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Figure 13-1 Typical ANSYS graphs
The most convenient way to create and control graph displays is by using the functions available under Utility Menu>Plot and Utility Menu>PlotCtrls. Alternatively, you can use graphics action and control commands, as described in the following subsections.
To display linear material properties (those defined with the MP family of commands) as a function of temperature, use the following:
Command(s):
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Loads>Other>Change Mat Props>Graph
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Material Props>Graph
Main Menu>Solution>Other>Change Mat Props>Graph
Utility Menu>Plot>Materials
To display nonlinear stress-strain or B-H curves (those defined with the TB family of commands), use one of the following:
Command(s):
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Loads>Other>Change Mat Props>Data
Tables>Graph
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Material Props>Data Tables>Graph
Main Menu>Solution>Other>Change Mat Props>Data Tables>Graph
Utility Menu>Plot>Data Tables
To display column vectors of array parameters, use one of the following:
Command(s):
Utility Menu>Plot>Array Parameters
The commands listed below create graphs in POST1 only:
To display a stress item associated with a particular location and event versus loading number (for use in fatigue analyses), use one of the following:
Command(s):
Main Menu>General Postproc>Fatigue>Plot Stresses
To calculate and graph path items versus path length, choose one of these methods:
Command(s):
Main Menu>General Postproc>Path Operations>Plot Path Items
Main Menu>General Postproc>Plot Results>Path Items
Utility Menu>Plot>Results>Path Plot
To calculate and graph the membrane and membrane plus linearized stresses along a path, use one of these methods:
Command(s):
Main Menu>General Postproc>Path Operations>Linearized Strs
Main Menu>General Postproc>Plot Results>Lineariz Strs
The PLVAR command (Main Menu>TimeHist Postpro>Graph Variables) graphs any predefined variable as a function of TIME (or, for harmonic response analyses, frequency) or some other variable that you define. This command is available in the time-history postprocessor, POST26. A similar PLVAROPT command (Main Menu>Design Opt>Graphs/Tables) is available in OPT, the design optimization processor.
Issue the /REPLOT command (Utility Menu>Plot>Replot) to re-execute the last display action command that was executed.
Turning axis divisions (tick marks) on or off.
You can control this feature using the AXDV label on the /GROPT command (Utility
Menu>PlotCtrls>Style>Graphs).
Turning axis scale numbers on or off.
The AXNM label on the /GROPT
command controls whether or not your axis scale numbers appear.
Changing the size of axis scale numbers.
You can enlarge or reduce the axis scale numbers, using the AXNSC label (and
the KEY field) on the /GROPT command.
Changing the number of significant digits used in axis scale numbers.
Axis values will, by default, display four significant digits before the decimal point,
and three significant digits after the decimal point. You can change these values
with the DIG1 and DIG2 labels on the /GROPT command.
Switching between log and linear scales.
By default, your graphs will use linear scales. You can switch to log scales on the
X and Y axes, using the LOGX and LOGY labels on the /GROPT command. (X and Y axes can be
switched independently of each other; Z is always linear.)
Establishing separate Y-axis scales for different curves.
If you want to graph two or more different items on one display, you might find that
the numerical values of the different graphed items differ so significantly that no
meaningful information can be obtained from some of the curves. An example
would be a time-history graph of an applied force (with magnitude ~103)
superimposed over a time-history graph of a resulting deflection (with magnitude
~10-1). The deflection curve would appear to be a straight line if plotted to the
same scale as the applied force.
To solve this problem, use different Y-axis scales for each curve. You can activate such a feature with the /GRTYP command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls> Style>Graphs). /GRTYP,2 displays up to three separate 2-D curves, while /GRTYP,3 displays up to six separate 3-D curves. You must also make sure that automatic Y-axis scaling is set to its default value of ON (/GROPT,ASCAL,ON) for this feature to work.
Uniform scaling of separate Y axes.
If you want to label separate Y-axes distinctly, but want all of them to use the
same Y axis scale, you must turn automatic Y-axis scaling off (/GROPT,ASCAL,OFF).
Creating "data slice" graph curves (curves that have Z-direction "thickness"). Separately-scaled curves can be separated and given Z-direction thickness with the /GRTYP,3 command. (To see this effect, you must change your display's viewing angle and distance-for instance, via /VIEW,1,2,2,3 and /DIST,1,.88 (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Pan, Zoom, Rotate). The color-fill option must also be set on via the /GROPT,FILL,ON command.)
Setting line thickness for axes, grid lines or graph curve lines.
You can accentuate graph items by increasing their line thickness, using the AXIS,
GRID, and CURVE labels in the /GTHK
command (Utility Menu>Plot Ctrls> Style>Graphs).
Turning the grid on or off (in the XY plane).
You can add a grid to your graph displays, using the /GRID command (Utility Menu>Plot
Ctrls>Style>Graphs). If you add a grid, it can be either a full grid (horizontal and
vertical grid lines) or a partial grid (horizontal or vertical grid lines).
Producing a dashed tolerance curve about the displayed curve.
You might want to indicate a range of data spread, tolerance, or uncertainty on
your graph curves. You can do so using the SPREAD command (Main Menu> TimeHist
Postpro>Settings>Graph).
Color-filling areas under curves.
You can enhance the visual impact of your graph curves by using the FILL label
on the /GROPT command to fill the areas
under the curves with color.
Changing the color of curves (and color-filled areas under curves).
The CURVE label on the /COLOR
command (Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Style> Colors>color type) allows you to
control the color of each curve in your graph.
Filling the areas under curves with grids.
If you have turned on the color-fill option and have also turned on the grid option,
then you can cause the grid to appear in the color-filled areas under curves by
issuing /GROPT,CGRID,ON.
Coloring the XY, XZ, and/or YZ grid planes.
The GRBAK label on the /COLOR
command allows you to control the color of the XY, YZ, and ZX planes.
Coloring the window background.
The WBAK label on the /COLOR
command enables you to control the background color of each window in your
display.
Command(s):
Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Style>Graphs
Labeling the curves.
For POST26 plotted-variable graphs, the labels applied to your curves are
established when you choose one of the following:
Command(s):
Main Menu>TimeHist Postpro>Define Variables
Main Menu>TimeHist Postpro>Elec&Mag>Circuit>Define Variables
For all other types of graphs, the curves will be labeled with the item or parameter names specified in the display action command. (However, array parameter (*VPLOT) curves will simply be labeled with a column number.)
Adding user-defined graphics and text.
You can add extra graphics and text to your displays using the annotation
functions by choosing Utility Menu>PlotCtrls>Annotation. See Chapter
14 of this manual for additional details.