Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide

Variable processing commands

ABS IMAGIN SMALL

ADD INT1 SQRT

ATAN LARGE RPSD

CLOG NLOG CVAR

CONJUG PROD RESP

DERIV QUOT

EXP REALVAR

8.5. Importing Data

This feature allows the user to read in set(s) of data from a file into time history variable(s). This enables
the user, for instance, to display and compare test results data against the corresponding ANSYS results
data.

8.5.1. Interactive

The "Import Data” button in the variable viewer leads the user through the interactive data import
process. Clicking on "Import Data" allows the user to browse and select the appropriate file. The data
must be in the format below:

# TEST DATA FILE EXAMPLE

# ALL COMMENT LINES BEGIN WITH #

# Blank lines are ignored

#

# The first line without # sign must contain the variable names to be used

# for each column of data read into POST26. NOTE that for complex data only

# one variable name should be supplied per (real, imaginary) pair as shown below.

# The next line can either be left blank or have descriptors for each column

# such as REAL and IMAGINARY

#

# The data itself can be in free format with the columns "comma delimited",

# "tab delimited", or "blank delimited"

#

# The first column of data is always reserved for the independent variable

# (usually TIME or FREQUENCY)

#

FREQ TEST1 TEST2

REAL IMAGINARY REAL IMAGINARY

1.00000E-02 -128.32 0.17764 5.6480 -4.47762E-03

2.00000E-02 -150.08 0.36474 5.6712 -8.99666E-03

3.00000E-02 -163.12 0.57210 5.7097 -1.35897E-02

4.00000E-02 -147.63 0.81364 5.7629 -1.82673E-02

5.00000E-02 -133.90 1.1091 5.8298 -2.29925E-02

6.00000E-02 -172.38 1.4886 5.9080 -2.76290E-02

The user has two choices, depending upon the data in the file.

• Graph overlay information: This can be used when you are interested in simply overlaying the experimental
  or theoretical results on top of the Finite Element Analysis results in the same plot.The data set(s) brought
  in using this method will show up in the "overlay data" drop down list. A data set selected in this drop
  down list will overlay the current variable graph display. You will need to choose "None" to not overlay
  the data. The sets of data brought in using this method can be overlaid on a variable graph, allowing a
  visual comparison of the test data against the finite element result.


• Linear interpolation into variables: If you want to compare Finite Element Analysis results with your exper-
  imental or theoretical results at the same time points, you should use the Interpolate to FEA Time Points

Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information

The Time-History Postprocessor (POST26)