ESEL

ESEL, Type, Item, Comp, VMIN, VMAX, VINC, KABS
Selects a subset of elements.

DATABASE: Selecting

Type

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.

The following fields are used only with Type = S, R, A, or U:

Item

Label identifying data, see Table 110: 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.

Comp

Component of the item (if required). Valid component labels are shown in Table 110: ESEL - Valid Item and Component Labels below.

VMIN

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).

VMAX

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.

VINC

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

KABS

Absolute value key:

0	—	Check sign of value during selection.
1	—	Use absolute value during selection (sign ignored).

Command Default

All elements are selected.

Notes

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 /SOLU 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 command.

Table 110: 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.
	GCN	General contact/target elements (select all elements identified by real constant set number = 0). Remaining fields (`VMIN`, `VMAX`, etc.) are ignored.
	BASE	All split contact pairs (CNCHECK,SPLIT/DMP) that are associated with the current real constant set 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)
	MAT	Selects the elements with the requested MAT ID specified via `VMIN` and `VMAX` as attached to the section.
STRA		Straightened. See the description of the `Item` argument above.
SFE	PRES	Element pressure.
	CONV	Element convection bulk temperature.
	HFLUX	Element heat flux.
	FSI	Element (acoustic) fluid-structure interaction flag.
	IMPD	Element (acoustic) impedance.
	SHLD	Surface normal velocity or acceleration (acoustic analysis).
	MXWF	Element Maxwell force flag.
	CHRGS	Electric surface charge density.
	INF	Element infinite surface flag.
	DFLUX	Element diffusion flux.
BFE	TEMP	Element temperature.
	FLUE	Element fluence.
	HGEN	Element heat generation rate.
	JS	Element current density, magnitude only.
	MVDI	Element magnetic virtual displacements flag.
	DGEN	Element diffusing substance generation rate.
	CHRGD	Electric charge density.
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).

Menu Paths

Main Menu>Preprocessor>Modeling>CMS>CMS Superelements>By Picking

Main Menu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Create>Circuit>Delete Elements

Main Menu>Preprocessor>Modeling>Delete>Pre-tens Elemnts

Utility Menu>Select>Entities