Simulation Composite Analysis for ANSYS

Learn how Simulation Composite Analysis operates with ANSYS.

Simulation Composite Analysis for ANSYS is implemented via the USER10, USOLBEG, USOLFIN, and USERMAT user programmable features (UPFs). The following tools are installed with Simulation Composite Analysis for ANSYS:

• Simulation Composite Analysis plug-in for ANSYS MAPDL - This plug-in aids you in creating an ANSYS user material definition for use with Simulation Composite Analysis. It is accessed from ANSYS MAPDL using the COMPOSIT button in the ANSYS Toolbar.

Batch Mode

Simulation Composite Analysis installs a Windows batch file, which makes it simple to run ANSYS with Simulation Composite Analysis using an ANSYS input file from the command line.

This file is located at ASCADIR\bin\ansys-compan.bat and can be modified using a text editor to meet your specific needs. To run this file, follow these steps (see the image below) :

1. Save the ANSYS input file with a .ans extension
2. Open the Simulation Composite Analysis Command Shell using the desktop or start menu shortcut.
3. Change the directory to the directory which holds the file saved in step 1
4. Run the job using the following command

   ansys-compan VERSION FILE

   where VERSION is one of 140, 145, or 150 depending on the target ANSYS version and FILE is the name of the input file saved in step 1.

GUI Mode

Simulation Composite Analysis installs with a launcher utility which makes it simple to run the ANSYS Classic graphical user interface (GUI) with access to Simulation Composite Analysis.

To run the launcher, select the "Autodesk Simulation Composite Analysis 2015.1 for ANSYS APDL Launcher" shortcut installed to the desktop and the Autodesk folder under the Start Menu Programs list.

This utility will search for installed versions of ANSYS via the ANSYS environment variables:

• ANSYS 14.0 - %ANSYS140_DIR%
• ANSYS 14.5 - %ANSYS145_DIR%
• ANSYS 15.0 - %ANSYS150_DIR%

If these variables are not set, the launcher application will not run. Once the launcher finds the installed versions of ANSYS it opens a small window which allows you to select your target version of ANSYS as depicted below.

After selecting your target version of ANSYS, click OK. This will start up the default ANSYS Product Launcher with the appropriate environment variables set for Simulation Composite Analysis to work correctly.