Release 2025 R2 includes new features and enhancements that result in product behaviors that differ from previous releases. These behavior changes are presented below.
Input File Creation. To reduce file size and improve the processing time required to write the input file (ds.dat), new formats have been implemented for the following two commands:
CMBLOCK: For the new format, the entities (element/node IDs) that form a sequence of more than two consecutive numbers are written by specifying the first ID followed by last ID of that sequence with a hyphen.
EBLOCK: This command now uses the COMPACT format where the first field is the element ID, and the remaining fields are the node IDs. Other fields for material, element type, real constant, section number and element coordinate system are specified just before the EBLOCK command.
See the Coded Database File Commands section of the Mechanical APDL Programmer's Reference for more information about these commands.
Imported Condensed Part. Previously, for MSUP Harmonic systems, the application, by default, applied Imported Condensed Part load vectors during the Use pass with a scale factor of one (1.0). Now, instead of the application automatically applying load vectors, you need to apply and scale these load vectors using the Load Application object during the Use pass.
Contact Region Advanced Settings. The Projected, Uncoupled U to ROT option of the Constraint Type property has been renamed Mixed Assembly.
Coriolis Effect. For a harmonic-based analysis when the Solution Method property is set to Full, if you set the Coriolis Effect (Analysis Settings > Rotordynamics Controls) property to On, Rotating Reference Frame, the application no longer considers centrifugal force. In previous releases, the application considered this force a harmonic load.
Remote Boundary Conditions. Now, when you scope a remote boundary condition to the edges of line body that are collinear, the application supports the Deformable setting for the Behavior property. Previously for this setting, the application internally changed the setting to Rigid during the solution process.
Structural Optimization - Absolute Maximum Approximation. Previously, during a Structural Optimization analysis that included a displacement criterion specified for Absolute Maximum Spatial Reduction, regardless of method, the application used an approximation for the maximum value. Now, for certain methods, Mixable Density, Level Set, Shape Optimization, and Topography, which have a displacement-based criterion on a static linear model, the application has been refactored in order to produce a displacement value that is much closer to the actual maximum value.
Connection Group: The Faces option of the Group By property now merges multiple contacts which have the same scoping on the target side and overlapping scoping on the contact side. In earlier releases application would keep them as individual contacts.
Automatic Mesh Update after Body and Joint Configuration. The application now automatically updates the mesh following both body and joint configuration actions, when either the Set or Revert option is used. Previously, mesh updates had to be performed manually after these configurations.
Pre-Meshed Crack. The Mechanical APDL command written to the input file for the crack extension direction definition of a Pre-Meshed Crack has changed. The application now writes the command CINT,EDIR instead of the assist node-based extension direction specification done through the CINT,CTNC command.
Accelerated Animation. Now, when you export a result animation, the application may choose to select the Accelerated Animation setting. Previously, when you exported an animation, the application always used the Standard Animation setting. This change may enable the application to produce the video faster.
Contact Tool Initial Information. The default display of the Possible Overconstraint conditions in the initial contact information worksheet has changed. Now, for this condition, the column displays by default when the Formulation property is set to either Program Controlled or MPC and the Type property is set to Bonded or [Bonded, Initial], otherwise it is not available. Previously, the information displayed regardless of the contact type setting.
Pasting Data into the Tabular Data Window. The ability to copy data from a Microsoft ExcelTM spreadsheet and paste it into the Tabular Data window has been enhanced. Previously, clipboard data was truncated when copying high-precision scientific numbers. Now, the application copies all underlying values of the cells as well as metadata, ensuring greater accuracy without data loss or conversion errors.
The Export CAD File option for a Motion analysis is no longer available, following migration to the new Parasolid graphics kernel.