Your mission: auditable loads and constraints · M05 · Learn to Program Ansys APDL Simulations

Apply boundary conditions and demonstrate the values actually stored before solving.

A mesh does not define where the structure is supported or which external loads it must carry. In M05 we will turn the free-body diagram into constraints and loads, then check the values stored by MAPDL before solving.

Your mission

You will fully constrain the left end of the beam, distribute a total force of -1000 N over its right end, and generate a CSV that records the selected regions, constrained degrees of freedom, and actual sum of nodal forces.

Guiding question: How do you distinguish a total force from a force applied to each node?

Objectives

By completing M05 you will be able to demonstrate that:

Translate a free-body diagram into regions, degrees of freedom, and force components.
Apply constraints and loads exclusively on named components.
Explain what each ALL means in D,ALL,ALL,0.
Maintain a constant resultant force when the number of nodes changes.
Distinguish selection, nodal system, visualization and results system.
Read constraints and stored forces using *GET.
Audit boundary conditions without using reactions or results.

Prerequisites and downloads

Complete M02 to work with components and selections.
Complete M04; we will use the first accepted mesh, with 40 elements.
Remember that SOLID185 has the displacement DOFs UX, UY, and UZ.

05_start.mac — starting point.
05_loads_constraints.mac — audited solution.
05_bug_hunt.mac — five deliberate failures.
05_challenge.mac — mesh independence challenge.
05_expected_results.csv — self-checking contract.

How to use this lesson

Track	Duration	Scope
Quick win	30–35 min	Prediction, regions, fixed support and audited load distribution.
Complete	65–70 min	In addition, reference systems, sum of forces, challenge with more nodes.

Recommendation: run DLIST and FLIST before SOLVE. The intent of the script does not prove what conditions were actually stored.

Session map

Mission: objectives, downloads, and a refinement prediction.
Mental model: boundary conditions as part of the model.
Demo: apply, list, and audit loads and constraints.
Bug hunting: empty selections and incorrect load distributions.
Challenge: same total force with more nodes loaded.
Mastery: final test that records demonstrated mastery and recommends M06.