In Workbench Mechanical 14.5, the results file in Random Vibration (PSD) analyses has become significantly smaller due to two reasons:

  • In 14.5, the results file format keeps DOF solution and reaction forces in double precision but stress, strain and other element results in single precision.  This can often lead to a file size reduction of nearly 50% compared with previous releases.
  • For random vibration analyses in Workbench Mechanical 14.5, the modal results are no longer stored, leading to a large reduction in the result file size.

For regular Workbench Mechanical users, both of these enhancements will lead to more efficient postprocessing due to the smaller result file.  Also, less disk space will be used for projects.

For Workbench Mechanical users using “Commands (APDL)” objects, it is important to note that the user cannot use the /POST26 RPSD command since modal results are no longer kept in the results file by default.  Although Workbench Mechanical provides response PSD probes, if a user has to use the /POST26 RPSD command, they should go to “Tools menu > Variable Manager” and add a variable “Keep Modal Results” and set this to a value of “1” prior to running the PSD analysis.  When this variable is activated, the modal results (load step 1) will not be deleted, and the user can issue RPSD commands in a “Commands (APDL)” object.