The complexity of modern-day problems in mechanical engineering makes relying on pure theory or pure experiment impractical at best and time-consuming and unwieldy at worst. And for a large class of engineering problems writing computer codes from scratch is seldom found in practice. Use of reputable, trustworthy software can save time, effort, and resources while still providing reliable results. Finite Elements Simulations Using ANSYS focuses on the application of this design software in solving practical engineering problems. The book presents fundamental knowledge of numerical simulation using ANSYS. It covers all disciplines in mechanical engineering: structure, solid mechanics, vibration, heat transfer, and fluid dynamics, with adequate background material to explain the physics behind the computations. The author treats each physical phenomenon independently, enabling readers to single out subjects or related chapters and study them as self-contained units. Because a finite element solution is greatly affected by the quality of the mesh, a separate chapter on mesh generation is included as a simple meshing guide, emphasizing the basics. Each chapter contains a number of pictorially guided problems with appropriate screenshots that provide a step-by-step, easy-to-follow technical demonstration. The book includes end-of-chapter problems, several practical, open-ended case studies, and a number of complete tutorials on using ANSYS to resolve the issues engineers tackle on a regular basis. Instructors can liberally select appropriate chapters to be covered depending on the objectives of the course. The author first explains multiphysics analyses, such as structure-thermal or fluid-thermal analyses, in terms of theory, then derives the equations governing the physical phenomena and presents modeling techniques. Many of the sample problems, questions, and solved examples were used in CAD courses in many universities around the world. They cover structural analysis, solid mechanics and vibration, steady-state and transient heat-transfer analysis, fluid dynamics, multiphysics simulations, and modeling and meshing. Written and organized so that it can easily be used for self-study, this book guides readers through the basic modeling requirements to the correct and physically meaningful numerical result.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. The Finite Element Method. Element Types. Symmetries in Models. Introduction to ANSYS. Trusses. Development of Bar Elements. Analyzing a Bar-Truss Structure. Development of Horizontal Beam Elements. Analyzing of Horizontal Beam Structure. Beam Truss Structure Under a Transient Loading. Solid Mechanics & Vibration. Development of Plane Stress-Strain Elements. Stress Concentration of a Plate with a Hole. Displacement Analysis of a Vessel. Three Dimensional Stress Analysis of I-Beam. Contact Element Analysis of Two Beams. Vibration Analysis. Modal Vibration for a Plate with Holes. Harmonic Vibration for a Plate with Holes. Higher Order Elements. Heat Transfer. Introduction to Heat Conduction. Finite Element for Heat Transfer. Thermal Analysis for Fin and Chip. Unsteady Thermal Analyses of Fin. Phase Change Heat Transfer. Fluid Mechanics. Governing Equations for Fluid Mechanics. Finite Element for Fluid Mechanics. Flow Development in a Channel. Flow Over a Cylinder. Multi-Physics. Introduction. Thermal and Structural Analysis of a Thermo-Couple. Chips Cooling in a Forced Convection Domain. Natural Convection Flow in a Square Enclosure. Oscillations of a Square Heated Cylinder in a Channel. Meshing Guide. Mesh Refinement. Element Distortion. Mapped Meshes. Mapped Meshes with ANSYS.