Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide - Ansys

would put UX and UZ constraints on all selected nodes. DOFSEL does not affect the solution degrees of
freedom.
9.2. Selecting for Meaningful Postprocessing
Selecting can also help you during postprocessing. For instance, in POST1, you can select just a portion of
your model to display or list the results. You should always use selecting to obtain meaningful results in
POST1 when the model has discontinuities.
When you request contour displays with the PLNSOL command (Utility Menu> Plot> Results> Contour
Plot> Nodal Solution), the ANSYS program produces smooth, continuous contours by averaging the data
at nodes. This averaging is acceptable as long as the model contains no discontinuities, such as:
• Two different materials modeled adjacent to each other or a model with different thicknesses. (See
Figure 9.1 (p. 213))
• Adjacent layered shells having a different number of layers. (See Figure 9.2 (p. 213) and Figure 9.3 (p. 214))
When such discontinuities are present, be careful to process each side of the discontinuity separately by
using selecting.
Figure 9.1 Shell Model with Different Thicknesses
Figure 9.2 Layered Shell (SHELL281) with Nodes Located at Midplane
Nodes located at the midplane with KEYOPT(11) = 0
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9.2. Selecting for Meaningful Postprocessing
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