From physical problem to script
| Engineering decision | APDL block |
|---|---|
| Start from a known state | Initialization |
| Define what we are modeling | Element, material, and geometry (active type and material before meshing; detail in M03) |
| Discretize the continuum | Mesh |
| Represent support and load | Selections, constraints, and forces |
| Solve and observe | /SOLU and /POST1 |
Block 2 — Element, material, and geometry
Decision: model a structural steel solid with the dimensions from the table.
/PREP7
ET,1,SOLID185
MP,EX,1,210E9
MP,PRXY,1,0.30
TYPE,1
MAT,1
BLOCK,0,1.0,0,0.10,0,0.05
ET and MP register element type and material in numbered tables.
TYPE,1 and MAT,1 activate what new elements will receive when meshed.
In M03 you will formalize the define → activate → assign pattern and learn to audit it.
State left: rectangular volume created with active attributes ready for meshing.
Check: the viewport shows a prism aligned with the X axis.
Block 4 — Selections, constraints, and forces
NSEL,S,LOC,X,1.0
*GET,n_tip,NODE,0,COUNT
F,ALL,FY,-1000/n_tip
ALLSEL,ALL
The total load stays −1000 N even if the mesh changes, because force is divided by n_tip.