Your first mission

Understand the physical problem, predict the deformation direction, and recognize the evidence you will collect.

Objectives, prerequisites, and module map

M00 competency

Run an APDL script, change one controlled input, and demonstrate with evidence that the simulation finished and responded as expected.

Observable outcomes

Configure Working Directory and Job Name.
Run a .mac file with /INPUT.
Recognize /PREP7 → /SOLU → /POST1 and selection as program state.
Check files, deformed shape, direction, order of magnitude, and load proportionality.
Diagnose an incident from the visible warning and the .out before correcting the model.

Prerequisites

Basic finite element analysis concepts.
ANSYS Mechanical APDL available; screenshots may vary slightly between versions.
A local folder with read/write permissions.
No prior programming experience required.

Eight module experiences

Your first mission — understand the problem and predict the deformed shape.
Prepare and run — configure the session and launch /INPUT.
Your first check — confirm files, deformed shape, and direction.
The MAPDL mental model — sequence, processors, and selection.
From physical problem to script — engineering decisions and APDL blocks.
Diagnose an execution — read the .out and locate failures.
Challenge: double the load — change one input and obtain the ratio.
Evidence and mastery — submit values and explain why they are coherent.

Realistic duration: 70–80 minutes.

You will run a cantilever beam, check that it displaces in the expected direction, and show that its response is linear when you double the load. Your first goal is not to memorize APDL: it is to complete a real simulation cycle with defensible evidence.

Observable result: displacement and stress contours, .out and .rst files, and a numerical ratio between two load cases that demonstrates linearity.

The template models a solid cantilever beam with these properties:

Quantity	Value	Unit
Length	1.00	m
Height	0.10	m
Width	0.05	m
Young's modulus	210·10⁹	Pa
Poisson's ratio	0.30	—
Total vertical force	−1000	N

The end at x=0 is fixed. The total load of −1000 N acts on nodes at the free end x=1 m. After running the script you will inspect displacements and stresses in the viewport.

MAPDL total displacement contour after the first SOLVE — Preview of the result you are aiming for: the free end displaces toward −Y under the downward load.

Ten-second prediction

Before you run: in which direction do you expect the free end to move? Write it down. The immediate check after /INPUT will test your engineering judgement against the contour—not the other way around.