JEE350 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

Introduction to Rhino

This tutorial is designed to provide an introduction to the CAD software, Rhinoceros and its use in
creating compatible geometry for use in ANSYS Mechanical.

Developing geometry is the first stage in FE analysis. It is important to create geometry that
accurately represents the structural problem being investigated. Rhinoceros is a NURBS surface
modeller which provides basic and simple modelling capability which can be easily imported and
exported in a number of formats for analysis.

This tutorial will cover 1D, 2D and 3D modelling in Rhinoceros, exporting using IGES format,
importing into ANSYS and troubleshooting common problems. Exporting of solids from Autodesk
Inventor will also be covered.

The Australian Maritime College is an institute of the University of Tasmania

 JEE350 Finite Element Analysis
Interface

Viewports: Standard view is shown below, each can be maximised by double clicking on the view
port name.

Command Bar: The MOST important tool when using Rhino. Allows text entry of commands
and feedback of requirements for each command

Drawing Tools: Used to create geometry. There are many submenus within these tools. Click and
hold on a menu with a small white arrow to access more options.

Viewing and Selection Tools: Used to edit views and select various geometry types.

Cursor Coordinates: Shows cursors current coordinates when placed within a viewport

Snap Settings: Settings for cursor snapping

Command Bar View and Selection tools

Drawing Tools

Cursor Coordinates Snap Settings

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1D Modelling

Introduction

1D geometry consists of lines and points and is used to model objects that consist mainly of long
thin members such as a truss bridge or a bike frame.

Create Geometry

Construct this geometry of a table with lines within Rhino and export to ANSYS

1. Create a polyline using the command bar

Select which window you wish to draw in by clicking within it (for this step choose TOP)

Click on the polyline symbol and read the command bar

Type the starting coordinates for the line (0,0,0) then press enter

Type the end coordinates for the line (0,0,500) then press enter

Press enter again to finish the line

2. Resize the window

Resize all windows by right clicking on the zoom extents button

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3. Set the OSnap settings

Activate the OSnap by clicking on it. Select the following options:

4. Create a line using the length option

Click on the polyline button

In the Right viewport hover over the top of the line until it reads end

Click and then type the length of the line into the command bar (2000)

Note the line is now a fixed length

Hold shift to activate orthogonal mode and move the line to the correct location then click
to create the line

Press enter to finish

5. Create the middle leg

Use the same technique in previous step to snap to the midpoint and create the middle leg

6. Finish creating the model

Use the techniques shown to complete the model

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Exporting for ANSYS

For lines to connect they must start or finish at a common point. This means this long arm
will not connect with the middle leg.

1. Use the split command to create two lines

Click on the split tool to start

Select the object to split (long line), then press enter

Select the cutting object (middle leg), then press enter

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2. Use the explode command

Each polyline must only have a single segment.

The example below will not export correctly as is has two segments.

Select the entire model using Ctrl + A

Click on the explode button

This will split all segments into individual lines

3. Remove Duplicates

Duplicate lines can cause problems in the exporting process

Remove them by clicking and holding on the select button and clicking Select duplicate
objects

Then press delete

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4. Export Files

Select the model by pressing Ctrl + A

Select File > Export Selected

Change Save as Type to IGES (*.igs, *iges)

Give model a useful name eg. todaysdate_table

Press Save

5. Change Export Options

Expand detailed controls

Change the options to match the ones below

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Import into ANSYS

1. Open ANSYS Product Launcher

Start > All Programs > NCMEH > ANSYS 13.0 > Mechanical APDL Product Launcher

Change the license type to Teaching

Change the working directory to a folder you wish to use

Give the file a useful job name

Press Run

2. Import the IGES file

File > Import > IGES

Use the following options as there are no solids or areas in the model:

Use the default tolerances

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3. Check your file for problems

Each line should have a start point, an end point and a line number

For lines to connect they must share a point number

Turn on numbering:

PlotCrtls > Numbering

Select Keypoint Numbers and Line Numbers

Your model should look like this:

Task

Go to T:\JEE350\Rhino workshop

Copy the file bridgetask.3dm to your working directory and open

Identify problems with the file

Fix them then export to ANSYS

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2D Modelling

Introduction

2D geometry consists of areas and is used to model thin flat objects such as ships hulls.

Create Geometry

Using base geometry of the table from before create two attached open boxes

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1. Creating surface using 4 points

Select Surface from 3 or 4 points

Click on each of the four corners of the top of the table to create the surface
Your model should now look like this:

2. Creating surface using sweep

Sweep is one of the most useful tools when creating stiffeners especially on a curved
surface. We will use sweep to create the end of the box.

Click and hold on the create surface menu then select Sweep 2 Rails

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Read the command bar then select the first rail (leg 1)

Select the second rail (leg 2)

Select the cross section (curve between two legs), then enter and OK

3. Creating surface using edge curves

Create a line at the other end of the box joining the bottom of the two legs

Click and hold on the create surface menu then select Surface from 2, 3 or 4 edge curves

Select the curves enclosing the end to create the surface

Your table should now look like this:

4. Create the rest of the surfaces required

Finish the boxes using any of the methods already shown

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Exporting to ANSYS

1. Remove curves

The curves are no longer necessary for the model.

Select all curves using the Select Curves tool then press delete

2. Split Surfaces

For surfaces to connect they must share a common line.

The bottom surface does not share an edge with the split in the middle

It must be split into two smaller areas for this to occur

Using the split tool, split the bottom surface

3. Export to ANSYS

Using the same methodology for 1D geometry export to ANSYS

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4. Check your file for problems

Turn on area numbering

PlotCrtls > Numbering > Area Numbers

Each area should be joined by a single line to another

Each line should be joined by a single point to another

Task

Go to T:\JEE350\Rhino workshop

Copy the file grillage.3dm to your working directory and open

Split the areas within the grillage to ensure that each area is joined by a single line

Export to ANSYS and check your working

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3D Modelling
3D is used when neither 1D nor 2D models will be able to effectively capture the models response.
Rhino is effective for simple shapes however you may struggle with more complex geometries.
For more complex geometries Autodesk Inventor can be used but this can limit functionality in
ANSYS, but will simplify importing.

Using Inventor
Create Geometry

Create a cube with the dimensions of 100mm x 100mm x 100mm.

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Extrude a 25 mm diameter hole through one face of the cube using the hole tool.

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Export to ANSYS

1. Export to CAD format

2. Use Parasolid text file (*.x_t)

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3. Import to ANSYS using PARA

4. Imported parasolids are presented differently to other geometries

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Using Rhinoceros
Alternatively the following method may be used for importing from Rhinoceros:

Create Geometry
Using base geometry of the boxes we will create a single volume.

1. Remove the central divider within the boxes

2. Create two surfaces closing the box

Export to ANSYS

1. Export to ANSYS using the previously shown method

2. When importing change the settings to the ones shown below

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Checklist for exporting from Rhino to ANSYS

RHINO

Export using IGES 144 format

Always use object snap tool to ensure connection
Explode all components before exporting
Split all lines to ensure each line is only connected at a point
Split all areas to ensure they are joined by a single line
Remove duplicates using Select Duplicates

ANSYS

Check for double lines by turning numbering on for points and lines
All lines must be connected using common points
All areas must be connected using common points and lines
All volumes must be connected using common points and lines and areas
If something looks wrong it probably is

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