RAPS: A PLOT PROGRAM FOR TESTING OF THE MODEL AND FOR PLOTTING OF THE RESULTS OF FINITE ELEMENT CALCULATIONS

This chapter describes RAPS that offers various possibilities of representing 2- and 3-D structures with freely selected angles of observation and drawing scales. The large quantity of data occurring in finite element computations is related to both the description of the structure as well as the results achieved. A graphic representation is most suitable for the efficient handling of these data. It is therefore usual to couple pre- and postprocessors to the FE program. The preprocessor should be designed to enable a rapid and effective error diagnosis of the structure to be computed. The error routines built into the FE software systems often prove to be insufficient as they can carry out element tests but no structure tests. Thus, there are for example element specifications that are logically possible within the structure but not intended, for example, missing or overlapping elements. This will not be detected by the error routines. A lot of computing time and manpower can be saved if the structure is examined thoroughly in regard to freedom from errors before the actual cost-intensive computer runs.