4.14.3 Mechanical APDL Input Files

Select Mechanical APDL Input from the File Type drop-down list and choose the surface(s) for which you want to write data in the Surfaces list. If no surfaces are selected, the entire domain is exported.

When the Energy Equation is enabled in the Energy dialog box, you can choose the loads to be written based on the kind of finite element analysis you intend to undertake. By selecting Structural in the Analysis list, you can select the following Structural Loads: Force, Pressure, and Temperature. By selecting Thermal in the Analysis list, you can select the following Thermal Loads: Temperature, Heat Flux, and Heat Trans Coeff. Note the following limitations with these loads:

• When the Energy Equation is disabled, only the Structural Loads options of Force and Pressure are available.

• Loads are written only on boundary walls when the entire domain is exported (i.e., if no Surfaces are selected).

Click the Write... button to save the file, using the Select File dialog box. ANSYS FLUENT exports an input file that contains Mechanical APDL finite element information including nodes, elements, and loads that can be used to do finite element analysis in Mechanical APDL with minimal effort. The file format is written in .cdb format. The export of Mechanical APDL Input files is in ASCII format and thus is available on all platforms.

You have the option of exporting data at specified intervals during a transient calculation through the Automatic Export dialog box. See Section  4.16 for the complete details.