pdef

Mapdl.pdef(lab='', item='', comp='', avglab='', **kwargs)

Interpolates an item onto a path.

APDL Command: PDEF

Parameters:

lab

Label assigned to the resulting path item (8 characters maximum). This item may be used as input for other path operations.

item

Label identifying the item for interpolation. Valid item labels are shown in Table 216: PDEF - valid Item and Component Labels below. Some items also require a component label.

comp

Component of the item (if required). Valid component labels are shown in Table 216: PDEF - valid Item and Component Labels below.

avglab

Option to average across element boundaries:

AVG - Average element results across elements (default).

NOAV - Do not average element results across elements. If the parameter DISCON = MAT

on the PMAP command, this option is automatically invoked.

Notes

Defines and interpolates a labeled path item along a predefined path (PATH). Path item results are in the global Cartesian coordinate directions unless transformed (RSYS). A path item must be defined before it can be used with other path operations. Additional path items may be defined from the PVECT, PCALC, PDOT, and PCROSS commands. Path items may be listed (PRPATH) or displayed (PLPATH, PLPAGM). A maximum number of path items permitted is established by the nSets argument specified with the PATH command.

When you create the first path item (PDEF or PVECT), the program automatically interpolates four path items which are used to describe the geometry of the path. These predefined items are the position of the interpolated path points (labels XG, YG, and ZG) in global Cartesian coordinates, and the path length (label S). For alternate methods of mapping the path geometry (to include, for example, material discontinuity) see the PMAP command. These items may also be listed or displayed with the PRPATH, PLPATH, and PLPAGM commands.

If specifying that load case operations act on principal/equivalent stresses (SUMTYPE,PRIN), derived quantities (principal and equivalent stresses/strains) will be zero for path plots. A typical use for such a case involves mode combinations in a response spectrum analysis.

The number of interpolation points on the path is defined by the nDiv argument on the PATH command. See Mapping Nodal and Element Data onto the Path in the Mechanical APDL Theory Reference for details. Use PDEF,STAT to list the path item labels. Use PDEF,CLEAR to erase all labeled path items, except the path geometry items (XG, YG, ZG, S).

For SHELL131 and SHELL132 elements with KEYOPT(3) = 0 or 1, use the labels TBOT, TE2, TE3, …, TTOP instead of TEMP.

For more information on the meaning of contact status and its possible values, see Reviewing Results in POST1 in the Contact Technology Guide.