My First Simulation with Ansys: From Setup to Results
Introduction
As an engineering student passionate about simulation and real-world applications, I decided to explore Ansys, one of the leading tools for finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this post, I’ll walk you through my first experience running a basic structural simulation in Ansys, from setting up the model to interpreting the results.
Index
Why Ansys?
Setting Up the Environment
Building the Model
Defining Materials and Boundary Conditions
Meshing the Geometry
Running the Simulation
Analyzing the Results
Lessons Learned
Final Thoughts
1. Why Ansys?
Ansys is an industry-standard simulation platform that offers:
High precision and reliability
Wide support for mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic, and fluid simulations
Professional-grade solvers
A user-friendly graphical interface for complex analyses
Learning Ansys means gaining a skill highly valued in aerospace, mechanical, civil, and electronic engineering fields.
2. Setting Up the Environment
I installed Ansys Student Version, which provides free access to many of the core features with some limitations (like a maximum number of nodes).
After installation, I mainly worked with Ansys Mechanical for my first project.
3. Building the Model
I chose a simple geometry to start: a cantilever beam subjected to a load at its free end.
Created the geometry directly inside Ansys DesignModeler.
Defined a rectangular beam (length 1 meter, width 0.1 meter, height 0.1 meter).
Tip: You can also import geometry from external CAD software (like SolidWorks or Fusion 360) if you prefer.
4. Defining Materials and Boundary Conditions
Material:
Assigned Structural Steel (default in Ansys library).
Properties like Young’s Modulus and Poisson’s Ratio were automatically filled.
Boundary Conditions:
Fixed one end of the beam (zero displacement).
Applied a downward force of 1000N at the free end.
5. Meshing the Geometry
Meshing is critical because it influences both accuracy and computation time.
Used the default automatic mesh.
Element size: approximately 10 mm.
Later, I experimented with mesh refinement at areas of high stress concentration to improve result accuracy.
6. Running the Simulation
After setting up everything:
Clicked "Solve" in Ansys Mechanical.
The simulation took about 10 seconds to complete (very light model).
No errors or warnings appeared — success on the first run!
7. Analyzing the Results
Results generated automatically included:
Total deformation (maximum displacement at the free end)
Equivalent (Von Mises) stress
Directional deformation
Visualization tools in Ansys helped a lot:
Color maps to show stress distribution
Graphs showing deformation magnitude
Ability to animate the deformation
The results made physical sense: maximum displacement occurred where I applied the force, and stress was highest near the fixed support.
8. Lessons Learned
Meshing matters: A finer mesh gives more accurate results, but increases computational cost.
Boundary conditions are critical: Even a small mistake can lead to unrealistic results.
Simplify at first: Starting with a basic model helped me focus on learning the workflow without getting overwhelmed.
Use symmetry when possible: It saves time and improves simulation efficiency.
9. Final Thoughts
My first experience with Ansys was extremely satisfying. It gave me a deeper understanding of how loads, constraints, and materials interact in a physical system.
Moving forward, I plan to work on more complex simulations, including:
Modal analysis (natural frequencies)
Thermal stress analysis
Multiphysics coupling (e.g., thermal + structural)
If you’re getting started with simulation, Ansys is a powerful tool that is worth investing time in. Don't be intimidated — once you complete your first project, everything starts making sense!
