ANSYS Workbench Preprocessing Speed Boost! Mesh Batch Connections One-Click Shell/Beam/Solid Element Connections

1. About Batch Connections

In ANSYS Workbench, for connections between model parts, we use various methods. For example, shared topology is the most commonly used method, which can achieve shared nodes between different parts. We can also use contact relationship settings between parts, such as bonded contact, and connection joint functions in Joint, such as the Fixed joint function.

In fact, in addition to the methods above, you can also use the Batch Connections function in Mesh. It can batch connect model elements by establishing mesh connections between them, effectively improving our preprocessing efficiency. This function can be enabled in Mesh by setting Mesh – Batch Connections – Mesh Based Connection to Yes.

2. Case Study

Here is an assembly model, a steel structure platform. The four bottom column supports are beam elements, the platform is a shell element, and the steel structure on the platform is beam elements. This type of beam-shell mixed element model is quite common. After modeling in SpaceClaim, shared topology operation is not applied to the model.

After entering the structural statics module in ANSYS Workbench, boundary conditions are applied to the model: fixed constraints on the bottom of the columns, and a horizontal distributed force load on the top of the steel structure on the platform. The mechanical response of the entire structure under horizontal force is calculated.

Since shared topology operation was not applied to the model, nor were contact relationships between parts set, all the degrees of freedom of these parts are unconstrained, which will result in rigid body motion.

Therefore, after solving, an error will be reported!

Looking at the error message, it clearly tells us that rigid body motion has occurred.

Precisely because the parts in the model were not connected, and the degrees of freedom were not constrained, once the calculation started, each part flew apart, and the calculation exited with an error. It is still necessary to connect these parts together. So here, we can try using the

Batch Connections function.

We can open Mesh, set Mesh Based Connection to Yes, and enable this function.

Then, create a new Connect through Mesh – Insert. Use this Connect function to connect these parts in the model.

In this Connect, simply select all parts. There are also other connection setting methods in Definition, but here we keep the default settings.

After meshing, you can see that connections are established between mesh nodes of different parts, similar to a shared node approach.

The calculation is completed and the results are obtained. For this type of model, if there are a large number of beam, shell, or solid elements, you can try using the Batch Connections function in Mesh. It is a mesh-based method for connecting various parts, a relatively effective and efficient approach worth trying.