Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide - Ansys

Chapter 7:The General Postprocessor (POST1)
etc. For accurate mapping of normal and tangent vectors, use the ACCURATE option on the PMAP command.
Issue the PMAP command prior to mapping data.
7.2.5.5. Reviewing Path Items
To obtain a graph of specified path items versus path distance, use one of the following:
Command(s): PLPATH
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Path Operations> Plot Path Item
To get a tabular listing of specified path items, use one of the following:
Command(s): PRPATH
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> List Results> Path Items
You can control the path distance range (the abscissa) for PLPATH and PRPATH (Main Menu> General
Postproc> Path Operations> Path Range) or the PRANGE command. Path defined variables may also be
used in place of the path distance for the abscissa item in the path display.
You can use two other commands, PLSECT (Main Menu> General Postproc> Path Operations> Linearized
Strs) and PRSECT (Main Menu> General Postproc> List Results> Linearized Strs), to calculate and review
linearized stresses along a path defined by the first two nodes on the PPATH command. Typically, you use
them in pressure vessel applications to separate stresses into individual components: membrane, membrane
plus bending, etc. The path is defined in the active display coordinate system.
You can display a path data item as a color area contour display along the path geometry. The contour
display offset from the path may be scaled for clarity. To produce such a display, use either of the following:
Command(s): PLPAGM
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Plot Results> Plot Path Items> On Geometry
7.2.5.6. Performing Mathematical Operations among Path Items
Three commands are available for mathematical operations among path items:
The PCALC command (Main Menu> General Postproc> Path Operations> operation) lets you add,
multiply, divide, exponentiate, differentiate, and integrate path items.
The PDOT command (Main Menu> General Postproc> Path Operations> Dot Product) calculates the dot
product of two path vectors.
The PCROSS command (Main Menu> General Postproc> Path Operations> Cross Product) calculates the
cross product or two path vectors.
7.2.5.7. Archiving and Retrieving Path Data to a File
If you wish to retain path data when you leave POST1, you must store it in a file or an array parameter so
that you can retrieve it later. You first select a path or multiple paths and then write the current path data
to a file:
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Command(s): PSEL
GUI: Utility Menu> Select> Paths
Command(s): PASAVE
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Path Operations> Archive Path> Store> Paths in file
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