Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide - Ansys

Chapter 13: Creating Geometry Displays
13.2.1.7. Changing the Number of Facets
Area and volume raster displays are made up of numerous small facets (or polygons). Occasionally, you
might want to obtain a more precise representation of your areas or volumes by increasing the number of
facets used to create these displays. To switch between two different facet densities, use either of the following:
Command(s): /FACET
GUI: Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Solid Model Facets
13.2.1.8. Changing Facets for PowerGraphics Displays
When PowerGraphics is enabled, you can display varying degrees of curvature in your model by specifying
the number of facets per element edge to be used for element display. Facets are piecewise linear approximations
of the actual curve represented by the element face or edge. The greater the number of facets,
the smoother the representation of the element surface for element plots.
To specify the number of facets per edge, use one of the following:
Command(s): /EFACET
GUI: Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Size and Shape
Utility Menu> List> Results> Options
Main Menu> General Postproc> Options for Outp
13.2.1.9. Changing Hidden-Line Options
By default, raster displays will be created as Z-buffered displays. See the description of the /TYPE command
in the Command Reference for other "hidden-line" options. All non-Z-buffered hidden-line options produce
the same results in vector displays. For area and volume Z-buffered displays, you can further specify the
type of surface shading (the "smoothness" of the object) using the /SHADE command (Utility Menu>
PlotCtrls> Style> Hidden-Line Options). Also, you can use the /GFILE command to set the resolution of
Z-buffered displays that are written to graphics files.
13.2.1.10. Section, Slice, or Capped Displays
To view the interior of a 3-D solid element model, you can use section displays, slice displays, or capped
displays. (These are all special versions of hidden-line displays controlled by the /TYPE command.) A section
display produces an image of a 2-D planar section that is defined by the intersection between your model
and the cutting plane (see below for a discussion of cutting planes). A slice display is similar to a section
display except the edge lines of the remaining 3-D model are also shown. A capped display produces an
image of a 3-D portion of your model with a portion of the model display "cut off" by the cutting plane.
13.2.1.11. Specifying the Cutting Plane
Three types of graphics displays - section, slice, and capped - require a cutting plane. Specify the cutting
plane via the /CPLANE command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Hidden-Line Options), and define the
plane as either:
• Normal to the viewing direction and passing through the focus point (default)
• The working plane.
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