1. PURPOSE / DESCRIPTION

To set a procedure to simulate propeller in ANSYS. (This follows an example with
APC 8×3.8 prop)
This procedure assumes that you have experience in ANSYS Workbench, Design Modeler, Meshing, and Fluent.
- If needed, go to EP-701 for resources to learn.
You are required to have a propeller CAD that is one body.

2. Design Modeler

First create a new project in Workbench and place down a Fluent Analysis System.
- You can work with component systems if that is preferred.
- Remember that you must Generate (F5) after each major step.

Open Design Modeler
File > Import External Geometry File…
- Import the CAD file of propeller.
- Operation = Add Frozen
Create > New Plane (or click )
- Type = From Centroid
- Base Entities = select the propeller
Create > Body Transformation > Move
- Move Type = By Plane
- Preserve Bodies? = No
- Source Plane = the plane created in the previous step
- Destination plane = XYPlane (or any other standard plane should work)
- Bodies = select the propeller
- This is to ensure that the propeller is centered on the origin of the grid.
Create > Delete > Face Delete
- Many prop CADs will have a hole in the hub, which is often unnecessary to keep for the simulation.
- Faces = select the faces that make up the hole in the hub (example shown below)
There are many other tools to clean up the geometry of the propeller. Individual research is needed.
Tools > Enclosure
- Shape = Cylinder
- Cylinder Alignment: Automatic or choose the correct axis aligned with the central axis of the prop
- Choose appropriate dimensions so that the cylinder fits tightly with the propeller
- Example:

Create > Delete > Body Delete
- Choose the propeller body inside the created enclosure
Tools > Enclosure
- Shape = Cylinder
- Cylinder Alignment = Automatic or choose the correct axis aligned with the central axis of the prop
- Choose appropriate dimensions to simulate the effects of the propeller.
- Example:
Create > Delete > Body Delete
- Choose the propeller body inside the created enclosure again.
Create > Slice
- Slice Type = Slice by Surface
- Target Face = select the cylindrical face of the 1^st enclosure (as shown below)
- Sliced Targets = Selected Bodies
- Bodies = select the 2^nd enclosure
- Bounded Surface = No
Create > Slice
- Slice Type = Slice by Plane
- Base Plane = select a plane that would slice the 2^nd enclosure along its diameter
- Slice Targets = Selected Bodies
- Bodies = make sure to select only the 2^nd enclosure
In the outline tree, select all the bodies that make up the 2^nd
- RCLK on them > Form New Part
Make sure that all the bodies are indeed Fluid and not Solid.
The end product should look similar to this:

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