View Structures Analysis Results

Use the Show Analysis Results tool to view the results of a linear static, normal modes, or buckling modes analysis in the Analysis Explorer. View and animate results, add callouts, and compare results from different runs.

Show Results in the Analysis Explorer

Use the Analysis Explorer to view the results of an analysis.

Prerequisite: Run a SimSolid or OptiStruct analysis.

Click the Show Analysis Results tool on the Analyze icon to open the Analysis Explorer.

Tip: To find and open a tool, press Ctrl+F. For more information, see Find and Search for Tools.
Select the Run you want to view.
Select a Load Case.
Select a Result Type. The result is displayed in the modeling window.
Use the additional options to animate the result, change what is shown in the modeling view, create callouts, and compare results.
Right-click or press Esc to close the Analysis Explorer and return to the original part.

Analysis Explorer Options

The Analysis Explorer includes options that allow you to select a run, display a result type, add callouts, and adjust how the results are shown.

Run

The most recent analysis run is shown in the modeling window by default. To view the results from a different analysis, click on the appropriate item in the list of runs at the top of the Analysis Explorer.

To delete a run from the Analysis Explorer, right-click the run name to select Delete Run.

Load Case

Each load case selected in the Run Analysis window returns a separate result. Click on an item in the list to view the results for that load case. If you included normal modes in your analysis, this will be listed as a separate load case. Buckling modes have the (Buckling) appended to the load case name

The Result Envelope is created when you have two or more static load cases. It shows the maximum value for each result type across all load cases.

Result Types

Linear static analysis produces a variety of different result types for each load case including displacement, factor of safety, percent of yield, tension and compression, maximum shear stress, von Mises stress, principal stress, and principal strain. Click on an item in the Result Types list to view the results.

Modes

All physical objects have frequencies at which they vibrate that are called normal modes. If you chose to run a normal modes analysis in the Run Analysis window, the modes will be listed here when you select Normal Modes for the Load Case. Click on a mode to view the displacement for that mode.

Normal modes can be analyzed with or without supports. If no supports are selected in the Run Analysis window, the first six modes shown in the results will be rigid body modes.

Bucking Load Factors

Buckling modes are used to predict when a part will bend or collapse under load. If you chose to run a buckling modes analysis in the Run Analysis window, the resulting buckling load factors shown here will help you determine the load required to cause your part to buckle. This value can be multiplied by the load applied to determine the load value that will cause the part to buckle. Click on buckling load factor to view the displacement for that mode.

Results Slider

The results slider is scalable and provides a color gradient for the selected result type.

To change the upper or lower bound for the results slider, click on the bound and enter a new value. Click the reset button to restore the default values.
To filter the results so that areas on the model with results greater than a specified value are masked, click and drag the arrow on the results slider. To mask areas with results less than the specified value, click and select Flip Mask. Select the arrow to enter a specific value.
To change the legend color for the result type, click the icon next to the results slider and select Legend Colors.
To apply the min/max values for the current result type to all load cases, click the icon next to the results slider and select Apply current min/max to all load cases.
To reset the min/max values for the current result types for all load cases, click the icon next to the results slider and select Reset min/max of all load cases

Compare Results

Click the Compare Results button at the bottom of the Analysis Explorer to view a table that allows you to compare analysis runs.

Results are compared in a table format. Additional columns can be added to show additional result types and parameters from the Run Analysis window. The red-blue color bands correspond to the legend in the Analysis Explorer; the width of the band indicates the magnitude of the result. Changes to the upper and lower bound in the Analysis Explorer are automatically reflected in the Compare Analysis Results table.

Select a row to display the results for that run and load case.
Double-click a cell in the table to show that result in the modeling window
Click the chevron next to the table title to select a different result type or a callout.
Click the chevron on a column header to filter results.
Click a column header to sort the column
Right-click a column header to change what result types, run parameters, or callouts are shown in the table.
Click the top left corner of the table to copy the contents of all cells. This can then be pasted into Excel.

Show/Hide Elements

When the Analysis Explorer is active, an additional Show/Hide Elements icon appears under the view controls in the lower left corner of the modeling window

Show Options

Determine what is made visible in the modeling window when viewing analysis results. You can show or hide the initial shape, loads and supports, deformation, and/or contours.


Option	Description	Note
Show/Hide Initial Shape	Show/hide the initial shape as a reference.
Show/Hide All Loads and Supports	Show/hide loads and supports. You can also show only the current loads and supports.
Show/Hide Deformed State	Show/hide the deformed shape as a reference.
Show/Hide Contours	Show/hide contours.
Options	Interpolate during animation: Animate the result contour. Blended contours: Toggle between blended and nonblended contours. Element contour: Show contours based on elements rather than nodes. This option is only available for results types that are based on elements. Vector plot: Display the direction vectors for the displacement result type.
Show/Hide Elements	Show/hide the element edges.	This icon appears under the view controls in the lower left of the modeling window, but only when the Analysis Explorer is active.

Callout Options

Add visual callouts to show points of interest on your analysis results.


Option	Description	Note
Create, Show, and Hide Callouts	Select to create callouts; select to show and hide callouts.	Click the icon, then click a point on the model to create a callout. After creating callouts, click the icon to show/hide the callouts in the modeling window.
List Callouts	Display in a table all of the callouts that have been created, with the result types and values. Each callout is specific to the selected run and load case.	Click the icon to show/hide the callout in the modeling window. Select a row to select the callout in the modeling window. Click a column header to sort the column. Click to toggle between ascending and descending order. Click and drag column headers to reposition them in the callout list. Right-click a column header to change the result types that are shown.
Min/Max Callouts	Create a callout showing where the minimum/maximum value occurs for the selected result type. Note: When factor of safety is selected, the minimum value is shown.	When you click the icon, the callout is automatically generated on the model. Click the min/max callout in the modeling window to create a regular callout at the same location.
Plot	Display time history plots for callouts defined for structural analysis. Changes made to the Result Types option are synchronized with the setting on the Analysis Explorer. Using this option allows you to put multiple plots of mixed types on a single page. Note: To show a callout plot during a motion analysis playback, right-click the plot, then select Show during analysis.	This option is only available for motion part analysis results.
Dynamic Callouts	Display the results of various result types in existing callouts. Note: If you enable the Compare Results feature in a callout, the callout becomes static.	After creating a callout for a particular result type, click the icon, then select a different result type. The value in the callout reflects the new result type.

Compare Results

Compare the results of multiple analysis runs in a table. The Compare Results button is located at the bottom of the Analysis Explorer.

For analysis, you can compare results across all runs and load cases for the selected result type. You can also compare result types at a point of interest where you have placed a callout.

View the analysis results in the Analysis Explorer.

Select the Show Analysis Results tool on the Analyze icon, if not already active.

Tip: To find and open a tool, press Ctrl+F. For more information, see Find and Search for Tools.
Click the Compare Results button located at the bottom of the Analysis Explorer.

The table for comparing results appears at the bottom of the modeling window.
Select the row to display the results for that run and load case.
- Double-click a cell in the table to show that result in the modeling window.
- Click the chevron next to the table title to select a different result type or a callout.
- Click the chevron on a column header to filter results.
- Click a column header to sort the column.
- Right-click a column header to change what result types, run parameters, or callouts are shown in the table.
- Click the top left corner of the table to copy the contents of all cells. This can then be pasted into Excel.

Additional columns can be added to show additional result types and parameters from the Run Analysis window. The red-blue color bands correspond to the legend in the Analysis Explorer; the width of the band indicates the magnitude of the result. Changes to the upper and lower bound in the Analysis Explorer are automatically reflected in the Compare Analysis Results table.