Tutorials

Attention:

• You can download the tutorial models from our online Data & Downloads site. Install the models to a local folder of your choice, such as My Documents\Simulation Mechanical Tutorial Models.
  Note: We recommend that you store your tutorial models in a location outside of the Program Files branch. If you store your models in the Program Files branch, you could encounter an error message when attempting to open a tutorial model. The error is typically due to access restrictions on the Program Files branch of the system drive. You are more likely to encounter the error message with Microsoft Vista and Windows 7 or 8 operating systems. The User Account Control (UAC) on these systems is enabled by default and prevents users from writing to the Program Files folders.

Attention:

• To ensure correct and repeatable view orientations, access view commands using the Orientation pull-down menu within the Navigate panel of the View tab of the ribbon (View Navigate Orientation...), except as otherwise indicated. Even though the ViewCube displays the correct plane, using the ViewCube could result in an inconsistent rotational position.

  For convenience, you may wish to add the menu, View Navigate Orientation to the Quick Access toolbar (QAT). To do so, right-click on this command and choose Add to Quick Access Toolbar.

• Several program settings are global and influence the behavior of every model. The following settings were in effect when the tutorials were created. To ensure that the tutorial steps remain valid, maintain the settings as shown.

  • Tools Options Application Options Analysis Automate Analysis - Selected
  • Tools Options Application Options Analysis Ask to show mesh results after CAD meshing - Selected
  • Tools Options Application Options Analysis Default Modeling Units = English (in)
  • Tools Options Application Options CAD Import Global CAD Import Options Split surface on import = No
  • Tools Options Application Options CAD Import Global CAD Import Options Automatically generate contact pairs = No
  • Tools Options Application Options CAD Import Global CAD Import Options Import material data from CAD = Yes (for First time CAD import ); No (for CAD reimport ).
  • Tools Options Application Options CAD Import Global CAD Import Options Apply Simulation color scheme to CAD parts = Ask (for First time CAD import ); Ask (for CAD reimport ).
  • Tools Options Application Options CAD Import Global CAD Import Options Import part names from CAD = Ask (for First time CAD import ); Ask (for CAD reimport ).
  • Tools Options Application Options Graphics Navigation Tools View Cube Fit-to-View on view change - Selected
  • Tools Options Application Options Mouse Options Mouse settings templates = Autodesk Simulation
  • Tools Options Application Options Views Options Views settings templates = Autodesk Simulation
  • Tools Options Application Options Results 3-D Element Visualization:
    • Visualize beams in 3-D = Enabled
    • Visualize 2-D elements in 3-D = Disabled

Attention: The results you obtain when running these tutorials may differ slightly from those shown in the images within these Help pages. Please disregard insignificant differences in the results. However, if you see significant discrepancies (for example, in excess of 10 percent), double-check your work to ensure that you have exactly followed the outlined procedure.

Why do the results vary among different software versions: As part of the ongoing development of the simulation software, adjustments are made to the meshing routine, element formulations, contact algorithms, and so on. These refinements can lead to small differences in the results when comparing the output of different software versions. The images within the tutorials are not necessarily revised to reflect insignificant changes in the results from year to year.

Topics in this Section

• Meshing and Modeling Tutorials
• Analyzing and Evaluating Results Tutorials