esel#

Selecting.esel(type_='', item='', comp='', vmin='', vmax='', vinc='', kabs='', **kwargs)#

Selects a subset of elements.

Mechanical APDL Command: ESEL

Command default:

All elements are selected.

Parameters:
type_str

Label identifying the type of select:

  • S - Select a new set (default).

  • R - Reselect a set from the current set.

  • A - Additionally select a set and extend the current set.

  • U - Unselect a set from the current set.

  • ALL - Restore the full set.

  • NONE - Unselect the full set.

  • INVE - Invert the current set (selected becomes unselected and vice versa).

  • STAT - Display the current select status.

itemstr

Label identifying data, see ESEL - Valid Item and Component Labels. Some items also require a component label. If Item = PICK (or simply “P”), graphical picking is enabled and all remaining command fields are ignored (valid only in the GUI). Defaults to ELEM. If Item = STRA (straightened), elements are selected whose midside nodes do not conform to the curved line or non-flat area on which they should lie. (Such elements are sometimes formed during volume meshing ( vmesh ) in an attempt to avoid excessive element distortion.) You should graphically examine any such elements to evaluate their possible effect on solution accuracy.

compstr

Component of the item (if required). Valid component labels are shown in ESEL - Valid Item and Component Labels below.

vminstr

Minimum value of item range. Ranges are element numbers, attribute numbers, load values, or result values as appropriate for the item. A component name (as specified via the cm command) can also be substituted for VMIN (in which case VMAX and VINC are ignored).

vmaxstr

Maximum value of item range. VMAX defaults to VMIN for input values.

For result values, VMAX defaults to infinity if VMIN is positive, or to zero if VMIN is negative.

vincstr

Value increment within range. Used only with integer ranges (such as for element and attribute numbers). Defaults to 1. VINC cannot be negative.

kabsint or str

Absolute value key:

  • 0 - Check sign of value during selection.

  • 1 - Use absolute value during selection (sign ignored).

Notes

Warning

This function contains specificities regarding the argument definitions. Please refer to the command documentation for further explanations.

Selects elements based on values of a labeled item and component. For example, to select a new set of elements based on element numbers 1 through 7, use esel,S,ELEM,,1,7. The subset is used when the ALL label is entered (or implied) on other commands, such as elist,ALL. Only data identified by element number are selected. Selected data are internally flagged; no actual removal of data from the database occurs. Different element subsets cannot be used for different load steps ( solve ) in a slashsolu sequence. The subset used in the first load step is used for all subsequent load steps regardless of subsequent esel specifications.

This command is valid in any processor.

Elements crossing the named path ( path ) are selected. This option is available only in PREP7 and POST1. If no geometry data has been mapped to the path (via pmap and pdef, for example), the path assumes the default mapping option ( pmap,UNIFORM) to map the geometry prior to selecting the elements. If an invalid path name is given, the esel command is ignored (and the status of selected elements is unchanged). If no elements are crossing the path, the esel command returns zero elements selected.

For selections based on non-integer numbers (coordinates, results, etc.), items that are within the range VMIN - Toler and VMAX + Toler are selected. The default tolerance Toler is based on the relative values of VMIN and VMAX as follows:

  • If VMIN = VMAX, Toler = 0.005 x VMIN.

  • If VMIN = VMAX = 0.0, Toler = 1.0E-6.

  • If VMAX ≠ VMIN, Toler = 1.0E-8 x ( VMAX - VMIN ).

To override this default and specify Toler explicitly, issue the SELTOL seltol command.

ESEL - Valid Item and Component Labels#

Valid Item and Component Labels esel, Type, Item, Comp, VMIN, VMAX, VINC, KABS#

Item

Comp

Description

ELEM

Element number.

ADJ

Elements adjacent to element VMIN ( VMAX and VINC fields are ignored). Only elements (of the same dimensionality) adjacent to lateral faces are considered. Progression continues until edge of model or until more than two elements are adjacent at a face.

CENT

X, Y, Z

X, Y, or Z location in the active coordinate system.

TYPE

Element type number.

ENAME

Element name (or identifying number).

MAT

Material ID number.

REAL

(blank)

Real constant number.

ESYS

Element coordinate system number.

OVER

Overlapping contact elements created during contact pair splitting ( cncheck,SPLIT/DMP)

LIVE

Active elements ( ealive ). VMIN and VMAX fields are ignored.

LAYER

Layer number (where only composite elements with a nonzero thickness for the requested layer number are included) ( layer ).

SEC

(blank)

Cross section ID number ( secnum )

STRA

Straightened. See the description of the Item argument above.

SFE

PRES

Element pressure.

BFE

TEMP

Element temperature.

PATH

Lab

Selects all elements being crossed by the path with name Lab ( path ). If Lab = ALL, all elements related to all defined paths are selected.

Valid item and component labels for element result values are:

ETAB

Lab

Any user-defined element table label ( etable ).