ANSYS Basics Help: Is Meshing Necessary?

[ashishvinayak]

I've been studying ANSYS v11 from a book I bought online. I remember doing the same during my graduation. Now that I am studying in-depth I'd like to know why meshing is required (in more technical terms). Also, I am solving 2D truss related problems where I realize meshing is not done. However, when I checked online 2D truss tutorials suggest implementation of meshing. So what's the right answer? Is it necessary?

Ps. Additional question: I assumed that meshing is something which is attributed only to 3D members. Is this correct?

Please help.

 

[sisquet]

Hi!

about meshing, you can do 1D meshing (if you are working in beams) 2D or 3D

I'm not good at ansys, but I've found that preprocessor in Ansys is somehow messy and difficult to get used to. I use a magnificent preprocessor called Ansa (I use one of latest versions, 13.1. If you google around you can find it easy, and the good thing about it, is that has capabilities of beeing preprocessor for Ansys, Abaqus, Nastran, Pam crash, etc etc etc

 

[ashishvinayak]

I could use that but that wasn't my question really. I'd like to know when meshing should be used and when it should not be used ?

 

[Thermalne]

Meshing is required for all simulations using Finite Element Analysis. You will have to use meshing whenever you try and use programs that use FEA.

Some info on FEA http://www.sv.vt.edu/classes/MSE2094_NoteBook/97ClassProj/num/widas/history.html
and the wikipedia article. (Check the references)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_element_method

 

[alphy]

As a scientist familiar with ANSYS, I can provide some insight into the necessity of meshing in this software. Meshing is a crucial step in the finite element method, which is the numerical technique used by ANSYS to solve engineering problems. Meshing involves dividing a complex geometry into smaller, simpler elements in order to solve for the behavior of the system at each element, and then combining the results to obtain a solution for the entire system. In simpler terms, meshing allows ANSYS to break down a complex problem into smaller, solvable parts.

In the case of 2D truss problems, meshing may not be necessary because the geometry is relatively simple and can be solved using analytical methods. However, as the complexity of the geometry increases, such as in 3D structures or non-linear problems, meshing becomes essential for obtaining accurate results.

To answer your additional question, meshing is not limited to 3D structures. It is also necessary for 2D problems, such as the 2D truss you mentioned. In fact, the type of mesh used (2D or 3D) depends on the type of problem being solved and the desired level of accuracy.

In summary, while meshing may not always be necessary for simple problems, it is a crucial step in ANSYS for obtaining accurate results in complex engineering problems. I recommend continuing to study and practice meshing techniques in order to fully utilize the capabilities of ANSYS.