Model Plots

You can use contour plots, isocontour plots, symbol plots, or color code plots to display field output data.

This page discusses:

Introduction

The type of results available from your simulation determines whether you can plot color code, contour and isocontour, or symbol plots for the selected variable.

  • Color code plots use predefined colors assigned to a part, section, material, surface, servant domain, element type, or face ID.
  • For result values that consist of only a magnitude (scalars), a contour plot applies color coding to your model to indicate the magnitude of the result in different regions of the model.
  • For result values that consist of a magnitude and a direction (tensors and vectors), a symbol plot uses arrows to indicate the direction of the result in different regions of the model. Color coding is applied to the arrows to indicate the magnitude of the result at each arrow, while the orientation of the arrowhead indicates the direction.

A legend associates each color with a particular value for the selected result type.

All the plots you create for your results become available for selection in the Feature Manager, provided the current step includes the quantity for that plot. You can activate, deactivate, and switch the plot type visible in the work area. In addition, you can export the plot data as a template for future analyses. The Feature Manager provides the following data for each plot: fields, units, and, if they are available for the current step, minima and maxima.

If your simulation includes complex data, you can run a harmonic analysis to accurately portray the sinusoidal variation of a load. When you have scalar and tensor components, you can specify the real or the imaginary part of the complex number in the plot display.

If your model is an assembly, you can measure structural soundness more efficiently with the aid of a local coordinate system rather than a global system.

Plotting Computed Invariants

In a harmonic analysis, the model is subjected to a load that varies sinusoidally. The structure responds as follows:

  • The individual components (such as S11 and U2) vary in a sinusoidal manner, with the same frequency (or period) as the load excitation.
  • The invariants, such as displacement magnitude, vary sinusoidally only if the quantity can become negative exactly half the time. Invariants like von Mises stress, which cannot be negative, still vary periodically using the same frequency (or period) as the load excitation; however, because these invariants cannot be expressed as a rotating vector, they cannot be expressed as complex numbers.

This variety of responses is covered by displaying complex data in the following ways:

Value at angle (modulus with phase)
The combined value of the real and imaginary portion of the result at an angle that you specify. When the angle is 0°, the real part of the result is displayed; when the angle is -90°, the imaginary part of the result is displayed.
Maximum absolute value
The largest absolute value for the selected variable over the period. If the envelope maximum is +5 and the envelope minimum is -10, the envelope maximum absolute value is +10.
Maximum value
The maximum value for the selected variable over the period.
Minimum value
The minimum value for the selected variable over the period.

Plotting Scalar and Tensor Components for Complex Data

In a harmonic analysis, the model is subjected to a load that varies sinusoidally. The structure responds as follows:

  • The individual components (such as S11 and U2) vary in a sinusoidal manner, with the same frequency (or period) as the load excitation.
  • The scalar and tensor components, such as UT Translations with a vector component, vary sinusoidally. They can be expressed as complex numbers, each with a real part and an imaginary part.

This variety of responses is covered by displaying complex data in the following ways:

Value at angle (modulus with phase)
The combined value of the real and imaginary portion of the result at an angle that you specify. When the angle is 0°, the real part of the result is displayed; when the angle is -90°, the imaginary part of the result is displayed.
Magnitude (modulus)
The maximum value for the selected variable over the period. For components, this value represents the combined magnitude of both the real and imaginary portions of the result value.
Phase angle
The phase angle, which is the angle between the positive horizontal axis and the plotted point that represents the complex number in rectangular coordinates.
Real part
The real part of the complex number. Coincides with the value at phase angle 0°.
Imaginary part
The imaginary part of the complex number. Coincides with the value at phase angle -90°.

Results Transformation

When analyzing results of assembled structures, you can use a local coordinate system rather than the global system to more accurately assess behavior and structural soundness. You can select a local coordinate system for vector and tensor results when creating a plot or a sensor. These user-defined coordinate systems might take the form of Cartesian, cylindrical, or spherical coordinates and are fixed in space.

Note: Deformations are not scaled when used for nodal transformations.

Fixed Coordinate Systems

Fixed coordinate systems are defined by specifying the origin and two points. The line from the origin to point 1 is the X-axis for a rectangular coordinate system or the R-axis for a cylindrical or spherical coordinate system. The plane containing the origin, point 1, and point 2 is the X-Y plane (for a rectangular coordinate system) or the R-θ plane (for a cylindrical or spherical coordinate system). The coordinate system remains fixed in space regardless of the motion of the model.

Node-based Transformations

Three-dimensional continuum elements and all node-based results: Transformation is based on the locations of the results. The 1-, 2-, and 3-directions for the transformed results correspond to the X-, Y-, and Z-directions of a rectangular coordinate system. The R-, θ-, and Z-directions of a cylindrical coordinate system; and the R-, θ-, and φ-directions of a spherical coordinate system.

Element-based Transformations

Results transformation into the specified coordinate systems is implemented using the following criteria for element-based results:

  • Shell and membrane elements: Transformations occur by rotating the results about the element normal at the element result location. The 2-direction for the transformed results is determined by the projection of the rectangular Y-direction or the cylindrical or spherical θ-direction onto the element plane. If the Y- or θ-direction of the user-defined coordinate system forms an angle less than 30° with the element normal, the next axis that follows the Y- or θ-axis in a cyclic permutation of the axes is projected on the element plane instead to form the local material 2-direction, and a warning message is displayed.

  • Beam and truss elements: These elements cannot be transformed; they are always displayed in the local element orientation system.