Workbench 13: Structured Hexa Meshes
 

Hello,

A few moths ago, I tested Ansys Workbench and its meshing module and desing modeler. I recently installed Ansys Workbench 13.0 in my system and I’ve re-launched some tests.

Up to now, I’ve been working on Icem CFD, meshing aircraft shapes in structured hexa (blocking topology). I’ve been also doing some tetra meshes.

I am a completely newbie on Ansys Workbench meshing and all the tests I’ve done are unstructured meshes…

1) I would like to know if there’s some automatic module for structured hexa meshes in Workbench. I heard that Ansys WB 13.0 would integrate some kind of “virtual topology” module in order to generate this kind of meshes. However, I’m not been able to find it. Am I missing something? :confused:

2) Otherwise, is it possible to have some kind of link between Workbench and Icem CFD hexa? I mean, is it possible to integrate Icem CFD hexa as a Workbench module? I would like to automate (in workbench) a whole sequence of meshing, since a parameterized CAD shape till the output hexa mesh, including the same features I find in Icem CFD hexa. :rolleyes:

3) And finally, how do I save scripts in desing modeler and meshing modules? I was looking for a “replay” like in Icem CFD, but I didn’t find anything similar in these modules…

Thank you all for your time!

Rooftop.

1) Automated Hexa in WB is called "MultiZone"... But it is not "structured" in the strict sense of the word (but it can look like it to the eye).

2) No, ICEM CFD is not data integrated in WB yet. However, at 13.0, we introduced "ICEM CFD interactive" within ANSYS Meshing. For instance, if you assign a MultiZone method to a part, you will find an option to "Write ICEM CFD files" which you can set to "interactive". This will launch ICEM CFD, you can script your blocking and then switch it to "batch" so that future updates will automatically run the ICEM CFD script. It is a little tricky in this first release and I have made some internal documents to explain its use, but have not completed any external demos or tutorials. I will try to fit that in for Q2.

3) You don't need scripts for DM or AM... These tools are inherently parametric and persistent. If your script was to adjust some geometry or meshing parameters, you can do that all from the parameter manager and not worry about a script. If you have a specific task in mind, please let me know and I can explain how to get there more easily with parametric persistence.

hello psymn,

but icem cfd , works only in patch independent, then how?

No, it is more than PI-Tetra.

MultiZone, Patch Independent, Post Inflation and Aligned Quad (shell meshing) are all ICEM CFD methods in ANSYS Meshing that allow you to use ICEM CFD interactive.

Icem in Workbench
 

Dear Simon and Others as well,

could you explain me how to use this functionality briefly? I am not a complete newbie to Icem and Workbench, so it is ok if you just briefly tell me how to use it. It would be a great help for my current project.
What I tried:
So after choosing “Batch” for "Write ICEM CFD files" and “Override method” for “ICEM CFD Behaviour” in Ansys Meshing the Icem project is created in one of the folders of the Workbench project. There is a replay file (.rpl) for Icem created too. I edited the replay file to load blocking and create the .uns and seems to work, but when I try to use it with Workbench Mesher by clicking “Generate Mesh”, it gives the following error: “The mesher has met an unhandled exception. Running out of memory may be the cause.” Then I open the saved Icem project file in Icem and the mesh is created just as I wanted. What could cause this problem so that Workench couldnt load the mesh although it is there in the Icem project (it cannot be lack of memory, as it is a small mesh)? What does Workbench Mesher require at the end of Icem script? Does it need the .uns file (I created that) or it needs .msh too?
I could also send you the workbench project if you have time to look at it…
Thanks for any help!

Quick look...
 

I just had time for a very quick look and couldn't find a proper replay file...

It looks like you may have created your own?

What you need to do is load the template that it creates for you... Inside that template, you will find a message saying where you should insert the rest of your replay commands... Take your cursor down to that row and then start working in ICEM CFD... The commands will be recorded within the correct replay file template.

The template handles some key things such as moving the mesh back and forth...

Also be sure you don't mess with geometry or part names while in ANSYS Meshing...

I really owe the world a tutorial about this...

Hi I'm having a similar problem with using the Icem throught the Meshing (Overiding). I've got a geometry with parameters on it so when I change any of them the mesh is to be done all over again. So I've created a replay script for Icem and saved as it was. I tried to make the Meshing run in Batch mode afterwards but had a error message which said more or less that it could not locate the tetin file.

So I added the opening action lines to the replay script... And this time the batch worked just fine.

The problem is that unfortunatellaty as I've put as input in the replay file the location of the tetin file, each time I change the parameters of the geometry (creating a new design point), a new directory is created and the replay input lines are not updated to the new geometry.

I'm looking for how the Batch operates to know how to resolve this but I haven't much experience in writing codes. Or maybe there is a template that works just fine. Thanks

the problem is how to make the icem cfd with the parameter? I mean the similar to what we do in workbench.for example if I want to a difference Re number for tuburlent simulation the boudary layer size will different. ..or to the change of geometery??

another problem is, in the interactive model the icem cfd works strange, and it alway no action after you have done someething.

and also the most important one is the block can not be changed!


/Wayne

That would be the next step : a complet integraton of ICEM to the workbench as I feel that it is more powerfull than the Mesher of the workbench. But for now I'm willing to have a geometry that changes and export it seamlessly to ICEM without the use of the Mesher (Overide mode).

So I created a script in ICEM but this script won't initiate itself directly with a different design point as the file location is different (~/dp0/global/MESH changes to ~/dp1/global/MESH). This is because the first line of the script calls the tetin file at a specific location.

My question is : is it possible to insert instead of
"open this file at that location"
"open this file contained in the directory of the current design point"?

Thanks

That would be the next step : a complet integraton of ICEM to the workbench as I feel that it is more powerfull than the Mesher of the workbench. But for now I'm willing to have a geometry that changes and export it seamlessly to ICEM without the use of the Mesher (Overide mode).

So I created a script in ICEM but this script won't initiate itself directly with a different design point as the file location is different (~/dp0/global/MESH changes to ~/dp1/global/MESH). This is because the first line of the script calls the tetin file at a specific location.

My question is : is it possible to insert instead of
"open this file at that location"
"open the file contained in the directory of the current design point"?

Has anything ever changed on the ICEM/WB integration? Are there any tutorials on this 'interactive mode' yet?

Just coming back to note that ICEM CFD 14.5 will include the ability to drag and drop an ICEM CFD system on to the Workbench project page directly... It allows for drag and drop connections to upstream and downstream systems and is parameterized (like ANSYS Meshing). It should make this sort of parametric model setup much easier...

Tutorials should be generated some time between now and the October release.

Awesome ... waited for sooo long. Thank you for the update.
Is there any place where one can find some further information on 14.5 ?

The release doc is almost finished (for the Preview 2 release), but I don't think ANSYS plans to release most of that sort of thing until October when the software is released. It will come out with feature lists, ppts, demos, tutorials, etc.

Hi PSYMN

I have a simple problem.

I need to create a structured mesh on a simple 2D domain. Then eventually a 3D.

Is it possible to set the number of counts along the x and y axis to provide a structures hex mesh, where i can specify the number of lines horizontally and vertically which make the mesh.

The mesh will also need to be smaller in size towards the middle of the domain. Please help. Im using ANSYS Mesh 13.0.

Thanks in advance :D

Yes, select an edge, right click and insert sizing... You can specify the number of elements on any edge.

If your surface has 4 corners with roughly equal distributions on opposite sides, you can right click on the surface and insert a mapped method...

Attachment 13474

Hi there,

Thanks so much for the quick response.
Ive managed to get the mesh sorted. Well it looks like what i expected.

However I was wondering what options i have on improving the mesh. I seem to be getting a negative volume. (4.3e-4). This seems pretty large. Ive altered the mesh a number of times however this figure is still relativly low. Ive also tried creating the geometry from scratch but no luck.
I have tried mesh/repair-improve/repair and various others in the text command however do not get any change with the volume.

Please let me know if there is anything else i can do to improve the mesh or sources to find out how todo this.

Thanks again for your help. Its much appreciated ;)

Sorry, I can't tell what is wrong from the image. It doesn't look like you have any negative cells.

If you are stuck, you could always try tech support.

Identification of mesh convergence in Ansys workbench
 

Hi,
I want to know procedure of mesh generation of helical spring in workbench.
Is it possible to generate tet10 & hexahedral meshing in workbench??
And please also tell me where i can identify mesh convergence tool in workbench.
Please reply as soon as possible.

Missing replay file ICM.rpl; using "Hexa" as mesher to generate mesh
 

what is the solution t this problem .

I have created block and did the meshing

but i didn't do any scripting. while after giving boundary conditions and solver i didn't get the solution since it is showing
Missing replay file ICM.rpl; using "Hexa" as mesher to generate mesh

Can anyone help me in this problem