Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide - Ansys

Chapter 9: Selecting and Components
If you have a large model, it is helpful to work with just a portion of the model data to apply loads, to speed
up graphics displays, to review results selectively, and so on. Because all ANSYS data are in a database, you
can conveniently choose subsets of the data by selecting them.
Selecting enables you to group subsets of nodes, elements, keypoints, lines, etc. so that you can work with
just a handful of entities. The ANSYS program uses a database to store all the data that you define during
an analysis. The database design allows you to select only a portion of the data without destroying other
data.
Typically, you perform selecting when you specify loads. By selecting nodes on a surface, for example, you
can conveniently apply a pressure on all nodes in the subset instead of applying it to each individual node.
Another useful feature of selecting is that you can select a subset of entities and name that subset. For example,
you can select all elements that make up the fin portion of a heat exchanger model and call the
resulting subset FIN. Such named subsets are called components. You can even group several components
into an assembly.
The following topics concerning selecting and components are available:
9.1. Selecting Entities
9.2. Selecting for Meaningful Postprocessing
9.3. Grouping Geometry Items into Components and Assemblies
9.1. Selecting Entities
You can select a subset of entities using a combination of seven basic select functions:
• Select
• Reselect
• Also Select
• Unselect
• Select All
• Select None
• Invert
These functions are illustrated and described in the following table.
Table 9.1 Selection Functions
Select Selects
items from the
full set of data.
Full Set
Select
Inactive Subset
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Selected (active) Subset
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