Create a Contour Plot Based on Nodal Results

  1. Open the Contour panel in the following ways:
    • From the Results toolbar, click Contour .
    • Select Plot > Contour from the Results menu.
  2. From the Contour panel, select the data type that should be used to calculate the contours from the Result type drop-down menu.
    The available result types change depending on the result file that is loaded.
    Each result type is followed by a letter that indicates the category to which it belongs. (t) indicates a tensor-type result, such as stress or strain tensors. (v) indicates a vector-type result, such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration. (s) indicates a scalar-type result. (c) indicates complex results.
    Tip: Click the expansion button to open the Choose From List dialog, where you can filter result types for quick selection.
  3. Select a data component type from the second drop-down menu in the result type section.
    The list of available components is based on the selected result type. For example:
    Result type Component options
    Displacement (v) Mag, X, Y, or Z.
    Stress (t) vonMises, Signed vonMises, Tresca, Triaxiality, Lode Param xi, Lode Param theta, P1(major), P2(mid), P3(minor), Absolute Max Principal, In-plane P1(major), In-plane P2(minor), MaxShear, Intensity, Pressure, XX, YY, ZZ, XY, YZ, or ZX
    1D stress Multiple options are listed for various elements such as: CELAS, CROD, CBAR, CBEAM, etc
    Energy (s) No component selection is necessary.
    Note: If you select Mag (Magnitude), the results system is disabled since magnitude is the same for any coordinate system.
  4. Before creating a contour plot, you may pick one or more entities from the model.
    • Click the input collector (Elements, Components, or Assemblies) and use the extended entity selection menu.
    • Pick entities directly from the model in the modeling window.
    Note: If no selection is made, the contour will be applied to displayed elements, components, or assemblies by default.
    For contour of multiple models, see Multi-model Result Plotting for additional information.
    Note: For MBD models, Systems (or Markers) can also be selected. Selection will be available if the results file has any type of results that are bound to Systems/Markers (for example; forces or moments).
  5. Select the coordinate system that will be used to calculate the results from the Resolved in drop-down menu.
    The available options are dependent on the current selection for Averaging method. You can select the analysis, element, or global coordinate system, as well as a user-defined system. The System input collector is enabled when User System is selected.
    Coordinate System Description
    Global System Transforms to the global system.
    (proj: none) indicates that no projection rule is selected for shells. If a projection rule is selected (using the Projection Rule button) it is displayed, for example, (proj: y, x).
    Note: This option is available when processing envelope loadcases.
    Elemental System Transforms results to the element coordinate system. In HyperView, the element coordinate system is defined by element connectivity.
    Note: This option is not available when processing envelope loadcases.
    Material System Transforms to the material system.

    This option is only available when the Advanced Result Math template is selected in the Load Model panel and a solver input deck is loaded.

    Note: This option is not available when processing envelope loadcases.

    For plotting data types that do not have relevance to the Material system (for example, Stress with a Z1 and a Z2 data type), it is not advised that you apply the Resolved-In system of Material, because this may result in incorrect transformations.
    Ply System Transforms to the ply system.

    This option is only available when the Advanced Result Math template is selected in the Load Model panel and a solver input deck is loaded.

    Note: This option is not available when processing envelope loadcases.

    For plotting data types that do not have relevance to the Ply system (for example, Stress with a Z1 and a Z2 data type), it is not advised that you apply the Resolved-In system of Ply, because this may result in incorrect transformations.
    Analysis System Displays the vector and tensor results as they are output from the solver.
    User System Click the System input collector to select a system by ID or pick from the screen. Markers can also be selected for MBD models.

    This option is available when the results file contains a user-defined coordinate system.

    (proj: none) indicates that no projection rule is selected for shells. If a projection rule is selected in the Projection Rule dialog, it is displayed, for example, (proj: y, x).

    Note: This option is not available when processing envelope loadcases.
  6. Activate the relevant check boxes for Display options, Legend threshold, and Result display control.
  7. Click Apply.
    The selected options are applied and the contour plot is displayed.