Writing an ANSYS output file creates a PREP7 file in ASCII format called filename.ans.

Use the fem_which_ansys_solver configuration option to specify which of the following ANSYS solver you plan to use:

The following table lists the mesh elements written to the ANSYS output file for the various mesh types and idealizations.

a — CERIG and RBE3 are Constraint Equations

b — Contact of linear element faces is supported for shell surfaces only.

For gaps, the gap value is Gap and the normal stiffness is K2. ANSYS supports zero-length idealizations for contacts and advanced springs only. The zero length idealization do not have a length. For example, an idealization between a point on a surface and the surface itself is a zero length idealization.

Creo Simulate adds the card SHPP, OFF right before the elements section and adds the cards SHPP,ON and CHECK right after the element section. These cards prevent ANSYS element shape checks during the elements reading stage and performs them at once after the reading stage.

If the configuration option sim_check_jacobian_corners is set to no, Creo Simulate adds the card SHPP,LSTET,ON before the elements section when outputting parabolic elements. This overrides ANSYS’ default of checking Jacobian ratios at the corner nodes for tetrahedral elements. Jacobian ratios are only checked at integration points. If sim_check_jacobian_corners is set to yes, this card is not added to the ANSYS output file. In this case Jacobian ratios are checked at both corner nodes as well as integration points.