Menu: View results->Deformation
Toolbar: 
Volumes, surfaces and cuts can be deformed according to a nodal vector and a factor. When doing this all the results are drawn on the deformed volumes, surfaces and cuts. In GiD this is called Main Geometry. Thus, when the Main Geometry is deformed, results are also drawn distorted; and when Main geometry is in its original state, results also drawn in their original state.
Deformation is supported for results defined over nodes.
The View results window allows you to do this.
Menu: Window->View results...
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Main mesh window
The Main Mesh panel allows the user to deform the mesh, thus all the results visualization will be drawn on this deformed mesh.
The Reference mesh panel creates a fixed copy of the actual mesh representation just for comparison purposes. Although this copy can also be deformed, and with a different result than the one used for the Main Mesh, the results will not be drawn on this mesh.
In the upper part of this window, you choose between the Original state of the Main Geometry and the Deformed state, for which a nodal vectorial result, and an analysis and step, must be selected and a factor entered.
There is also a Reference Geometry option. This lets you visualize volumes, surfaces or cuts like Main Geometry does, but NO results can be displayed over these volumes, surfaces or cuts. It is merely provided as a reference, to contrast several deformations or changes in the original geometry. Remember that the current Mesh Display Style will be used for the Reference Geometry and it can only be changed when redoing the mesh.
In the lower part of the window, the Reference Geometry can be configured. You can choose between:
- Off, so this reference visualization is not displayed;
- Original, if Main Geometry is deformed and you wish to compare it to its original state without losing a results representation;
- Deformation, where after providing an analysis, step, result and factor, you can use it to contrast two deformation states, or a deformed state and an original geometry; or
- Color, where the colour color of the reference meshes can be specified as the same as, or different from, the original meshes.
There are two more interesting options:
- Position vector: normally the deformation result is relative to the original coordinates of the mesh, but if the result is a new absolute position for the nodes of the mesh, then the user should check this option.
- fixed deformation: if this option is checked, the deformation will use the same fixed factor, instead of using the GiD suggested one, which varies acording according to the magnitude of the deformation.