Step-by-Step Guide for Static Structural Analysis in ANSYS (Perfected)
1. Launch ANSYS Workbench
Locate the ANSYS Workbench icon on your desktop or in the Start menu.
Double-click it and wait for the Workbench interface to open fully.
Familiarize yourself with the interface:
o Left side: Analysis Systems (e.g., Static Structural, Modal).
o Right workspace: Project Schematic (where you’ll drag modules).
o Top toolbar: File, Edit, View, etc.
2. Create a New Static Structural Analysis Project
Drag and drop the Static Structural module from the Analysis Systems panel into
the empty workspace.
Click File → Save As and choose a location. Save often during your work.
3. Import and Verify Your Geometry
In the Geometry box of the Static Structural block, right-click → Import
Geometry → Browse.
Select your STEP file and click Open.
Double-click the Geometry box to open it in ANSYS SpaceClaim.
Use the mouse to navigate:
o Rotate: Hold the middle mouse button and drag.
o Pan: Hold the right mouse button and drag.
o Zoom: Scroll the mouse wheel.
Ensure:
o All parts are present.
o Surfaces and edges are clean without gaps or overlaps.
o Units match (typically millimeters or meters).
Close SpaceClaim once confirmed.
4. Define Material Properties
Double-click Engineering Data in the Static Structural block.
In the Engineering Data tab, click Add Material → General Materials.
Check if Structural Steel matches ASTM A36 properties:
o Density: 7850 kg/m³.
o Young’s Modulus: 200 GPa.
o Poisson’s Ratio: 0.3.
o Yield Strength: 250 MPa.
o Tensile Strength: 400 MPa.
If not, create a custom material:
o Click Engineering Data Sources → Add New Material.
o Input ASTM A36 Steel properties manually.
Confirm changes and close the Engineering Data tab.
5. Prepare the Model for Simulation
Double-click Model in the Static Structural block.
Wait for the ANSYS Mechanical interface to load.
In the bottom-right corner, confirm units are consistent (e.g., N, mm).
6. Mesh the Geometry
Click Mesh in the Tree Outline (left side).
On the toolbar, click Generate Mesh.
Right-click Mesh → Insert → Sizing.
Select areas where higher detail is required (e.g., load and support regions).
In the Details panel, set:
o Element Size: 5–10 mm for critical areas.
o Relevance Center: Fine.
Click Update to regenerate the refined mesh.
Right-click Mesh → Statistics.
Ensure skewness and element quality are within acceptable limits.
7. Apply Boundary Conditions
Right-click Static Structural → Insert → Fixed Support.
Select the front and rear mounting areas:
o Use the face/edge selection tool to highlight regions.
o Click Apply in the Details panel.
Right-click Static Structural → Insert → Force.
Select the area where the 13,000 N load will act (e.g., a top surface).
In the Details panel, set:
o Define by: Components.
o Y Component: -13000 N (negative for downward force).
Visually confirm boundary conditions in the viewport. Ensure arrows
(representing force and supports) point in the correct directions.
8. Set Up and Solve the Simulation
Click Analysis Settings in the Tree Outline.
In the Details panel:
o Number of Iterations: 25.
o Large Deflection: Yes (important for chassis deformation).
Right-click Solution → Solve.
Wait for the simulation to run. Ensure there are no errors.
9. Analyze Results
Right-click Solution → Insert → Stress → Equivalent (von-Mises).
Click Solve to display the stress distribution.
Right-click Solution → Insert → Deformation → Total.
Click Solve to display total deformation.
Stress:
o Check the maximum von-Mises stress in the legend.
o Ensure it does not exceed 250 MPa (Yield Strength of ASTM A36 Steel).
Deformation:
o Confirm deformation is within acceptable limits (<5 mm for a chassis).
10. Refine and Validate
If stress values are near the material limit, refine the mesh further in critical areas.
Re-run the simulation to validate results.
Click File → Export → Save Report for a detailed summary.
Save images of stress and deformation plots for documentation.