This tutorial was completed using ANSYS 7.0. This tutorial outlines the steps necessary for solving a model meshed with p-elements. The p-method manipulates the polynomial level (p-level) of the finite element shape functions which are used to approximate the real solution. Thus, rather than increasing mesh density, the p-level can be increased to give a similar result. By keeping mesh density rather coarse, computational time can be kept to a minimum. This is the greatest advantage of using p-elements over h-elements.
A uniform load will be applied to the right hand side of the geometry shown below. The specimen was modeled as steel with a modulus of elasticity of 200 GPa.
finish /clear /title, P-Method Meshing /pmeth,on ! Initialize p-method in ANSYS /prep7 ! Enter preprocessor k,1,0,0 ! Keypoints defining geometry k,2,0,100 k,3,20,100 k,4,45,52 k,5,55,52 k,6,80,100 k,7,100,100 k,8,100,0 k,9,80,0 k,10,55,48 k,11,45,48 k,12,20,0 a,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 ! Create area from keypoints et,1,plane145 ! Element type keyopt,1,3,3 ! Plane stress with thickness option r,1,10 ! Real constant - thickness mp,ex,1,200000 ! Young's modulus mp,prxy,1,0.3 ! Poisson's ratio esize,5 ! Element size amesh,all ! Mesh area finish /solu ! Enter solution phase antype,0 ! Static analysis nsubst,20,100,20 ! Number of substeps outres,all,all ! Output data for all substeps time,1 ! Time at end = 1 lsel,s,loc,x,0 ! Line select at x=0 dl,all,,all ! Constrain the line, all DOF's lsel,all ! Re-select all lines lsel,s,loc,x,100 ! Line select at x=100 sfl,all,pres,-100 ! Apply a pressure lsel,all ! Re-select all lines solve finish /post1 ! Enter postprocessor set,last ! Select last set of data plesol,s,eqv ! Plot the equivalent stress