Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide

map file by using the CREATE option of the /CMAP command. You can then read that reversed color

map file into the database, also with the /CMAP command.

• Changing the contour interval. T o change the contour interval on your results display, either issue the
  /CVAL command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Contours> Nonuniform Contours) or the
  /CONTOUR command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Contours> Uniform Contours).

These commands change the range of values displayed in contour displays./CONTOUR produces

uniform contour intervals, while /CVAL produces specified contour values (which need not be

uniform). If you issue both commands, the program uses the last one specified. For related in-

formation, see Section Changing the Number of Contours (p. 273).

• Topographic contour displays.You can transform "flat" contour results displays into "3-D" topographic
  displays with the /SSCALE command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Contours> Contour Style).


• Displaying numerical results values.To display results values at each node in a contour display, issue
  /PNUM,SVAL,1 (choose Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Numbering).


• Turning "MN" and "MX" symbols on and off.The MN and MX symbols identify the locations of the
  minimum and maximum contour values. The MINM label on the /PLOPTS command enables you to
  turn these symbols on and off.


• Producing 3-D isosurface, particle gradient, or gradient triad displays. Isosurfaces, particle clouds, and
  gradient triads are tools that can help you visualize the state of response within a 3-D solid body. By
  issuing the /CTYPE command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Contours> Contour Style), you can
  change your contour displays to one of these three styles of display.

14.3.4. Changing the Number of Contours

By default, the ANSYS program displays nine contours. To decrease (but not increase) the number of
contours, you can either issue the /CVAL command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Contours>
Nonuniform Contours). To change (increase or decrease) the number of contours, you can issue the
/CONTOUR command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Style> Contours> Uniform Contours). However, one
or more of the following factors can prevent ANSYS from displaying more than nine contours:

• The device name.


• Whether the display is directed to the screen or to a file.


• The display mode (vector or raster).


• The number of color planes.

Any of these factors can override the number of contours you specify via /CONTOUR. You control these
factors using either the /SHOW command (Utility Menu> PlotCtrls> Device Options). In any case, the
maximum number of contours available is 128.

The paragraphs below explain how device name, display mode, etc. limit the number of contours
available to you:

Driver Contour Display

You can display a maximum of nine contours, no matter how many contours

the /CONTOUR command specifies.

The X11 driver (screen dis-

play) and raster mode

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

Changing the Specifications for POST1 Results Displays