How to specify a number of contours for plnsol

[Artyom-K]

When using the Mechanical APDL app, to have more that 9 contours. I used to choose the WIN32C device via /show and specify 128 contour through /contour. Then, when I would redirect plots to PNG, 128 contours would be used. I think it only works from the second export and only if I choose the background to be white.
Anyway, how can I achieve more contours with pymapdl at least when the interactive figure is created? I believe it is created exporting the PNG file first. I tried used mapdl.show(fname='WIN32C') or '3D' but mapdl.contour(ncont=128) does not have any effect. Both plotting in a figure just with mapdl.plnsol or specifying mapdl.show(fname='PNG') before that result in a plot with 9 contours.

[mikerife]

Hi @Artyom-K
Which order were the commands issued in? Make sure that the CONTOUR command is after the SHOW command. For example:

mapdl.view(1,1,1,1)
mapdl.show('png','','',8)
mapdl.contour(1,100,'auto')
mapdl.plnsol('temp')

Results in

Whereas this:

mapdl.view(1,1,1,1)
mapdl.contour(1,100,'auto')
mapdl.show('png','','',8)
mapdl.plnsol('temp')

Results in the nine-banded standard plot. Have you looked into the post_processing module instead? It is plotting results via PyVista and PyVista gives a lot of control to the color map and scalar bar.

Mike

[Artyom-K]

Hmm, I didn't specify 8 color planes so it didn't work. But anyway this code doesn't work if I modify it to mapdl.show('png', 'REV', '', 8) to get a white backround which I prefer. It then uses 9 contours anyway.
I can't use the post_processing module as I believe CPT215 elements are not supported in it. I get this error KeyError: 'Data array (ansys_node_num) not present in this dataset.' I also created an issue previously for pypdf-post ansys/pydpf-post#197

[mikerife]

Hi @Artyom-K
If we take a step back, we interact with MAPDL as a Server as if it were run interactively for inputs. But we interact with it as it were run in batch for outputs. The batch mode of MAPDL does not accept most graphics commands. Nor can we run it in the 3D or X11C/Win32C graphics modes. Does your workflow allow for some interactive work? I.E. use the open_gui() feature and post process in MAPDL interactive.

Maybe @germa89 can comment on the post_processing method supporting CPT215 elements...?

We should be able to gather the data and get the plot you want by way of PyVista. Do you have a small test model that you can share? If not I can create one.

Mike

[Artyom-K]

Sure, I can use open_gui() but I just wanted to automate creating pictures for the report. Actually, I think you're right, I wasn''t able to do it in batch mode previously. Still strange that it almost works, just not with every plot option.
I would prefer to use the modern post processing methods of course. Here is a very simple model using CPT215 elements.
for_github.zip
Thanks for quick replies by the way!

[germa89]

Maybe @germa89 can comment on the post_processing method supporting CPT215 elements...?

It depends on pymapdl-reader so I would say no plans at the moment to support those elements.