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Mission ~6 min · ~65 min remaining

Analytical prediction

Calculate the expected RFY and RMZ before running the solver.

Prediction — Solve first on paper

The total force is FY=-1000 N and acts one meter from the fixed support. Before open MAPDL, the free body diagram requires: 

ΣFY = 0  →  RFY + (−1000) = 0  →  RFY = +1000 N

ΣMZ = 0  →  RMZ + 1·(−1000) = 0  →  RMZ = +1000 N·m

These figures are a prediction, not a finite element result. The objective of macro will be to try to refute them by reading the real solution.

Balance of vertical force and moment of a cantilever beam
Figure 1. Prediction of the resultants with respect to the center of the fixed face.

Mental model — Four states, not one button

Do not treat solving as merely flipping a switch. The process contains four different states:

  1. Prepared database: mesh, properties, constraints and loads.
  2. Solution definition: type of analysis, increments and results requested.
  3. Solution: MAPDL assembles and solves the system of equations.
  4. Active set: a specific state of the results file is loaded into memory.
Cycle from MAPDL database to result set audit
Figure 2. SOLVE creates results; SET chooses which result set is active.
View complete module Download m06-kit.zip