Chapter 21: Usage in Ansys

Accessing Autodyn

The Autodyn application is available in the Component Systems section of the Workbench Toolbox.

Use this application to access the full functionality of the Autodyn product. Please refer to the online Workbench documentation for an explanation of the Autodyn system components and supported operations.

The structural FE components of the Autodyn solver can also be accessed using the Mechanical Explicit Dynamics system located in the Analysis Systems section of the Workbench Toolbox. Please refer to the Explicit Dynamics Analysis Guide for further details.

Steps to Using Autodyn

There are three different approaches to using Autodyn within Workbench:

  • Insert an Explicit Dynamics system from the Analysis Systems Toolbox. Use the Engineering Data, Geometry, Model and Setup cells to define the structural/mechanical model. Drag and drop an Autodyn component system onto the Setup cell of the Explicit Dynamics system. Double-clicking the Autodyn system Setup cell will start Autodyn and transfer the FE model definition (including materials, mesh, connections, loading, constraints, analysis settings) from the Explicit Dynamics system.

    • Can only set-up models for the FE solvers (including connections and contact)

    • 4-noded Tetrahedral meshes, 8-Noded Hexahedral Meshes, 4- and 3-noded Quad meshes, 2-noded Beam meshes

    • See Autodyn Walkthrough Using Explicit Dynamics for more details of the procedure.

  • Insert a Mesh system from the Component Systems Toolbox. Use the Geometry and Mesh cells to define the structural/mechanical mesh. Drag and drop an Autodyn component system onto the Mesh cell of the Mesh system. Double-clicking the Autodyn system Setup cell will start Autodyn and transfer the FE model definition (including mesh and named selections) from the Mesh system to the Autodyn system.

    • Can only set up meshes for the FE solvers.

    • 4-noded Tetrahedral meshes, 8-Noded Hexahedral Meshes, 4- and 3-noded Quad meshes, 2-noded Beam meshes

    • See Autodyn Walkthrough Using Meshing for more details of the procedure.

  • For simple geometries, integrated geometry creation, and meshing tools within Autodyn may be used. Insert an Autodyn Component System and double-click the Setup cell to run and Autodyn application standalone.

    • Can set up models for all solvers.