Chapter 6: An Overview of Postprocessing
After building the model and obtaining the solution, you will want answers to some critical questions:
Will the design really work when put to use? How high are the stresses in this region? How does the
temperature of this part vary with time? What is the heat loss across this face of my model? How does
the magnetic flux flow through this device? How does the placement of this object affect fluid flow?
The postprocessors in the ANSYS program can help you answer these questions and others.
Postprocessing means reviewing the results of an analysis. It is probably the most important step in
the analysis, because you are trying to understand how the applied loads affect your design, how good
your finite element mesh is, and so on.
The following postprocessing topics are available:
6.1. Postprocessors Available
6.2. The Results Files
6.3. Types of Data Available for Postprocessing6.1. Postprocessors Available
Two postprocessors are available for reviewing your results: POST1, the general postprocessor, and
POST26, the time-history postprocessor. POST1 allows you to review the results over the entire model
at specific load steps and substeps (or at specific time-points or frequencies). In a static structural ana-
lysis, for example, you can display the stress distribution for load step 3. Or, in a transient thermal ana-
lysis, you can display the temperature distribution at time = 100 seconds. Following is a typical example
of a POST1 plot:
Figure 6.1: A Typical POST1 Contour Display
POST26 allows you to review the variation of a particular result item at specific points in the model
with respect to time, frequency, or some other result item. In a transient magnetic analysis, for instance,
you can graph the eddy current in a particular element versus time. Or, in a nonlinear structural analysis,
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