MAPDL Intro 13.0 L11 Postprocessing

Customer Training Material
Lecture 11
Postprocessing
Introduction to ANSYS
Mechanical APDL
ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary
2011 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
L11-1
Release 13.0
September 2011
Postprocessing
Overview
The MAPDL general postprocessor (/POST1) has wide range of

capabilities
This lecture will review post-processing tools that were not

discussed in other lectures
query picking
path operations
Variable Viewer
Results transformation, error estimation
Load case combination.

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Postprocessing
/POST1
/POST1 operates on one set of results at any time
To access a result set: General Postproc > Read Results
or use SET command
Set command activates a set of results data
reads the boundary conditions and results for a solution set from the
rst file into memory and stores them in the database
by default, the first result set is automatically read

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Postprocessing
Query Picking
Query picking probes the model for results (stresses, displacement,

etc.) at any picked location.
can also identify maximum and minimum values of the item being queried.
Available only through the GUI (no commands):

General Postproc > Query Results > Nodal or Element or Subgrid Solu
Choose results quantity > OK
PowerGraphics
ON

PowerGraphics
OFF
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Query Picking
Pick any location in the model to obtain results at that location

Min and Max will identify the value at the minimum and maximum points.
Use Reset to clear all values and start over.
Notice that the entity number, its location, and the results value are also
shown in the Picker.

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Results Coordinate System
All direction-dependent quantities, such as component stresses,

displacements, and reaction forces are reported in the results
coordinate system (RSYS).
RSYS defaults to 0 (global Cartesian).
/POST1 transforms all results to global Cartesian, including results at
rotated nodes.
In many situations it is more informative to review the results in

another coordinate system (e.g. cylindrical coordinate system for
pressure vessels).

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To change the results CS to a different system, use:

General Postproc > Options for Outp
or use RSYS command
All subsequent contour plots, listings, query picks, etc. will report the
values in that system.
Default orientation
RSYS,0
Local cylindrical
system RSYS,11
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Global cylindrical
system RSYS,1
Release 13.0
September 2011
Postprocessing
The RSYS,SOLU command sets the results coordinate system to

As calculated.
solution coordinate system
All subsequent contour plots, listings, query picks, etc. report

results in the nodal and element coordinate systems.
DOF results (displacements, reaction forces, etc.) will be in the nodal CS.
Element results (stresses, strains, etc.) will be in the element CS.
orientation of the element coordinate system depends on the element type
and the ESYS attribute of the element. Most solid elements default to the
global cartesian system
Not supported by PowerGraphics.

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Postprocessing
Path Operations
Path operations can be used to

map results data onto an arbitrary path through the model
perform mathematical operations along the path, including integration
and differentiation
display a path plot to visualize how a result item varies along the path
Available only for SOLID or SHELL elements.

Three steps required to produce a path plot:
Define a path
Map data onto the path
Plot the data

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Postprocessing
Define a Path
Activate the desired coordinate system (CSYS).
General Postproc > Path Operations > Define Path

Pick the nodes or WP locations that form the desired path > OK
Specify a path name.
Default values are generally used for nSets and nDiv
From
To

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Postprocessing
Map Data onto Path
General Postproc > Path Operations > Map onto Path

or use PDEF command
Choose desired quantity, such as SEQV.

Enter a label for the quantity- used on plots and listings.
can now display the path if needed.
General Postproc > Path Operations > Plot Paths
or issue /PBC,PATH,1 command followed by NPLOT or EPLOT

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Plot Path Data
Path data can be graphed

General Postproc > Path Operations > Plot Path Item > On Graph
or use PLPATH command
or plotted
General Postproc > Path Operations > Plot Path Item > On Geometry
or use PLPAGM command

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Other Path Operations
MAPDL allows multiple paths with unique name to be

defined, but only one path can be active at a time.
Other path capabilities include:
Stress linearization used in the pressure vessel industry
to decompose stress along a path into membrane and
bending components.
Calculus functions useful in thermal analyses to calculate
heat transmitted across a path.
Dot products and cross products useful in low frequency
electromagnetics to operate on vector quantities.

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Postprocessing
Error Estimation
The finite element solution calculates stresses on a per-element basis

stresses are individually calculated in each element.
Nodal stress plots are smooth contours because the calculated element
stresses are averaged at shared nodes.
Element stress plots are discontinuous, because the stresses are unaveraged
Difference between averaged and unaveraged stresses gives an indication of
how mesh quality
savg = 1100
basis for error estimation.
s = 1000
s = 1200
Elem 1
Elem 2
s = 1100
s = 1300
savg = 1200
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Postprocessing
Error Estimation
Error estimation is is valid only for:
linear static structural and linear steady-state thermal analyses

solid elements (2D and 3D) and shell elements
Full Graphics (not PowerGraphics)
If these conditions are not met, MAPDL automatically turns off error
estimation calculations.
To manually activate or deactivate error estimation: General Postproc

> Options for Outp
or use ERNORM,ON/OFF command

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Error Estimation
/POST1 calculates the following error measures.

Stress analysis:
percentage error in energy norm (SEPC)

element stress deviations (SDSG)
element energy error (SERR)
maximum and minimum stress bounds (SMXB, SMNB)
Thermal analysis:
percentage error in energy norm (TEPC)
element thermal gradient deviations (TDSG)
element energy error (TERR)

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Postprocessing
Percentage error in energy norm (SEPC)
SEPC is a rough estimate of the error (stress, displacement,

temperature, thermal flux, etc.) over the entire set of selected elements.
Can be used to compare similar models of similar structures subjected
to similar loadings.
SEPC is shown in the legend column of deformed shape displays.

Can be manually listed using
General Postproc > List Results > Percent Error.
or with PRERR command

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Postprocessing
SEPC
As a general rule of thumb, SEPC should

be less than 10%
SEPC = 35.149
If it is higher:
unselect element near point loads or other
stress singularities.
plot the element energy error. Elements
with high values of energy error are
candidates for mesh refinement.
SEPC = 3.484

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September 2011
Postprocessing
Element stress deviations (SDSG)
SDSG is a measure of the amount by which an elements stress differs

from the average stress at its nodes.
To plot SDSG contours: General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour
Plot > Element Solu...
or use PLESOL,SDSG command
A high value for SDSG is not necessarily bad, especially if it is a small

percentage of the nominal stresses in the structure.
for example, the plate-with-a-hole model shows only a 1.5% stress
deviation in the region of interest.
SDSG at location of interest = ~450 psi,

which is ~1.5% of ~30,000 psi nominal
stress
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Postprocessing
Element energy error (SERR)
SERR is the energy associated with the stress mismatches at the

nodes of the element. It is the basic error measure from which the
other error quantities are derived.
has units of energy.
To plot SERR contours: General Postproc > Plot Results > Contour
Plot > Element Solu
or use PLESOL,SERR command
Generally, the elements with the highest SERR are candidates for
mesh refinement, unless it occurs near stress singularities.

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Postprocessing
Stress bounds (SMXB and SMNB)
The stress bounds (SMXB and SMNB ) can help assess the effect of
mesh discretization error on the maximum stress.
They are displayed on stress contour plots in the legend column as
SMXB (upper bound) and SMNB (lower bound).
The bounds are not estimates of the actual maximum and minimum,
but they do define a confidence band.
if elements near stress singularities are active, the stress bounds may be
meaningless
unselect elements near stress singularities to achieve realistic stress
bounds

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September 2011
Postprocessing
Load Case Combinations
Whenever multiple load steps are solved, the results of each load step
are stored as separate sets on the results file
identified by load step number and referred to as load cases
A load case combination is an operation between two sets of results

operation occurs between the load case currently stored in the database
and another load case stored on the results file.
result of the operation (the combined load case ) is then stored in the
database.
Load case in database

(computer memory)

Load case
on results file
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Combined load case in database

overwrites previous contents
Release 13.0
September 2011
Postprocessing
Load Case Combination Procedure

1.
2.
3.
Create load cases

Read one load case into the database
Perform the desired operation

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Postprocessing
Create Load Cases
A load case simply acts as a pointer to a set of results.

Requires two pieces of information:
a unique ID number
the results set it represents (load step and substep number)
Use General Postproc > Load Case > Create Load Case
or use the LCDEF command

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Postprocessing
To read a load case into the database (memory), identify

the results set by its load case number using
General Postproc > Load Case > Read Load Case.
or the LCASE command
or use any of the standard Read Results choices in the

postprocessor
use the SET command

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September 2011
Postprocessing
Load Case Operations
Many load case operations are available (see menu)

To access: General Postproc > Load Case >
or use the LCOPER command
The results of the operation are stored in the database

as load case 9999.

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September 2011
Postprocessing
Two options available to save the combined load

case:
Write a load case file
Append the load case to the results file
To write a load case file use: General Postproc >

Write Results
creates a file that is similar but much smaller than
the rst file.
or use LCWRITE command
To append load case to rst file use: General

Postproc > Load Case > Write Load Case
adds combined load case to results file and
identifies it with a given load step number and time.
or use RAPPND command
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September 2011
Postprocessing
Variable Viewer
The Variable Viewer (time history post-processor or /POST26) can be

used to post-process results with respect to time.
The Variable Viewer can be started by:

opening the Time History Postprocessor or
Main Menu > TimeHist Postproc > Variable Viewer

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Postprocessing
Variable Viewer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
9 10
11
12
13
Add variable button
Delete variable button
Graph variable button
List variable button
Properties button
6 Import data button

7
Export data button
Export data type
Clear Time History Data
10
Refresh Time History Data
11
Real/Imaginary Components
12
Variable list
13
Variable name input area
14
15
16
17
14 Expression input area

15 Defined APDL variables
Defined Post26
variables
17 Calculator
16

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Postprocessing
Variable Viewer
k = 36kN/m
100kg
x
k = 36kN/m
25kg
y
F
4000 N , t 0
F
0, t 0

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Postprocessing
Workshops
Refer to your Workshop Supplement for instructions:

W11A. Connecting Rod
W11B. Spherical Shell
W11C. Axisymmetric Fin with Multiple Load Steps

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Release 13.0
September 2011

MAPDL Intro 13.0 L11 Postprocessing

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Customer Training Material

Customer Training Material

The MAPDL general postprocessor (/POST1) has wide range of

This lecture will review post-processing tools that were not

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Customer Training Material

/POST1 operates on one set of results at any time

To access a result set: General Postproc > Read Results

or use SET command

Set command activates a set of results data

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Customer Training Material

Query picking probes the model for results (stresses, displacement,

Available only through the GUI (no commands):

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Customer Training Material

Pick any location in the model to obtain results at that location

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Results Coordinate System

Customer Training Material

All direction-dependent quantities, such as component stresses,

In many situations it is more informative to review the results in

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Results Coordinate System

Customer Training Material

To change the results CS to a different system, use:

Results Coordinate System

Customer Training Material

The RSYS,SOLU command sets the results coordinate system to

All subsequent contour plots, listings, query picks, etc. report

Not supported by PowerGraphics.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Customer Training Material

Path operations can be used to

Available only for SOLID or SHELL elements.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Customer Training Material

Activate the desired coordinate system (CSYS).

General Postproc > Path Operations > Define Path

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Map Data onto Path

Customer Training Material

General Postproc > Path Operations > Map onto Path

Choose desired quantity, such as SEQV.

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Plot Path Data

Customer Training Material

Path data can be graphed

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Other Path Operations

Customer Training Material

MAPDL allows multiple paths with unique name to be

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Customer Training Material

The finite element solution calculates stresses on a per-element basis

Customer Training Material

Error estimation is is valid only for:

linear static structural and linear steady-state thermal analyses

To manually activate or deactivate error estimation: General Postproc

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary

Customer Training Material

/POST1 calculates the following error measures.

percentage error in energy norm (SEPC)

ANSYS, Inc. Proprietary