Mechanical APDL Structural Analysis Guide

3.5.2. Reviewing Results Data

1. Read in results data from the appropriate substep. Each mode is stored on the results file as a separate
   substep. If you expand six modes, for instance, your results file will have one load step consisting of six
   substeps.
   Command(s):SET, LSTEP, SBSTEP
   GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Read Results> By Load Step

If the results data are complex, you can retrieve the real part, the imaginary part, the amplitude or

the phase using KIMG in the SET command.

SET, LSTEP, SBSTEP , , KIMG

2. Perform any desired POST1 operations. Typical modal analysis POST1 operations are explained below:

3.5.3. Option: Listing All Frequencies

You may want to list the frequencies of all modes expanded. A sample output from this command is
shown below.

***** INDEX OF DATA SETS ON RESULTS FILE *****

SET TIME/FREQ LOAD STEP SUBSTEP CUMULATIVE

1 22.973 1 1 1

2 40.476 1 2 2

3 78.082 1 3 3

4 188.34 1 4 4

Command(s):SET,LIST
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> List Results

3.5.4. Option: Display Deformed Shape

Command(s):PLDISP
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Plot Results> Deformed Shape

Use the KUND field on PLDISP to overlay the nondeformed shape on the display.

3.5.5. Option: Line Element Results

Command(s):ETABLE
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Element Table> Define Table

For line elements, such as beams, spars, and pipes, use the ETABLE command to access derived data
(stresses, strains, and so on). Results data are identified by a combination of a label and a sequence
number or component name on the ETABLE command. See the ETABLE discussion in The General
Postprocessor (POST1) in the Basic Analysis Guide for details.

3.5.6. Option: Contour Displays

Command(s):PLNSOL or PLESOL
GUI: Main Menu> General Postproc> Plot Results> Contour Plot> Nodal Solu or Element Solu

Use these options to contour almost any result item, such as stresses (SX, SY, SZ...), strains (EPELX, EPELY,
EPELZ...), and displacements (UX, UY, UZ...).

The KUND field on PLNSOL and PLESOL gives you the option of overlaying the nondeformed shape
on the display.

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Modal Analysis