Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide - Ansys

Chapter 13: Creating Geometry Displays
Command
LAYPLOT
GUI Menu Paths
Utility Menu> Plot> Specified Entities> Keypoints
Utility Menu> Plot> Layered Elements
LPLOT Utility Menu> Plot> Lines
Utility Menu> Plot> Specified Entities> Lines
NPLOT
/REPLOT
VPLOT
Utility Menu> Plot> Nodes
Utility Menu> Plot> Replot
Main Menu> Modeling> Preprocessor> Operate>
Show Degeneracy> Plot Degen Volus
Purpose
Displays the layer stacking sequence
and layer angle orientation
of layered element types
Displays a plot of lines
Displays a plot of nodes
Re-executes the last display action
executed
Displays a plot of degenerated
volumes
The controls you establish before you invoke these actions can also cause your displays to contain other
information, such as lower-order entity numbers (for instance, node numbers associated with selected elements),
loads, etc.
13.2. Changing the Specifications for Your Geometry Displays
In addition to the features listed below, also see Getting Started with Graphics (p. 217) for general graphics
specifications that apply to any type of display, including geometry displays.
13.2.1. Changing the Style of Your Display
The following sections describe a number of ways to change the way your models are displayed.
13.2.1.1. Displaying Line and Shell Elements as Solids
If your model consists of line elements (such as beams and pipes) or shell elements, you can use the following
to display many of them as solids:
Command(s): /ESHAPE
GUI: Utility Menu> PlotCrls> Style> Size and Shape
The ANSYS program uses a rectangular cross section for beams and shells, and uses circular cross sections
for pipes. The element real constants are used to proportion the cross section.
You can also use the /ESHAPE command to show the orientation of reinforcing (rebar) in SOLID65 elements
(see Figure 13.1 (p. 241)). For the rebar to be visible, you must enable vector mode using the /DEVICE command
(Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Device Options). You must also activate a basic plot type using the /TYPE command
(Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Hidden-Line Options). To view the rebar, issue these commands
in the following order:
/ESHAPE,1
/TYPE,,BASIC
/DEVICE,VECTOR.ON
EPLOT
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of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.