Learning Forum

[Ikram.MARZOUKI]

Hello everyone, 

I am currently working on a 3-point bending simulation in Ansys using solid elements. My workflow is the following: 

1. I first create the full geometry in SolidWorks. 

2. In ACP Pre, I import the geometry and build my sandwich composite. I deactivate the cylinders in the geometry, then in ACP Setup I convert the laminate to a solid. 

3. After that, I create another block in Model (Mechanical) where I deactivate the plate in the geometry and assign steel material properties to the cylinders. 

4. Finally, I combine the two blocks in a Static Structural system to run the simulation. 

My issue is the following: 
Every time I need to change the sandwich thickness, or the gap between the plate and the cylinders, I must go back to SolidWorks, modify the geometry manually, re-import it, and restart the entire workflow. This is very time-consuming. 

My question: 
Is there a way to automate the gap/thickness update directly inside Ansys (ACP or Mechanical), so that I don’t have to recreate the geometry in SolidWorks every time? If yes, what would be the recommended workflow? 

Any advice or best practices for automating this process would be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you! 

[Govindan Nagappan]

If you need to move the body/part, see if part transformation helps in Mechanical - https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v252/en/wb_sim/ds_part_transform.html

Or if you use geometry editor in Workbench (Spaceclaim or Discovery or DM), you may be able to use Move/Translate tools

If you need to create parameters in ACP, you will have to use scripting - https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v252/en/acp_ug/acp_scripting_ui.html