Using element-nodal results to create elemental displays

If your solver does not calculate results at the centroid of elements, you can create an elemental display from the element-nodal results. When you do so, the post-processor uses the value of the element-nodal result evaluated at the centroid of each element as the elemental result for each element. The post-processor evaluates the value of the element-nodal result at the centroid of each element as follows:

1. Shape functions are created for each element.

2. The shape functions are used to interpolate the values of the element-nodal result at each node in the connectivity of the element back to the centroid of the element.

3. The value of the element-nodal result at the centroid of each element is used as the elemental result for the element.

You can create a contour display of averaged or unaveraged elemental results.

• For unaveraged elemental results, post-processing displays the elemental value of the result for each element across the entire element. Thus, the coloring of the contour display is always constant across individual elements and is typically discontinuous across element edges and faces.

• For averaged elemental results, at each node, post-processing displays the average of the elemental values of the result for each element that shares the node. Thus, the coloring of the contour display typically varies continuously across individual elements and across element edges and faces.

Note:

The elemental results that post-processing calculates from element-nodal results may differ slightly from centroidal results that a solver calculates because the solver results may take into account bubble functions and material properties that vary across the element, among others.

You can also create a contour display of maximum or minimum results:

• For the maximum result, the post-processor uses the algebraic maximum value of the element-nodal result for each element as the elemental value of the result for the element.

• For the minimum result, the post-processor uses the algebraic minimum value of the element-nodal result for each element as the elemental value of the result for the element.

For the maximum and minimum display options, the coloring of the contour display is always constant across individual elements and is typically discontinuous across element edges and faces.

Calculating invariant results from averaged, maximum, or minimum elemental results

When you display averaged, maximum, or minimum results, post-processing uses the averaged, maximum, or minimum values, respectively of the vector or tensor results to calculate:

• The magnitude for vector results like heat flux.

• The principal values, maximum shear, octahedral shear, and so on for tensor results.

Creating displays of unaveraged, averaged, maximum, and minimum elemental results

To create an elemental display from element-nodal results, create a contour plot of the element-nodal results.

1. In the Post View dialog box, on the Display tab, click the Color Display check box and from the Color Display list, select Element.

2. Click the Result tab and from the Combine At list, select Elements.

3. From the Element Criterion list, select:Centroid to use unaveraged results in the elemental display.Average to use averaged results in the elemental display.Maximum to use maximum results in the elemental display.Minimum to use minimum results in the elemental display.

4. Click OK.

Learn more

Options for elemental results

Averaging options for elemental and grid point results

Options for element-nodal results

Look up more details

Nodal combination options for element-nodal results

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Using element-nodal results to create elemental displays, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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