Ansys for Student – Free CFD Software

Ansys Student is a free simulation software for education. It provides complimentary access to a suite of engineering simulation software, including Ansys Mechanical, Ansys CFD, Ansys Discovery, Ansys SPEOS, Ansys Autodyn, Ansys optiSLang, and Ansys SpaceClaim, all within the Ansys Workbench environment. This globally utilized program helps students develop expertise in leading industry tools.

Beginning with the 2023R1 release, the Ansys educational version now incorporates Ansys Discovery.  This intuitive simulation-driven design tool seamlessly integrates rapid physics simulations, high-fidelity Ansys analysis, and interactive CAD modeling.  Ideal for beginners, Discovery facilitates learning fundamental physics concepts without the steep learning curve of complex simulation software.

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Figure (1) Ansys Student which works with this product, Source: ansys.com

Ansys Student Limitations

Ansys Student is a free simulation software for education. The Ansys free student version is exclusively for educational purposes, such as coursework, student projects, and student presentations, so it has limitations.

The ANSYS Student version has several limitations that users should be aware of. Firstly, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models support a maximum of 512,000 cells/nodes, while the structural analysis package allows up to 32,000 nodes. Additionally, users can only utilize up to 4 cores, as the student version does not support multi-core processing beyond this limit. Regarding system requirements, the software must be installed on a workstation-class, 64-bit Intel or AMD system running Windows 10, with a minimum of 4 GB of RAM, 50 GB of hard drive space, and a physical C:/ drive. Furthermore, a professional workstation-class 3D graphics card that is OpenGL-capable is necessary. Lastly, regarding element limitations, the ANSYS Student version supports only up to 64,000 3D elements.

Here is a table summarizing the information provided by ansys.com about problem size limits for various Ansys Academic products:

Product/Mode	Structural Physics Limitations	Fluid Physics Limitations	Geometry Limitations	Contacts Limitations	Rigid/Flex Bodies Limitations	HPC Support
Ansys Student and Discovery (Refine Mode)	128K nodes/elements	1 million cells/nodes	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ansys SPEOS	N/A	N/A	Up to 50 bodies and 300 faces, 32K triangles	N/A	N/A	No Live Preview, No GPU compute
Ansys Motion	N/A	N/A	N/A	25K triangular patches	50	N/A
Ansys HPC (High-Performance Computing)	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Up to 4 CPU cores of HPC solutions and 40 SMs of GPU computing on Fluent

Table (1) problem size limits of ansys student, Based on the information on ansys.com

Notes:

• No Geometry Export: This limitation applies to all products listed.
• Ansys Student and Discovery (Refine Mode): This mode has restrictions on structural and fluid physics simulations.
• Ansys SPEOS: This product has limitations on geometry complexity and does not support live preview or GPU computing.
• Ansys Motion: This product has restrictions on contact patches and the number of rigid/flexible bodies.
• Ansys HPC: This product offers support for high-performance computing on Fluent.

CFD Free Download

Ansys free student versions have not been limited, there are three models of Ansys Student software which is available for download.

• Ansys LS-DYNA Student for Free

Figure (2) Ansys LS-DYNA Student that works with this product, Source: ansys.com

Ansys LS-DYNA Student provides free access to a leading explicit finite element analysis software with a size limitation of 128k nodes/elements. Ansys LS-PrePost and Ansys LS-Run allow students to model the behavior of materials under intense, short-duration loads. Students can simulate material failure and observe its progression within components or systems. Applications include automotive, aerospace, incompressible fluids, compressible fluids, shock waves, electromagnetics, and more.

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• Ansys SCADE Student for Free

Ansys SCADE Student is free software for creating critical embedded software. It helps manage requirements, design, simulate, verify, and generate code, and works with other tools.

SCADE is often used for flight and engine control systems, landing gear systems, automatic pilots, emergency braking systems, electronic power steering in cars, and much more.

• Ansys Electronics Desktop Student for Free

Figure (3) Ansys Electronics Desktop Student that works with this product, Source: ansys.com

Ansys Electronics Desktop Student offers free access to the industry gold-standard Ansys simulators for work with antenna, RF, microwave, PCB, IC, and IC package designs, along with electromechanical devices such as electric motors and generators. Students will have access to Ansys HFSS, Ansys Maxwell, Ansys Q3D, Ansys Icepak, Ansys Twin Builder, and Ansys Circuit, allowing design work on a broad range of electrical and electromechanical systems. The following table (2) shows the student can use the specific Ansys for what type of project.

Software	Description
Ansys HFSS	Multipurpose, full-wave 3D electromagnetic (EM) simulation software
Ansys Maxwell	3D electromagnetic simulation solver for electric machines and electromechanical devices
Ansys Q3D Extractor	Calculates parasitic RLCG parameters for electronic designs
Ansys Icepak	Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver for electronics thermal management
Ansys Twin Builder	The platform for creating virtual models for predictive maintenance and optimization

Table (2) Ansys Electronics Desktop Student categories, Based on the information on ansys.com

Conclusion

In summary, Ansys Student provides a robust platform for aspiring engineers and students eager to gain hands-on experience in simulation technology. With access to an impressive suite of tools tailored for various engineering disciplines, including mechanical, fluid dynamics, and electronics, students can develop critical skills essential for future industry careers.

However, it is important to recognize the software’s inherent limitations, such as restrictions on node counts and computational resources. While necessitated by the free educational model, these constraints still allow for meaningful experimentation and learning. Including tools like Ansys Discovery makes it easier for newcomers to grasp complex concepts in a user-friendly environment.

Additionally, the availability of specialized versions such as Ansys LS-DYNA, SCADE, and Electronics Desktop ensures that students can explore various engineering applications, from structural analysis to embedded software and electromagnetics.

Overall, Ansys Student is a valuable resource, empowering the next generation of engineers to innovate and excel in an increasingly competitive field.

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