Lesson 2: ANSYS Interface

This chapter shows how to use AnyBody features to apply boundary conditions to a Finite Element Model generated in ANSYS. This is current work in progress; we assume the workflow will be even smoother in the future. You need an additional add-on to the AnyBody Modeling System to run this tutorial. This is needed to convert the AnyBody output to ANSYS APDL code. Please get it from the AnyBody Technology webpage.

The model we will have a look at is a clavicle midshaft fracture. We will analyze the muscle forces acting on the clavicle during lifting his arm and analyze the stress in the implant. The standard Standing model taken from the AMMRV1.1 will be used. The basic general workflow is shown the figure below.

Here we will focus on the link between AnyBody and ANSYS. So we assume we have a “ready to go” Finite Element model which basically only lacks its boundary conditions. (This model could be e.g. generated from medical image data. The AnyBody model has to be scaled to fit to the actual case (it can be beneficial to import the .stl file of the bone in question into the AMS to scale the model accordingly. Please note, the bone will not actually change the musculoskeletal system if you don’t change the model definition). Please refer to scaling tutorial for details on this matter.)

In this tutorial we will use a bone derived from a standard scaled AnyBody model, so no scaling has to be applied here.

Let’s start with the AnyBody part. We have to make sure the two models in the two systems are aligned. The idea is to include local reference frames in both systems which will be used for all further data transfer. Open the Standing model from the AMMRV1.1, or better make a copy of the whole model folder and use this one. For convenience we will reduce the model detail by excluding the left arm and switching off the muscles in all body parts, except the right arm. This is done in the BodyPartsSetup.any file. Next we define the local ref frame on the clavicle. All forces will be later exported with respect to this coordinate system. You can either use a pre-defined reference system in the AMS or create a new one. The following lines create a new node located in the Sternoclavicular joint:

AnySeg &RiArm = Main.HumanModel.BodyModel.Right.ShoulderArm.Seg.Clavicula;
RiArm ={
    AnyRefNode localrefframe={
    sRel = {0,0,0};
    // ARel = RotMat(0.5*pi,x);
    AnyDrawRefFrame drws = {ScaleXYZ = {1,1,1}*0.3;RGB={0,0,1};};
};

Include them e.g. in the Environment file. After reload of the model the reference frame is shown

Next, we have to define the same local coordinate system in the ANSYS model. Download the prepared ANSYS file here and save it in your working directory. In the Mechanical APDL (ANSYS) environment (ANSYS Classic), a simple way to do so is to modify the location of the work plane. Once the work plane is in place create a local coordinate system at the workplane origin and give it the number 1000. (In fact you can give it any number, but we have to refer to the coordinate system later, so we have to know its name). Load the clavicular_base.db in the Mechanical APDL (ANSYS) environment and have a look.

This shows the clavicle model, which contains a midshaft fracture, modeled with a reduced stiffness and treated with a plate fixation.

Next we want to analyze the forces in the AMS. Change the Mannequin file to create the desired motion. We want to analyze a simple lifting case, so all we specify is flexion in the shoulder joint. Open the Mannequin file and look for the PostureVel folder. Change the Glenohumeral flexion value to 150/Main.Study.tEnd, this determines the joint velocity necessary to reach 150 degree flexion taking into account the simulation time.

AnyFolder Right = {
    //Arm

    AnyVar SternoClavicularProtraction=0; //This value is not used for initial position
    AnyVar SternoClavicularElevation=0; //This value is not used for initial position
    AnyVar SternoClavicularAxialRotation=0; //This value is not used for initial position
    AnyVar GlenohumeralFlexion =150/Main.Study.tEnd;

We also want to alter the initial starting position for the motion, enter the Posture position folder and make the changes indicated below.

AnyFolder Right = {
    //Arm
    AnyVar SternoClavicularProtraction=-23; //This value is not used for initial position
    AnyVar SternoClavicularElevation=11.5; //This value is not used for initial position
    AnyVar SternoClavicularAxialRotation=-20; //This value is not used for initial position
    AnyVar GlenohumeralFlexion =0;
    AnyVar GlenohumeralAbduction = 7;
    AnyVar GlenohumeralExternalRotation = 0;
    AnyVar ElbowFlexion = 5.0;
    AnyVar ElbowPronation = -60.0;

We want this motion to be done in 10 seconds and analyze 5 time steps. This can be set in the main file. Search the Study folder and change the end time of the study to 10 seconds and the number of time steps to 5.

AnyBodyStudy Study = {
    AnyFolder &Model = .Model;
    tEnd = 10.0;
    Gravity = {0.0, -9.81, 0.0};
    nStep = 5;

Now we have to specify which forces we want to export to the FE model. For this we make use of the Class inserter. Place you cursor in the Study folder in the main file, below the code shown above and select the Classes tab on the left side of the main file window. Search for the class named AnyMechOutputFileForceExport right click on it and choose Insert class template. This will insert the class necessary for force export.

AnyMechOutputFileForceExport <ObjectName> =
{
    FileName = "";
    /*NumberFormat =
    {
        Digits = 15;
        Width = 22;
        Style = ScientificNumber;
        FormatStr = "";
    };*/
    //UseRefFrameOnOff = Off;
    //AllSegmentsInStudyOnOff = Off;
    //XMLformatOnOff = Off;
    //AnyRefFrame &<Insert name0> = <Insert object reference (or full object definition)>; You can make any number of these objects!
    //AnySeg &<Insert name0> = <Insert object reference (or full object definition)>; You can make any number of these objects!
};

Create a folder in your Standing model folder named files_in and one called files_out. This will be used to store the FE files. Change the class as shown below. These definitions specify that all forces acting on the segment Clavicula will be written in the xml file clavload. The UseRefFrameOnOff option allows giving a reference frame in which all forces are reported. Switch the option on and name the ref frame (the one we created before). You can find the path to the ref frame by browsing the model tree on the left side of the main file window to the right clavicle and right click Insert object name.

AnyMechOutputFileForceExport FE_out =
{
    FileName = "files_in/clavload.xml";
    UseRefFrameOnOff = On;
    AnyRefFrame &ref1 =
    Main.HumanModel.BodyModel.Right.ShoulderArm.Seg.Clavicula.localrefframe;
    AllSegmentsInStudyOnOff = Off;
    XMLformatOnOff = On;
    //AllSegmentsInStudyOnOff = Off;
    AnySeg &clav = Main.HumanModel.BodyModel.Right.ShoulderArm.Seg.Clavicula;
};

This class will write all the muscle and joint forces for all time steps in one xml file. Please create a folder names files_in in your Application folder. We need one more step to convert the xml file to ANSYS APDL language. An additional add-on to the AnyBody Modeling System is necessary to do so. This tool is available at the AnyBody Technology webpage. Save the files in your model folder. In these files, an executable is included that will translate the xml code to APDL and a template for the APDL specification. You can call this code either by a shell prompt or from inside AnyBody. You can use the class AnyOperationShellExec for this. The names for the executable, its working directory and the options for the call of the exe file have to be given. The options specify the input file (-i) and the output file folder (-o). The –t option gives a template for the APDL conversion. Please adjust the path corresponding to your setup and insert this code below the study folder:

AnyOperationShellExec ConvertToAPDL={
    Show=On;
    FileName = "AnyFE2APDL.exe";
    Arguments = "-i ..\files_in\clavload.xml -o ..\files_out -t ..\APDLTemplate.txt";
    WorkDir="C:\Users\sd.ANYBODY\TEMP\AMMRV1.2\AMMRV1.2\Application\Examples\StandingModel\Converter";
};

The basic procedure of the conversion is:

• Create local coordinate systems for each muscle insertion and joint point

• Apply forces to the points

• Create beam connections between the force application points and the bone surface

Let’s have a closer look at the APDL template. Open the APDLTemplate.txt file in a text editor. It is structured in three sections, a head string, a tail string and a final string. The first string contains basic definitions, the second applies the forces and creates the beam connections for each force point, the third gives some solution options and a solve command. The file is created in a way that it assumes the local coordinate name in which all forces are given is named 1000, and the material numbers of implant and fracture are between 50 and 60. The template can be altered to fit to your actual problem. One thing you have to change right now is the path to your FE model.

RESUME,'clav_base','db','C:\Users\sd.ANYBODY\TEMP\Clavicle_paper\FE\',0,0

Please include the path to your model.

Now we are ready to run the analysis and convert the data. Reload the model in the AMS. Select RunApplication in the Operations tree. This will automatically run the Calibration and InverseDynamics studies. Next select ConvertToAPDL and run it. This will create 5 files in the files_out folder written in APDL language.

Open ANSYS Mechanical Utility and read the input of each individual file with File-Read input from. This will load the model, apply the boundary conditions and start to solve. Once finished post-process the results.

Alternatively you can run all models in one go by reading in the outputfileList file. Each loadstep will be written in a new result file. You can look at the results by loading them one on one in the post-processor.