Learning Forum

[WolfgangNeil]

I'm trying to analyze a cylindrical part on which I need to define orthotropic material properties for which I need to orient the axes of each element as per a cylindrical coordinate system. However I can't see a suitable option to do so in Workbench or think of an alternate methodology. Can someone share their insight in order to overcome this issue?

[Ashish Khemka]

Insert Element Orientation under the Geometry of interest.

Regards Ashish Khemka

[WolfgangNeil]

There's no option to implement a cylindrical CS using the option in the picture you have shared.
For a cylindrical geometry, it'll result in inaccuracy if we use a Cartesian CS for the element orientation as one direction needs to follow the curvature of the element.

[Surya Prakash]

You can create a cylindrical coordinate system by right click on Coordinate systems>insert>coordinate system.
After creating one, you can create element orientation and change the "Defined by" to coordinate system and select your cylindrical coordinate system.
Thanks Surya
How to access the ANSYS Online Help ÔÇö Ansys Learning Forum
Rules & Guidelines ÔÇö Ansys Learning Forum

[WolfgangNeil]

Thank you for showing the methodology.
But I want to know whether this option has resulted in defining the material properties w.r.t the chosen global CS (as I can't visualize the element alignment grid) or implemented locally to each element similar to when I choose the "Defined By" as "Surface and Edge Guide".

[peteroznewman]

Once the solution is done, you can right click on Solution and insert Coordinate Systems/Elemental Triads. Once you Evaluate Results for this item, you can see the Elemental Coordinate System for the elements of the selected geometry.

[wancheng gao]

Hello Peter,

After the element orientation is defined based on a local coordinate system, will it be possible for the local coordinate system to rotate with the model as the applied force increasing so that the element orientation change accordingly? I am asking about this since i want to define a model with orthotropic material, with the large deflection on the principal axes of the model will deviate from the original local coordinate system. Thank you in advance.

[WolfgangNeil]

Thank you for the comment.