Two solution methods are available for solving structural problems in the ANSYS family of

products: the h-method and the p-method. The h-method can be used for any type of analysis, but
the p-method can be used only for linear structural static analyses. Depending on the problem to
be solved, the h-method usually requires a finer mesh than the p-method. The p-method provides
an excellent way to solve a problem to a desired level of accuracy while using a coarse mesh. In
general, the discussions in this manual focus on the procedures required for the h-method of
solution. p-Method Structural Static Analysis discusses procedures specific to the p-method.

The p-method obtains results such as displacements, stresses, or strains to a user-specified degree
of accuracy. To calculate these results, the p-method manipulates the polynomial level (p-level)
of the finite element shape functions which are used to approximate the real solution.
The feature works by solving a finite element mesh at a given p-level, increasing the p-level
selectively, and then solving the mesh again. After each iteration, the results are compared for
convergence against a set of convergence criteria. You can specify the convergence criteria to
include displacement, rotation, stress or strain at a point (or points) in the model, and global
strain energy. The higher the p-level, the better the finite element approximation to the real
solution.
Although the p-method is most efficient when meshes are generated with the intention that pelements will be used, it is not necessary to work only within the confines of p-generated
meshes. While you may create and mesh your model using p-elements exclusively, you can also
perform a p-method solution using meshes that have been generated with h-elements (generated
by ANSYS or your CAD package), if the elements are at least mid-noded; this option allows you
to take advantage of the p-method solution option regardless of how the mesh was created. The
p-method can improve the results for any mesh automatically.
The following p-method topics are available:

Benefits of the p-Method

Using the p-Method

Sample p-Method Analysis (GUI Method)

Sample p-Method Analysis (Command or Batch Method)

Benefits of the p-Method

The p-method solution option offers many benefits for linear structural static analyses that are
not available with the more traditional h-method, discussed elsewhere in this documentation. The
most convenient benefit is the ability to obtain good results to a desired level of accuracy without
rigorous user-defined meshing controls. If you are new to finite element analysis or do not have a
solid background in mesh design, you might prefer this method since it relieves you of the task
of manually designing an accurate mesh.
In addition, the p-method adaptive refinement procedure offers error estimates that are more
precise than those of the h-method, and can be calculated locally as well as globally (for
example, stress at a point rather than strain energy). For example, if you need to obtain highly
accurate solutions at a point, such as for fracture or fatigue assessments, the p-method offers an
excellent means of obtaining these results to the required accuracy.

Benefits of the p-Method

The p-method solution option offers many benefits for linear structural static analyses that are
not available with the more traditional h-method, discussed elsewhere in this documentation. The
most convenient benefit is the ability to obtain good results to a desired level of accuracy without
rigorous user-defined meshing controls. If you are new to finite element analysis or do not have a
solid background in mesh design, you might prefer this method since it relieves you of the task
of manually designing an accurate mesh.
In addition, the p-method adaptive refinement procedure offers error estimates that are more
precise than those of the h-method, and can be calculated locally as well as globally (for
example, stress at a point rather than strain energy). For example, if you need to obtain highly
accurate solutions at a point, such as for fracture or fatigue assessments, the p-method offers an
excellent means of obtaining these results to the required accuracy.