ANSYS Solution Sequence & Files
The FEM process consists of the three steps below.
1. Preprocessing
2. Solving the Equations
3. Postprocessing
The FEM model is prepared in the Preprocessing step. The problem is solved in the Solution step. Results are viewed, plotted, and/or printed in the Postprocessing step.
Solution of ANSYS problems can be performed in any of the several ways shown below.
1. Batch Mode - You prepare a text file which contains all of the commands for Preprocessing, Solving, and Postprocessing. The Truss1 Example is solved this way.
2. Interactive Mode - You perform all three FEM steps during an interactive session using menu picks and entering data & commands from the keyboard. The 2D Heat Example below is done interactively.
3. Mixed Mode - You may wish to prepare some or all of the model definition instructions and read them as an input text file and then complete the problem interactively. The Plane Stress Example below is done this way.
Files
ANSYS works with two kinds of files:
(1) ASCII (or text) files such as an input file you prepare as described in 1. above or a calculated results file ANSYS creates for you to save.
(2) Binary files ANSYS creates based upon the model definition and results calculated.
An input text file is read by ANSYS using the file menu sequence File -> Read Input from ...
If the text file contains model and solution instructions, all that will be missing from this text definition is the calculated results.
At any point in the solution sequence you may wish to save your model and/or results for retreival later. Do this by the sequence
File -> Save as Jobname.db if you supplied a job name when you selected the working directory.
Otherwise use File -> Save as ... and supply a name.
Files saved using this process are binary files in the native ANSYS format. They can be retrieved later with commands
File -> Resume Jobname.db if you supplied a job name when you selected the working directory.
Otherwise use File -> Resume from ... and select the file to be opened.
Model files are saved with the extension db
Results Data files are saved with the extension dbb
Binary files cannot be retrieved with the command File -> Read Input from ...
A running log file (File.log) is kept recording all your keystrokes in an interactive session. It is an ASCII file and is appended to the keystrokes from previous sessions. You can use this recreate a session.