Exploring The Potential For Scripting With Simulation In Engineering Education – Practical Examples Using Python And Ansys

The ability to use scripting tools to harness the power of complex engineering software is not only critical for research and industry, but also offers opportunities for student learning and development. This paper covers two ways in which undergraduate engineering students have been exposed to Ansys simulation tools to be controlled from Python programs. A pilot series of ‘CodeFests’ have been held in partnership with university engineering departments, offering a fun way for students to engage with Python coding while exploring the power of scripting to optimise or iterate on solutions. These have used the PyMAPDL structural simulation library, leveraging students’ existing understanding of mechanical engineering problems to provide a ‘way in’. Students tackled simple mechanical challenges, but with a twist – such as an optimisation requirement which would be beyond manual ability to solve in the time available. In parallel, the potential for scripting tools to provide ‘lab in a box’ type experiences harnessing the most powerful simulation tools has been investigated. A basic prototype to replicate a fluids lab exercise involving a cylinder in a wind tunnel was created inside a Jupyter Lab running Ansys Fluent through the PyFluent library. This provided a simple, customizable way for students to interact with a ‘lab’ powered by simulation, without needing to teach them the Ansys Fluent interface and controls first. Both these projects show the potential for harnessing simulation power further in engineering education through scripting methods, to engage and empower the engineers of tomorrow.