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ANSYS V13 New Feature: Variable Thickness
In the previous versions we can only define constant thickness for one surface body, regardless how many faces the surface body has, that is, Thickness definition under Details panel:
In V13 we get more flexibility and we can define different thickness for different faces within a surface body as well as define variable thickness for one or more faces of surface bodies. In order to do so, we have to insert a Thickness object from the Geometry Toolbar or choose Insert -> Thickness:
In the details view, we can apply scoping to selected faces of surface body or apply scoping directly surface bodies. The Thickness object overwrites any element that is scoped to the selected faces that has thickness defined in the Details view of the Surface Body object. Define the thickness as a constant (default), with a table, or with a function:
If we define the thickness with a table or with a function, we have to choose Coordinate System and Independent Variable. We can only have one independent variable.
The variable thickness can be presented in a contour plot. After generating mesh, the variable can also be virtualized:
If we create a local CS which is rotated from the global CS and define a variable thickness based on the local CS, it compensates to some extent the limitation of only one independent variable:
