9] Select <Inch> as

length unit.

[10] Click <OK>. Note

that, after clicking and
entering DesignModeler, the
length unit cannot be
changed anymore.

Speech Bubbles
1. In this book, each exercise is divided into subsections (e.g., 1-1, 1-2). In each subsection, speech bubbles are
ordered with numbers, which are enclosed by pairs of square brackets (e.g., [1], [2]). When you read, please follow
the order of speech bubble; the order is significant.
2. The square-bracket numbers also serve as reference numbers when referred in other text. When in the same
subsection, we simply refer to a speech bubble by its number (e.g., [1], [2]). When in the other subsections, we refer
to a speech bubble by its subsection identifier and its bubble number (e.g., 1-2[1]).
3. When a circle is used with a speech bubble, it is to indicate that mouse or keyboard ACTIONS are needed in that
step [1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10]. A circle may be filled with white color [1, 4, 7] or unfilled [3, 9, 10]. A speech bubble without a
circle [2, 8] or with a rectangle [6] is used for commentary only, i.e., no mouse or keyboard actions are needed.

Workbench Keywords
A pair of angle brackets is used to highlight an Workbench keyword (e.g., <Component Systems> in [3]).
Sometimes, if the angle brackets do not add any clarity, they may be dropped (e.g., DesignModeler).

Clicking and Selecting

When we say "click" or "select," we mean left-click the mouse button.

Exercise 1. Arm

1-3 Prepare to Draw a Sketch on <XYPlane>

[1] By default,
<XYPlane> is the
current sketching
plane (active plane).

[3] Click <Look

At Face/Plane/
Sketch> to rotate
the view angle so
that you look at the
current sketching
plane.

[2] Click to switch to <Sketching

Mode>. Note that there are 5
toolboxes available: Draw, Modify,
Dimension, Constraints, and Settings.
<Draw> is the default toolbox.
[4] By default, the ruler is
on. In the next step, we will
turn off the ruler to make
more sketching space.

[6] This is the global

coordinate system.

[5] Select <View/

Ruler> to turn it off.
For the rest of this
book, we always leave
the ruler off.

[7] This is the plane

(local) coordinate
system.

10

Exercise 1. Arm

1-4 Draw a Circle with Dimension

[6] As soon as you
begin to draw, a name
is assigned to the
sketch and it becomes
the active sketch.

[1] Select
<Circle> tool.

[7] Select
<Dimension>
toolbox.

[2] In case you don't

see the <Circle> tool,
scroll down to reveal
the tool.

[5] Move the mouse

away from the center and
then click the mouse to
create a circle with
arbitrary radius.

[4] Move the mouse

around the origin until
a <P> (Point) appears
and then click the
mouse to locate the
center of the circle.
The ability to "snap" a
point is a feature of the
DesignModeler, called
<Auto Constraints>.

[3] It gives you hints for

using the tool.

[11] It is possible that the circle

becomes too small. Select <Zoom to
Fit> tool to fit the sketch into the
graphics window. Now, we may need
to adjust (move) the position of the
dimension.

[8] Select
<Diameter> tool.

[10] In the <Details

View>, type 0.25 for
the diameter.

[9] Select the circle,

move the mouse
outward, and then click
to create a dimension.
Note that the circle turns
blue, meaning the circle
has fully constrained
(fixed in the space).

Exercise 1. Arm

11

[14] Whenever necessary, select

<Zoom to Fit> tool to fit the
sketch into the graphics window.
[12] Select <Move> tool.
Remember to scroll
down to reveal a tool if
you don't see the tool.

[13] Select the

dimension, move to a
suitable position, and
then click again.

[15] Select <Display>

tool. You may need to
scroll down to reveal
the tool if you don't see
the tool.

[16] Click <Name> to

turn the dimension
name off. Note that
<Value> automatically
turns on.

[17] Instead of displaying dimension

name, now the dimension value is
displayed. For the rest of the book,
we always display dimension values
instead of name.

12

Exercise 1. Arm

1-5 Draw Two More Circles

[2] Select <Draw>

toolbox.

[4] Move the mouse

around the horizontal
axis until a <C>
(Coincident) appears
and then click the
mouse to locate the
center of the circle.
This center is snapped
on the horizontal axis.

[1] Click anywhere in the

graphics window and then scroll
the mouse wheel down to zoom
out the sketch roughly like this.

[5] Move the mouse until an <R>

(Radius) appears and then click the
mouse. The radius dimension is
constrained to be the same as the
first circle. Note that the circle is
greenish-blue, meaning it is not
fully fixed in the space yet. A
horizontal location is needed to
fully defined the circle.

[3] Select
<Circle> tool.

[6] Create another circle in a

similar way. Make sure a <C> and
an <R> appear before clicking. A
vertical location is needed to fully
defined the circle.

Exercise 1. Arm

[8] Select the vertical

axis. Note that the shape
of the mouse cursor
changes when your mouse
is on the axis.

13

[12] Remember that you

always can use <Zoom to Fit>
and scroll the mouse wheel [1]
to zoom in/out the view. Also,
to "pan" the view, simply move
the mouse while holding the
control-middle-button.
[10] Move the mouse upward roughly
here and click to locate a horizontal
dimension. Note that the circle turns
blue (fully constrained).

[7] Select
<Dimension> toolbox
and then select
<Horizontal> tool.
[11] In the <Details
View>, type 1.375 for
the horizontal
dimension.

[9] Select the center of

the circle. Note that the
shape of the mouse
cursor changes when your
mouse is on the point.

[13] Select
<Vertical> tool.

[16] Before going further, make sure you

familiarize the two most frequently used view
operations: scrolling the mouse wheel to zoom
in/out the view and moving mouse with
control-middle-button to pan the view.

[15] In the <Details

View>, type 2.25 for
the vertical
dimension.

[14] Select horizontal axis,

select the center of the lower
circle, move the mouse
leftward roughly here, and click
to locate a vertical dimension.
The circle turns blue.

14

Exercise 1. Arm

1-6 Draw Three Concentric Circles

[2] Select the <Dimension/

Radius> tool, and create a
radius dimension for the
circle. In the <Details
View>, type 0.313 for the
radius.

[1] Select the <Draw/

Circle> tool, and draw a
concentric circle. Make sure
a <P> appears before
defining the center.

[4] With the <Draw/Circle>

tool still selected, draw a
concentric circle. Make sure a
<P> appears before defining
the center.

[3] Select the <Draw/Circle> tool,

and draw a concentric circle with the
same radius as the previous circle.
Make sure a <P> appears before
defining the center and an <R>
appears before defining the radius.

[5] Select the <Dimension/

Radius> tool, and create a
radius dimension for the
circle. In the <Details
View>, type 0.5 for the
radius.

Exercise 1. Arm

1-7 Draw Tangent Lines

[1] Select the <Draw/Line

by 2 Tangents> tool, and
then select the two circles
to be tangent to. A tangent
line is created.

[2] Create additional

three tangent lines in a
similar way.

15

16

Exercise 1. Arm

1-8 Draw a Fillet

[1] Select the <Modify/
Fillet> tool, and type 0.25
for <Radius>.

[2] Select these two lines.

A fillet is created. Note
that the fillet is not bluecolored. We need to
specify the radius. The
radius typed in [1] is not
necessarily the final
dimension; it just serves as
a default dimension.

[3] Select the <Dimension/Radius>

tool, and create a radius dimension for
the fillet. You don't need to type in the
<Details View>, since the default value
[1] is automatically used. Note that the
color turns blue now.

Exercise 1. Arm

17

1-9 Trim Away Unwanted Segments

[1] Select the <Modify/
Trim> tool, and turn on
<Ignore Axis>, meaning
that the axes will not serve
as trimming tools.

[3] Click to trim

away two other
arcs.

[2] Click the circle

roughly here to trim
away the arc. Note
that when you select
an edge (a line or a
curve), the remaining
edges will serve as
trimming tools.

[4] The sketch after

trimming.

18

Exercise 1. Arm

1-10 Extrude the Sketch to Create the Arm

[1] Select
<Extrude> tool.

[6] Click <Generate>

to produce a 3D solid
body.

[3] Click the

little cyan sphere
to rotate the
view into an
isometric view.

[2] It automatically
switches to
<Modeling Mode>, in
which a <Tree
Outline> is
displayed, which will
be explained later.

[4] Type 0.125 for

the <Depth>.

[7] Click <Display

Plane> to turn off the
display of XYPlane (and
the sketches it contains).

[5] The active sketch is

automatically taken as
<Geometry>.

1-11 Save the Project and Exit Workbench

[2] In the <Workbench

GUI>, save the project
as "Arm."

[1] Select <File/Close

DesignModeler>. The
<DesignModeler GUI>
disappears.

[3] Select <File/

Exit> to quit
from the
Workbench.

Exercise 1. Arm

19

1-12 Review
Global Coordinate System
Before creating a geometry model, you must set up a global coordinate system (1-1[3], 1-3[6]).

Workbench GUI
In the <Workbench GUI> (1-2[2]), you can create a system (1-2[4]) and start up DesignModeler (1-2[7]). Other
capabilities will be introduced later.

Project Schematic
Created systems appear on the <Project Schematic>, an area in the <Workbench GUI>.

DesignModeler GUI
Geometries are created entirely within the <DesignModeler GUI> (1-2[8]).

Length Unit
Before creating a model in the DesignModeler, you must choose a length unit (1-2[9, 10]). The length unit cannot be
changed thereafter.

Mouse Operations
Click




--
Left-click the mouse button.
Select



--
Left-click the mouse button.
Double-Click
--
Left-click the mouse button twice.
Zoom In/Out
--
Scroll the mouse wheel
Pan




--
Move the mouse while holding control-left-button.
Other mouse operations will be introduced later.

Current Sketching Plane

Each sketch is stored in the current sketching plane (1-3[1]). Manipulating (switching, creating, etc.) sketching planes
will be introduced later.

Sketching Mode v.s. Modeling Mode

Tools for sketching are provided in the <Sketching> mode (1-3[2]), while tools for creating and manipulating bodies
are provided in the <Modeling> mode (1-10[2]). There are 5 toolboxes available: Draw, Modify, Dimension,
Constraints, and Settings. Tools in <Modeling> mode includes <Extrude> (1-10[1]). Some tools are available in both
modes, e.g., <Zoom To Fit> (1-4[11]).

Look At Face/Plane/Sketch
Clicking this tool to rotate the view angle so that you look at the current sketching plane (1-3[3]).

Ruler
The ruler (1-3[4, 5]) is to help you obtain a better feeling of the drawing scale. In this book, we always leave the ruler
off to make more sketching space.

Plane Coordinate System

Every plane has its own coordinate system (1-3[7]); it is also called a local coordinate system. The plane coordinate
system will be explained further later.

20

Exercise 1. Arm

Scrolling
In case you don't see a tool in a toolbox, scroll down/up to reveal the tool (1-4[2]). There is also a scrolling controller
for the <Details View>.

Tools in <Draw> Toolbox

Circle





Line by 2 Tangent

-- Draw a circle, giving the center and the radius (1-4[1, 3-5]).
-- Draw a line tangent to two curves (including circles and arcs) (1-7[1, 2]).

Tools in <Dimension> Toolbox

Radius



Move




Display








Horizontal








Vertical

--

--

--



--



--

Specify a radius dimension by selecting a circle (1-4[6, 8-10]) or an arc (1-8[2]).

Move (relocate) a dimension name/value by dragging the name/value (1-4[12, 13]).
This tool is to toggle the display of dimension name and the dimension value (1-4[15-17]).
In this book, we always turn off the dimension name and turn on the dimension value.
Specify a horizontal dimension by first selecting a or a point (or a vertical line) and
then a second point (or a vertical line) (1-5[7-10]).
Specify a vertical dimension by first selecting a or a point (or a horizontal line) and
then a second point (or a horizontal line) (1-5[13, 14]).

Tools in <Modify> Toolbox

Fillet


Trim

--

--

Create a fillet by selecting two lines or curves (1-8[1-3]).

Trim away unwanted segments (1-9[1-4]).

Auto Constraints
P
--
The mouse cursor snaps to a point (or the origin) (1-4[4]).
R
--
The radius is the same as another circle (or arc) (1-4[5]).
C
--
The mouse cursor is coincident to a line (or an axis) (1-5[4, 6]).
Other auto constraint features will be introduced later.

Color Codes
Greenish-blue
--

Blue




--

Red




--

Under-constrained (1-8[2])
Fully constrained (fixed in the space) (1-4[9], 1-5[10,14]).
Over-constrained

Zoom To Fit
Click this tool to fit the entire sketch (in the <Sketching> mode) or entire model (in the <Modeling> mode) into the
graphics window (1-4[14]).

Extrude
This tool extrude a sketch by a specified depth to create a 3D body (1-10[1-5]). More exercises will be given later.

Isometric View
Click the little cyan sphere of the triad will rotate the view into an isometric view (1-10[3]). Other view controls will
be introduced later.

Display Plane
This tool is to toggle the display of current sketching plane and the sketches it contains (1-10[6]).

Exercise 1a. Structural Analysis of the Arm

Appendix:

Exercise 1a
Structural Analysis of the Arm
1a-1 Introduction
Although it can be used as a general purpose
CAD software, the DesignModeler is
particularly designed for creating geometric
models to be analyzed (simulated) under the
ANSYS environment. The purpose of this
exercise is to let the readers understand what
it means by analysis (simulation). However, the
reader has option to skip this exercise without
affect the subsequent learning of geometric
modeling.


In this exercise, we will perform a static
structural analysis for the arm created in
Exercise 1. The objective is to find the
deformation and stresses under the working
loads.


The clamping mechanism is entirely
made of steel and is designed to withstand a
clamping force of 450 lbf [1]. After a
structural analysis of the entire mechanism [2]
(also see Exercise 17a), the results show
shows that, to withstand a clamping force of
450 lbf, the arm is subject to external forces as
shown [3] (also see 17a-13). Note that the
external forces are in a state of static
equilibrium.


The analysis for the entire clamping
mechanism will be perform in Exercise 17a. In
this exercise, we will only perform a analysis
on the arm. The purpose is to make sure the
stresses are within the allowable stress of the
steel, which is 30,000 psi.


The analysis task cannot not be
performed in DesignModeler. Rather, it is
carried out with <Mechanical>, another
Workbench application program.

[2] This is the deformed

structure under the design
loads. The wireframe is the
underformed configuration.
Note that, for visual effects,
the deformation has been
exaggerated.

281 lbf

[1] The clamping

mechanism is
designed to withstand
a clamping force of
450 lbf.

[3] The external

forces on the arm.
These forces are
calculated
according to
17a-13.

264 lbf

77 lbf

407 lbf

126 lbf

187 lbf

21

22

Exercise 1a. Structural Analysis of the Arm

1a-2 Start Up <Mechanical>

[1] Launch ANSYS

Workbench.

[2] Open the project "Arm,"

which was saved in Exercise 1.

[3] Double-click to create

a <Static Structural>
analysis system.

[5] And drop here. A link

is created, indicating that
both <Geometry> share
the same data.

[4] Drag <Geometry>...

[6] Double-click to
start up the
<Mechanical>.

Exercise 1a. Structural Analysis of the Arm

[7] This is the <Mechanical> GUI. Note

that the model is automatically brought
into <Mechanical>. By default, the body
is assumed to be made of steel.

[8] Make sure the length

unit is <in.>. If not,
select the right unit from
the pull-down menu
<Units> (see [9]).

[9] If the length unit is not <in.>,

select <Units/U.S. Customary (in,
lbm, lbf, F, s,V, A)>. Unlike
DesignModeler, the units can be
changed any time as you like in
<Mechanical>.

23

24

Exercise 1a. Structural Analysis of the Arm

1a-3 Specify Loads

[2] Select <Loads/
Force>.

[3] A <Force> object is

inserted under the <Static
Structural> branch.

[1] Click to highlight

<Static Structural>.

[4] Select this

cylindrical face.

[5] Click <Apply>.

[6] Select <Components>.

[7] Type -187 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 126 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

[8] Select <Loads/

Force> again.

[9] A <Force 2> object

is inserted.
[10] Select this
cylindrical face.
[11] Click
<Apply>.
[12] Select <Components>.

[13] Type 264 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 281 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

Exercise 1a. Structural Analysis of the Arm

1a-4 Specify Supports

[1] Select <Supports/
Fixed Support>.

[2] A <Fixed Support> is

inserted.

[3] Select this

cylindrical face.

[4] Click
<Apply>.

1a-5 Insert Result Objects

[2] Select <Stress/

Equivalent (von-Mises)>.

[1] Click to highlight

<Solution>.

[3] A solution object is

inserted under the
<Solution> branch.

25

26

Exercise 1a. Structural Analysis of the Arm

1a-6 Solve the Model

[1] Click <Solve>.

[4] Select <Edges/

Show Undeformed
WireFrame>.

[6] For visual

effect, the
deformation is
automatically
enlarged 49 times.

[3] The maximum stress

is 29,690 psi, slightly below
the allowable stress
(30,000 psi). Note that the
maximum stress can be
reduced by increasing the
radius of the fillet.

[5] Undeformed
shape.
[2] Click the Z-axis
to rotate the view so
that you look into the
<XYPlane>.

[7] Click to close the

<Message> window.

[8] Click <Play> to

animate the
deformation.

[9] Click <Stop> to

stop the animation.

Exercise 1a. Structural Analysis of the Arm

1a-7 Save the Project and Exit Workbench

[2] In the <Workbench

GUI>, save the project as
"Arm-a".

[1] Select <File/Close

Mechanical>. The
<Mechanical GUI>
disappears.

[3] Select <File/

Exit> to quit from
the Workbench.

27

28

Exercise 2. Ratchet Stop

Exercise 2
Ratchet Stop

2-1 Introduction

[1] The ratchet

wheel.

[2] The ratchet stop is

used to control the
rotational direction of
the ratchet wheel.

The ratchet stop is used to control a

ratchet wheel so that the ratchet
wheel rotates in a certain direction
only [1, 2]. The ratchet wheel will be
created in Exercise 3. In this exercise,
we'll create a 3D solid model for the
ratchet stop.


The details of the ratchet stop
are shown in the figure below [3].
Note that the coordinate system is
also shown in the figure.

R0.56
p:
Slo

Y
[3] Details
of the
ratchet stop.

40

0.125

0.1

X
R0.34
Unit: in.
Thickness: 0.125 in.

R0.188
0.57

Exercise 2. Ratchet Stop

2-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system
(1-2[1-5]).

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> cell to start
up the DesignModeler.
Select <Inch> as the length
unit (1-2[9, 10]).

2-3 Draw a Circle on XYPlane

[3] Draw a
circle centered at
the plane origin
(1-4[1-5]).

[1] Switch to
<Sketching
Mode> (1-3[2]).

[4] Select <Dimension/Radius> tool and

specify a radius of 0.188 (in.) for the circle.
Remember to turn on the display of dimension
value (1-4[15-17]). Also remember to use
<Dimension/Move> to move the dimension to
a suitable position (1-4[12, 13]).

[2] Rotate to
XYPlane view
(1-3[3])

29

30

Exercise 2. Ratchet Stop

2-4 Draw a Line

[5] The line is not bluecolored, meaning it isn't fully
defined in the space yet. We
now specify an angle dimension
for the line.

[2] Select <Dimension/General>

tool and create a length
dimension by simply selecting
the line segment and move the
mouse upward. Specify a
dimension value of 0.16 (in.).

[1] Select <Draw/

Line> tool and
draw a line
roughly like this.
[4] Select <Dimension/
Vertical> tool and specify
a vertical dimension of
0.125 (in.) (1-5[13-15]).

2-5 Specify an Angle Dimension

[3] Select <Dimension/Horizontal>

tool and specify a horizontal
dimension of 0.57 (in.) (1-5[7-11]).

[1] To specify an angle dimension, you need to select two lines (or axes).
When you select a line (or axis), the end near where you click become
the "arrow end" of the line. The angle is then measured from the first
line to the second line in a counter-clockwise fashion.

[3] Click the line

here near the
upper-right end.

[4] Click here to create

an angle dimension.
Type 40 (degrees) in the
<Details View>. Note
that the angle is
measured counterclockwise from the first
line to the second. Also
note that the line is
blue-colored now.

[2] Select <Dimension/

Angle> tool and then
click the X-axis on the
positive side.

[5] If you made mistakes (click on wrong ends or in a wrong order) and the
angle is not what you meant, right-click anywhere in the graphics window to
bring up a <Context Menu> and choose <Alternate Angle>. Repeat this before
you click to locate the angle dimension until the correct angle appears.

Exercise 2. Ratchet Stop

2-6 Draw Arcs

[2] Click the upperright end of the line
to define an end of
the arc.

[4] An arc is created.

[3] Click to define

another end roughly
here on the circle.

[1] Select <Draw/Arc by

Center> tool and then
click roughly here to
define the center.
[5] Select <Dimension/
Radius> tool and
specify a radius
dimension of 0.56 in.

[7] Also note that the center of the

arc moves to a new location to
accommodate the constraint.

[6] Select <Constraints/

Tangent> tool and then select
the arc and the circle. A
<Tangent> constraint is
imposed between the arc and
the circle. Note that the arc
turns blue.

31

32

Exercise 2. Ratchet Stop

[9] Click the lowerleft end of the line to

define an end of the
arc.

[10] Click to define

another end roughly
here on the circle.
[8] Select <Draw/Arc by
Center> tool again and
define the center roughly
here.

[11] Select <Dimension/

Radius> tool and specify
a radius dimension of
0.34 in.

[12] Select <Constraints/

Tangent> tool and impose a
<Tangent> constraint
between the newly created
arc and the circle.

Exercise 2. Ratchet Stop

33

2-7 Trim Away Unwanted Segments

[1] Select <Modify/Trim> tool
and make sure <Ignore Axis> is
turned on (1-9[1]). Click here
to trim away the arc segment.

[2] The finished sketch.

2-8 Extrude the Sketch to Create the Ratchet Stop

[1] Extrude the sketch
0.125 in. to create the
ratchet stop (1-10[1-6]).

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Stop," and exit the
Workbench (1-11[1-3]).

34

Exercise 2. Ratchet Stop

2-9 Review
Context Menu
When you right-click the mouse, a menu pops up. The contents of the menu
depends on when and where you right-click the mouse. The menu is thus
called the <Context Menu> (2-5[5]). Try to right-click anywhere in the
graphics area, <Details View>, or <Tree Outline> (1-10[2]), to see the
contents of the <Context Menu>.

<Dimension/General> Tool
This tool can be used for any type of dimension. For a line, the default is to
create a <Length> dimension (2-4[2]). For a circle or arc, the default is to
create a diameter dimension. If the default is not what you want, right-click
anywhere in the graphics window to bring up the <Context Menu> [1] and
choose a dimension type.

<Dimension/Angle> Tool
To specify an angle dimension, you need to select two lines (or axes). When
you select a line (or axis), the end near where you click become the "arrow
end" of the line. The angle is then measured from the first line to the second
line in a counter-clockwise fashion (2-5[1-4]).


If you made mistakes (click on wrong ends or in a wrong order) and
the angle is not what you meant, right-click anywhere in the graphics window
to bring up the <Context Menu> [2] and choose <Alternate Angle>. Repeat
this until the correct angle appears before you click to locate the angle
dimension (2-5[5]).

[1] This is the

<Context Menu> when
<Dimension/General> is
activated.

<Draw/Line> Tool
This tool draws a line by defining two end points (2-4[1])).

<Draw/Arc By Center> Tool

This tool draws an arc by defining its center and two end points (2-6[1-4]).

<Constraints/Tangent> Tool
This tool impose a <Tangent> constraint between two curves or between a
line and a curve (2-6[6, 12]).

[1] This is the <Context

Menu> after you select
two lines (or axes) and
before you click to create
an angle dimension.

Exercise 3. Ratchet

35

Exercise 3
Ratchet Wheel

[1] The ratchet

wheel.

3-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we'll create a 3D
solid model for the ratchet wheel
mentioned in Exercise 2 [1]. The
details of the ratchet wheel are
shown in the figure below [2].

60

15

1.00

[2] Details of
the ratchet
wheel.
X

D0.25

Unit: in.
Thickness: 0.25 in.

36

Exercise 3. Ratchet

3-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> cell to start
up the DesignModeler.
Select <Inch> as the length
unit.

3-3 Draw Two Concentric Circles

[1] On XYPlane, draw two
concentric circles with
diameters of 0.25 in. and
1.00 in. respectively.

Exercise 3. Ratchet

37

3-4 Draw Lines with Angle Dimensions

[1] Draw a line passing
the origin like this.

[2] Specify an angle dimension

of 15 degrees. Remember to
select the line first and then
the axis. Clicking positions are
also important (2-5[1-5]).

[3] Draw
another line like
this.
[4] Specify an angle
dimension of 60
degrees.

38

Exercise 3. Ratchet

3-5 Trim Away Unwanted Segments

[1] Draw a circle which passes
through an end point of the line.
When you define the radius,
remember to snap (with a <P>
constraint) the end point of the line.
The circle serves as a construction
(temporary) circle.

[3] After
trimming, a single
tooth remains.

[2] Trim away

unwanted segments.
Remember to turn on
<Ignore Axis> (1-9[1]).

Exercise 3. Ratchet

39

3-6 Duplicate Teeth

[1] Select
<Modify/Copy>.

[2] Select these two lines. To

select multiple entities, hold
Control key while click the
entities sequentially. You also can
"sweep select" multiple entities,
i.e., holding left mouse button
while sweep through the entities.
After the selection, the entities
are highlighted with yellow color.

[3] Right-click
anywhere in the
graphics window to
bring up the
<Context Menu>, and
select <End/Use Plane
Origin as Handle>.
Now the tooth has
been copied to a
"clipboard."

[4] The <Modify/Paste>

tool is automatically
activated. Type 15
(degrees) for the <r>,
meaning that the rotating
angle is 15 degrees.

40

Exercise 3. Ratchet

[5] Bring up the

<Context Menu>,
and select <Rotate by
-r Degrees>. Note
that a negative angle
is to rotate
clockwise.

[6] Bring up the

<Context Menu>
again, and select
<Paste at Plane
Origin>.

[7] The tooth is

rotated 15 degree
clockwise (using
plane origin as
center of
rotation) and
pasted.
[8] Repeat steps [5, 6]
four more times. Press
<Esc> to end the tool
or choose <End> from
the <Context Menu>.

Exercise 3. Ratchet

[9] Select <Modify/

Copy> again, and
select all the teeth,
using "sweep
select" [2]. From the
<Context Menu>,
select <End/Use
Plane Origin as
Handle> [3].

[10] Type 90
(degrees) for the
rotating angle.

[11] Repeat
steps [5, 6].

[12] Repeat steps [5, 6] two

more times. Press <Esc> to
end the tool or choose <End>
from the <Context Menu>.

41

42

Exercise 3. Ratchet

3-7 Extrude the Sketch to Create the Ratchet Wheel

[1] Extrude the sketch 0.25

in. to create the ratchet
wheel.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Ratchet," and exit
the Workbench.

Exercise 3. Ratchet

43

3-8 Review
Selection of Multiple Entities
There are several ways to select multiple entities. Two of them are <Control-Select> and <Sweep Select>.


Control-Select
--
Click the entities sequentially while holding the Control key.


Sweep Select
--
Hold the left mouse button and sweep through the entities.


Box Select


--
Select <Select Mode/Box Select> [1], and use mouse to define a box.










All entities inside the box are selected.

[1] One way to select

multiple entities is to
turn on <Select Model/
Box Select>.

<Modify/Copy> and <Modify/Paste> Tools

<Modify/Copy> copies the selected entities to a "clipboard." A <Paste Handle> must be specified using one of the
methods in the <Context Menu> (3-6[3]). After completing the <Copy> tool, the <Paste> tool is automatically
activated.


<Modify/Paste> pastes the entities in the "clipboard" to the graphics window. The pasting location corresponds
to the <Paste Handle> specified in the <Copy> tool. To define the pasting location, you either click on the graphics
window or choose from the <Context Menu> (3-6[6]). Many options also can be chosen from the <Context Menu>
(3-6[5]), where the rotating angle <r> and the scaling factor <f> can be specified with the tool (3-6[4]). A positive
rotating angle is to rotate counter-clockwise.

<Modify/Replicate> Tool
<Replicate> is equivalent to a <Copy> followed by a <Paste>.

Ending a Tool
You can press <Esc> to end a tool (3-6[8, 12]). Besides, the <Context Menu> often provides an <End> option to end
a tool (3-6[5, 6]).

44

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

Exercise 4
Cover Plate

4-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we'll create a 3D solid model
for a cover plate, of which the details are
shown in the figure below [2].

2 R0.188

2 D0.201

8 R0.15

0.25

0.376
0.312

2.00

0.312

1.25

[1] Details of
the cover plate.

0.25

0.75

6 R0.06

X
Unit: in.
Thickness: 0.046 in.

0.562
1.50

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

4-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> cell to start
up the DesignModeler.
Select <Inch> as the length
unit.

4-3 Draw Circles

[2] Draw another circle

with the same diameter.
Make sure an <R> appears
when you define the radius
(1-5[5]).

[3] Use <Dimension/

Horizontal> to specify a
dimension of 0.376 in.

[4] Use <Dimension/

Vertical> to specify a
dimension of 2 in.

[1] On XYPlane, draw a

circle centered at the
origin and with a diameter
of 0.201 in.

45

46

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

[6] Draw a concentric

circle with the same radius.
Make sure an <R> appears
when you define the radius.

[5] Draw a concentric

circle with a radius of
0.188 in.

4-4 Draw Rectangles and Lines

[1] Select <Draw/

Rectangle> and draw a
rectangle with
dimensions a shown.

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

[2] Select <Draw/Polyline> and

draw three segments like this.
Select <Open End> from the
<Context Menu> after you
define the fourth point. Note
that the three segments are
either horizontal or vertical,
therefore make sure an <H> or
a <V> appears before clicking.
Specify the dimensions as
shown.

[4] Trim away this

extra segment.
[3] Select <Draw/Line>
again and draw a line like
this. Note that the two
end points coincide with
the Y-axis.
[5] Trim away this
extra segment.

47

48

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

[7] Trim away this

segment.
[6] Use <Draw/Line>
again to draw a vertical
line and specify a
horizontal dimension as
shown.

[8] Trim away this

segment.

[9] Trim away this

segment.

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

4-5 Draw Fillets

[2] Create 6 fillets
with the same radius
(1-8 [2]).

[1] Select
<Modify/Fillet>
and type 0.06 (in.)
for the <Radius>.

[3] Create a radius

dimension for
anyone of the fillets
(1-8[3]).

[5] Create 4 fillets

with the same
radius.

[4] Select
<Modify/Fillet>
again and type 0.15
(in.) for the
<Radius>.

49

50

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

[6] With <Modify/Fillet>

tool still activated, create
this fillet by clicking the
horizontal line and the
circle. Note that the
horizontal line is
automatically trimmed.

[7] Repeat the last step

to create this fillet.

[8] Use <Draw/Line>

to re-create the
trimmed segment.

[9] Repeat the last step

to re-create this line.

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

51

[12] Create a radius

dimension for anyone
of the 8 fillets.

[10] Use <Modify/

Fillet> to create this
fillet (with the same
radius as before) by
clicking the horizontal
line and the circle.

[11] Repeat the last step

to create this fillet.

4-6 Trim Away Unwanted Segments

[1] Select <Modify/

Trim> and turn on
<Ignore Axis>, then
trim away this segment.

[2] And this

segment.

52

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

[3] The final

sketch.

4-7 Extrude the Sketch to Create the Cover Plate

[1] Extrude the sketch

0.046 in. to create the
cover plate.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Cover," and exit the
Workbench.

Exercise 4. Cover Plate

4-8 Review
<Draw/Rectangle>
Draws a rectangle by defining two diagonally opposite points. The edges of the rectangle are either horizontal or
vertical. To draw a rectangle at an arbitrary orientation, please use <Draw/Rectangle by 3 Points>.

<Draw/Polyline>
This tool allows you to draw a series of connected lines, called a polyline. The polyline can be closed or open. After
defining the last point, choose <Open End> or <Closed End> from the <Context Menu>.

Auto Constraints
H

V

--

--

Horizontal
Vertical

Note:
For a comprehensive description of sketching tools, please refer to the following ANSYS on-line reference:
ANSYS Help System//DesignModeler User Guide//2D Sketching

53

54

Section B. Part Modeling

Section B
Part Modeling

As mentioned in the opening of Section A, many parts can be created by a two-step operation: drawing a 2D sketch on
a plane and then generate a 3D body by extrusion, revolution, sweeping, or skin/lofting.


A more complicated part often can be viewed as a series of the two-step operations; each two-step operation
either add material to the existing body or cut material from the existing body. The exercises in Section B are
designed to introduce the 3D modeling techniques for more complicated parts.

Exercise 5. Crank

55

Exercise 5
Crank

5-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we'll create a 3D solid model for a crank, of which the details are shown in the figure below. Note
that a global coordinate system is set up and shown in the figure.


The crank model can be viewed as a series of three two-step operations; each involves drawing a sketch on
XYPlane and then extrude the sketch to generate a material. The materials are either add to the existing body or cut
from the existing body.

Y
2 D10
2 R10

75

Unit: mm.

R10

R22
D30
D20

65

8
20

56

Exercise 5. Crank

5-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[3] Select
<Millimeter> as the
length unit.
[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> cell to start
up DesignModeler.

5-3 Draw a Sketch on XYPlane

[1] On XYPlane, draw 5

circles and 4 tangent lines
(using <Draw/Line by 2
Tangents>) like this.
Specify the dimensions.

Exercise 5. Crank

[3] Trim away these

three arc segments.

[2] Use <Modify/

Fillet> to draw a fillet
with a radius of 10
mm.

57

58

Exercise 5. Crank

5-4 Extrude to Create a Solid Body

[1] The active
plane.

[2] The active

sketch.

[10] Click
<Display Plane>
to turn off the
plane display.

[9] Click
<Generate>.
[3] Click
<Extrude>.
[5] An <Extrude1>
object is inserted in
the model tree.

[8] Click the

small cyan
sphere to rotate
the view into an
isometric view.

[4] It automatically
switches to
<Modeling Mode>.

[6] Click <Apply>.

The active sketch is
automatically taken
for <Geometry>.

[7] Type 8 (mm) for

<Depth>.
[11] The <Tree
Outline> displays a
tree structure for the
geometry model,
called <Model Tree>.

[13] Under the

XYPlane, we've
created a sketch
(Sketch1)

[14] The
<Extrude1> uses
<Sketch1> as the
base geometry.
[12] Click all the
plus signs <+> to
expand the model
tree.

[15] This is the

body we've
created so far.

Exercise 5. Crank

59

5-5 Create a New Sketch on XYPlane

[2] A new sketch (Sketch2) is created. Note that, for the first
sketch of a plane, you don't need to explicitly click <New
Sketch>. However, for additional sketches on the same plane,
you need to click <New Sketch>. Remember that the
drawing entities always belong to the active sketch.

[1] Click <New

Sketch>.

[4] Click <Look At

Face/Plane/
Sketch>.

[5] Click <Display

Model> to turn off
the solid model
display.

[3] Click to switch

to <Sketching
Mode>.

[6] Draw a circle with a diameter

of 30 mm. This is the only entity
in <Sketch2>. Note that both
Sketch1 and Sketch2 are on the
same plane (XYPlane).

60

Exercise 5. Crank

5-6 Add Material to the Existing Body

[2] Click
<Apply>.

[1] Click
<Extrude>.

[4] The default

<Operation> is <Add
Material>.

[3] Type 20
(mm).

[5] Click
<Generate>.

[8] Click the

plus sign <+> to
expand
<Extrude2>.

[6] The newly created

material is simply a
cylinder; it adds to the
existing body to form a
single body.

[7] <Sketch2> is
added under
XYPlane.

[9] <Extrude2>
uses <Sketch2> as
the base
geometry. The
<Extrude2> is
simply a cylinder.

[10] The body

after adding
material.

Exercise 5. Crank

61

5-7 Create Another New Sketch on XYPlane

[2] A new sketch

(Sketch3) is created.

[1] Click <New

Sketch>.

[4] Click <Look At

Face/Plane/
Sketch>.

[5] Click <Display

Model> to turn off
the solid model
display.

[3] Click to switch

to <Sketching
Mode>.

[6] Draw a circle with a

diameter of 20 mm. This is the
only entity in <Sketch3>. Note
that all three sketches are on
the same plane (XYPlane).

62

Exercise 5. Crank

5-8 Extrude to Create a Third Simple Body

[2] Click
<Apply>.

[1] Click
<Extrude>.

[3] Select <Cut

Material>.

[4] Select
<Through All>.
[5] Click
<Generate>.

[7] <Sketch3> is
added under
XYPlane.

[8] Click the

plus sign <+> to
expand
<Extrude3>.

[6] The newly created

material is simply a
cylinder; The material
is cut from the
existing body.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Crank," and exit the
Workbench.

[9] <Extrude3>
uses <Sketch3> as
the base
geometry. The
<Extrude3> is
simply a cylinder.

[10] The body

after cutting
material.

Exercise 5. Crank

63

5-9 Review
<Plane> and <Sketch>
A sketch must be created on a plane; each plane, however, may contain multiple sketches. In the beginning of a
DesignModeler session, three planes are automatically created: XYPlane,YZPlane, and ZXPlane. You can create new
planes and new sketches as many as needed.

<Active Plane> and <Active Sketch>

The currently active plane and active sketch are shown in the toolbar (5-4[1, 2]). New sketches are created on the
active plane, and new drawing entities are created on the active sketch. You may change the active plane or active
sketch by selection from the pull-down list, or simply clicking the names on the model tree.

Modeling Mode
In the modeling mode (5-4[4]), several modeling tools become available, including Extrude, Revolve, Sweep, Skin/Loft,
Thin/Surface, Blend, Chamfer, Point, etc. In addition, a <Tree Outline> is displayed.

Model Tree
<Tree Outline> (5-4[11]) contains an outline of the model tree, the data structure of the geometric model. Each branch
of the tree is called an object, which may contain one or more objects. At the bottom of the model tree is a part
branch, which is the only object that will be exported to <Mechanical>. By right-clicking an object and selecting a tool
from the context menu, you can operate on the object, such as delete, rename, duplicate, etc.


The order of the objects is relevant. <DesignModeler> renders the geometry according to the order of objects
in the model tree. New objects are normally added one after another. If you want to insert a new object BEFORE an
existing object, right-click the existing object and select <Insert/...> from the context menu. After insertion,
<DesignModeler> will re-render the geometry.

<Add Material> and <Cut Material>

With <Add Material> operation mode, the created material adds to the existing active body (i.e., they form a union).
With <Cut Material> operation mode, the material is cut from the existing active body. An active body is one that is
not frozen (to be defined later).

64

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

Exercise 6
Geneva Gear Index

6-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we'll create a 3D solid model for a Geneva gear index, of which the details are shown in the figure
below. Note that a global coordinate system is set up and shown in the figure.

5 0

5 R0.63

.2
Unit: in.

29

1.5

D0.25
D0.5

D2.47
D1.25
0.25
0.44

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

6-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select <Inch> as
the length unit.

6-3 Draw a Sketch on XYPlane

[2] draw two lines, each

connects the origin to an
end point of the arc.

[1] On XYPlane, use

<Draw/Arc by Center> to
draw an arc centered at
the origin and with a radius
of 1.235 (in.) like this.

[5] draw two circles

centered at end points
of the new arc and
with the same radius
of 0.1 (in.).

[3] Specify an angle

dimension of 72
(degrees) for the
sector.

[4] Use <Draw/Arc by

Center> to draw another
arc with a radius of 0.625
(in.) like this.

65

66

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

[7] Draw a line connecting the upper

circle to the outer arc like this. The
line is parallel to the adjacent line,
therefore make sure a <//>
(indicating parallel auto constraint)
appears before clicking.

[6] Draw a line connecting the lower

circle to the outer arc like this. The
line is horizontal, therefore make
sure an <H> appears before clicking.
[9] Apply a <Constraints/
Tangent> on the upper
circle and the parallel line.

[8] Apply a
<Constraints/Tangent>
on the lower circle and
the horizontal line.

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

[10] Draw a line starting from

the origin like this. Then, make
the outer arc symmetric about
the newly created line. To do
this, select <Constraints/
Symmetric>, and then
subsequently click the line and
the two end points of the arc.

[11] Use <Dimension/

General> to specify a
length dimension of
1.529 (in.).
[12] Use <Draw/Arc by
Center> to draw an arc
centered at one end of the
new line. Specify the radius
dimension of 0.63 (in.).

67

68

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

[13] Trim away unwanted

segments. This is the sketch
after trimming. Note that,
although the the sketch is no
more blue-colored, all the
dimensions are not changed.

6-4 Extrude to Generate 1/5 of the Gear Index

[1] Extrude the

sketch 0.25 in.

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

69

6-5 Duplicate the Body Circularly

[4] Select the
body.

[1] Select <Create/

Pattern> from the
pull-down menu.

[2] In the <Details

View>, select
<Circular> for
<Pattern Type>.
[3] Click the yellow area
to bring up <Apply/
Cancel> buttons.

[5] And click

<Apply>.

[9] Type 4 for

<Copies>.

[6] Click the yellow area

to bring up <Apply/
Cancel> buttons.
[8] And click
<Apply>.
[7] Select this
edge.

[10] Click
<Generate>.

70

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

6-6 Create the Hub

[4] Click
<Generate>.

[1] Select <Create/

Primitive/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu.

[2] Type 0.44 (in.) for

the <Axis Z
Component>.

[3] Type 0.25 (in.) for

the <Radius>.

[9] Click
<Generate>.
[5] Select <Create/
Primitive/Cylinder> again.

[6] Select <Cut

Material> for
<Operation>.

[7] Type 0.44 (in.) for

the <Axis Z
Component>.

[8] Type 0.125

(in.) for the
<Radius>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as
"Geneva," and exit the Workbench.

Exercise 6. Geneva Gear Index

71

6-7 Review
Auto Constraints: <//>
It is applicable to a line, indicating that the line is parallel to another line in the same plane (6-3[7]).

Sketching Tools: <Constraints/Tangent>

It can be applied on two edges (lines or curves), one of them must be a curve, to make them tangent to each other
(6-3[8, 9]).

<Create/Pattern>
This tool allows you to create copies bodies in three types of pattern: Linear, Circular, and Rectangular (6-5).

<Create/Primitive/Cylinder>
This tool creates a cylinder by specifying its origin, axis, and radius (6-6). The origin and axis are defined by referring to
the active plane coordinate system (1-12).

72

Exercise 7. Yoke

Exercise 7
Yoke

7-1 Introduction
The yoke is a part of a universal joint [1]. In this exercise, we'll create a 3D
solid model for the yoke, of which the details are shown in the multiview
drawings below. Note that a global coordinate system is also shown in the
figure.

[1] The yoke is a part

of a universal joint.
X

D1.20
Y

Unit: in.

3.55

R1.00

Z
1.50

D0.75
2 0.75

R1.00

Exercise 7. Yoke

7-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select <Inch> as
the length unit.

7-3 Create a U-Shape Body

[2] Use <Draw/

Polyline> tool to draw
a 3-segment polyline,
starting from this
point.

[1] On XYPlane, use <Draw/

Arc by Center> tool to draw
two concentric arcs. Specify
the radius dimensions (1.00 in.
and 1.75 in. respectively).

[5] Click the last point and

then select <Open End> from
the <Context Menu>. If the
last segment is not vertical,
use <Constraints/Vertical> to
make it vertical.

[6] Use
<Dimensions/
General> to
specify a length of
2.50 (in.).
[3] Click the second
point. Make sure the
first segment is vertical.

[4] Click the third

point. Make sure the
second segment is
horizontal.

73

74

Exercise 7. Yoke

[7] Draw two

vertical lines.

[8] Trim away this

segment.

[12] Click
<Generate>.
[9] Click
<Extrude>.

[10] Select <Both

- Symmetric>.

[11] Type 1 (in.) for

<Depth>. Note that,
the sketch is extruded
by 1.0 in. for both
sides of XYPlane,
therefore the total
depth is 2.0 in.

Exercise 7. Yoke

7-4 Create Rounds

[1] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius>
from the toolbar.

[2] Controlselect these 4

edges.

[4] Type 1 (in.)

for <Radius>.

[5] Click
<Generate>.

[3] Click
<Apply>.

7-5 Create Holes

[1] Select <Create/

Primitive/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu.

[3] Click
<Generate>.

[2] Click to bring up

<Apply/Cancel> buttons,
then select <YZPlane>
from the model tree and
click <Apply>. Now the
global Y-axis becomes local
X-axis, and the global Zaxis becomes local Y-axis.
The origin and the axis are
defined using the local
(plane) coordinate system.

75

76

Exercise 7. Yoke

7-6 Create Shaft

[1] Click <New Plane>

to create a new plane.

[7] The new plane

become active plane.

[6] Click
<Generate>.

[2] A new plane

(Plane4) is inserted into
the model tree.
[3] Click to bring up <Apply/Cancel>
buttons, then select <ZXPlane> from the
model tree and click <Apply>. Now the
global Z-axis becomes local X-axis, and the
global X-axis becomes local Y-axis.

[4] Select <Offset Z> for

<Transform 1>. Note that
it refers to the local Z-axis.

[5] Type 3.55 (in.)

for <Value>.

[9] The local coordinate

system of the new plane.
Note that, in a local
coordinate system, the
Workbench also uses
RGB colors to represent
XYZ axes respectively.

[8] The global

coordinate system.
Note that the
Workbench uses RGB
colors to represent
XYZ axes respectively.

Exercise 7. Yoke

[3] Click to turn off

model display.

[2] Click to look at

<Plane4>.

[4] Draw a circle

with a diameter of
1.2 (in.).

[1] Click to switch

to the <Sketching
Mode>.

[5] Click
<Extrude>.

[6] Select
<Reversed> for
<Direction>. Now,
the extrusion
direction is the -Z
direction.

[7] Select <To

Next>. Now the
sketch will be
extruded up to the
next face.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Yoke," and exit the Workbench.

77

[8] Click
<Generate>.

78

Exercise 7. Yoke

7-7 Review
Extrude Direction
There are four options you can choose for the extrusion direction: <Normal>, <Reversed>, <Both -- Symmetric>, and
<Both -- Asymmetric>. In <Normal> case, the extrusion direction is the Z-direction of the sketching plane. When
<Reversed> is selected, the extrusion direction reverses to the -Z-direction (7-6[6]). For <Both -- Symmetric>, the
extrusion is along both +Z and -Z directions with the same depth (defined by <Depth>) (7-3[10]). For <Both -Asymmetric>, the extrusion is along both +Z and -Z directions with the different depths (defined by <Depth> and
<Depth 2>).

<Blend/Fixed Radius>
This tool can be used to place rounds or fillets on a body (7-4). The fillets are specified on edges, while the rounds
can be specified on edges or faces. When faces are specified for rounds, the rounds are placed on the enclosing edges.

Create New Planes from Existing Planes

There are many ways to create a new plane [1]. Creating new plane from an existing plane (7-6[1-9]) involves
selecting the existing plane and then transforming the existing plane to a new position and orientation.

[1] There are

many ways to
create a plane.

Exercise 8. Support

79

Exercise 8
Support
8-1 Introduction
The support is a part of the clamping
mechanism mentioned in Exercise 1 [1]. In
this exercise, we'll create a 3D solid model
for the support, of which the details are
shown in the multiview drawings below.
Note that a global coordinate system is also
shown in the figure.

X
[1] The support is a
part of a clamping
mechanism.
0.125
0.375

0.375

0.375
1.250

0.219

0.250

0.750

R0.313
Unit: in.

2 R0.100
0.250

:4
pe
Slo

1.250

R0.156

6 D0.25

0.375

1.250
0.625

0.875

2.500

0.125

1.000

R0.100

80

Exercise 8. Support

8-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select <Inch> as
the length unit.

8-3 Create Vertical Plate

[3] Use <Draw/

Polyline> to draw a
polyline starting
from roughly here.

[1] On XYPlane, draw

three circles of the same
radius. Specify their
locations (two horizontal
dimension of 1.25 and one
vertical dimension of 1.25)

[2] Specify a
diameter of 0.25
in. for any one of
the circles.

[6] Click the fourth

point, making sure the
last segment is vertical.
Then select <Closed
End> from the
<Context Menu>.

[5] Click the third

point, making sure
the last segment is
horizontal.

[4] Click the second

point, making sure
the last segment is
vertical.
[7] Specify all dimensions so that all entities
become blue-colored: length dimensions of
2.50 and 0.625; a horizontal dimension of
0.375, a vertical dimension of 0.875, and an
angle dimension of 45 degrees.

Exercise 8. Support

[8] Draw two more circles,

specify their radii (0.156 and
0.313) and locations
(horizontal dimensions of
0.219 and 0.250; vertical
dimensions of 0.25 and 0.75)

[9] Trim away

unwanted
segments.

81

82

Exercise 8. Support

[10] Draw two

fillets with the
same radius of
0.1 in.

[11] Click
<Extrude>.

[13] Click
<Generate>.

[12] Type 0.125 (in.)

for <Depth>.

Exercise 8. Support

8-4 Create Horizontal Plate

[7] Click <Generate>;

a <Plane4> is created.

[1] Click <New

Plane>.

[3] The default

<Subtype> is
<Outline Plane>.

[2] Select
<From Face>.

83

[4] Click the

yellow area to
bring up <Apply/
Cancel> buttons.

[5] Click this face at a

location near this circle. A
plane coordinate system
shows up like this (the X
axis points to global -X
axis). Note that the
location you click
determines the origin and
the axes of the plane
coordinate system. If the
coordinate system is not
like this, simply re-click
again until it is correct.

[6] Click <Apply>.

[10] Click to turn

of the model
display.

[8] Click to switch to

<Sketching Mode>.

[12] Draw a rectangle like this. Note that

three sides of the rectangle coincide with plane's
outline. Specify a length dimension of 0.125 in.
so that the rectangle become blue-colored.

[9] Click to look at

<Plane4>.

[11] This is <Plane4>; it

is called an <Outline
Plane> since it includes
an outline. The outline
is not part of a sketch
but can be used as
references.

84

Exercise 8. Support

[13] Click
<Extrude>.
[15] Click
<Generate>.

[14] Type 1 (in.)

for <Depth>.

8-5 Create Holes on the Horizontal Plate

[1] Click <New
Plane>.

[2] Select
<From Face>.

[3] Click the

yellow area to
bring up <Apply/
Cancel> buttons.

[5] Click <Apply>.

[4] Click this face at a location

near this corner so that the plane
coordinate system is like this (the
X axis points to global X axis).
Remember, if the coordinate
system is not like this, simply reclick again until it is correct.

[6] Click <Generate>; a

<Plane5> is created.

Exercise 8. Support

[9] Click to turn

of the model
display.

[11] Draw three circles of the same

diameter (0.25 in.) and specify their
positions (horizontal dimensions of
0375, 0.375, and 1.25; vertical
dimensions of 0.375, 0.375, and 0.125)

[8] Click to look at

<Plane5>.

[10] This is
<Plane5>; it
includes an
outline.

[7] Click to switch

to <Sketching
Mode>.

[16] Click
<Generate>.
[12] Click
<Extrude>.

[13] Select <Cut

Material>.
[14] The
<Direction>
automatically
becomes
<Reversed>.

[15] Select
<Through All>.

85

86

Exercise 8. Support

8-6 Create the Round

[1] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius>
from the toolbar.

[2] Click this

edge.

[4] Type 0.1 (in.)

for <Radius>.

[3] Click <Apply>.

[5] Click
<Generate>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Support,"
and exit the Workbench.

Exercise 8. Support

87

8-7 Review
Create New Planes From Faces
You can create a new plane from an existing face (8-4[1-7]). There are subtypes to choose: <Outline Plane> and
<Tangent Plane>. The only difference is that a <Tangent Plane> doesn't include the outline of the face. In either
subtype, the plane coordinate system is determined according to how you click the face. The origin is usually located
at the closest corner point or the center of a circle (or an arc); The Z-axis always points out of the face; The X-axis is
usually parallel to the closest edge.


An outline plane include the outline of the face (8-4[11]). The outline is not part of a sketch but can be used as
references (datum). Without the outline, the only references are two exes (X-axis and Y-axis of the plane). However,
you can copy the outline (or part of the outline) into a sketch, using the sketching tool <Modify/Duplicate>.

88

Exercise 8a. Structural Analysis of the Support

Appendix:

Exercise 8a
Structural Analysis of the Support

8a-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we will perform a static
structural analysis for the support created
in Exercise 8. The objective is to find the
deformation and the stresses under the
working loads, and make sure the stresses
are within the allowable level (30,000 psi).


As mentioned in Exercise 1a, the
clamping mechanism is entirely made of
steel and is designed to withstand a
clamping force of 450 lbf [1]. After a
structural analysis of the entire
mechanism [2] (which is performed in
Exercise 17a), the results show shows
that, to withstand a clamping force of 450
lbf, the support is subject to external
forces as shown [3] (also see 17a-4).
Note that the holes on the horizontal
plates are fixed to the ground [4].


The analysis task will be carried out
with <Mechanical>.

[2] This is the deformed

structure under the design
loads. The wireframe is the
underformed configuration.

[1] The clamping mechanism

is designed to withstand a
clamping force of 450 lbf.

380 lbf

62 lbf

[3] The external

force on the arm.
See 17a-14.

163 lbf
380 lbf
[4] The horizontal
plates are fixed to
the ground.

Exercise 8a. Structural Analysis of the Support

8a-2 Start Up <Mechanical>

[1] Launch ANSYS

Workbench.

[2] Open the project

"Support," which was saved in
Exercise 8.

[3] Double-click to create

a <Static Structural>
analysis system.

[5] And drop here. A link

is created, indicating that
both <Geometry> share
the same data.

[4] Drag <Geometry>...

[6] Double-click to
start up the
<Mechanical>.

89

90

Exercise 8a. Structural Analysis of the Support

8a-3 Specify Loads

[7] Make sure the length

unit is <in.> (1a-2[8, 9]).
[2] Select <Loads/
Force>.

[1] Click to highlight

<Static Structural>.

[4] Click <Apply>.

[5] Select <Components>.

[6] Type -380 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 62 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

[3] Select this

cylindrical face.

Exercise 8a. Structural Analysis of the Support

[7] Select <Loads/

Force> again.

[8] Select this

cylindrical face.

[9] Click
<Apply>.
[10] Select <Components>.

[11] Type 380 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 163 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

8a-4 Specify Supports

[2] Control-select
the three cylindrical
faces on the
horizontal plate.

[1] Select <Supports/

Frictionless Support>.

[3] And
control-select
this face.

91

92

Exercise 8a. Structural Analysis of the Support

[4] Click <Apply>.

Totally 5 faces are set to
<Frictionless Support>.

[6] Control-select the

four cylindrical faces on
the vertical plate.

[7] Click
<Apply>.

[8] Type 0
(in.) for <Z
Component>.

[5] Select <Supports/

Displacement.

8a-5 Insert Result Objects

[2] Select <Stress/

Equivalent (von-Mises)>.

[1] Click to highlight

<Solution>.

[3] A solution object is

inserted under the
<Solution> branch.

Exercise 8a. Structural Analysis of the Support

8a-6 Solve the Model

[1] Click <Solve>.

[2] Select <Edges/

Show Undeformed
WireFrame>.

[4] Click <Play> to

animate the
deformation.

[5] Click <Stop> to

stop the animation.

Wrap Up
Close <Mechanical>, save the project as "Support-a," and exit the
Workbench.

[3] The maximum

stress is 20,608 psi,
well below the
allowable stress
(30,000 psi).

93

94

Exercise 9. Wheel

Exercise 9
Wheel

9-1 Introduction
The main purpose of this exercise is to introduce another modeling tool (than <Extrude>): <Revolve>, which takes a
sketch as the profile and revolves about an axis to create a 3D solid body.


We'll create a 3D solid model for a wheel, of which the details are shown in the multiview drawings below. A
global coordinate system is also shown in the figure.


Note that the wheel is axisymmetric. An axisymmetric body can be created by drawing a profile then revolting
about its axis to generate the 3D solid body.

Y
45

Unit: in.

D1.00
D1.50
D3.50
D4.00

0.25
0.50
0.75

Exercise 9. Wheel

9-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select <Inch> as
the length unit.

9-3 Create the Profile

[1] On XYPlane, use

<Draw/Polyline> to
draw a polyline starting
from here.

[2] and ending here.

Select <Open End>
from the context
menu. Specify all
dimensions as shown.

95

96

Exercise 9. Wheel

[3] Use <Modify/Replicate> to

"mirror copy" everything about the
Y-axis. The procedure is as follows:
(a) select all segments;
(b) select <End/Use Plane Origin as
Handle> from the context menu;
(c) select <Flip Horizontal> from
the context menu;
(d) select <Paste at Plane Origin>
from the context menu;
(e) finally select <End> from the
context menu (or press <Esc>).

Exercise 9. Wheel

9-4 Revolve the Sketch about X-Axis

97

[6] Click to turn

off the plane
display.

[5] Click
<Generate>.

[1] Click <Revolve> in

the toolbar.

[2] Rotate to an
isometric view.

[3] Click <Apply>. The active

sketch is automatically taken
as the profile.

[4] On the graphics

window, select the X-axis
and click <Apply>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Wheel," and exit the Workbench.

9-5 Review
Modeling Tool <Revolve>
It takes a sketch as the profile and revolves about an axis to create a 3D solid body (9-4[1-5]). The angle of revolution
can be specified.

98

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

Exercise 10
Transition Pipe

10-1 Introduction
The transition pipe is used to connect two pipe segments. In this exercise, we'll create a 3D solid model for the
transition pipe, of which the details are shown in the multiview drawings below. A global coordinate system is also
shown in the figure.


The main purpose of this exercise is to introduce another modeling tool: <Sweep>, which takes a sketch as the
path and another sketch as the profile; the profile then "sweeps" along the path to create a 3D solid body.


Note that it is possible to create the curved pipe by using of <Revolve> tool (Exercise 9), however, as an
exercise, we decide to create the curved pipe by using <Sweep>.

R1/16"

2 D3.50
2 D2.50
8 D0.25
R3.50

Unit: in.
D1.00
R1/8"
R2.50

2 0.25
X

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

10-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select <Inch> as
the length unit.

10-3 Create a Sketch for the Path

[1] On the XYPlane, draw an

arc like this . This sketch will
be used as the sweeping path
of the curved pipe.

10-4 Create a Sketch for the Profile

[1] Select
<ZXPlane> (or
click ZXPlane in
the model tree).

[1] On the ZXPlane, draw two

concentric circles like this. This
sketch will be used as the
profile of the curved pipe.

99

100

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

10-5 Create a Body Using <Sweep>

[3] Click
<Generate>.

[1] Click
<Sweep> on the
<Toolbar>.

[2] Select <Sketch2>

(from the model tree)
for the <Profile> and
select <Sketch1> (from
the model tree) for the
<Path>.

10-6 Create a Plane on One End of the Pipe

[1] Click <New

Plane>.
[2] Select <From
Face>.

[4] Click this face. Note that

the local Z-axis (blue) points
out of the face, and the local
X-axis (red) points to the
global -Z direction.

[5] Click
<Apply>

[3] Click the yellow

color area to bring
up <Apply/Cancel>
buttons.

[6] Click
<Generate>.

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

10-7 Create an End Plate

[1] On the new plane
(Plane4), create a sketch like
this (see next two steps).
Remember to impose two
<Symmetry> constraints to
make the four small circles
symmetric about X-axis and
about Y-axis.

[2] The sketch

includes a circle
that overlaps with
the inner circle of
the plane outline.

[3] The sketch doesn't

include this circle, which is
the outer circle of the
plane outline.

[4] Click
<Extrude>.
[6] Click
<Generate>.

[5] Select <Add

Frozen>. This
generates a
separate body.

101

102

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

10-8 Create Another End Plate by Duplication

[4] Click this face.
Note that the local
Z-axis (blue) points
out of the face.

[1] Click <New

Plane>.

[2] Select <From

Face>.

[5] Click
<Apply>.

[6] Click
<Generate>.
<Plane5> is
created.

[3] Click the yellow

color to bring up
<Apply/Cancel>
buttons.

[8] Select
<Move>.
[9] Select the
existing end plate.

[10] Select <Plane4>

from the model tree.

[11] Select <Plane5>

from the model tree.

[7] Select <Create/

Body Operation>.
[12] Click
<Generate>.

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

103

10-9 Unite All Bodies into One Body

[2] <Unite> is the
default <Operation>.

[3] Control-select all

three bodies.

[4] Click
<Generate>.
[1] Select <Create/
Boolean>.

10-10 Create Fillets

[2] Controlselect these two
edges.
[1] Select <Blend/
Fixed Radius>.

[3] Click <Apply>.

[4] Click
<Generate>.

104

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

10-11 Create Rounds

[1] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius>.
[2] Controlselect these two
edges.

[3] Click <Apply>.

[4] Click
<Generate>.

10-12 Turn Off Edges

[1] Select <View/Shaded

Exterior> to turn off
the edges display.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Pipe," and exit
the Workbench.

Exercise 10. Transition Pipe

105

10-13 Review
Modeling Tool <Sweep>
The <Sweep> can be thought of a generalization of the <Extrude>. <Sweep> takes a sketch as the path and another
sketch as the profile; the profile then "sweeps" along the path to create a 3D solid body (10-5). The <Sweep> also can
be used to create spiral shapes, which will be demonstrated in Exercise 12.

Add Frozon
A body is either in a state of active or frozen. The default state is active. Two overlapped active bodies would
automatically join together to form a single body. If either of them is frozen, they wouldn't join together. Therefore,
the only way to avoid overlapped bodies joining together is to make at least one of them frozen. In 10-7, we create the
end plate as frozen body (separating it from the curved pipe), so that, in 10-8, we can copy the end plate alone without
the curved pipe.

<Body Operation/Move>
This tool moves a body (or a group of bodies) to another position and orientation in the same way that the source
plane is move to coincide with the destination plane (10-8). If the <Reserve Bodies?> option is <Yes>, it essentially
copies the bodies. This tool is useful for "assembling" parts together to form an assembly.

<Create/Boolean>
Using boolean operations, bodies can be united, intersected, and subtracted.

106

Exercise 11. C-Bar

Exercise 11
C-Bar
P

11-1 Introduction

[2] A strain gauge

is bonded to the
surface here. The
measured strain is
used to calculate
the force P.

The C-shaped steel bar is used as a dynamometer, a device to

measure the magnitude of a force P [1]. A strain gauge is bonded to
the surface of a location as shown [2]. The measured strain is then
used to calculate the force P.


The details are shown below; a coordinate system is also
included in the figure. In this exercise, we will create a 3D solid
model for the C-bar. Due to the symmetry, we will create the
upper half of the model and then complete the model by using a
"mirror" (copy) operation.

[1] The Cbar is used to

measure a
force P.

Y
P

100
70
D10

20

[3] The body has a

thickness of 5 mm.
everywhere.

30

Unit: mm.

20
Y

40

R50

40

120

R10

[4] All fillets have

radii of 3 mm.

Exercise 11. C-Bar

107

11-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select
<Millimeter> as the length unit.

11-3 Create a Sketch for the Path

[1] On the XYPlane,

draw a sketch like this.

11-4 Create a Sketch for the Profile

[2] On the YZPlane,
draw a sketch like this.
The sketch is
symmetric about the
horizontal axis.

[1] Select
<YZPlane> (or
click YZPlane in
the model tree).

108

Exercise 11. C-Bar

11-5 Create a Body Using <Sweep>

[3] Click
<Generate>.
[1] Click <Sweep>
on the <Toolbar>.

[2] Select <Sketch2> and

<Sketch1> (from the model
tree) as the <Profile> and
<Path> respectively.

11-6 Create an Ear

[2] Click <New

Sketch>. <Sketch3>
is created on the
<XYPlane>.

[1] Select
<XYPlane>
[3] Right-click
<Sketch1> and select
<Hide Sketch> from
the context menu.

[4] Draw a sketch

for the <Sketch3>
like this. Note that
<Sketch1> is
hidden now.

Exercise 11. C-Bar

[5] Click
<Extrude>.

[7] Click
<Generate>.

[6] Extrude 2.5 mm

both sides.

11-7 Create Fillets

[2] Control-select
these two edges.

[1] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius>.

[3] Click <Apply>.

[4] Click
<Generate>.

109

110

Exercise 11. C-Bar

11-8 "Mirror" Copy the Body

[2] <Mirror> is
the default
operation type.

[3] Select the body

and click <Apply>.

[4] Select
<ZXPlane> from the
model tree.

[1] Select <Create/

Body Operation>.

[6] Select <View/Shaded

Exterior> to turn off
the edges display.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "CBar," and exit the Workbench.

[5] Click
<Generate>.

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

111

Appendix:

Exercise 11a
Deformation of the C-Bar
P

11a-1 Introduction
As described in Exercise 11, the C-shaped steel bar is used to measure the
magnitude of a force P [1]. A strain gauge is bonded to the surface of the location as
shown [2]. The location is chosen because the strain is relatively large and
distributed quite uniformly, so that the measured strain is not sensitive to the
variation of the location of the strain gauge. The measured strain is then used to
calculate the force P. The idea also relies on the fact that the strain is linearly
proportional to the force P, which is true when the deformation is small enough. In
other words, if the measured strain is doubled, then the force must be doubled.


In this section, we will assume a force of P = 2,000 N, and perform a simulation
to establish a relation between the force P and the strain .

11a-2 Start Up

[2] Open the

project "CBar,"
which was saved
in Exercise 11.

[1]
Applied
force P.
[5] The two systems
share the same
<Geometry>. You can
edit up-stream cell
but not the downstream cell.

[3] Drag <Static

Structural> and drop to
<Geometry> cell of the
<Geometry> system.
[1] Launch
Workbench

[2] Strain
gauge.

[6] Double-click
<Model> to start up
<Mechanical>
application.

[4] A <Static
Structural>
system is created.

112

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

[7] <Mechanical GUI> shows

up. If your GUI layout is not like
this, pull-down-select <View/
Windows/Reset Layout> and
select <Graphics> tab., see [8].

[9] If the unit system is

not like this, see [10].

[8] Whenever necessary, pulldown-select <View/Windows/

Reset Layout> and select
<Graphics> tab to bring back
the "standard" layout.

[10] Pull-down-select <Unit/

Metric (mm, kg N, s, mV, mA)>.
Unlike DesignModeler, the
units in <Mechanical> can be
changed any time.

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

113

[3] In the <Details>,

select <Fine> for
<Relevance Center> and
type "75" for <Relevance>.

11a-3 Generate Mesh

[1] Highlight
<Mesh>.

[2] Click "+" to

expand
<Sizing>.

[4] Select <Mesh/

Generate Mesh>.

[5] Click "+" to

expand
<Statistics>.

[6] Number of nodes and elements

are shown in the Details view. Your
numbers may not be the same as here.
Also note that in an academic teaching
version of ANSYS Workbench, the
number of nodes or the number of
elements is limited to 30,000.

114

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

Meshing
The process of dividing a body into small bodies is call meshing. The small bodies are called elements, or finite elements.
The simulation method is thus called finite element simulation. The basic idea of finite element methods is to divide a
body of rather complicated geometry into smaller elements of simple geometry, and the elements are assumed to be
connected to each other through nodes. The element's geometry is so simple that a set of equations may be
established easily for each element. All equations are then solve simultaneously for the displacements. Strains are then
calculated from the displacements. And stresses are in turn calculated from the strains.


In general, the finer the mesh, the more accurate the solution (and more computing time). In this exercise, we
control the mesh size by simply adjusting <Relevance Center> and <Relevance>.


Also, note that the Workbench will automatically generate a mesh right before it solves the problem if a mesh
doesn't exist.

Limitation of Mesh Count

In this book, we will restrict the number of nodes or elements to be no more than 30,000, which is a limitation
imposed by the <ANSYS Academic Teaching> version.

11a-4 Set Up Environment Conditions

[1] Highlight
<Static Structural>.

[3] Select this inner

cylindrical surface.

[2] Select
<Supports/Fixed
Support>.

[4] Click <Apply>.

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

[5] Select <Loads/

Force>.

115

[6] Select this inner

cylindrical surface.

[8] Select <Components>

for <Define By> and type
-2,000 (N) for <Y
Component>.

[7] Click <Apply>.

[10] We've added these

two environment
conditions.

116

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

11a-5 Insert Result Objects

[1] Highlight
<Solution>.

[2] Select <Strain/Normal>

to insert a <Normal Elastic
Strain> result object.

[3] Select <Y

Axis> for
<Orientation>.

[5] The object is renamed

for better readability.
[4] Right-click the result
object as shown and
select <Rename Based on
Definition> from the
context menu.

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

11a-6 Solve the Model and View the Results

[1] Click <Solve>.

[4] Click
<Probe>.

[2] Click <Play> to

animate the
deformation.

[5] Move the

mouse around the
model to display
the strain value.

[3] Click <Stop> to

stop the animation.

[6] Move the mouse to the

location of the strain gauge and
click to put a label on the location.
The strain is about 0.000296.

117

118

Exercise 11a. Deformation of the C-Bar

11a-7 Conclusion
The simulation results show that a force of P = 2,000 N produces a strain = 0.000296. We may establish a relation
between the force P and the strain as follows:

P=

2000

0.000296

For example, if the measured strain in the strain gauge is 1 = 0.0001, then the force P1 is

P1 =

2000
0.0001= 676 N
0.000296

Wrap Up
Close <Mechanical>, save the project ("CBar"), and exit the Workbench.

Exercise 12. Threaded Shaft

119

Exercise 12
Threaded Shaft
12-1 Introduction

[1] The threaded

shaft is a part of a
clamping mechanism.

The threaded shaft is a part of the clamping mechanism

mentioned in Exercise 1 [1]. In this exercise, we will
create a 3D solid model for the threaded shaft, of
which the details are shown below.

Unit: in.

[2] Major
diameter
d = .375 in.

[3] Pitch
p = 1/16 in.

[4] Thread
form: Unified
national coarse

Y
D0.625
D0.266

.375-16UNC

D0.250

0.438

3.750

0.875

Pitch p

H 4

Major diameter d

60

60

Slo
pe:

pe:
Slo

H = ( 3 2)p = 0.0541266 in
H
p = 0.0557342 in
8
H
= 0.0135316 in
4

H = ( 3 2)p

pH 8

H 8

120

Exercise 12. Threaded Shaft

12-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select <Inch>
as the length unit.

12-3 Create the Shaft

[1] On the XYPlane, use <Draw/

Polyline> to draw a sketch like
this. Specify the dimensions.

[2] Click
<Revolve>.

[4] Click
<Generate>.

[3] In the graphics

window, select the
X-axis for <Axis>.

12-4 Create a Hole

Exercise 12. Threaded Shaft

121

[1] Select <Create/

Primitive/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu.

[3] Click
<Generate>.

[2] The length is

arbitrary as long as
it is not less than
0.625 in.

12-5 Create Threads

[1] Click to create a new

sketch (Sketch2) on
XYPlane.

[2] Right-click
<Sketch1> and select
<Hide Sketch>.
[3] Click <Sketch2>
to make it active.

122

Exercise 12. Threaded Shaft

[5] This is the

horizontal
dimension measured
from the Y-axis.

[4] Draw a sketch

<Sketch2> like this.
Specify the dimensions.
This sketch will be
used as the sweeping
profile.
[6] This is the
vertical dimension
measured from the
X-axis.

[7] Click to create a new

sketch (Sketch3) on
XYPlane.

[8] Hide <Sketch2>

and make <Sketch3>
active.

[9] Draw a sketch <Sketch3> like this.

The sketch is simply a horizontal line.
The length of the line is arbitrary as
long as it is not less than the total
length of the threads (3.75 in.). This
sketch will be used as the sweeping
profile.

Exercise 12. Threaded Shaft

[10] Click
<Sweep>.

[11] Select
<Sketch2> (from the
model tree) as the
<Profile>.
[12] Select
<Sketch3> (from the
model tree) as the
<Path>.
[13] Select <Pitch>
for <Twisting
Specification>.

[14] Type 0.0625 (in.)

for <Pitch>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Shaft," and exit the Workbench.

[15] Click
<Generate>.

123

124

Exercise 13. Lift Fork

Exercise 13
Lift Fork

13-1 Introduction
The lifting fork is used in an LCD (liquid crystal display) manufacturing factory to handle glass panels. In this section,
we will create a 3D solid model for the lift fork, of which the details are shown below.


The cross sections of the prongs (fingers) are not uniform along the length [1-3]. The tools <Extrude> or
<Sweep> cannot be used to created the prongs. This exercise introduces a modeling tool, <Skin/Loft>, which takes a
series of profiles from different planes and creates a 3D solid that fits through these profiles

[1] At the root, the

cross section is
160x40 (mm.).
[3] At the midway,
the cross section is
130x20 (mm.).
[2] At the tip, the
cross section is
100x10 (mm.).

160

200
X

240

Unit: mm.

Exercise 13. Lift Fork

13-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select
<Millimeter> as the length unit.

13-3 Create the Transversal Beam

[1] Draw a rectangle on <XYPlane>.

The rectangle is symmetric about Yaxis. Note that the top edge coincides
with X-axis.

[2] Extrude 200 mm.

For details, see [3].

[3] Details view of

the extrusion.
Remember to click
<Generate>.

125

126

Exercise 13. Lift Fork

Skin/Loft
Now we want to create a single prong, or finger. The prong is then duplicated to create other prongs. The prong's
cross section is not uniform. You cannot create the prong using <Extrude> or <Sweep>. A more general way to
create a solid or surface of different cross sections along its path is using <Skin/Loft>. <Skin/Loft> takes a series of
profiles from different planes and creates a solid that fits through these profiles.


You may view <Sweep> as a generalization of <Extrude>, and <Skin/Loft> as a generalization of <Sweep>.

13-4 Create Three Planes Based on a Face of the Beam

[1] All three planes will be
created based on this face.
When you select the face,
make sure the coordinate
system is attached at the
bottom-right corner and the
directions of the axes are the
same as global axes.
[2] Create
<Plane4>, see
[3].

[4] Create
<Plane5>, see [5].

[6] Create
<Plane6>, see [7].

[7] Details of
<Plane6>.

[5] Details of
<Plane5>.

[3] Details of
<Plane4>.

Exercise 13. Lift Fork

127

13-5 Create a Sketch on Each Plane

[1] Create this sketch

on <Plane4>. This
becomes <Sketch2>.

[2] Create this sketch on

<Plane5>. This becomes
<Sketch3>.

[3] Create this sketch on

<Plane6>. This becomes
<Sketch4>.

[1] Click
<Skin/Loft> on
the toolbar.

[5] The prong is

created as a frozen
body, because we
don't want the prong
to join the transversal
beam for now.

[2] Control-select <Sketch2>,

<Sketch3>, and <Sketch4> (the order is
important) in the model tree, and click
<Apply>. Note that a grey lofting guide
line appears. If your guide line is not
correct, it can be resolved by right-clicking
anywhere and selecting <Fix Guide Line>
to redefine the lofting guide line.
[4] Click
<Generate>.

[3] Select <Add

Frozen>.

128

Exercise 13. Lift Fork

13-7 Duplicate the Prong Using <Pattern>

[3] Click
<Apply>.

[4] Click the

yellow area to
bring up <Apply/
Cancel>.

[8] Click
<Apply>.

[1] Select
<Create/
Pattern>.
[5] Select this
edge.

[9] Type 480 (mm)

for <Offset> and 3
for <Copies>.

[7] Click an arrow

to switch the
direction.

[6] If the direction

is not like this...
[2] Select the
prong body.

[10] Click
<Generate>.

Exercise 13. Lift Fork

13-8 Combine the Bodies Using <Boolean>

[2] The default

operation is
<Unite>.
[3] Control-select
all five bodies and
click <Apply>.

[1] Select <Create/

Boolean>.

[4] Click
<Generate>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Fork," and exit the Workbench.

129

130

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

Exercise 14
Caster Frame
14-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we'll create a 3D solid model for a caster frame, of which the details are shown in the multiview
drawings below. A coordinate system is also shown in the figure.

64

X
10
D17.5

D25

Unit: mm.
Fillets and rounds: R3

D35

50

R10

28

R15

10

X
10
92

10

76
126

10
13

D32

D21.5

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

14-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and create a
<Geometry> system.

[2] Double-click <Geometry>

cell to start up the
DesignModeler. Select
<Millimeter> as the length unit.

14-3 Create A Quarter of Main Body

[4] Click <Extrude>.

[1] Click <ZXPlane>

to make it active.

[2] Click to switch to

<Sketching Mode>.

[3] Draw a rectangle of

50x32 (mm.). In this
exercise, we'll sketch in
3D view (rather than
plane view).

131

132

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

[7] Click <Generate>.

[5] Select <Sketch1>
in the model tree.

[6] And
click
<Apply>.

[8] Click <New

Plane>.

[11] Click
<Generate>.

[9] Select <From Face>.

[10] Click the yellow

area to bring up <Apply/
Cancel> buttons and
select the face with the
coordinate system as
shown.

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

[12] Switch to <Sketching

Mode> and use <Draw/
Polyline> to draw a sketch
like this on the newly
created plane (Plane4).

[13] Click <Extrude>.

[14] Click
<Generate>.

133

134

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

[15] Click <New

Plane>.

[16] Select the face

with the coordinate
system as shown.
[17] Click
<Generate>.

[18] Switch to <Sketching

Mode> and draw a sketch
like this on the newly
created plane (Plane5).

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

[19] Click <Extrude>.

[20] Click
<Generate>.

[21] Click <New

Plane>.

[22] Select the face

and the coordinate
system as shown.

[23] Click
<Generate>.

135

136

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

[24] Switch to <Sketching

Mode> and draw a sketch
like this on the newly
created plane (Plane6).

[25] Click <Extrude>.

[26] Click
<Generate>.

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

137

[27] Select <Create/Body

Operation> from the
pull-down menu and
select the solid body.

[28] Select <XYPlane>

from the model tree.
Click <Generate>.

[29] Select <Create/Body

Operation> from the
pull-down menu and
select the solid body.

[30] Select <YZPlane>

from the model tree.
Click <Generate>.

138

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

14-4 Create the Shaft

[1] Select <Create/Primitives/
Cylinder> from the pull-down
menu; click here to bring up
<Apply/Cancel> buttons and select
<ZXPlane> from the model tree.

[2] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu and
select <ZXPlane> from
the model tree.

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

[3] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu and
select <ZXPlane> from
the model tree.

14-5 Create the Bearing

[1] Select <Create/
Primitives/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu and
select <YZPlane> from
the model tree.

139

140

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

[2] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu and
select <YZPlane> from
the model tree.

[3] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu and
select <YZPlane> from
the model tree.

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

14-6 Create Rounds

[2] Control-select
these four edges.

[1] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius>.

[6] Control-select
these two edges.

[3] And click

<Apply>.

[4] Click <Generate>.

[5] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius> again.

[7] And click

<Apply>.

[8] Click <Generate>.

141

142

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

14-7 Create Fillets

[2] Select this
edge.

[1] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius>.

[4] The selection

extends to its
limits.
[3] Select <Extend
Selection/Extend to
Limits>.

[6] Click <Apply>.

[5] Control-select other

edges. Totally 18 edges
(also see [8, 9]). Whenever
necessary, rotate the view
and use <Extend Selection/
Extend to Limits>.

[7] Click
<Generate>.

[9] There are 2

fillets if you view
from bottom.

[8] Fillets viewed

from top.

Exercise 14. Caster Frame

143

14-8 Create Additional Rounds

[1] Select <Blend/

Fixed Radius>.

[2] Control-select these

edges. Totally 42 edges
(also see [5]). Whenever
necessary, rotate the view
and use <Extend Selection/
Extend to Limits>.

[3] Click <Apply>.

[4] Click
<Generate>.
[6] Select <View/
Shaded Exterior> to
hide all edges.

[5] You can see all

rounds if you view
from top.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Caster," and exit the Workbench.

144

Section C. Assembly Modeling

Section C
Assembly Modeling

An assembly consists of two or more parts. The DesignModeler assigns a color for each part in an assembly. Creating
a simple assembly is straightforward, but you have to take case so that parts are not bonded together. This usually can
be done by freezing the existing parts. Exercise 15 is an example of creating a simple assembly. Creating complex
assemblies involves transformations (translations, rotations, etc.) of parts to appropriate positions. Exercises 16 and 17
demonstrate these techniques.

Exercise 15. Threaded Shaft Assembly

Exercise 15
Threaded Shaft Assembly

15-1 Introduction

[1] The threaded shaft

assembly is a sub-assembly
of a clamping mechanism.

In this exercise, we'll create a threaded shaft assembly

[1] shown in the figure below. The assembly consists
of four parts: the threaded shaft created in Exercise
12, a handle, and two hinges. We adopt a coordinate
system which is the same as that used in Exercise 12.
This assembly is simple enough that all parts can be
created with referring to the same coordinate system.
More complicated cases involve transformations
(translations, rotations, etc.) of the parts (eg., Exercises
16 and 17).

0.3

75

D0

.75

Unit: in.

0.1

875

0.7

D0

.75

.25

D0
0.1

25

3.0

00

5
0.2

63

5.0

6
.26

D0

00

2.0

19

0.2

145

146

Exercise 15. Threaded Shaft Assembly

15-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and open the
project "Shaft," which was
saved in Exercise 12.

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up DesignModeler. Due
to the complexity of
the threads, it may take
a while to open the
model.

[3] Right-click
<Solid> and select
<Rename> from the
context menu.

[4] Change the

part name to
"Shaft."

Exercise 15. Threaded Shaft Assembly

15-3 Create the Handle

[1] Select <Tool/Freeze> from
the pull-down menu. The body
become <Frozen>. By default,
frozen bodies are displayed as
transparent. This can be turned
off by selecting <View/Frozen
Body Transparency> from the
pull-down menu.

[2] A <Freeze1>
object is inserted.

Freeze Existing Bodies Before Creating New Parts

Remember, a body is either active (non-transparent) or frozen (transparent). Active bodies are automatically join
(unite) together to form a single body if they overlap each other. Here, we freeze the existing bodies, so that the
newly created body doesn't join the existing bodies and, in effect, becomes a new part.

[3] Select <Create/Primitives/

Cylinder> from the pull-down
menu and set up the <Details
View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[4] Rename the

new part as
"Handle."

147

148

Exercise 15. Threaded Shaft Assembly

15-4 Create the End Hinge

[1] Select <Create/Primitives/
Cylinder> from the pull-down menu
and set up the <Details View> as
shown. Click <Generate>.

[2] The newly created body (which is

active) doesn't overlap with the handle
(which is also active), therefore it
becomes a separate part.

[3] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu and
set up the <Details View>
as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[5] Rename the new

part as "EndHinge."

[4] The two newly created

bodies (both are active) join
together to form a single part.

Exercise 15. Threaded Shaft Assembly

[6] Select <Create/Boolean> from the

pull-down menu and select <Subtract>
for <Operation>.

[7] In the graphics window, select the

body "EndHinge" as <Target Bodies>.

[9] Select <Yes> for

<Preserve Tool Bodies>.

[8] In the graphics window,

select the body "Shaft" as
<Tool Bodies>.

[10] Click
<Generate>.

[11] Right-click
"EndHinge" and select
<Hide All Other Bodies>
from the context menu.

[13] Right-click
anywhere in the graphics
window and select
<Show All Bodies> from
the context menu.

[12] The finished

"EndHinge."

149

150

Exercise 15. Threaded Shaft Assembly

15-5 Create the Middle Hinge

[1] Select <Create/Primitives/
Cylinder> from the pull-down menu
and set up the <Details View> as
shown. Click <Generate>.

[2] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> from
the pull-down menu and
set up the <Details View>
as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[4] Rename the new

part as "MidHinge."

[3] The two newly created

bodies (both are active) join
together to form a single part.

Exercise 15. Threaded Shaft Assembly

[5] Select <Create/Boolean> from the

pull-down menu and select <Subtract>
for <Operation>.

[6] In the graphics window, select the

body "MidHinge" as <Target Bodies>.

[8] Select <Yes> for

<Preserve Tool Bodies>.

[7] In the graphics

window, select the body
"Shaft" as <Tool Bodies>.

[9] Click
<Generate>.
[10] Hide all bodies
except the
"MidHinge."

[11] Show all bodies.

[12] Select <View/Frozen

Body Transparency> to turn
off the transparent display
of the frozen bodies.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project ("Shaft"), and exit
the Workbench.

151

152

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

Exercise 16
Universal Joint

16-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we'll create a universal joint shown in the figure below. The assembly consists of four kinds of parts
[1-4], of which the yoke [1] was created in Exercise 7. A coordinate system for the assembly is also shown in the
figure [5]. The assembly created in this exercise is simple enough that we will create all parts in a single <Geometry>
system. For more complicated cases (eg., Exercises 17), multiple <Geometry> systems may be a better management
scheme.


The universal joint is adapted from a working drawing in the book Technical Graphics Communication, by G. R.
Bertoline, E. N. Wiebe, C. L. Miller, and J. L. Mohler.
Y

Unit: in.

[5] Coordinate
system for the
assembly.

[4] 4 x Pin.
D0.50, L1.35.

X
[2] Swivel.
OD1.00,
ID0.50, L2.15.
[3] 4 x Bushing.
OD0.75, ID0.50,
L0.60.

[1] 2 x Yoke
(created in
Exercise 7).

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

153

16-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[1] Launch ANSYS Workbench

and open the project "Yoke,"
which was saved in Exercise 7.
[2] Save the project
as a new name
"Joint."

[3] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up DesignModeler.

Coordinate Systems
There is a coordinate system for
the entire assembly, called a global
coordinate system; each part has
its own coordinate system, called a
local coordinate system.


Here, the coordinate system
set up in 16-1 is the global
coordinate system [4], and the
coordinate system defined in 7-1,
used to create the yoke, is a local
coordinate system [5].


In order to position the yoke
in the global coordinate system, we
need to move the yoke upward (in
Y direction) by 1.50 in.

Y ,Y

[5] The
coordinate
system of the
part.

[4] The
coordinate
system of the
assembly.

154

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

16-3 Move the Yoke Upward

[1] Select <Create/Body
Operation> from the
pull-down menu and
select <Translate>.

[6] Select <Tools/Freeze> to

freeze the upper yoke.

[2] In the graphics window,

select the solid body.

[3] Select <Coordinates>

for <Direction
Definition>.

[4] Type 1.5 (in.) for

<Y Offset>. It refers to
the global coordinate
system. Click
<Generate>.

[5] Rename the

body as
"UpperYoke."

16-4 Create Lower Yoke

[1] Select <Create/Body
Operation> and select
<Mirror>.

[3] Select <ZXPlane>

from the model tree.
Click <Generate>.

[2] Select
"UpperYoke,"
either from the
model tree or
from the graphics
window.

[4] Rename the

new body (which is
also frozen) as
"LowerYoke."

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

[5] Select <Create/

Body Operation>.

155

[9] Select <Selection

Filter: Model Faces>.

[13] Click
<Generate>.

[10] Select this circular face.

This defines a direction, which is
normal to the face, i.e., a vertical
direction. You also can click
<Display Plane> to turn on the
plane display, and then define the
direction by selecting the
vertical axis.

[6] Select
<Rotate>.
[7] Select
"LowerYoke."

[12] Click the

yellow area and
click <Apply>.

[8] Type 90
(degrees).

[11] You can click here to

switch the direction.
However, in this case, it
doesn't matter whether it is
upward or downward.

Selection Filters
By activating a selection filter [9],
you can make one of four types of
entities (points, edges, faces, and
bodies) selectable. By rightclicking the graphic area, selection
filters can also be accessed
through the context menu, where
additional filters are available [15].
Multiple filters can be activated at
the same time.

[14] Now, the lower

yoke rotates 90
degrees.

[15] More selection

filters can be
accessed through
the context menu.

156

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

16-5 Create the Swivel

[1] Select both bodies

and right-click-select
<Hide Body>. In order to
focus on the swivel, we
hide the existing bodies.

[2] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> from the
pull-down menu and set up
the <Details View> as shown.
Click <Generate>.

[4] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> and set
up the <Details View> as
shown. Click <Generate>.

[3] The body is

active (nontransparent), since it
is created with <Add
Material> option.

[5] The new material

adds to the existing
active body.

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

157

[6] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> and set
up the <Details View> as
shown. Click <Generate>.

[7] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> and set
up the <Details View> as
shown. Click <Generate>.

[9] Select <Tools/

Freeze> to freeze
the swivel.

[8] Rename the

body as "Swivel."

[10] Right-click
anywhere in the
graphics window and
select <Show All
Bodies>.

158

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

16-6 Create a Pin

[1] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> and
set up the <Details
View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.
[2] The cylinder
starts from a yoke's
face (see [4]).

[3] The cylinder

extends to the
negative direction.

[4] The cylinder's outer

face aligns with a yoke's
face. Also, the cylinder is
created as frozen to avoid
joining the bushing to be
created next (16-7).

16-7 Create a Bushing

[5] Rename the

body as "Pin1."

[1] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> and
set up the <Details
View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[2] The cylinder

starts from a swivel's
face (see [3]).

[3] The cylinder's inner

face aligns with a swivel's
face. Also, the cylinder is
created as active because
we haven't finished the
part (the part has a hole).

[4] Hide all other

bodies.

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

159

[5] Select <Create/

Primitives/Cylinder> and
set up the <Details
View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[6] The material

is cut from the
active bodies.

[7] Show all

bodies.

[8] Rename the

body as "Bushing1."

16-8 Create Other Pins and Bushings

[1] Select <Create/
Pattern> and select
<Circular>.

[2] Select both "Pin1"

and "Bushing1". You
can either select them
from the model tree
or from the graphics
window.
[4] Type 3. The bodies
are duplicated 3 times.
Click <Generate>.

[5] If the coordinate

axes doesn't display,
click <Display Plane>.

[3] In the graphics window,

select the vertical axis. If the
coordinate axes doesn't
display, see [5].

160

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

[6] Rename the

bodies as shown.

[8] Show all bodies and

select <View/Frozen
Body Transparency>.

[7] Hide "UpperYoke"

and "LowerYoke" to
view the details inside.

[9] The objects here

records the history of
creating the model.

[10] The parts (bodies)

here are to be exported
outside the
DesignModeler, for
example, to
<Mechanical>.

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

161

16-9 Create an Exploded Model

[1] Select <Create/Body
Operation> from the pull-down
menu and select <Translate>.

[2] In the model tree, controlselect UpperYoke, Bushing2,

Bushing4, Pin2, and Pin4.

[3] Select <Coordinates> for

<Direction Definition>.
[4] Type 5 (in.) for <Y
Offset>. Remember, it
refers to the global
coordinate system. Click
<Generate>.

[5] Select <Create/Body

Operation> and, in the model
tree, control-select
LowerYoke, Bushing1,
Bushing3, Pin1, and Pin3.

[6] Type -5 (in.) for <Y

Offset>. Click
<Generate>.

162

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

[7] Select <Create/Body

Operation> and, in the
model tree, control-select
Bushing2 and Pin2. Set up
other options and click
<Generate>.

[8] Select <Create/Body

Operation> and, in the
model tree, control-select
Bushing4 and Pin4. Set up
other options and click
<Generate>.

[9] Select <Create/Body

Operation> and, in the
model tree, control-select
Bushing1 and Pin1. Set up
other options and click
<Generate>.

[10] Select <Create/Body

Operation> and, in the
model tree, control-select
Bushing3 and Pin3. Set up
other options and click
<Generate>.

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

[11] Select <Create/

Body Operation> and, in
the model tree, select
Bushing2. Set up other
options and click
<Generate>.

[12] Select <Create/

Body Operation> and, in
the model tree, select
Bushing4. Set up other
options and click
<Generate>.

[13] Select <Create/

Body Operation> and, in
the model tree, select
Bushing1. Set up other
options and click
<Generate>.

[14] Select <Create/

Body Operation> and, in
the model tree, select
Bushing3. Set up other
options and click
<Generate>.

163

164

Exercise 16. Universal Joint

[15] Control-select
the last 10 objects
and right-clickselect <Suppress>.

Suppress Objects vs. Hide Bodies

When a body is hidden, the body is not deleted from the model; it is just a visual effect to keep from being seen; the
body still exists.


When an object is suppressed, however, it has exactly the same effect as being deleted. We usually prefer
"suppress" to "delete," since a suppressed object always can be "unsuppressed."


Now, select the 10 objects again and right-click-select <Unsuppress> from the context menu; the model would
explode again. Using this method, you can explode or un-explode a model as you like.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project ("Joint"), and exit the Workbench.

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

165

Appendix:

Exercise 16a
Dynamic Simulation of the
Universal Joint

16a-1 Introduction
Y
In this exercise, we'll perform a dynamics simulation for
the assembly created in Exercise 11. The assembly is
entirely made of steel, which is the default material used
in <Mechanical>.


We assume a hinge set up at the top of the upper
yoke, such that the whole assembly can swing in the XY
plane and behaves like a double-pendulum [1]. Initially, the
lower yoke is raised to form an angle of 30 degrees with
the vertical axis, and then released [2]. The only external
force, other than the reaction forces at the hinge, acting
on the assembly is the gravitational force. We want to
observe the double-pendulum behavior of the assembly.


Since our concern is the double-pendulum behavior
of the assembly, the body deformation can be neglected.
Therefore, we assume all bodies are rigid. We'll use a
built-in system in the Workbench, called <Rigid
Dynamics>, which assumes all bodies are rigid and has
capabilities of performing rigid-body dynamic simulations.


We'll further assume that the combination of the
swivel, four bushings, and four pins is an integrated part,
i.e., they are bonded together. This assumption should be
reasonable as long as the double-pendulum behavior is
the only concern. This assumption not only simplifies the
model setup in <Mechanical> but also reduces
computation time.

[1] In this simulation, we'll

assume a hinge set up
here, such that the whole
assembly can swing in the
XY plane and behaves like
a double-pendulum.

30

[2] Initially, the lower yoke

is raised to form an angle of
30 degrees with the vertical
axis, and then released.

166

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

16a-2 Group 9 Parts to Form an Integrated Part

[1] Lunch
Workbench and
open the project
"Joint," which was
saved in Exercise 16.

[3] Select all bodies except

"UpperYoke" and
"LowerYoke," and right-clickselect <Form New Part>.

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up <DesignModeler>.

[4] This is called a multi-body part. In

<Mechanical>, it is treated as an
integrated part, i.e., all bodies are
bonded together. Close
<DesignModeler>.

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

167

16a-3 Start Up <Mechanical>

[3] The two systems share
the same <Geometry>. You
can edit up-stream cell but
not the down-stream cell.

[1] Drag <Rigid

Dynamics> and drop to
<Geometry> cell of the
<Geometry> system.

[2] A <Rigid
Dynamics>
system is created.

[4] Double-click
<Model> to start
up <Mechanical>.

[5] <Mechanical GUI> shows up. If your

GUI layout is not like this, pull-down-select
<View/Windows/Reset Layout> and select
<Graphics> tab (11a-2[8]).

[6] If the unit system is not

like this, pull-down-select
<Unit/U.S. Customary (in, lbm,
lbf, F, s,V, A)> (11a-2[10]).

168

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

16a-4 Create a Revolute Joint

[1] Select <Contacts> and
right-click-select <Delete>
from the context menu.

Why Delete Contacts?

When a model is first time brought
into <Mechanical>, the <Mechanical>
automatically sets up connections
between parts; these automatic
setups are often not adequate.
Here, we decide to manually set up
the connections. That's why we
deleted the automatic setups.

[2] While <Connections>

in the project tree is still
highlighted, select <BodyBody/Revolute>.

[3] A revolute
joint is created.

[6] The graphics window splits

into three windows. The upperright window will show the
reference body, and the lowerright window will show the
mobile body.

[4] In <Details View>, we

need to specify a reference
body and a mobile body.

[5] Click to activate

<Body Views>.

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

[10] A revolute
joint allows the
mobile body rotates
in Z direction.

[8] Click
anywhere on the
upper yoke.

[9] Select this cylindrical face (to define a

reference coordinate system). Zoom-in or rotate
the view if necessary. Make sure the Z-axis of the
reference coordinate system is in the cylinder
axis; directions of the other two axes are not
important. A revolute joint allows the mobile
body rotates in Z direction (see [10]).

[7] Click the

yellow area to bring
up <Apply/Cancel>
buttons.

[11] Click
<Apply>.

[13] Click the swivel

(or anywhere of the
integrated part).

[12] Click the

yellow area to bring
up <Apply/Cancel>
buttons.

[15] Click
<Apply>.

169

[14] Select this cylindrical face (to

define a rotational axis). Zoom-in or
rotate the view if necessary. Note that
the reference coordinate system defined
in [9] also shows here.

170

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

[15] This completes the creation of a

revolute joint, in which the axis of the
"Bushing2" allows to rotate in the axis
of the cylinder hole. We now proceed
to create other revolute joints.

16a-5 Create Other Revolute Joints

[1] Select <BodyBody/Revolute>.

[2] Select the cylindrical face of another

hole of the upper yoke to define a reference
coordinate system (see the upper-right
window). Remember to make sure the Zaxis of the reference coordinate system is in
the cylinder axis; directions of the other two
axes are not important.

[3] Select the cylindrical face of the

"Bushing4" to define a rotational axis (see
the lower-right window).

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

[4] Select <BodyBody/Revolute>.

[5] Select the cylindrical

face of a hole of the lower
yoke to define a reference
coordinate system (see the
upper-right window).

[6] Select the cylindrical face of the

"Bushing1" to define a rotational axis (see
the lower-right window).

[8] Select the cylindrical

face of another hole of the
lower yoke to define a
reference coordinate
system (see the upperright window).

[9] Select the cylindrical face of the

"Bushing3" to define a rotational axis (see
the lower-right window).

[7] Select <BodyBody/Revolute>.

171

172

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

[10] We've defined 4

revolute joints.

16a-6 Create the Hinge

Now, we proceed to create a hinge at the top of the upper yoke (16a-1[1]). In a normal case, this hinge can be
modeled by a body-to-ground revolute joint. However, since we don't have any geometric entities (faces, edges, or
points) to define the rotational axis, we choose to create a "general" body-to-ground joint and then specialize to a
revolute joint.

[3] Click this circular face.

This selects the upper yoke
as mobile body and, as the
same time, defines a
reference coordinate system.

[5] Select <Free Y>

for <Rotations>.
This allows the
mobile body to
rotate in Y direction.

[2] Click the yellow

area to bring up <Apply/
Cancel> buttons.

[4] Click
<Apply>.

[1] Select <BodyGround/General>.

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

16a-7 Set Up Initial Configuration

[1] Click to deactivate <Body
Views>.

[4] Click
<Configure>.
[2] Select <Revolute LowerYoke to
Bushing1>.

[3] Click to rotate

the view to look at
the XY plane.

[6] Or, a better way is that you

type 30 (degrees) here.

[8] When you satisfy

your initial
configuration, click
<Set>.

[5] Drag the handle until

the lower yoke becomes 30
degrees (or 330 degrees).
[7] If you make any
mistakes, click
<Revert> and go
back to step [4].

173

174

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

16a-8 Apply Gravitational Force

[2] Select <Inertial/
Standard Earth
Gravity>.

[1] Click to highlight

<Transient>.

[3] An environment
condition is inserted.

[4] Select <-Y

Direction>.

16a-9 Insert Result Objects

[2] Select
<Deformation/
Total>.

[1] Click to highlight

<Solution>.

[3] A results object is

inserted.

Exercise 16a. Dynamic Simulation of the Universal Joint

175

16a-10 Set Up <Analysis Settings>

[1] Click to
highlight
<Analysis
Settings>.

[2] Type 3 (s)

for <Step End
Time>.

16a-11 Solve the Model and View the Results

[1] Click
<Solve>.

[4] Totally 442

frames, each from
a result set.
[2] Click to highlight
<Total Deformation>.

[5] Click <Play> to

animate the results.

[6] Click <Stop> to

stop the animation.

[3] Click
<Result
Sets>.

Wrap Up
Close <Mechanical>, save the project ("Joint"), and exit the Workbench.

[7] By clicking
<Export Video File>,
the animation can be
save as an AVI file.

176

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

Exercise 17
Clamping Mechanism

17-1 Introduction

0.375

0.3

75

0.375

0.75

In this exercise, we'll create the clamping mechanism

mentioned in Exercises 1, 8, 12, and 15. Some parts that are
not created in the previous exercises are detailed in this page.


Comparing with previous exercises, this exercise is
rather complicated. For a complicated model like this, we
need more efficient way of handling multiple parts and
transforming parts. We'll demonstrate how a geometry can
be exported from a <Geometry> system and imported to
another <Geometry> system. We'll also demonstrate a more
general way of transformation parts. In this way, we need two
planes: a source plane and a destination plane. A part then
can be transformed just like the source plane is transformed
to the destination plane.


The clamping mechanicsm is adapted from a working
drawing in the book Technical Graphics Communication, by G.
R. Bertoline, E. N. Wiebe, C. L. Miller, and J. L. Mohler.

1.375
Part Name: Grip
D0.25

D0.312

0.375
0.75
Part Name: Pin A
Unit: in.

0.2

D0.312

D0.25

0.7

5
Grip

0.75
1.125
Part Name: Pin B

Pin A

Pin C
Pin B

D0.312

D0.25

D0.312

0.375
1.125
Part Name: Pin C

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-2 Export the Arm, Support, and Shaft Assembly

[1] Launch ANSYS Workbench
and open the project "Arm,"
which was saved in Exercise 1.

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up DesignModeler.

[6] Select <File/Close

DesignModeler>.

[3] In DesignModeler,
select <File/Export...>.

[5] Type "Arm" as the file

name. The exported
geometry will be saved as
"Arm.x_t."

[4] Select <Parasolid Text>

as the file type.

177

178

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

[9] Open the project

"Support," which was saved in
Exercise 8.

[7] Click <New>.

[10] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up DesignModeler.
[8] Click <No>.

[14] Select <File/Close

DesignModeler>.

[11] In DesignModeler,
select <File/Export...>.

[13] Type "Support" as the

file name. The exported
geometry will be saved as
"Support.x_t."

[12] Select <Parasolid Text>

as the file type.

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

[15] Click
<New>.

[17] Open the project

"Shaft," which was saved
in Exercise 15.

[18] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up DesignModeler.
[16] Click <No>.

[22] Select <File/Close

DesignModeler>.

[19] In DesignModeler,
select <File/Export...>.

[21] Type "Shaft" as the file

name. The exported geometry
will be saved as "Shaft.x_t."

[20] Select <Parasolid Text>

as the file type.

179

180

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-3 Create a New Project

[3] Save the new
project as "Clamp."

[1] Click <New>.

[5] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up DesignModeler.

[4] Doubleclick to create a

<Geometry>
system.

[2] Click <No>.

[6] Select <Inch>

as the length unit.

[7] Click <Ok>.

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

181

17-4 Import the Support

[1] Select <File/Import External Geometry
File...> and open the file "Support.x_t."

[4] Click
<Generate>.
[3] The <Base Plane>
determines how the imported
geometry positions in the current
global coordinate system. Here,
<XYPlane> means the imported
geometry's coordinate system is
to be coincident with the current
XYPlane.

[5] Click
<Display Plane>.

[6] The imported

geometry's coordinate
system is coincident with
the current XYPlane.

[2] Select <Add

Frozen>.

17-5 Translate the Support

[1] Select <Create/Body
Operation> from the
pull-down menu and
select <Translate>.
[2] Select the
imported body and set
up other options as
shown. Click
<Generate>.

[4] Rename the

body as "Support1."

[3] Click Xaxis to look at

YZ plane.

182

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-6 Create the Other Support

[1] Select <Create/Body
Operation> from the
pull-down menu and
select <Mirror>.

[4] Click for a

isometric view.

[2] Select
"Support1."

[3] Select
<XYPlane> from the
model tree and click
<Generate>.
[5] Rename the
body as "Support2."

17-7 Import the Shaft Assembly

[1] Select <File/Import

External Geometry
File...> from the pulldown menu and open the
file "Shaft.x_t." Select
<Add Frozen>. Click
<Generate>.

[2] The shaft

assembly consists of
4 parts (see [3]).

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

183

[3] The shaft

assembly consists of
4 parts.

17-8 Translate the Shaft Assembly

Now, we want to translate the shaft assembly such that the part "MidHinge" is at its correct position. Calculation of
the amount of translation is not a easy task. We now demonstrate a general way of transformation parts. In this way,
we need two planes: a source plane and a destination plane. The shaft assembly will be transformed just like the source
plane is transformed to the destination plane.

[2] Select <From Face>.

[1] Click <New Plane>.
[4] Click the yellow
area to bring up
<Apply/Cancel> button
and click <Apply>.
Click <Generate>.

[3] Click this ringshaped face. Make sure

the three axes have the
same directions as the
global axes

184

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

[6] Select <From Face>.

[5] Click <New Plane>.
[8] Click the yellow area to
bring up <Apply/Cancel>
buttons and click <Apply>.
Y
[9] Select <Yes> for
<Reverse Normal/ZAxis>. Click
<Generate>.
X
Z
[7] Click the inner face of the "Support1" at a location
near the arc. Make sure the three axes are like this.
Now, we want to reverse the Z-axis so that the three
axes have the same directions as the global axes.

[10] Now, the axes of the

<Plane4> have the same
directions as <Plane5>.

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

185

[11] Select <Create/

Body Operation> from
the pull-down menu and
select <Move>.

[12] Select the four

bodies of the shaft
assembly (Shaft, Handle,
EndHinge, and
MidHinge), either from
the model tree or from
the graphics window.

[14] Select <Plane5>

as <Source Plane>.
Click <Generate>.

[13] Select <Plane4>

as <Source Plane>.

[15] Now, we want to tilt

the shaft assembly a certain
angle. A tedious calculation
shows the angle is 9.273
degrees (see [16]).

[16] The two angles

shown are calculated
from the geometry of
the clamp. These
angles are needed for
the configuration of
the parts.

9.273

46.775

186

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-9 Rotate the Shaft Assembly

[1] Select <Create/

Body Operation> from
the pull-down menu and
select <Rotate>.

[2] Select the four

bodies of the shaft
assembly (Shaft,
Handle, EndHinge, and
MidHinge).

[4] Bring up
<Apply/Cancel>

[6] Select this

circular face. Its outer
normal defines a
rotational axis (see
next step).

[3] Type 9.273

(degrees) for
<Angle>.

[7] Click to
reverse the
direction.

[8] Click <Apply>.

Click <Generate>.

[5] Click <Selection

Filter: Model Faces>

[9] Now the shaft

assembly is at its
correct position and
orientation.

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

187

17-10 Import the Arm

Remember that the origin of the arm is
at the center of a hole (see 1-1). We
now want to import the arm such that
the hole connects to the "EndHinge" to
form a revolute joint.

[1] Click <New

Plane>.

[2] Select <From Face>.

[4] Click the yellow

area to bring up
<Apply/Cancel> button
and click <Apply>.
Click <Generate>.

[3] Click this ring-shaped

face. Make sure the three
axes have the same directions
like this.

[6] By default, the

currently active plane is
the base plane.

[5] Select <File/Import

External Geometry File...>
from the pull-down menu and
open the file "Arm.x_t." Select
<Add Frozen>. Click
<Generate>.

[6]Next, we need to rotate

the arm 46.775 degrees
clockwise (see 17-8[16]).

188

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-11 Rotate the Arm

[1] Select <Create/

Body Operation> from
the pull-down menu and
select <Rotate>.

[2] Select the arm.

[4] Bring up
<Apply/Cancel>

[3] Type 46.775

(degrees) for
<Angle>.

[8] Click <Apply>.

Click <Generate>.

[7] If necessary,
click here to
reverse the
direction.

[5] Click <Selection

Filter: Model Faces>
[6] Select this
cylindrical face. the
cylinder axis defines a
rotational axis (see
next step).

[9] Now the arm is at its

correct position and
orientation.

[10] Rename the

body as "Arm1."

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

189

17-12 Create the Other Arm

[1] Select <Create/Body
Operation> from the
pull-down menu and
select <Mirror>.

[2] Select "Arm1."

[3] Select
<XYPlane> from the
model tree and click
<Generate>.

[4] The second

arm.

[5] YZ plane view.

Note that there is a
gap between an arm
and a support.

[6] Rename the

body as "Arm2."

190

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-13 Create the Grip

[2] Select <From
Face>.
[3] Click the yellow area to
bring up <Apply/Cancel>
buttons.

[1] Click <New

Plane>.

[5] Click
<Apply>.
[6] Select <Align X-Axis with
Global> for <Transform 1>.

[7] Select <Offset Z> for

<Transform 2>.
[8] Type 0.1875 (in.) for
<Value>. Click <Generate>.

[4] Select this face.

Make sure the axes
are like this.

[7] The X-axis

rotates to align with
the global X-axis.

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

[11] The plane

outline.

[9] The plane should lie

on the global XY plane.

[10] In the newly created plane (Plane7), draw

a sketch like this. The sketch consists of a
rectangle and a circle centered at the origin
and with a diameter of 0.312 (in.).

[12] Extrude the new

sketch (Sketch1) 0.125
(in.) both sides
symmetrically.

[13] Rename the

body as "Grip."

191

192

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-14 Create Pin A

[1] Select <Create/Primitives/Cylinder>
and select the new plane (Plane7) from
the model tree as the <Base Plane>.
Set up the <Details View> as shown.
Click <Generate>.

[2] If you hide all other

bodies, you would see the
new body like this.

[3] Select <Create/Primitives/Cylinder>

and select the new plane (Plane7) from
the model tree as the <Base Plane>.
Set up the <Details View> as shown.
Click <Generate>.

[5] Rename the

body as "PinA."

[4] Pin A.

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-15 Create Pin B

[1] Select <Create/Primitives/Cylinder>
and select the XYPlane from the model
tree as the <Base Plane>. Set up the
<Details View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[2] If you hide all other

bodies, you would see the
new body like this.

[3] Select <Create/Primitives/Cylinder>

and selectXYPlane from the model tree
as the <Base Plane>. Set up the
<Details View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[5] Pin B should be

positioned here...

[6] And here.

[4] Pin B.

193

194

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

[1] Select <Create/Body

Operation> and select
<Translate>.
[2] Select the new body.

[3] Type -1.25 (in.) for <X

Offset> (see the details in 8-1).
Click <Generate>.
[4] Select <Create/
Body Operation>
and select
<Translate>.

[5] Select the

new body.

[6] Select<Yes>
for <Preserve
Bodies?>

[7] Type 1.25 (in.) for <Y

Offset> (see the details
in 8-1). Click
<Generate>.

[8] Rename two new

bodies as "PinB1" (lower
pin) and "PinB2" (upper
pin) respectively.

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-16 Create Pin C

[1] Select <Create/Primitives/Cylinder>
and select XYPlane from the model
tree as the <Base Plane>. Set up the
<Details View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[2] If you hide all other

bodies, you would see the
new body like this.

[3] Select <Create/Primitives/Cylinder>

and select XYPlane from the model
tree as the <Base Plane>. Set up the
<Details View> as shown. Click
<Generate>.

[5] Rename the

body as "PinC."

[4] Pin A.

195

196

Exercise 17. Clamping Mechanism

17-17 Enhance Visual Effects

[1] Select <Edge
Coloring/Black>. It
instructs DesignModeler
to render the model with
black edges.

[2] Select <View/Frozen

Body Transparency> to
turn off the transparent
display of the frozen
bodies.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project ("Clamp") and exit the Workbench.

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

197

Appendix:

Exercise 17a
Simulation of the Clamping
Mechanism
17a-1 Introduction
The clamping mechanism created in Exercise 17 is designed to provide clamping forces up to 450 lbf [1]. In this
exercise, we'll perform a simulation to make sure that, under the clamping force of 450 lbf, the stresses everywhere are
within the allowable stress of the steel, which is 30,000 psi. Remember that the clamping mechanism is entirely made
of steel, which is the default material used in <Mechanical>.


We'll assume an initial configuration such that the grip merely contacts the clamped object and the clamping
force is zero [2, 3]. As the handle rotates to increase the distance between two hinges, the clamping force also
increases, until the clamping force reaches 450 lbf [4-6].

[4] The middle

hinge.

[6] As the handle rotates to

increase the distance between
two hinges, the clamping force
also increases, until the clamping
force reaches 450 lbf.

[5] The end hinge.

[2] The initial

distance between
two hinges is 3.063
in (see 15-1).
[1] The clamping mechanism is
designed to provide clamping
forces up to 450 lbf.

[3] With the initial

configuration, the grip
merely contacts the
clamped object and the
clamping force is zero.

198

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

17a-2 Simplify the Model

[1] Launch ANSYS
Workbench and open the
project "Shaft," which was
saved in Exercise 15.

[2] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up DesignModeler.

[3] Right-click <Sweep1>

and select <Suppress>
from the context menu.

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

[8] Select <File/Close

DesignModeler>.

[4] The threads are removed.

This is a simplification of the
model to make the simulation
easier, without sacrifice too
much accuracy.

[5] In DesignModeler,
select <File/Export...>.

[7] Type "Shaft1" as the file

name. The exported
geometry will be saved as
"Shaft1.x_t."
[9] In <Workbench GUI>,
Click <New>.

[6] Select <Parasolid Text>

as the file type.

[11] Open the project

"Clamp," which was
saved in Exercise 17.
[12] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up <DesignModeler>.

[10] Click <No>.

199

200

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

[13] Select
<Import2>, which is
the shaft assembly.

[14] Double-click
<Source>.

[15] Select "Shaft1.x_t,"

which was save in [5-7].

[16] Click <Generate>.

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

201

[19] Control-select
"Support1," "Support2,"
"PinB1," "PinB2," and
"PinC," and right-clickselect <Form New Part>.

[17] Control-select
"Shaft," "Handle," and
"EndHinge," and
right-click-select
<Form New Part>.

[18] Rename the new part as

"ShaftAssembly." The three
bodies are now treated as an
integrated part. It is not real; it is
a simplification to make the
simulation easier.

[21] Control-select
"Grip" and "PinA," and
right-click-select <Form
New Part>.

[20] Rename the new part as

"SupportAssembly." The five
bodies are now treated as an
integrated part. Again, it is not
real; it is a simplification to
make the modeling easier.

[22] Rename the new part

as "GripAssembly." The two
bodies are now treated as an
integrated part. Close
DesignModeler.

[23] Close
DesignModeler.

202

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

17a-3 Start Up <Mechanical>

[3] The two systems share
the same <Geometry>. You
can edit up-stream cell but
not the down-stream cell.

[1] Drag <Static

Structural> and drop to
<Geometry> cell of the
<Geometry> system.

[5]If your GUI layout is not like this,

pull-down-select <View/Windows/
Reset Layout> and select <Graphics>
tab (11a-2[8]).

[6] If the unit system is not

like this, pull-down-select
<Unit/U.S. Customary (in, lbm,
lbf, F, s,V, A)> (11a-2[10]).

[2] A <Static
Structural>
system is created.

[4] Double-click
<Model> to start
up <Mechanical>.

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

203

17a-4 Create Revolute Joints

There are 8 revolute joints to be created: [1] PinA to Arm1, [2] PinA to Arm2, [3] EndHinge to Arm1, [4] EndHinge to
Arm2, [5] MidHinge to Support1, [6] MidHinge to Support2, [7] PinC to Arm1, and [8] PinC to Arm2.

[3] EndHinge to Arm1.

[4] EndHinge to Arm2.
[5] MidHinge to Support1.
[6] MidHinge to Support2.

[1] PinA to Arm1.

[2] PinA to Arm2.

[7] PinC to Arm1.

[8] PinC to Arm2.

[9] Select <Contacts> and

right-click-select <Delete>
from the context menu.
(See 17a-4).

[10] The project tree

should look like this.
[11] Make sure
<Connection> is
highlighted.

204

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

Create [1] PinA to Arm1, and [2] PinA to Arm2.

[13], select <Body-Body/
Revolute>.

[12] While
<Connections> is
highlighted, click to
activate <Body Views>.

[14] Select a cylindrical

face of the PinA (see the
red-colored face in the
upper-right window).

[15] Select a cylindrical

face of the Arm1 (see the
blue-colored face in the
lower-right window).
[16], select <Body-Body/
Revolute>.

[17] Select another

cylindrical face of the
PinA (see the red-colored
face in the upper-right
window).

[18] Select a cylindrical

face of the Arm2 (see the
blue-colored face in the
lower-right window).

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

Create [3] EndHinge to Arm1, and [4] EndHinge to Arm2.

[19], select <Body-Body/

Revolute>.

[20] Select a cylindrical

face of the EndHinge (see
the red-colored face in
the upper-right window).

[21] Select a cylindrical

face of the Arm1 (see the
blue-colored face in the
lower-right window).
[22], select <Body-Body/
Revolute>.

[23] Select another

cylindrical face of the
EndHinge (see the redcolored face in the upperright window).

[24] Select a cylindrical

face of the Arm2 (see the
blue-colored face in the
lower-right window).

205

206

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

Create [5] MidHinge to Support1, and [6] MidHinge to Support2.

[25], select <Body-Body/
Revolute>.

[26] Select a cylindrical

face of the MidHinge (see
the red-colored face in
the upper-right window).

[27] Select a cylindrical

face of the Support1 (see
the blue-colored face in
the lower-right window).

[28], select <Body-Body/

Revolute>.

[29] Select another

cylindrical face of the
MidHinge (see the redcolored face in the upperright window).

[30] Select a cylindrical

face of the Support2 (see
the blue-colored face in
the lower-right window).

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

Create [7] PinC to Arm1, and [8] PinC to Arm2.

[31], select <Body-Body/
Revolute>.

[32] Select a cylindrical

face of the PinC (see the
red-colored face in the
upper-right window).

[33] Select a cylindrical

face of the Arm1 (see the
blue-colored face in the
lower-right window).

[34], select <Body-Body/

Revolute>.

[37] We've created 8

revolute joints.

[35] Select another

cylindrical face of the
PinC (see the redcolored face in the upperright window).

[36] Select a cylindrical

face of the Arm2 (see the
blue-colored face in the
lower-right window).

207

208

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

17a-5 Create a Translational Joint

[5] A translational joint restricts the
mobile body sliding along the X direction
of the reference coordinate system.

[4] We've created a

translational joints.

[2] Select a cylindrical

face of the MidHinge (see
the red-colored face in
the upper-right window).

[3] Select the cylindrical

face of the Shaft (see the
blue-colored face in the
lower-right window).

17a-6 Specify Supports

[2] Select the bottom two

faces as fixed supports

[1] Highlight <Static

Structural> and select
<Support/Fixed
Support>.

[1], select <Body-Body/

Translational>.

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

209

[3] Select <Support/

Frictionless Support> and
select the bottom face of the
grip as a frictionless support.

17a-7 Specify a Relative Translation between Shaft and MidHinge

Why Specify an Arbitrary

Displacement?

[1] While <Frictionless

Support> is still
highlighted, select <Loads/
Joint Load> to insert a
joint load.

[2] Select
<Translational MidHinge to Shaft>.

[3] Select
<Displacement>.

[4] Type 0.003 (in.)

for <Magnitude>.
This is an arbitrarily
chosen value (see
an explanation on
the right.

Remember that the mechanism is to

provide a clamping force of 450 lbf.
(17a-1). But we cannot specify a
vertical force on the grip, because
the grip was fixed in the vertical
direction (17a-6[3]). This is easy to
understand because you cannot
specify both displacement conditions
and force conditions on the same
face. You either specify a fixed (zero
displacement) condition and try to
evaluate the reaction force, or
specify a force condition and try to
evaluate the resulting displacement.


Our strategy is to specify an
arbitrary value of displacement [4]
for the relative translation between
Shaft and MidHange, to simulate the
advance of the shaft due to the
rotation of the handle (17a-1[6]),
and then to evaluate the clamping
force. The displacement [4] then
adjusts to give an exact clamping
force of 450 lbf.

210

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

17a-8 Insert Results Objects

[1] Highlight <Solution>.

[2] Select <Deformation/Total>.

[3] Select <Stress/Equivalent (von-Mises)>.
[4] Select <Stress/Maximum Principal>.
[5] Select <Stress/Minimum Principal>.

[6] Select <Probe/

Force Reaction>.
[7] Select
<Frictionless
Support>.

17a-9 Solve the Model and View the Clamping Force

[1] Click <Solve>.

[3] The clamping force is

vertical, because the grip
is allowed to move
horizontally.

[2] While <Force

Reaction> is still
highlighted, you can see
the clamping force (425.52
lbf) in the details view.

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

17a-10 Adjust the Joint Displacement and Solve Again

[1] Highlight <Joint Displacement>.

[2] Type 0.003173 (in.) for <Magnitude>.

Note: 0.003/425.52x450 = 0.003173

[3] Click <Solve>.

[4] Now, the clamping

force is 450 lbf.

211

212

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

17a-11 View Stresses and Animation

[3] Select <Auto
Scale>.

[2] The maximum stress

is within the allowable
value (30,000 psi).

[1] Highlight
<Equivalent Stress>.

[4] Click <Play> to

animate the results.

[5] Click <Stop> to

stop the animation.

17a-12 Evaluate Joint Forces

[1] Highlight <Solution>.
[2] Select <Probe/Joint> and, in the details view, select
<Revolute - PinA to Arm1> for <Boundary Condition>.
[3] Select <Probe/Joint> and, in the details view, select
<Revolute - EndHinge to Arm1> for <Boundary Condition>.
[4] Select <Probe/Joint> and, in the details view, select
<Revolute - MidHinge to Support1> for <Boundary Condition>.
[5] Select <Probe/Joint> and, in the details view, select
<Revolute - PinC to Arm1> for <Boundary Condition>.
[7] Select <Probe/Force
Reaction> and, in the details
view, select <Fixed Support> for
<Boundary Condition>.

[6] Select <Probe/Joint> and, in the details view, select

<Translation - MidHinge to Shaft> for <Boundary Condition>.

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

[8] Rename the results

objects like this, to make
them more readable.

213

[9] Click <Solve>.

17a-13 Forces Acting on an Arm

[2] Details of "Force EndHinge to Arm1."

[4] The angle is

calculated from
17-8[16].
379.95
61.91

56.048

[1] Details of "Force PinA to Arm1."

225.04
379.94
163.13

[3] Details of "Force PinC to Arm1."

Transform Force Components

It is very easy to transform the above force components into
the force components shown in 1a-1[3]. We need to know
an angle [4] to accomplish the transformation. The angle can
be calculated from 17-8[16].

214

Exercise 17a. Simulation of the Clamping Mechanism

17a-14 Forces Acting on a Support

[1] Details of "Force MidHing to Support1."

379.94

62.045

[5] There are

no forces from
PinB2.

[4] There are

no forces from
PinB1.

163.13

379.94

[3] These force components from

PinC have the same magnitudes and
opposite directions as those in
17a-13[3].

[2] Details of "Force on

Bottom Faces." Note that,
half of the force (450.06 lbf)
acts on a support.
225.03

It is very easy to verify that the above forces

acting on a support is self-balanced. Please also
see 8a-1[3, 4].

17a-15 Compressive Forces in the Shaft

[1] Details of "Force MidHing to Shaft" shows that

a total compressive force of
769.61 lbf acts on the shaft.

Wrap Up
Close <Mechanical>, save the project as "Clamp-a", and exit the Workbench.

Section D. Concept Modeling

215

Section D
Concept Modeling

As mentioned, although it can be used as a general purpose CAD software, the DesignModeler is particularly designed
for creating geometric models to be analyzed (simulated) under the ANSYS environment. So far, we've created many
3D solid models; each can be imported into an analysis application, such as <ANSYS Mechanical>. 3D solid models are
not the only models that <ANSYS Mechanical> can analyze. Often, due to the efficiency (computing time and solution
accuracy), we prefer using simplified models, such as 2D solid models, surface models, or line models. This section
provides exercises for creating such simplified model.

216

Exercise 18. 2D Solid Modeling (Arm)

Exercise 18
2D Solid Modeling (Arm)

18-1 Introduction
When the geometric characteristics in a certain dimension (e.g., the thickness in Z-dimension) can be parameterized
and the rest of the geometric characteristics (and the loads) can be expressed in a 2D space (in this example, XYspace), we often simplify the model into a 2D solid model, to facilitate the simulation task. The benefits of using a 2D
solid model (over a 3D solid model) include reduced modeling time, reduced computing time, increased accuracy,
increased post-processing efficiency.


In this exercise, we will create a 2D solid model for the arm, which has been modeled as s 3D solid model in
Exercise 1

18-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[2] Right-click here and

select <Duplicate>
from the context menu.

[1] Launch ANSYS Workbench

and open the project "Arm,"
which was saved in Exercise 1.

Exercise 18. 2D Solid Modeling (Arm)

[3] Double-click the name of

the system (default to
"Geometry") and type "3D
Model" to change the name.

[4] Double-click the name of

the system (default to "Copy
of Geometry") and type "2D
Model" to change the name.

[5] Double-click to start up

DesignModeler.

[6] Right-click <Extrude1>

and select <Delete> from
the context menu.

217

218

Exercise 18. 2D Solid Modeling (Arm)

18-3 Create a 2D Model

[1] Now, the only object

in the model tree is
<Sketch1>, which is on
<XYPlane>.

[2] Select <Concept/

Surfaces From Sketches>.

[5] Click
<Generate>.

[3] Select
<Sketch1> from
the model tree.

[4] Type 0.125 (in.) for

<Thickness>. This
information doesn't show
in the geometry, but will
be brought to a simulation
module, such as
<Mechanical>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Arm-2D" and exit the Workbench.

[6] This is a 2D model for

the arm. Note that the 2D
model is on XY-plane;
<Mechanical> requires a 2D
model resides on XY-plane.

Exercise 18a. Structural Analysis of the Arm Using 2D Model

219

Appendix:

Exercise 18a
Structural Analysis of the Arm
Using 2D Model

18a-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we will perform a static structural analysis for the 2D model created in Exercise 18. We'll use the
same boundary conditions (loads and supports) as in Exercise 1a (1a-1[3]). The results (stresses) should be the same
as those obtained in Exercise 1a, except that a 2D model is computationally much more efficient.

18a-2 Start Up
[3] Right-click
<Geometry> and
select <Properties>.

[1] Launch Workbench

and open the project
"Arm-2D," which was
saved in Exercise 18.

[2] Drag <Static

Structural> and drop to
<Geometry> cell of the
<2D Model> system.

220

Exercise 18a. Structural Analysis of the Arm Using 2D Model

[5] Click to close the

properties window.

[4] Select <2D> for

<Analysis Type>. It is
necessary for a 2D analysis,
otherwise, by default,
<Mechanical> will perform
a 3D analysis.

[7] Click to close the

message window.

[6] Click <Model>

to start up
<Mechanical>.

Exercise 18a. Structural Analysis of the Arm Using 2D Model

18a-3 Specify Loads

[2] Select <Loads/
Force>.

[1] Highlight <Static

Structural>.

[3] Select this

circular edge.

[4] Click <Apply>.

[5] Select <Components>.

[6] Type -187 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 126 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

[7] Select <Loads/

Force> again.

[8] Select this

circular edge.
[9] Click
<Apply>.
[10] Select <Components>.

[11] Type 264 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 281 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

221

222

Exercise 18a. Structural Analysis of the Arm Using 2D Model

18a-4 Specify Supports

[1] Select <Supports/
Fixed Support>.

[2] A <Fixed Support> is

inserted.

[3] Select this

cylindrical face.

[4] Click
<Apply>.

18a-5 Insert Result Objects

[2] Select <Stress/

Equivalent (von-Mises)>.

[1] Click to highlight

<Solution>.

Exercise 18a. Structural Analysis of the Arm Using 2D Model

18a-6 Solve the Model

[1] Click <Solve>.

[3] Select <Edges/

Show Undeformed
WireFrame>.
[2] The stress distribution is
essentially the same as that is
Exercise 1a.

[4] Click <Play> to

animate the
deformation.

[5] Click <Stop> to

stop the animation.

[8] Close <Mechanical>, and in the

<Workbench GUI>, save the
project as "Arm-2D-a."

[6] Highlight
<Mesh>.

[7] There are 779 nodes in the model; that means a total
degrees of freedom is 1558 (2x779; for 2D problems, each
node has 2 degrees of freedom). The degrees of freedom
is an indication of problem size, and it is in turn an
indication of computing time.

223

224

Exercise 18a. Structural Analysis of the Arm Using 2D Model

18a-7 Open the Project "Arm-a"

[1] In the <Workbench GUI>,

Open the project "Arm-a," and
start up <Mechanical>.

[2] Highlight
<Mesh>.

[7] There are 890 nodes in the model; that means a total
degrees of freedom is 2667 (3x890; for 3D problems,
each node has 3 degrees of freedom). The ratio of the
problem size between the 2D model and the 3D model
is 0.58 (1558/2667). That means, in this case, only
approximately 58% of computing time is need for the 2D
model, to achieve the same solution accuracy.

Wrap Up
Close <Mechanical> and exit the Workbench.

Exercise 19. Surface Modeling (Support)

225

Exercise 19
Surface Modeling (Support)

19-1 Introduction
When a body in 3D space is thin enough, we often simplify the body into a surface body, to facilitate the simulation
task. The benefits of using a 3D surface model (over a 3D solid model), similar to a 2D solid over 3D solid, include
reduced modeling time, reduced computing time, increased accuracy, increased post-processing efficiency.


In this exercise, we will create a 3D surface model for the support, which has been modeled as a 3D solid model
in Exercise 8.

19-2 Start Up DesignModeler

[2] Right-click here and
select <Duplicate>
from the context menu.

[5] Double-click to start

up DesignModeler.

[1] Launch ANSYS

Workbench and open the
project "Surface," which was
saved in Exercise 8.

[3] Rename the original

system as "3D Solid
Model."

[4] Rename the

duplicated system as "3D
Surface Model."

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Exercise 19. Surface Modeling (Support)

[6] Select Extrude1,

Plane4, Extrude2, Plane5,
Extrude3, and FBlend1 in
the model tree and rightclick-select <Delete>
from the context menu.

[7] We've deleted

everything except
<Sketch1>, which is on
<XYPlane>.

Exercise 19. Surface Modeling (Support)

19-3 Create a Surface Body for the Vertical Plate

[4] Click
<Generate>.

[1] Select <Concept/

Surfaces From Sketches>.

[2] Select
<Sketch1> from
the model tree.

[5] This is a surface body

representing the vertical
plate.
[6] The global origin is
here. Let's move the
body to a more
convenient location.

[3] Type 0.125 (in.) for

<Thickness>. This
information doesn't show
in the geometry, but will be
brought to a simulation
module, such as
<Mechanical>.

[11] Click
<Generate>.

[7] Select <Create/

Body Operation>.

[12] The body translates

so that its lower-left is at
the origin.
[8] Select
<Translate>.

[9] Select the

vertical plate.
[10] Type 1.625 (in.) for
<X Offset> and 0.875 (in.)
for <Y Offset>.

227

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Exercise 19. Surface Modeling (Support)

19-3 Create a Surface Body for the Horizontal Plate

[1] Activate
<ZXPlane>.

[2] Switch to
<Sketching
Mode>.

[4] If you click <Look At

Face/Plane/Sketch> and
disable model display, you
would see the plane view of
the sketch like this.

[3] Draw a sketch

like this. Note
that, in ZXPlane,
the Z-axis is the
horizontal axis and
the X-axis is the
vertical axis.

Exercise 19. Surface Modeling (Support)

[4] Click
<Generate>.

[1] Select <Concept/

Surfaces From Sketches>.

[2] Select the

newly created
skectch from the
model tree.

[3] Type 0.125 (in.) for

<Thickness>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project as "Support-Surface" and exit the Workbench.

229

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Exercise 19a. Structural Analysis of the Support Using Surface Model

Appendix:

Exercise 19a
Structural Analysis of the
Support Using Surface Model

19a-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we will perform a static structural analysis for the surface model created in Exercise 19. We'll use the
same boundary conditions (loads and supports) as in Exercise 8a (8a-1[3, 4]).

19a-2 Start Up

[3] Click <Model>

to start up
<Mechanical>.

[1] Launch Workbench

and open the project
"Support-Surface,"
which was saved in
Exercise 19.

[2] Drag <Static Structural>

and drop to <Geometry> cell
of the <3D Surface Model>
system.

Exercise 19a. Structural Analysis of the Support Using Surface Model

19a-3 Specify Loads

[3] Click <Edge>.

[2] Select <Loads/

Force>.

[1] Highlight <Static

Structural>.

[4] Select this arc

edge.

[5] Click <Apply>.

[6] Select <Components>.

[7] Type -380 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 62 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

[8] Select <Loads/

Force>.

[9] Select this

circular edge.

[10] Click <Apply>.

[11] Select <Components>.

[12] Type 380 (lbf) for <X

Component>, and 163 (lbf)
for <Y Component>.

231

232

Exercise 19a. Structural Analysis of the Support Using Surface Model

19a-4 Specify Supports

[2] Select <Face>.

[1] Select <Supports/

Fixed Support>.

[3] Select the

bottom face.

[4] Click
<Apply>.

[6] Select <Edge>.

[5] Select <Supports/

Displacement.

[8] Click
<Apply>.

[9] Type 0
(in.) for <Z
Component>.

[7] Select the 3

circular edges and an
arc edge on the vertical
plate.

Exercise 19a. Structural Analysis of the Support Using Surface Model

19a-5 Insert Result Objects and Solve the Model

[2] Select <Stress/

Equivalent (von-Mises)>.

[1] Click to highlight

<Solution>.

[3] Solve the model.

Wrap Up
Close <Mechanical>, save the project as "Support-Surface-a," and exit the Workbench.

233

234

Exercise 20. Line Modeling (Space Truss)

Exercise 20
Line Modeling (Space Truss)

20-1 Introduction
Consider a space truss subject to design loads as shown [1-4]. Note that each truss member and each connection
node (spherical joint) is given an identification number. This example is adapted from a problem in the book Vector
Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, by F. P. Beer, E. R. Johnston, and E. R. Eisenberg. The member forces calculated by the
textbook are shown in the table below [5]. Note that a plus sign is used to indicate a tensile member force and a
minus sign to indicate compressive member force.


The truss is a statically determinate structure, that is, the member forces can be solved using static equilibrium
equations without any cross-sectional information. Here, we assume that all members have a circular cross-section of
diameter 10 mm.


In this exercise, we'll create a line model for this space truss. In the Exercise 20a, as an appendix, we'll perform a
structural analysis to calculate the member forces using this line model.
Y

1m
[4] This node is
supported in Zdirection.

[3] This node is

supported in Zdirection.

4
3
3

1
5
2
6
Z

0.5

200 N

0.5

1200 N

Member

Member
Force

+400 N

-600 N

-100 N

-200 N

-1342 N

+1500 N

+300 N

-566 N

1m

[1] This node is

supported in Ydirection.

[5] Member
forces.

1m
[2] This node is
supported with a
hinge, i.e.,
displacements in all
directions are
restricted.

Exercise 20. Line Modeling (Space Truss)

20-2 Start Up

[3] Double-click
<Geometry> to start
up <DesignModeler>.
Select <Meter> as
length unit.
[1] Launch
<Workbench> and
save the project as
"Truss."

[2] Double-click to create

a <Static Structural>
system.

20-3 Create Points for Nodes

[2] Select <Manual

Input>.

[3] Type
coordinates.

[1] Select
<Create/Point>.
[4] Click
<Generate>.

235

236

Exercise 20. Line Modeling (Space Truss)

[5] Repeat steps [1-4]

for additional four
points (Points 2-5); type
their respective
coordinates as shown in
this table.

Point

X Coordinate

Y Coordinate

Z Coordinate

0m

0m

0m

1m

0m

0m

1m

1m

0m

0m

1m

0m

0.5 m

0m

1m

[6] The newly

created points.

3
1

[7] The newly created

points. (The numbers
are not part of the
display.)

2
5

20-4 Create Line Bodies for Truss Members

[1] Select
<Concept/Lines
From Points>.

[2] Click the

starting point
(Point1)...

[3] And then

control-click the
ending point
(Point2).

[4] Click <Apply>.

[5] Select <Add

Frozen>.
[6] Click
<Generate>.

Exercise 20. Line Modeling (Space Truss)

[7] Repeat steps [1-6]

for additional 8 lines
(Lines 2-9). Each line is
created by clicking the
starting point and then
control-clicking the
ending point. Each line is
created by <Add
Frozen> operation, so
that each line body is
treated as a separate
part.

Line

Start Point

End Point

Point1

Point2

Point2

Point3

Point3

Point4

Point4

Point1

Point1

Point5

Point2

Point5

Point3

Point5

Point4

Point5

Point1

Point3

237

[9] Rename the line

bodies as shown.
[8] Because of the
<Add Frozen>
operation, each line
body is treated as a
separate part.
3

4
9
8
2
5

1
7
6

[10] The newly created line

bodies. (The numbers are
not part of the display.)

238

Exercise 20. Line Modeling (Space Truss)

20-5 Create and Assign Cross Section for the Line Bodies

[1] Select
<Concept/Cross
Section/Circular>.

[2] In the <Details

View>, type 0.005
(m) for <R>.

[3] The sectional

properties are
automatically
calculated.

[4] Select all line

bodies.

[5] In the <Details

View>, select
<Circular1> for
<Cross Section>.

Exercise 20. Line Modeling (Space Truss)

[6] Turn off <View/

Cross Section
Alignments>.
[7] Turn on <View/
Cross Section Solids>.

[8] Turn off

<Display Plane>.

Wrap Up
Close DesignModeler, save the project ("Truss") and exit the Workbench.

239

240

Exercise 20a. Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

Appendix:

Exercise 20a
Structural Analysis of the Space
Truss

20a-1 Introduction
In this exercise, we will perform a static structural analysis using the line model created in Exercise 20. We'll use the
boundary conditions (loads and supports) described in Exercise 20 (20-1[1-4]). The resulting member forces should
be consistent with those given by 20-1[5].

20a-2 Start Up

[1] Launch Workbench

and open the project
"Truss," which was
saved in Exercise 20.
[2] Double-click
<Model> to start up
<Mechanical>.

Exercise 20a. Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

20a-3 Set Up <Connections>

241

[3] If the unit system is not

like this, select <Units/
Metric (m, kg, N, s,V, A).

[1] Highlight
<Connection>.
[2] Select <Body-Body/
Spherical>. A <Spherical>
joint allows the
connecting members to
independently rotate in
all directions.

242

Exercise 20a. Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

[3] Click
<Vertex>.
[4] Click this
node.
[5] Four "selection panes" show up;
each represents a vertex of a
connecting member. The currently
selected vertex is highlighted (redcolored) and arranged at the leftmost
position. Let's leave the leftmost vertex
selected.

[6] Click to bring up

<Apply/Cancel> and click
<Apply>.

[7] Select
<Deformable>.

[10] Click to bring up

<Apply/Cancel> and
click <Apply>.

[11] Select
<Deformable>.

[8] Click this node again.

[9] Select all the panes

except the leftmost one.

Exercise 20a. Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

243

Now, we've set up a spherical joint at node 1. We'll repeat the above steps to set up the other spherical joints at
nodes 2, 3, 4, and 5. When you click a node, make sure all selection panes representing involved vertices show up; if
not, click again until all panes show up. Remember to leave the leftmost pane as <Reference> body and the other
panes as <Mobile> bodies.

[12] Repeat steps

[2-11] four more times
to set up spherical
joints at nodes 2, 3, 4,
and 5.

20a-4 Set Up Supports

[1] Highlight <Static
Structural> and select
<Supports/
Displacement>.

[2] Select
<Vertex>.

[3] Select this

node.
[5] Click
<Apply>.

[6] Type 0 for <Z

Component>.

[4] And controlselect this node.

244

Exercise 20a. Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

[7] Select <Supports/

Displacement> again.

[8] Select this

node.

[9] Click <Apply>

and type 0 for <Y
Component>.

[11] Select
this node.

[12] Click <Apply>

and type 0 for all
three components.
[10] Select <Supports/
Displacement> again.

Exercise 20a. Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

20a-5 Set Up Forces

[1] Select
<Loads/Force>.

[2] Select this

node.

[3] Click <Apply>

and type the
component as
shown.

20a-6 Set Up Result Objects

[1] Highlight <Solution>

and select
<Deformation/Total>.

[2] Select <Beam

Results/Axial
Force>.

245

246

Exercise 20a. Structural Analysis of the Space Truss

20a-7 Solve the Model and View the Results

[1] Click
<Solve>.

[7] Click
<Probe>.
[3] Select <Auto
Scale>.

[6] Highlight
<Axial Force>.

[2] Highlight <Total

Deformation>.

[4] Click <Play> to

animate the
deformation.

[5] Click <Stop> to

stop the animation.

[1] Click each member to display

the axial force of each member.
These force values are consistent
with the values in 20-1[5].

Wrap Up
Close <Mechanical>, save the project as "Truss-a,"
and exit the Workbench.