Displaying Contours

Contours help visualize and assess gradients for variables displayed on a surface or volume. The regions between the contour lines are filled with a color that denotes the value of the variable in that region.

  1. In the Results arc, click Contours.
  2. Select a variable from the Results legend list to display contour results.
    • For structural simulations, display contours for quantities such as Displacement, Stress, Strain, Reaction Force, or Reaction Resultant.
    • For thermal simulations, display Temperature or Heat Flux.
    • For thermal-structural simulations, display Displacement, Reaction Force, Reaction Resultant, or Heat Flux.
    • For fluid flow simulations, display Velocity, Pressure, Temperature, or Vortices Lambda. Temperature is only available if you have added a temperature condition, and Vortices Lambda is available only in Explore.
  3. Analyze and display your results in different ways using the contours options.
    Location All Faces displays surface contours and All Bodies displays volume contours. When volume contours are displayed on bodies, a range clipper is visible alongside the colormap. Slide the ends of the clipper to set the range of values to display.
    Surface display priority Sets the Inner, Outer, Highest Value or Lowest Value for surface contours.
    Tip: In the Results arc, use Cut plane to create cross sections of your model where you can view results at the different locations within the model. Drag the plane anywhere in the volume to slice the results. Hover over the plane border to get a drag arrow for moving the plane. You can select the Move tool (in the Design tab ribbon or press M) to rotate the plane.