Re: [External] - Re: Visualizing cyclic symmetry constraints

MV
Mitch Voehl
Wed, May 20, 2026 3:05 AM

A) Realize you may have to issue the CELIST,ALL,,,CONV

In the same solution session that performed the SOLVE, I.e. before you FINISH out of the /SOLU processor.  RESUMING the model later may no longer provide access to the internally generated CEs.

Try the method with a simple model using bonded contact (using MPC.) or Joint elements.  See if it works for those internally generated CEs but not for a simple model using CYCLIC generated CEs.

Or

B) Rather than use the CYCLIC command, can you implement the cyclic symmetry the old school way, create named selections of the nodes on the two cyclic symmetry faces (called LOW and HIGH, or MASTER and SLAVE, etc.), manually NROT the nodal coordinate systems of these nodes into the desired cylindrical coordinate system, then write a macro that takes each node in the MASTER node set, find its corresponding node in the SLAVE node set, and the issue a CP or CE command as appropriate to connect them together.  That way you are in control, and can plot symbols showing the coupled node sets or constraint equations.

Honestly, I’d be inclined to go with option B.  That way you know what is going on inside the program.  Good luck.

--
Mitch Voehl
CEO and Engineering Consultant

Summit Analysis, Inc.
78748 410th Ave
Lakefield, MN 56150

651-287-2360
www.summitanalysis.com

Specializing in the use of ANSYS (R) finite element analysis software

On 05/18/2026 7:35 AM CDT Joe Metrisin (US) joe.metrisin@kratosdefense.com wrote:

Thanks Mitch.  I tried that but the CELIST says no internal equations generated.  ☹

-----Original Message-----
From: Mitch Voehl via Xansys xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 1:32 AM
To: XANSYS Mailing List Home xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Cc: Mitch Voehl mitchpublic@voehl.us
Subject: [External] - [Xansys] Re: Visualizing cyclic symmetry constraints

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Joe,

Possibly, yes.  I recall that I have been able to list or visualize internally generated constraint equations created by bonded contact.  I suspect constraint equations internally generated by cyclic symmetry would be handled in a similar manner.

From:

https://urldefense.com/v3/https://www.padtinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/PADT-Webinar-ConstraintEquations-2012_04_27.pdf;!!KM6X6ZXWXVtZMQ!aFqe92Lb9L6J9DhnJqSFsK2Y0kkuU6LpFyc3ZzuHPHOHmTeWwvIrFanMWkuZFkkV0PCfN2Xn-yu-880kQXeA0SMXQQ$

CELIST, NEQN1, NEQN2, NINC, Option
– Lists the CE’s
– Option is:
• ANY – list if any of the nodes in the CE are selected • ALL – list of all of the nodes in the CE are selected • INTE – List internal CE’s created as MPC’s (solu only) • CONV – conert internal to external (solu only)

The PyANSYS manual says:

This command is valid in any processor. However, the INTE and CONV options are only valid in the Solution processor after a solve command has been issued.

You may have to do this after running the solution.

/SOLU
SOLVE

CELIST,ALL,,,CONV
/PSYM,CE,1
NPLOT,ALL  ! or EPLOT,ALL, etc.

--
Mitch Voehl
CEO and Engineering Consultant

Summit Analysis, Inc.
78748 410th Ave
Lakefield, MN 56150

651-287-2360
https://urldefense.com/v3/http://www.summitanalysis.com;!!KM6X6ZXWXVtZMQ!aFqe92Lb9L6J9DhnJqSFsK2Y0kkuU6LpFyc3ZzuHPHOHmTeWwvIrFanMWkuZFkkV0PCfN2Xn-yu-880kQXeFtfv-xA$

Specializing in the use of ANSYS (R) finite element analysis software

On 05/15/2026 6:26 AM CDT Joe Metrisin (US) via Xansys xansys-temp@list.xansys.org wrote:

Does anyone know of a way (possibly an undocumented command) to
visualize the internal CE's created by ANSYS when doing a cyclic
symmetry analysis (CYCLIC command).  For reasons that take too long to
explain, I'm running this model in "Classic" instead of WB and I'm
getting some nodes on the cyclic boundary that are deforming
improperly.  It's hard to debug the problem without seeing the CE's being generated.

Joseph T Metrisin

Structures Lead

<http://www.kratosdefense.com/ >

1701 Military Tr. Suite 110 | Jupiter, FL 33458 USA

+1 (561)427-6346 Office | +1 (772)834-4156 Mobile

Joe.Metrisin@kratosdefense.com

Visit our website:  <https://kratosdefense.com/ >
https://kratosdefense.com

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A) Realize you may have to issue the CELIST,ALL,,,CONV In the same solution session that performed the SOLVE, I.e. before you FINISH out of the /SOLU processor. RESUMING the model later may no longer provide access to the internally generated CEs. Try the method with a simple model using bonded contact (using MPC.) or Joint elements. See if it works for those internally generated CEs but not for a simple model using CYCLIC generated CEs. Or B) Rather than use the CYCLIC command, can you implement the cyclic symmetry the old school way, create named selections of the nodes on the two cyclic symmetry faces (called LOW and HIGH, or MASTER and SLAVE, etc.), manually NROT the nodal coordinate systems of these nodes into the desired cylindrical coordinate system, then write a macro that takes each node in the MASTER node set, find its corresponding node in the SLAVE node set, and the issue a CP or CE command as appropriate to connect them together. That way you are in control, and can plot symbols showing the coupled node sets or constraint equations. Honestly, I’d be inclined to go with option B. That way you know what is going on inside the program. Good luck. -- Mitch Voehl CEO and Engineering Consultant Summit Analysis, Inc. 78748 410th Ave Lakefield, MN 56150 651-287-2360 www.summitanalysis.com Specializing in the use of ANSYS (R) finite element analysis software > On 05/18/2026 7:35 AM CDT Joe Metrisin (US) <joe.metrisin@kratosdefense.com> wrote: > > > Thanks Mitch. I tried that but the CELIST says no internal equations generated. ☹ > > -----Original Message----- > From: Mitch Voehl via Xansys <xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> > Sent: Monday, May 18, 2026 1:32 AM > To: XANSYS Mailing List Home <xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> > Cc: Mitch Voehl <mitchpublic@voehl.us> > Subject: [External] - [Xansys] Re: Visualizing cyclic symmetry constraints > > CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. > > > Joe, > > Possibly, yes. I recall that I have been able to list or visualize internally generated constraint equations created by bonded contact. I suspect constraint equations internally generated by cyclic symmetry would be handled in a similar manner. > > > From: > > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.padtinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/PADT-Webinar-ConstraintEquations-2012_04_27.pdf__;!!KM6X6ZXWXVtZMQ!aFqe92Lb9L6J9DhnJqSFsK2Y0kkuU6LpFyc3ZzuHPHOHmTeWwvIrFanMWkuZFkkV0PCfN2Xn-yu-880kQXeA0SMXQQ$ > > CELIST, NEQN1, NEQN2, NINC, Option > – Lists the CE’s > – Option is: > • ANY – list if any of the nodes in the CE are selected • ALL – list of all of the nodes in the CE are selected • INTE – List internal CE’s created as MPC’s (solu only) • CONV – conert internal to external (solu only) > > The PyANSYS manual says: > > This command is valid in any processor. However, the INTE and CONV options are only valid in the Solution processor after a solve command has been issued. > > You may have to do this after running the solution. > > /SOLU > SOLVE > … > > CELIST,ALL,,,CONV > /PSYM,CE,1 > NPLOT,ALL ! or EPLOT,ALL, etc. > … > > -- > Mitch Voehl > CEO and Engineering Consultant > > Summit Analysis, Inc. > 78748 410th Ave > Lakefield, MN 56150 > > 651-287-2360 > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.summitanalysis.com__;!!KM6X6ZXWXVtZMQ!aFqe92Lb9L6J9DhnJqSFsK2Y0kkuU6LpFyc3ZzuHPHOHmTeWwvIrFanMWkuZFkkV0PCfN2Xn-yu-880kQXeFtfv-xA$ > > Specializing in the use of ANSYS (R) finite element analysis software > > > On 05/15/2026 6:26 AM CDT Joe Metrisin (US) via Xansys <xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> wrote: > > > > > > Does anyone know of a way (possibly an undocumented command) to > > visualize the internal CE's created by ANSYS when doing a cyclic > > symmetry analysis (CYCLIC command). For reasons that take too long to > > explain, I'm running this model in "Classic" instead of WB and I'm > > getting some nodes on the cyclic boundary that are deforming > > improperly. It's hard to debug the problem without seeing the CE's being generated. > > > > > > > > Joseph T Metrisin > > > > Structures Lead > > > > > > > > <http://www.kratosdefense.com/ > > > > > 1701 Military Tr. Suite 110 | Jupiter, FL 33458 USA > > > > +1 (561)427-6346 Office | +1 (772)834-4156 Mobile > > > > Joe.Metrisin@kratosdefense.com > > > > > > > > Visit our website: <https://kratosdefense.com/ > > > https://kratosdefense.com > > > > > > > > Confidentiality Note: > > > > The information contained in this transmission and any attachments are > > proprietary and may be privileged, intended only for the use of the > > individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not > > the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any > > dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is > > strictly prohibited. If you received this communication in error, > > please delete the message and immediately notify the sender via the contact information listed above. > > > > _____ > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Xansys mailing list -- xansys-temp@list.xansys.org To unsubscribe send > > an email to xansys-temp-leave@list.xansys.org If you are receiving too > > many emails from XANSYS please consider changing account settings to Digest mode which will send a single email per day. > > > > Please send administrative requests such as deletion from XANSYS to > > xansys-mod@tynecomp.co.uk and not to the list > _______________________________________________ > Xansys mailing list -- xansys-temp@list.xansys.org To unsubscribe send an email to xansys-temp-leave@list.xansys.org If you are receiving too many emails from XANSYS please consider changing account settings to Digest mode which will send a single email per day. > > Please send administrative requests such as deletion from XANSYS to xansys-mod@tynecomp.co.uk and not to the list