10/8/2010 Explicit Dynamics Features

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Explicit Dynamics Features

Explicit Dynamics

Physical problems involving severe loadings applied in a short period of time, such as micro-seconds or milliseconds are generally best simulated with Explicit Dynamics
solutions. ANSYS, Inc. offers three products for solving this class of problems: ANSYS Explicit STR, ANSYS AUTODYN and ANSYS LS-DYNA.

ANSYS Explicit STR is an analysis system within the ANSYS Workbench platform. It offers the Lagrange (STRuctural) solver capability.

ANSYS AUTODYN is a component system within the ANSYS Workbench platform. It offers a comprehensive, multiple solution capability (Advanced Numerical Methods
for Nonlinear Dynamics.)

ANSYS LS-DYNA is a separate program. Complete input for ANSYS LS-DYNA can be prepared with the powerful preprocessing features of the ANSYS Workbench
platform as described below.

Superior CAD Interface and Robust Meshing

With ANSYS explicit dynamics solutions you can use your existing native CAD geometry directly with no translations, no IGES and no middle geometry formats. ANSYS has
provided native, bi-directional, integration with the most popular CAD systems for more than 10 years and also provides integration directly into the CAD menu bar making it
very simple to launch the world class ANSYS simulation directly from your CAD system.

Since our geometry import mechanism is common to all CAD systems, it gives the user the flexibility to work with a single common simulation environment even while using
multiple CAD packages and multiple ANSYS Solution methods such as explicit dynamics, structural mechanics, fluid dynamics and electromagnetics.

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Automatic body-by-body
meshing of a large cell
phone assembly for an
explicit drop test analysis
Explicit Dynamics Features
ProE CAD model of perforating gun and Circuit board CAD model and mesh in
cross section of one shaped charge preparation of a drop test simulation
mesh
Courtesy Schlumberger

We support the following CAD systems: Autodesk® Inventor®, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop®, Autodesk Inventor Professional Stress, CATIA® v4 and v5, Pro/ENGINEER®,
Solid Edge®, SolidWorks®, Unigraphics®, CoCREATE Modeling™ and SpaceClaim®. The ANSYS Workbench environment also supports neutral format files: IGES,
Parasolid®, ACIS® (SAT), STEP – enabling the use of any CAD system able to export to any of these formats.

ANSYS provides a wide range of highly robust automated meshing tools – from tetrahedral meshes to pure hexahedral meshes and high quality meshes for surface and line
bodies. Using the Explicit Preference in meshing will generate meshes well suited for Explicit Dynamics. Additional productivity tools include the ability to control element size,
defeature unnecessary details, generate swept hex dominant meshes, smoothing controls for gradual element size transitions and multizone meshing for parts made up of
multiple bodies that need to be meshed uniformly.

Geometries created with CAD tools are not always well suited for explicit dynamic simulations. For example, surfaces that do not meet or overlap may need to be corrected.
Very small features may need to be removed to so that meshes can be created that can be used to generate accurate results efficiently.

Auto Contact Detection for Parts

Once the geometry has been imported, ANSYS automatically detects and does setup for contacts, bonded contacts and interface definition for coupling between Euler and
Lagrange regions for problems involving Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI). Contact settings can be modified to improve computation speed by excluding parts or surfaces that
are known not to come in contact.

Automated detection of contacts is

Automated interface definition for coupling between Euler
performed
and Lagrange parts in FSI problems
upon geometry import

Comprehensive Element Technology

The current generation of ANSYS element technologies used in explicit dynamics provides rich functionality with a consistent theoretical foundation coupled with the most
advanced algorithms. The ANSYS explicit dynamics software provides a variety of elements for use with line bodies, surfaces and solid elements. Element types include: 8
node hex, 6 node penta or 4 node tet elements in 3-D, 4 node hex and 3 node tet in 2-D. The speed of calculations can be further improved with the use of 2-D axis-symmetry,
2-D planer symmetry as well as 3-D quarter or half symmetry. These options can be easily set-up on the ANSYS Workbench platform.

Automatic body-by-body meshing of a All HEX mesh of a complex automotive A high quality automatic tetrahedral
large cell-phone assembly for an Explicit brake rotor assembly mesh for a complex engine block
Drop test analysis Courtesy PTC Courtesy PTC

Extensive Library of Material Models

It is vital to understand and accurately characterize material behavior while designing or analyzing an engineering application. ANSYS explicit dynamics solutions provide a
vast library of mathematical material models which aids the user to simulate virtually all kind of material behavior as shown in the table below. In addition, in order to aid in
finding parameters for these materials models, ANSYS also provides a set of curve fitting tools.

Materials and Material Effects Material Models

Class of Material Material Effects

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Elasticity

Plasticity

Isotropic Strain Hardening

Kinematic Strain Hardening

Metals Isotropic Strain Rate Hardening

Isotropic Thermal Softening

Ductile Fracture

Brittle Fracture (Fracture Energy Based)

Dynamic Failure (Spall)

Elasticity

Porous Compaction

Plasticity

Strain Hardening

Strain Rate Hardening in Compression

Concrete/Rock
Strain Rate Hardening in Tension

Pressure Dependent Plasticity

Lode Angle Dependent Plasticity

Shear Damage/Fracture

Tensile Damage/Fracture

Elasticity

Porous Compaction

Plasticity
Soil/Sand
Pressure Dependent Plasticity

Shear Damage/Fracture

Tensile Damage/Fracture

Elasticity

Rubbers/Polymers Viscoelasticity

Hyperelasticity

Orthotropic Orthotropic Elasticity

The engineering data library included with the ANSYS Workbench platform, not only contains an extensive list of material models, but displays the material response
properties in a tabular and graphical form.

Advanced Numerical Methods for Nonlinear Dynamics

With a solid foundation of element and material technology, ANSYS explicit dynamics solutions offer various advanced solver technologies to best simulate a comprehensive
list of dynamic applications. The multiple solution methods described and pictured below can be combined in several ways through the use of part interaction. The

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interactions can be through contact, bonded contact and coupling between Euler and Lagrange regions for problems involving Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI). For parts that
interact via contact, the contact surfaces are automatically redefined as that elements on the surface are removed through erosion. The table below shows the solvers that are
available with each of the three explicit dynamics products, through the ANSYS Workbench interface.

ANSYS Product

Available Solution Method LS-DYNA Explicit Dynamics (STR) AUTODYN

Lagrange
X X X
(including shell & beam)

SPH * - X

EULER - - X

EULER FCT - - X

ALE * - X

Implicit Pre-stress - - X

* LS-DYNA does have SPH and ALE capability - it is not currently accessible from the ANSYS Workbench interface

Available Solution Methods

The Lagrange solver utilizes a mesh that moves and distorts with the material it models as a result of forces from neighboring elements. This is the most efficient solution
methodology with accurate pressure history definition. If however, there is too much deformation of any element it results in a very slowly advancing solution and is usually
terminated as the smallest dimension of an element results in a time step that is below the threshold level. For problems with too much deformation involving gases and
liquids, the Euler solver is better suited.

The Euler (multi-material) solver utilizes a fixed mesh, allowing materials to flow (advect) from one element to the next. The Euler solver is very well suited for problems
involving extreme material movement, such as one’s involving fluids and gases. Euler is generally more computationally intensive than Lagrange and requires higher
resolution (smaller elements) to accurately capture sharp pressure peaks that often occur with shocks.

The ALE (Arbitrary Lagrange, Euler) solver utilizes the advantages of both the Lagrange and Euler solvers. It works as a Lagrangian solver but periodically repairs the mesh
as it gets distorted. It is well suited for problems in between the Lagrange and Euler sweet spots.

The Euler – FCT used for ideal gases is a special purpose Euler solver that is very fast and highly accurate. It is best suited for use in problems simulating blast loadings.

The SPH (Smooth Particle Hydrodynamic) utilizes a mesh free method, ideally suited for certain types of problems with extensive material damage and separation such as
cracking. This type of response often occurs with brittle materials and with hypervelocity impacts.

The Shell solver is assigned to two dimensional parts such as membranes. It enables efficient computation in spit of the very small dimension of the “membrane.”

The Beam solver is used for the one dimensional parts such as reinforcements. When used in conjunction with solid elements, beams can be located inside a solid
element and need not be aligned wit the nodes of the Lagrangian elements, making their use unlimited, while requiring very little effort to set-up.

Lagrange
SPH (brittle)
(structures)

Euler Shell/Surface
(fluids) (thin 2-D)

ALE (auto Beam/Reinforcement

remesh) (long 1-D)

The numerical methods accessible for the three products: cover essentially all possible areas of applications appropriate of explicit simulation. The table below shows the
methods available for these products currently through the ANSYS Workbench platform. It is anticipated that the range of methods offered by each product will be extended
over time.

Efficiency Tools available through the interactive user interfaces offered by Explicit STR and AUTODYN

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ANSYS explicit dynamics solutions offer a powerful collection of tools for increasing productivity, reducing the effort to set-up, run and analyze simulations, increasing
accuracy, reducing simulation time and in general making the engineer/scientists job easier and more enjoyable. The list below contains just a few of the numerous tools
available to the user.
Tool
Interactive problem set-up
(pre-processing) solution
and analysis (post-
processing)
Intuitive User Interface
Safe default values
Remapping in space
Remapping solution
method
Import of data from
Geographic Information
System (GIS) services
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Explicit Dynamics Features
Description Picture
Working interactively with a graphical user interface, as
compared to preparing a text input file makes it easy and
convenient to immediately identify and correct bad input
values, thus resulting in a working solution in the shortest
possible time.
The user interface is set up to guide the user through the
set-up process such that it can be done in the most
efficient sequence, so as an example selecting materials
from the material library at the beginning of the set-up,
enables the program to offer a choice from the preloaded
materials when “filling” a part with material.
The majority of input values have a save default value,
making it easy for users to quickly set-up and run a
problem without a great deal of effort. If the default values
are not best suited for a specific problem their vale can be
overridden at any time.
High resolution fast running 1-D problems can be
mapped into 2-D or 3-D, enabling highly accurate results
to be created extremely fast. The remapping is
accomplished with just a few clicks of the mouse. 3-D
problems can also be remapped into 3-D for extending
the physical size of the problem.
The solution method for a part can be changed when the
problem requires a different methodology. In the example
to the right a 2-D axis-symmetric Euler solution is mapped
into a 3-D Lagrange solution enabling the simulation of an
oblique impact. Running this problem in 3-D with the
same result resolution and accuracy would require 1,000
times as much computer time.
For modeling large city structures information from a GIS
data base can be imported, making the creation of a
mesh and solution space virtually automatic. Manual set-
up of this type of a problem would make it totally
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Mass scaling
Dezoning
Part activation
part deactivation
addition/removal
Erosion
Natural Fragmentation
Advanced Post-Processing
ANSYS provides a comprehensive set of post-processing tools to display results on the models as contours or vector plots, provide summaries of the results (like min/max
values and locations). Powerful and intuitive slicing techniques allow the user to get more detailed results over given parts of the geometries. All the results can also be
exported as text data or to a spreadsheet for further calculations. Animations are provided for static cases as well as for nonlinear or transient histories. Any result or boundary
condition can be used to create customized charts.
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Explicit Dynamics Features
unpractical.
Mass is artificially added to individual elements to ensure
their timestep is at least equal to a user defined value.
This is a valuable technique for problems with a limited
number of small elements. A contour plot of the time step
for each element enables quick identification of the scope
of the problem and whether this technique is practical and
safe.
Parts using the Euler solver can be “dezoned” increasing
the size of each element and reducing the number of
elements. This process tool provides a way to increase
the computational speed during the later stages of a
calculation when less resolution might be required.
During the solution process the problem can be viewed
interactively. It is possible to stop the calculation, add or
remove parts and resume. Parts can also be “deactivated”
so they visually remain part of the problem but are no
longer included in the calculations. During problem setup,
an activation time can also be used to activate a part at a
specific time. These techniques allow for faster
computations with very little user intervention.
Erosion is a numerical method to eliminate elements that
have become degenerate, or have caused the time step to
be reduced below a minimum value. Erosion criteria can
be based on minimum time step values, strain or material
failure. The eroded element can optionally be retained as
a point mass, enabling more accurate momentum
conservation and potential loading from the eroded
nodes.
Natural fragmentation provides a statistical way to model
failure due to impurities. This technique is invaluable
when modeling symmetrical parts under uniform strain,
where normally all elements would fail at the same time.
Natural fragmentation introduces minor variance in the
failure criteria randomly in the elements that make up the
part, resulting in “natural fragmentation.”
View Larger Image View Larger Image View Larger Image
Contour plots on bodies Results can be displayed on any part of the geometry Path plot
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Automatic report generation

ANSYS lets you explore your design in multiple ways. All the results you get must then be efficiently documented. ANSYS will provide you instantaneous report generation to
gather all input data specifications, material models used and a copy of all the pictures and graphs that were generated in the set-up and post-processing of the model in a
convenient format (HTML, MS Word, MS PowerPoint).

Sample Report PDF

Solving large and complex models efficiently

ANSYS explicit dynamics solutions offer a comprehensive set of tools that facilitate the reduction of the solution time and the increase in accuracy of the results generated.
Parallel processing through the use of domain decomposition can reduce the solution time for large problems. Parallel solutions can be used with any computer
configuration, such as multi-core, multi CPU or networked computers.

Domain decomposition of a model w ith performance improvements as a function

on the number
of processors used

Solution Customization, Open Architecture

ANSYS explicit dynamics solutions offer an open architecture enabling customers to extend the standard capabilities of the program easily and conveniently. Customization
capabilities through user defined subroutines are available for a list of functions, such as materials equation of state material failure model, erosion model, strength model,
boundary conditions, input and output functions and many more. Templates are provided for all user definable subroutines with documentation on how they can be used, the
variables available for use and the variables that must be defined within the subroutine.

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