ANSYS Ch 8 Results Postprocessing

Chapter Eight
Results Postprocessing
Chapter Overview Training Manual
• In this chapter, aspects of reviewing results will be
ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

covered:
A. Viewing Results
B. Scoping Results
C. Exporting Results
D. Coordinate Systems & Directional Results
E. Solution Combinations
F. Stress Singularities
G. Error Estimation
H. Convergence
• The capabilities described in this section are applicable to

all ANSYS licenses, except when noted otherwise
August
A. Viewing Results Training Manual
• When selecting a results branch, the Context toolbar displays ways of viewing results:

Legend Settings Min/Max Probe Tool
Displacement Scaling Display Method Contour Settings Outline Display Slice Planes
Export AVI
Animation Controls
Vector Display Controls
August
… Displacement Scaling Training Manual
• For structural analyses (static, modal, buckling),

the deformed shape can be changed
– By default, the scaling is automatically exaggerated
to visualize the structural response more clearly
– The user can change to undeformed or actual deformation
No Displacement Scaling Automatic Displacement Scaling
August
…Legend Controls Training Manual

Color/Position/Size
Auto Select
Selectors
Enter maximum/minimum Reset
legend value or allow auto
selection
Enter maximum/minimum
range for contours
Contour number
selector
August
… Display Method Training Manual
• The “Geometry” button controls the contour

display method. Four choices are possible:
Exterior IsoSurfaces
“Exterior” is the default

display option and is
most commonly used.
“IsoSurfaces” is useful
to display regions with
the same contour value.
“Capped IsoSurfaces”
will remove regions of
the model where the
Capped IsoSurfaces Slice Planes contour values are
above (or below) a
specified value.
“Slice Planes” allow a
user to ‘cut’ through the
model visually. A
capped slice plane is
also available, as shown
on the left.
Model shown is from a sample Inventor assembly. August

… Contour Settings Training Manual
• The “Contours” button controls the way in

which contours are shown on the model
Smooth Contours Contour Bands
Isolines Solid Fill
August
… Outline Display Training Manual
• The “Edges” button allows the user show the

undeformed geometry or mesh
No Wireframe Show Undeformed Wireframe
Show Undeformed Model Show Elements August

… Slice Planes Training Manual
• When in Slice Plane viewing mode, slice planes

can be added and edited
– To add a slice plane, simply select the “Draw Slice Plane”
icon, then click-drag with the left mouse across the Graphics
window. The path created will define the slice plane.
– To edit a slice plane, select the “Edit Planes” icon. The
defined planes will have a ‘handle’ in the Graphics window.
• Drag the handle to move the slice plane
• Click on one side of the bar to show capped slice display
• Select the handle, then hit the “Delete” key to remove plane
Handles of 3 defined slice planes Move a slice plane by dragging handle Click on one side of bar to cap view August
… Min/Max and Probe Training Manual
• The min/max symbols can be removed by selecting

the “Maximum” and “Minimum” buttons
• Results can be queried on the model by selecting the
“Probe” button
– Left-mouse click to add an annotation of the value being
queried on the model.
– Use the “Label” button to select and delete unwanted
annotations
August
. . . Probe Tool Training Manual
• The Probe object (previous page) allows

users to annotate a result at a particular
location on a contour plot
• The Probe Tool allows you to scope a result
object to a location and make that result
parametric
• The Probe tool can be scoped to geometry
or located using a coordinate system
• The orientation of the result item can be
with respect to global or local coordinate
systems
August
. . . Probe Tool Training Manual
• Probe Tool example:

– Local coordinate system defined as
shown
– Probe tool located at local CS
– Stress results (all) requested
Local CS Probe Tool August

… Animation Controls Training Manual
• The animation toolbar allows user to play, pause, and stop animations

• Note: animations are accessed via the tab at the bottom of the graphics screen
Start/Stop/Pause Control resolution and speed
Distributed animation interpolates results

while results sets animates only solution Export video
points. (avi) file
Note: pause feature available

during playback August
… Alerts Training Manual
• Alerts are simple ways of check to see if a scalar

result quantity satisfies a criterion
– Alerts can be used on most contour results except for vector
results, Contact Tool results, and Shape Finder
– Simply highlight that result branch RMB and insert an Alert
– In the Details view, specify the criterion
– In the Outline tree, a green checkmark indicates

that the criterion is satisfied. A red exclamation
mark indicates that the criterion was not satisfied.
August
… Manipulating the Legend Training Manual
• For exterior contour plots, the legend can

be manipulated to show result distributions Original Contour Legend
more clearly.
Modified Contour Legend
August
… Manipulating the Legend Training Manual
• Capped IsoSurfaces are manipulated

by an independent controller
– Icons allow isosurface, top or bottom
capped plots
– The striped areas of the legend show
what values will not be displayed
– The cap threshold can be controlled via
the slider or by typing the value directly
Capped/Top/Isosurface
Display
Threshold Controls
August
… Vector Plots Training Manual
• Vector plots involve any result quantity with direction, such

as deformation, principal stresses/strains, and heat flux
– Activate vectors for appropriate quantities using the vector
graphics icon
– Once the vectors are visible their appearance can be modified

using the vector display controls (see next slide for examples)
Vector Length Control Vector Length Control
Proportional Vectors Equal Length Vectors Grid Aligned Element Aligned Line Form Solid Form
August
… Vector Plots Training Manual
• Examples

Solid Form, Grid Aligned Line Form, Grid Aligned
Proportional Length Equal Length
August
… Multiple Viewports Training Manual
• Using multiple viewports is especially useful for

postprocessing, where more than one result
can be viewed at the same time
– Useful to compare multiple results, such as results from
different environments or multiple mode shapes
August
… Default Settings Training Manual
• Under “Tools > Options… > Simulation: Graphics,” the

default graphics settings can be changed.
– This way, each user can make all results for new simulations
be displayed to his/her preference
August
B. Scoping Results Training Manual
• Sometimes, limiting the display of results is useful when

postprocessing
– Scoping automatically scales the legend and only shows the
applicable surface(s) or part(s), making result viewing easier
– Scoping results on edges produces a path plot, allowing users
to see detailed results along selected edges
– Results scoping is very useful for convergence controls
(discussed later in this chapter)
– When using Contact Tool, Simulation automatically scopes
contact results to contact regions.
• Results scoping can be performed on any result item in the

Solution branch for any type of geometric quantity
August
… Scoping Surface/Part Results Training Manual
• To scope contour results, simply do either of the following:

– Select part(s) or surface(s), then request the result of interest
– Select the result item, then click on “Geometry” in the Details
view. Select the part(s) or surface(s), then click on Apply
• When this is performed, the Details view of the result item

will indicate that results will be shown only for the selected
items.
– The displayed values will show non-selected surfaces/parts as
translucent.
August
… Scoping Surface/Part Results Training Manual
• Some examples of scoping results on surfaces/parts:

Scoping results on a single part Stress results on selected surfaces
Vector Principal Stresses on single part
August
… Scoping Edge & Vertex Results Training Manual
• Results can be scoped to a single edge

– Select a single edge for results scoping
– A path plot of the result mapped on the edge will be displayed
• In a similar manner, results can also be scoped to a single

vertex. No ‘contour’ results will be displayed since only a
vertex is present, but the value will reported in the Details
view for the selected vertex
August
… Renaming Scoped Results Training Manual
• For scoped results, it is often useful to automatically

rename the result branch
– Right-click on the result branch and select “Rename Based on
Definition.” The name will become more descriptive.
The result branch name is now more

descriptive, indicating it is a scoped
result on a given edge.
Renaming result branches is also
useful for directional results, as it will
change the name to the direction of the
stress or deformation or heat flux.
August
C. Exporting Results Training Manual
• Tabular data from Simulation can be exported to Excel for

further data manipulation
• To export Worksheet tab information, do the following:
– Select the branch and click on the Worksheet tab
– Right-click the same branch and select “Export”
– This can be used for Geometry, Contact, Environment,
Frequency Finder, Buckling, and Harmonic Worksheets
• To export Contour Results

– Right-click on the result branch of interest and select “Export”
– This can be used for any result item of interest
– Node numbers and result quantities will be exported
– Exporting large amounts of data can take some CPU time
August
… Exporting Results Training Manual
• Usually, for result items, the internal ANSYS node number

and result quantity will be output as shown below.
• To include node locations, change this option under “Tools
menu > Options… > Simulation: Export”
August
… Exporting Results Training Manual
• For principal stresses and strains, additional information of

the orientation needs to be included when export to .XLS:
– The generated Excel file will have 6 fields:
• The first three correspond to the maximum, middle and minimum
principal quantities (stresses or strains).
• The last three correspond to the ANSYS Euler angle sequence
(CLOCAL command in ANSYS) required to produce a coordinate
system whose X, Y and Z-axis are the directions of maximum,
middle and minimum principal quantities, respectively. This Euler
angle sequence is ThetaXY, ThetaYZ and ThetaZX and orients the
principal coordinate system relative to the global system.
August
D. Coordinate Systems Training Manual
• If coordinate systems are defined, a new item will be

displayed in the Details view of directional results:
– As shown below, one can select from defined coordinate
systems. The selected coordinate system will define x-, y-,
and z-axes
– Direction Deformation, Normal/Shear Stress/Strain, and
Directional Heat Flux can use coordinate systems
• Principal stress/strain have their own angles associated with them
• Other result items are scalars, so there are no directions
associated with it
August
… Coordinate Systems Training Manual
• For the model shown below, one local

cylindrical coordinate system is defined
– Note that displaying Deformation in the x-
direction in the global and local coordinate
systems will show different results.
– If the user wants to see what is the radial
displacement at the larger hole, a local cylindrical coordinate
system allows to visualize this type of displacement.
Deformation in Global X-Direction Deformation in Local Cylindrical X-Direction August

E. Solution Combinations Training Manual
• For ANSYS Professional licenses and above, the Solution

Combination branch can be added to the Model branch to
provide combinations of existing Environment branches
– Solution combinations are only valid for linear static structural

analyses
• Linear combinations are only valid if the analyses are linear
(Chapter 4)
• Thermal-stress and other types of analyses are not supported
• The supports must be the same between Environments for the
results to be valid. Only the loading can change to allow for
solution combinations
• Solution combination calculations are very quick and do not
require a re-solve
ANSYS License Availability

DesignSpace Entra
DesignSpace
Professional
Structural
Mechanical/Multiphysics
x
x
x
August
… Solution Combinations Training Manual
• To perform solution combinations, do the following:

– Add a Solution Combination branch. The Worksheet view will
appear
– In the Worksheet view, add Environments and a coefficient
(multiplier). The solution combination will be the sum of the
multiples of the various Environments selected.
– Request results from the
Context toolbar. These
results will reflect the sum
of the products of the
selected Environments

DesignSpace Entra
DesignSpace
Professional
Structural
x
x
x
August
… Solution Combinations Training Manual
• For example, consider the case below of a sample model

with two environments
“Environment” “Environment 3”
Solution Combination Results

DesignSpace Entra
DesignSpace
Professional
Structural
x
x
x
August
F. Stress Singularities Training Manual
• In most finite-element analyses as the mesh is refined one

expects to get mathematically more precise results.
– Quantities directly solved for (degrees of freedom) such as
displacements and temperatures, converge without problems
– Derived quantities, such as stresses, strains, and heat flux,
should also converge as the mesh is refined, but not as fast or
smooth as DOF
– In some cases derived quantities such as stresses and heat
flux will not converge as the mesh is refined. These are
situations where these values are artificially high
August
… Stress Singularities Training Manual
• In a linear static structural analysis, there are several

sources which may cause artificially high stresses:
– Stress singularities
• Geometry discontinuities, such as reentrant
corners (shown on right)
• Point/edge loads and constraints
• Fixed supports and other constraints which prevent Poisson’s
effect
• Fixed supports and other constraints which prevent thermal
expansion
• In the above situations, refining the mesh at the artificially

high stress area will keep increasing the stresses
Model shown is from a sample Mechanical Desktop assembly. August

… Stress Singularities Training Manual
• If the singularity is not in an area of interest one can usually scope

results only on parts or surfaces of interest
• If the singularity is in the area of interest there are several ways to
obtain more accurate stress results:
– Stress singularities
• Model geometry with fillets or other details which do not cause geometric
discontinuities
• Apply loads spread over areas rather than point loading
– Overconstraints
• A Fixed Support is an idealization, and modeling the constraint properly may
be required (possibly including the geometry on which the part is
connected)
– Although the above are some suggestions, these usually involve
additional effort or more nodes/elements, so it is up to the user to
review the results and understand if and why stresses may be
artificially high.
August
G. Error Estimation Training Manual
• You can insert an Error result based on stresses (structural),

or heat flux (thermal) to help identify regions of high error
(see example next page)
• These regions show where the model would benefit from a
more refined mesh in order to get a more accurate answer
• Regions of high error also indicate where refinement will
take place if convergence is used
August
. . . Error Estimation Training Manual
• Error plot shows region where element mesh refinement

may be necessary.
• Error is plotted in terms of energy.
August
H. Convergence Training Manual
• As noted earlier, as the mesh is refined, the mathematical

model becomes more accurate. However, there is
computational cost associated with a finer mesh.
• Obtaining an optimal mesh requires the following:
– Having criteria to determine if a mesh is adequate
– Investing more elements only where needed
• Performing these tasks manually is cumbersome and

inexact
– The user would have to manually refine the mesh, resolve, and
compare results with previous solutions.
• Simulation has convergence controls to automate adaptive

mesh refinement to a user-specified level of accuracy
August
… Convergence Training Manual
• To use this feature, simply select a

result item RMB and insert
“Convergence”
– In the Details of the Convergence branch
select the max or min value for
convergence and allowable change (20%
default)
– In the Details view of the Solution
branch, input the
max number of refinement loops per
solve
• Input a reasonable value, such as 1 to 4,
so that Simulation will not try to refine the
mesh indefinitely.
August
• Simulation will automatically refine the mesh and resolve

– At least two iterations are required (initial solution and first
refinement loop)
• The “Max Refinement Loops” is used to specify the number of
allowable iterations (2 to 4 max loops is usually sufficient)
– The mesh will automatically be refined only in areas deemed
necessary based on error approximation techniques
– The convergence information is stored in
the “Convergence” branch
• Not converged: a red exclamation mark will appear
• Converged: a green checkmark will be shown
– The result branches will display only the last solution
August
• After the solution is complete, one can view the results and

the last mesh
– Note that the mesh is refined only where needed, as shown in
the example below
– The Convergence branch shows the trend for each refinement
loop as well as the values and number of nodes and elements
in the mesh
August
… Convergence & Stress Singularities Training Manual
• As mentioned earlier there are some causes for artificially

high stresses
– Stress singularities are theoretically infinite so Simulation’s
adaptive mesh refinement will be affected
– By specifying a reasonable value for the “Max Refinement
Loops,” this will allow the user to know quickly whether a
stress singularity or other type of artificially high stress
source is present
In this case, it is clear that the stresses

will increase without bound.
By examining the model, it was clear
that a stress singularity existed, which
explains why the stresses do not
converge as it normally would.
August
… Convergence & Scoping Training Manual
• Besides adding details to remove stress singularities, one

can also converge on scoped results
– If the artificially high stress region is not of interest, one can
scope results on selected part(s) or surface(s) and add
convergence controls to those results only
• This provides the user with control on where to perform mesh
refinement
• This also allows the user to ignore areas of artificially high
stresses which are not of interest
August
… Convergence & Scoping Example Training Manual
• For example, consider the simple part below

– The part below contains geometric discontinuities as shown
– For a given set of loading conditions if the user knew that the
bottom of the part was failing this may be the region of
interest
Possible stress singularity
Region of interest
Model shown is from a sample Mechanical Desktop assembly. August

… Convergence & Scoping Example Training Manual

If convergence controls
were simply added to
the entire model, the
geometric discontinuity
would cause a stress
singularity which
increases without
bounds.
The solution becomes
very costly by including
the stress singularity.
On the other hand,

convergence controls
on scoped results
allows for adaptive
refinement only in user-
specified locations,
providing the user with
more control over the
mesh and the adaptive
solution.
In this way, the user can
get accurate stresses
on the bottom surface
of the part.
August
… Results Not Used with Convergence Training Manual
• Convergence cannot be used on the following result

quantities:
– Any type of vector result
– Contact Tool results
– Frequency Finder stress/strain results
– Buckling stress/strain results
– Harmonic analysis results
– Shape Finder results
– Fatigue Tool graph results
August
… Convergence Summary Training Manual
• Convergence Details:

– the “percent change” is related to the previous solution. This
is not “percent error”
– Convergence controls do not compensate for inaccurate
assumptions
– Convergence controls trigger adaptive mesh refinement. Each
solution will take longer than the previous one
• Scoping results which contain convergence controls helps to
minimize mesh density by isolating the areas of interest
August
I. Workshop 8 – Advanced Results Processing Training Manual
• Workshop 8 – Advanced Results Processing

• Goal:
– Analyze the high pressure vent assembly shown below and
then use some of the advanced postprocessing features to
review the stress and deflection results.
August

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Chapter Eight

Chapter Overview Training Manual

• In this chapter, aspects of reviewing results will be

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• The capabilities described in this section are applicable to

A. Viewing Results Training Manual

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

Vector Display Controls

… Displacement Scaling Training Manual

• For structural analyses (static, modal, buckling),

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

No Displacement Scaling Automatic Displacement Scaling

…Legend Controls Training Manual

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

… Display Method Training Manual

• The “Geometry” button controls the contour

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

“Exterior” is the default

Model shown is from a sample Inventor assembly. August

… Contour Settings Training Manual

• The “Contours” button controls the way in

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

Isolines Solid Fill

… Outline Display Training Manual

• The “Edges” button allows the user show the

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

No Wireframe Show Undeformed Wireframe

Show Undeformed Model Show Elements August

… Slice Planes Training Manual

• When in Slice Plane viewing mode, slice planes

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

… Min/Max and Probe Training Manual

• The min/max symbols can be removed by selecting

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• The Probe object (previous page) allows

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

• Probe Tool example:

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

Local CS Probe Tool August

… Animation Controls Training Manual

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

Start/Stop/Pause Control resolution and speed

Distributed animation interpolates results

Note: pause feature available

… Alerts Training Manual

• Alerts are simple ways of check to see if a scalar

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

– In the Outline tree, a green checkmark indicates

… Manipulating the Legend Training Manual

• For exterior contour plots, the legend can

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

Modified Contour Legend

… Manipulating the Legend Training Manual

• Capped IsoSurfaces are manipulated

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

… Vector Plots Training Manual

• Vector plots involve any result quantity with direction, such

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation

– Once the vectors are visible their appearance can be modified

Vector Length Control Vector Length Control

… Vector Plots Training Manual

ANSYS Workbench – Simulation