1.0.
Introduction to Ansys Workbench
ANSYS Workbench is a project-management tool that handles the passing of data between
ANSYS Geometry / Mesh / Solver / Postprocessing tools. This attribute makes it a great help
in project management. A project manager need not worry about the individual files on disk
(geometry, mesh etc.). Graphically, you can see at-a-glance how a project has been built. The
capability of Workbench in the management of individual applications and passing of data
between, makes it easy to automatically perform design studies (parametric analyses) for
design optimization.
1.1. Workbench Overview
Main Screen
Figure 1 below presents the main interface of the ANSYS Workbench software. The components
of this window are: Top menu – Toolbox – Project schematics – Messages – Progress
Figure 1 ANSYS Workbench Software Interface
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Top Menu
i. Top Menu – File
• Create /Open/Save a Workbench project file
• Saves data from all the components
• Import: Import file (of acceptable file types)
• Archive: Quickly generate a single compressed
file (.wbzp or zip file) containing all important
files for easy transfer. Zipped file can be saved
at any required location
• Restore Archive: Unzip and open zipped project
files
• Scripting: Record and Run journal files
• EKM: Launch and connect to EKM (Engineering
Knowledge Manager)
ii. Top Menu – View
• Refresh and Reset Window layout
• View Toolbox, Toolbox Customization, Project
Schematic, Message, Progress. Etc. windows on
Project page
• Reset Workspace: restores current workspace to
default setting
• Reset window layout: restores original window
layout
iii. Top Menu – Tools
• Refresh or Update entire project
• Modify Global Setting through options
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iv. Top Menu – Units
• Select Unit System to be used for the
project
• Sets the default unit system for all systems
• Units can be changed within components like
DM. AMP
• Display Values as Defined: displays values
and unit as defined in Workbench or
original source application
• Display Values in Project Unit: displays
values converted to selected project unit
system
• Modify Unit Systems through Unit System
Toolbox
i. Analysis Systems: are ready-made stencils that include
all the individual systems (applications) needed for
common analyses (for example Geometry + Mesh +
Solver + Post-Processor)
ii. Component Systems: are the individual building-blocks
for each stage of the analysis which can be setup by
user
iii. Design Exploration: provides tools for optimizing designs
and understanding the parametric response
iv. Custom Systems: predefined systems with some
interactions between them. It is also possible to define
new custom-systems
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2.0. Basic Workflow
Starting a new project in the Project Schematic Window requires dragging a corresponding
Analysis System onto the Project Schematic Window. A workflow, comprising all the steps
needed for a typical analysis. For instance, the Fluid Flow (Polyflow) Analysis System in Fig. 2
Workflow is from top to
bottom. As each stage is
complete, the icon at the
right-hand side
changes
Figure 2 Analysis System in Project Schematic Window
An alternative method to creating a workflow within the Project Schematic Window is by
dragging and dropping necessary systems into the Project Schematic Window form the
Component Systems and linking the components accordingly with connectors Fig. 3.
Figure 3 Alternative Method to Workflow Creation
There are two types of connectors: square and round connector. The square connector as seen
in Fig. 3 shows that the output of the preceding cell is being shared with the destination cell. A
round connector means the output of the preceding cell is being transferred as a setup (input)
condition to be used in the destination cell.
2.1. Cell States
Status of each cell in ANSYS Workbench are denoted by distinct icons. Here these icons and
their interpretation are presented.
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Up to Date
Refresh required. Upstream data has changed
Refresh required. Upstream data has changed
Unfulfilled. Upstream data does not exist
Attention Required
Solving
Update Failed
Update Interrupted
Changes pending (was up-to-date, but upstream data has
changed)
2.2. Sharing Data between Different Solvers
Data can be transfer between solvers in Workbench. In this 1-way FSI (fluidstructure-interaction)
example, we transfer the loads from a Fluent CFD simulation over to a Mechanical system to
perform a stress analysis.
Figure 4 Sharing Data between Different Solvers
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Figure 5 Design Modeler Window
Figure 5 presents the Design Modeler window in ANSYS Workbench consisting of two sub-
windows in the Tree Outline: sketching window and modeling window.
In the Sketching window a new model can be created or an imported model can be improved
as requisite for the intended analysis.
In the Modeling window the necessary 3D feature is applied to the model and meshing pattern
is also added.
Figure 6 Design Modeler Showing a Created Model
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2.3. File Location on the Disk
Should you need to identify the individual files on your disk for each stage of the project, these
can be found by enabling View > Files. The resulting table will cross-reference the directory
and filename with the project cells.
Figure 7 File location Directory
Now we will be running a demo on static structural system, Fluid Flow (Fluent) etc.
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