Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide

12.2. When to Use PowerGraphics

Using the PowerGraphics display method has distinct advantages, since graphics displays are plotted
at a much faster rat e of speed than with the Full Model method. In addition, PowerGraphics produces
more realistic results at material type and real constant discontinuities in the model. See the description
of the /GRAPHICS command (in the Command Reference) for more information.

12.3. Activating and Deactivating PowerGraphics

There are two ways to activate and deactivate the PowerGraphics display method: Through the
Graphical User Interface (GUI), and through the /GRAPHICS command.

• PowerGraphics is the default method when the ANSYS GUI is active. You can switch to the Full
  Model method, however, by taking one of the following actions:
  
  
  1. Click on the POWRGRPH button in the Toolbar of the Graphical User Interface. This selection opens
     a dialog box which allows you to turn PowerGraphics off or on.
  
  
  2. Deactivate or activate PowerGraphics by selecting Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Hidden-Line
     Options
  
  
  
  


• You can deactivate PowerGraphics by issuing the command /GRAPHICS,FULL, or you can activate
  PowerGraphics by issuing the command /GRAPHICS,POWER.

12.4. How to Use PowerGraphics

When the PowerGraphics method for graphics displays is active, it is used for element, area, volume,
line, and result displays and result data listings. PowerGraphics does not support the graphics display
or listing for circuit elements; for such cases, ANSYS automatically activates the Full Model graphics
method and uses it for that display or listing. See the /GRAPHICS command description for more in-
formation.

12.5. What to Expect from a PowerGraphics Plot

Since PowerGraphics plots or listings are given for the exterior surface of the model, you can expect to
see differences in these results, compared to those given when using the Full Model method. The aver-
aging calculations for PowerGraphics include results for only the model surface. The averaging calcula-
tions, plots, and listings for the Full Model method include results for the entire model (interior and
exterior surfaces). Therefore, the PowerGraphics and Full Model methods display results values differently
for nodal results (but not for element results).

PowerGraphics makes the EPLOT,APLOT,VPLOT,LPLOT,PLDISP,PLNSOL, and PRNSOL commands
behave differently than with the Full Model method. For details, see these commands' descriptions in
the Command Reference.

12.5.1. Viewing Your Element Model

The subgrid approach used by PowerGraphics allows you to control the amount of displayed element
curvature. You can plot varying degrees of curvature in your model by specifying the number of facets
to be used for element display. Facets are piecewise linear approximations of the actual curve repres-
ented by the element face or edge. You specify the number of facets per element edge using one of
the following:
Command(s):/EFACET

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PowerGraphics