It is roughly enough to simulate:
If you can run your simulation on a student license, do it. If the solver refuses to run because you hit the 32k node limit, congratulations—you have graduated to a real-world engineering problem. That is the exact moment you know you need the full power of commercial ANSYS. difference between ansys student and ansys
Your model requires a finer mesh than the 32k node limit. It is roughly enough to simulate: If you
If you design a part in Student and want to 3D print it based on your optimized topology optimization result, you cannot export the STL file from the Student version. You are locked in a walled garden. Your model requires a finer mesh than the 32k node limit
But Maya was clever. She used the Student version’s full CAD import and its robust structural solver. She built a smaller section of the bridge—a representative slice—and tested it thoroughly. She saw the deflection, the stress hotspots, and the fundamental frequency.
The wasn't the laws of physics. Both versions used the same core solver. Both could do linear static, modal, and steady-state thermal.
The choice between ANSYS Student and ANSYS depends on your specific needs and goals. Here are some guidelines to help you decide: