PPATH

PPATH, POINT, NODE, X, Y, Z, CS
Defines a path by picking or defining nodes, or locations on the currently active working plane, or by entering specific coordinate locations.

Valid Products: Pro | Premium | Enterprise | PrepPost | Solver | AS add-on

POINT

The point number. It must be greater than zero and less than or equal to the nPts value specified on the PATH command if graphical picking is not being used.

NODE

The node number defining this point. If blank, use the X, Y, Z coordinates to define the point. A valid node number will override X, Y, Z coordinate arguments.

X, Y, Z

The location of the point in the global Cartesian coordinate system. Use these arguments only if you omit the NODE argument.

CS

The coordinate system for interpolation of the path between the previous point and this point. Omit this argument if you wish to use the currently active (CSYS) coordinate system. If the coordinate system of two adjacent points is different, the CS value of the latter point will be used.

Notes

For linearized stress calculations, the path must be defined with nodes.

This command is designed and works best in interactive (GUI) mode, using the menu paths listed below. For command line operations, issue PPATH,P to define your path by picking nodes.

For information on displaying paths you have defined, see Mapping Results onto a Path in the Basic Analysis Guide.

Menu Paths

Main Menu>General Postproc>Path Operations>Define Path>By Location
Main Menu>General Postproc>Path Operations>Define Path>By Nodes
Main Menu>General Postproc>Path Operations>Define Path>Modify Path
Main Menu>General Postproc>Path Operations>Define Path>On Working Plane
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Path Operations>Define Path>By Location
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Path Operations>Define Path>By Nodes
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Path Operations>Define Path>Modify Path
Main Menu>Preprocessor>Path Operations>Define Path>On Working Plane