ABAQUS 2025 FD04 ABAQUS/CAEUSER'S GUIDE¶
Contents¶
Trademarks and Legal Notices.. ..16¶
Abaqus/CAE User's Guide............. .17¶
What's New............... .18¶
Interacting with Abaqus/CAE.. .22¶
Introduction.... ..23
Using this guide... ..23
Typographical conventions....... ..23
Basic mouse actions........ ..24
The basics of interacting with Abaqus/CAE. ..26
Starting and exiting Abaqus/CAE.. ..27
The Abaqus/CAE main window.......... ..34
What is a module?.. ..47
What is a toolset?.. ...49
Using the mouse with Abaqus/CAE.. ..51
Getting help... .52
Understanding Abaqus/CAE windows, dialog boxes, and toolboxes.. ..59
Using the prompt area during procedures.. ..60
Interacting with dialog boxes. ..64
Understanding and using toolboxes and toolbars.. ..90
Managing objects....... ..93
Working with the Model Tree and the Results Tree....... ....116
Understanding Abaqus/CAE GUI settings.. .129
Managing viewports on the canvas..... ....130
Understanding viewports....... .....131
Manipulating viewports and viewport annotations... ..136
Displaying the drawing area in full screen mode.. ..141
Working with viewports.. ..142
Working with viewport arrow and text annotations.. ..151
Linking viewports for view manipulation.. .173
Working with background images and movies in viewports...... ...177
Manipulating the view and controlling perspective.. ...183
Understanding camera modes and view options.. ..184
Understanding the view manipulation tools....... ......189
The 3D compass........ ...207
Customizing the view triad.. .214
Controlling perspective.. ..216
Using the view manipulation tools.. .217
Using the 3Dconnexion motion controllers with Abaqus/CAE.. ..233
Selecting objects within the viewport... ..236
Understanding selection within viewports.. ..237
Selecting objects within the current viewport.. .242
Using the selection options.. .261
Configuring graphics display options.. ..270
Using graphics display options........ ..271
Using display lists.. .272
Using antialiasing....... ..273
Choosing a highlight method.. .274
Choosing a translucency mode.. .275
Controlling drag mode.. .276
Choosing background colors.. .277
Printing viewports... ...278
Understanding printing.. .279
Controlling the destination and appearance of printed images.. ..287
Working with Abaqus/CAE Model Databases, Models, and Files.... ..303¶
Understanding and working with Abaqus/CAE models, model databases, and files. ..304
What is an Abaqus/CAE model database?.. .305
What is an Abaqus/CAE model?.. ..306
Accessing an output database on a remote computer... ..310
Understanding the files generated by creating and analyzing a model.. ..314
Abaqus/CAE command files.. ..317
Using the File menu.. .324
Managing model and output databases.. .326
Managing models....... ....341
Managing session objects and session options... .348
Controlling the input file generated by Abaqus/CAE.. ...352
Managing macros.. .359
Importing and exporting geometry data and models..... ..361
Importing files into and exporting files from Abaqus/CAE.. ..362
Valid parts, precise parts, and tolerance.. .377
Controlling the import process. .382
Understanding the contents of an IGES file.. .386
What can you import from a model?.. .391
A logical approach to successful import of IGES files.. ..399
Importing sketches and parts.. ..400
Importing a model.. ..430
Exporting geometry, model, and mesh data... ..433
Creating and analyzing a model using the Abaqus/CAE modules..... ..441¶
The Part module.... ..442
Understanding the role of the Part module.. ..443
Entering and exiting the Part module.. ..444
What is feature-based modeling?.. ..445
How is a part defined in Abaqus/CAE?... .....454
Copying a part.. ..458
What are orphan nodes and elements?.. ..459
Modeling rigid bodies and display bodies... ..460
The reference point and point parts.. ..468
What types of features can you create?.. ..471
Using feature-based modeling effectively.. ..487
Capturing your design and analysis intent.. ..489
What is part and assembly locking?...... ......491
What are extruding, revolving, and sweeping?.. ..492
What is lofting?..... ..505
Using the Sketcher in conjunction with the Part module.. ..514
Understanding toolsets in the Part module........... ...515
Using the Part module toolbox.. ..528
Managing parts.. ..529
Using the Create Part dialog box.. ..534
Adding a feature to a part... ..541
Adding a solid feature... ..542
Adding a shell feature.......... ..556
Adding a wire feature... ..572
Adding a cut feature.. ..581
Using the Edit Feature dialog box.. ..597
Using the Edit Loft dialog box... ..599
Blending edges... ..603
Mirroring a part.. ..607
The Property module... ..608
Entering and exiting the Property module.. ..609
Understanding properties. ..610
Which properties can I assign to a part?.. ..619
Understanding the Property module editors.. ..621
Using material libraries.. ..637
Using the Property module toolbox........... ....644
Creating and editing materials.. ..645
Defining general material data.. ..659
Defining mechanical material models.. ..666
Defining thermal material models.. ..852
Defining electrical and magnetic material models.. ..861
Defining other types of material models.. ..868
Creating and editing sections.. ..899
Creating and editing composite layups.. ..951
Assigning sections, orientations, normals, and tangents to a part.. ..977
Using discrete orientations for material orientations and composite layup orientations.. ..995
Creating material calibrations.. ..997
Using the Special menu in the Property module.. ..1011
Using the Query toolset to obtain assignment information.. ..1012
The Assembly module.. ..1014
Understanding the role of the Assembly module.. ..1015
Entering and exiting the Assembly module.. ..1016
Working with part instances.. ..1017
Working with model instances.. ..1026
Creating the assembly.. ..1029
Creating patterns of instances.. ..1043
Performing Boolean operations on part instances.. ..1045
Understanding toolsets in the Assembly module.. ..1052
Using the Assembly module toolbox.. ..1061
Creating and manipulating part and model instances.. ..1062
Applying constraints to part and model instances.. ..1082
Using the Query toolset to query the assembly. ..1096
The Step module... ..1097¶
Understanding the role of the Step module.. ..1098
Entering and exiting the Step module.. ..1099
Understanding steps.. ..1100
Understanding output requests. ..1107
Understanding integrated, restart, diagnostic, and monitor output.. ...1116
Understanding ALE adaptive meshing. ..1121
How can I customize the Abaqus analysis controls?.. ..1122
Using the Step module toolbox......... ......1125
Using the Step Manager... ..1126
Using the step editor.... ..1133
Configuring analysis procedure settings. ..1137
Defining output requests.. ..1226
Requesting specialized output.. ..1238
Customizing ALE adaptive meshing.. ..1247
Customizing the Abaqus analysis controls.. ..1256
The Interaction module.. ..1264¶
Understanding the role of the Interaction module...... ......1265
Entering and exiting the Interaction module..... ......1267
Understanding interactions.. ..1268
Understanding interaction properties. ..1272
Understanding constraints..... ......1274
Understanding contact and constraint detection.. ..1276
Understanding connectors.. ..1299
Understanding connector sections and functions.. ..1300
Understanding Interaction module managers and editors........ ......1305
Understanding symbols that represent interactions, constraints, and connectors...... .....1318
Using the Interaction module toolbox.. ..1319
Using the Interaction module..... ......1320
Using the interaction editors...... ......1350
Using the interaction property editors.. ..1436
Using the constraint editors.. ..1475
Using contact and constraint detection.. ..1495
Using the connector section editors.. ..1516
Using the Query toolset to obtain connector assignment information.. ..1547
The Load module.. ..1548¶
Understanding the role of the Load module. ..1549
Entering and exiting the Load module....... ......1550
Managing prescribed conditions.. ..1551
Creating and modifying prescribed conditions. ..1553
Understanding symbols that represent prescribed conditions.. ...1556
Transferring results between Abaqus analyses.. ..1565
Using the Load module toolbox.. ..1567
Using the Load module.. ..1568
Using the load editors... ..1579
Using the boundary condition editors... ..1633
Using the predefined field editors.. ..1674
The Mesh module... ..1698¶
Understanding the role of the Mesh module......... ......1699
Entering and exiting the Mesh module.. ..1700
Mesh module basics......... .....1701
Understanding seeding.. ..1715
Assigning Abaqus element types.. .1726
Verifying and improving meshes. .1734
Understanding mesh generation.. ..1746
Structured meshing and mapped meshing.. ..1762
Swept meshing... ..1774
Free meshing.... ..1789
Bottom-up meshing.. ..1799
Mesh-geometry association.. .1834
Understanding adaptive remeshing. ..1836
Advanced meshing techniques.. ..1842
Using the Mesh module toolbox.. ..1852
Seeding a model.. .1853
Creating and deleting meshes.. ..1867
Controlling mesh characteristics. ..1871
Obtaining mesh information and statistics.. ..1897
Creating a mesh part.. ..1904
Controlling adaptive remeshing.. ..1905
The Optimization module... ....1915
Understanding the role of the Optimization module.. ..1916
Entering and exiting the Optimization module.. ..1917
Understanding optimization.. ..1918
Using the Optimization module toolbox.. ..1926
Viewing and troubleshooting an optimization.. ..1927
Creating and configuring an optimization task.. ..1929
Configuring design responses.. ..1966
Creating objective functions.. ..1978
Creating constraints.. ..1979
Configuring geometric restrictions.. ..1981
Creating local stop conditions........... ...2039
The Job module..... ..2041
Understanding the role of the Job module.. ..2042
Understanding analysis jobs.. ..2043
Understanding adaptivity processes. .2057
Understanding co-executions.. ..2064
Understanding optimization processes.. ..2069
Restarting an analysis.. ..2080
Creating, editing, and manipulating jobs.. ..2091
Using the job editor... ..2099
Creating, editing, and manipulating adaptivity processes.. ..2111
Using the adaptivity process editor.. ..2117
Creating, editing, and manipulating co-executions. ..2124
Creating, editing, and manipulating optimization processes.. ..2130
The Sketch module.. ..2144
Understanding the role of the Sketch module.. ..2145
Entering and exiting the Sketch module....... .....2146
Using the Sketch module.. ..2147
Basic Sketcher concepts....... .....2150
Sketcher geometry.... ..2162
Specifying precise geometry... ..2166
Controlling sketch geometry... ..2167
Modifying, copying, and offsetting objects.. ..2174
Customizing the Sketcher.. ..2189
Sketching simple objects....... ...2204
Creating construction geometry.. ..2220
Constraining, dimensioning, and parameterizing a sketch.. ..2229
Editing dimensions... .2238
Adding reference geometry... ..2240
Projecting edges onto a sketch.. ..2241
Moving or copying sketch geometry.. ..2242
Modifying objects... .2247
Repairing short edges, gaps, and overlaps.. ..2254
Creating patterns, offsetting, and deleting objects.. ..2259
Undoing and redoing sketching actions.. ..2266
Resetting the view............ ...2267
Managing stand-alone sketches.. ..2268
Modeling techniques................ ...2273¶
Adhesive joints and bonded interfaces.. ..2274
Modeling adhesive joints and bonded interfaces.. ..2275
Embedding cohesive elements in an existing three-dimensional mesh.. ..2276
Creating a model with cohesive elements using geometry and mesh tools.. ..2277
Defining tie constraints between the cohesive layer and the surrounding bulk material.. ..2279
Assigning cohesive modeling data.. ..2280
Bolt loads.... ..2281
Understanding bolt loads.. ..2282
Creating and editing bolt loads........... ...2285
Composite layups..... ..2287
An overview of composite layups... ..2288
Creating a composite layup.. ..2290
Understanding composite layups and orientations.. ..2293
Understanding composite layups and distributions.. ..2296
Requesting output from a composite layup.. ..2297
Viewing a composite layup... ..2299
Connectors... ..2304
Modeling connectors.. ..2305
What is a connector?... ....2306
What is a connector section?. ..2307
What is a CORM?.. ..2308
What are connector behaviors?.. ..2309
Creating the connector geometry, connector sections, and connector section assignments.. ...2310
What is the relationship between reference points and connectors?.. ..2312
Defining connector orientations in connector section assignments.. ..2314
Requesting output from connectors.. ..2315
Applying connector loads and connector boundary conditions...... ....2316
Displaying connectors and connector output in the Visualization module.. ..2317
Continuum shells.... ..2319
Modeling continuum shells.. ..2320
Meshing parts with continuum shell elements.. ..2321
Co-simulation...... ..2322
Overview of co-simulation.. ..2323
What is a co-simulation?.. ..2324
Linking and excluding part instances for a co-simulation.. ..2325
Ensuring matching nodes at the interface regions.. ..2326
Specifying the interface region and coupling schemes.. ..2327
Identifying the models involved and specifying job parameters.. ..2328
Viewing the results of the co-simulation.. ..2329
Display bodies... ..2330
What is a display body?..... ....2331
Should I mesh a display body?... ....2333
Displaying display bodies in the Visualization module.. ..2334
Eulerian analyses... ..2335
Overview of Eulerian analyses...... ....2336
Assembling coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian models in Abaqus/CAE.. ..2338
Defining contact in Eulerian-Lagrangian models.. ..2340
Assigning materials to Eulerian part instances.. ..2341
Using the volume fraction tool.. ..2345
Eulerian mesh motion... ..2348
Viewing output from Eulerian analyses........ ....2349
Fasteners.. .2352
About fasteners.. ..2353
Managing fasteners.. ..2369
Creating point-based fasteners.. ..2370
Creating discrete fasteners............ ....2377
Creating assembled fasteners.. ..2379
Fracture mechanics.. ..2384
Seam cracks. ..2385
Using contour integrals to model fracture mechanics.. ..2388
Using the extended finite element method to model fracture mechanics. ..2408
Using the virtual crack closure technique to model crack propagation.. ..2420
Managing cracks... ..2424
Gaskets.. ..2425
Modeling gaskets... ..2426
Defining materials for gaskets.. ..2429
Assigning gasket elements to a region.. ..2430
Imperfection.. .2431
Defining imperfections.. ..2432
Managing imperfections.. ..2433
Defining file imperfections.......... ....2434
Defining input imperfections.. ..2435
Defining data imperfections.. ..2436
Editing the region to which a file imperfection applied.. ..2437
Inertia.. ..2438
Defining inertia.. .2439
Managing inertia. ..2440
Defining point mass and rotary inertia.. ..2441
Defining nonstructural mass.. ..2444
Defining heat capacitance.. ..2446
Editing the region to which inertia is applied.. ..2447
Load cases... ..2448
What is a load case?.. ..2449
Managing load cases... ..2450
Load case editors... ..2451
Viewing load case output... ..2453
Defining a load case.. ..2455
Midsurface modeling...... ..2457
Understanding midsurface modeling.. ..2458
Understanding the reference representation.. ..2459
Creating shell faces for the midsurface model.. ..2460
Examples of creating a midsurface model.. ..2464
Creating and editing midsurface models.. ..2477
Skin and stringer reinforcements.. ..2482
Defining skin reinforcements.. ..2483
Defining stringer reinforcements.. ..2485
Managing skin and stringer reinforcements.. ..2487
Generating elements on a skin or stringer reinforcement.. ..2488
Assigning element types to skin or stringer reinforcements.. ..2489
Using offset meshes to create skin reinforcements.. ..2490
Assigning surface properties to skins and stringers.. ..2491
Creating and editing skin reinforcements.. ..2492
Creating and editing stringer reinforcements.. ..2494
Springs and dashpots.. ..2496
Defining springs and dashpots. ..2497
Managing springs and dashpots.. ..2498
Creating springs and dashpots connecting two points. ..2499
Editing springs and dashpots connecting two points.. ..2502
Creating springs and dashpots connecting points to ground... ..2503
Editing the region to which springs and dashpots connecting points to ground are applied.. ..2505
Submodeling....... ..2506
Analyzing the global model.. .2507
Creating a submodel.. ..2508
Removing regions.. ..2509
Creating the submodel boundary condition.. ..2510
Creating the submodel load.. ..2512
Modifying the submodel.. ..2513
Analyzing the submodel.. ..2514
Checking the results from the submodel.. ..2515
Substructures..... ..2516
Using substructures in Abaqus/CAE.. ..2517
Generating a substructure.. ..2520
Specifying the retained nodal degrees of freedom and load cases for a substructure....... ..2521
Importing a substructure into Abaqus/CAE.. ..2522
Using substructure part instances in an assembly..... ...2523
Activating load cases during substructure usage.......... ...2524
Recovering field output for substructures. ..2525
Visualizing substructure output.. ..2526
Viewing results.... ..2527¶
Visualization module basics..... ..2528
Understanding the role of the Visualization module.... ...2529
Entering and exiting the Visualization module.. ..2532
Understanding plot states and plot customization... ..2533
Understanding toolsets in the Visualization module.... ...2538
Understanding Visualization module performance.. ..2539
Viewing diagnostic output...... ..2540
Understanding job diagnostics. ..2541
Generating diagnostic information.. ..2542
Interpreting diagnostic information.. ..2543
Accessing diagnostic information.. ..2552
Selecting model data and analysis results to plot. ..2553
Selecting results from an output database.. ..2554
Selecting results from the current model database.. ..2555
Selecting the results step and frame.. ..2557
Customizing the display of steps and frames in the results.. ..2560
Selecting the field output to display.. ..2565
Selecting result options.. ..2585
Creating and saving new field output.. ..2603
Creating coordinate systems during postprocessing.. ..2613
Creating node and element sets during postprocessing.. ..2620
Plotting the undeformed and deformed shapes.. ..2621
Understanding undeformed shape plotting.. ..2622
Understanding deformed shape plotting.. ..2623
Using common plot options.. ..2624
Producing an undeformed shape plot.. ..2625
Producing a deformed shape plot.. ..2626
Superimposing deformed and undeformed model plots.. ..2627
Contouring analysis results.. ..2629
Understanding contour plotting. ..2630
Using contour plot options.. ..2636
Producing a contour plot.. ..2637
Producing a contour plot of linear beam section stresses.. ..2638
Customizing a contour plot.. ..2640
Plotting analysis results as symbols.. ..2659
Understanding symbol plotting. ..2660
Using symbol plot options.. ..2662
Producing a results symbol plot.. ..2663
Producing a symbol plot of free body nodal forces..... ....2664
Customizing symbol plot appearance.. ..2665
Plotting material orientations..... ..2670
Understanding material orientation plotting.......... ....2671
Using material orientation plot options.. ..2672
Producing a material orientation plot...... ....2673
Customizing material orientation plot triads.. ..2674
X–Y plotting.... ..2675
Understanding X–Y plotting....... ....2676
Specifying and saving X–Y data objects. ..2683
Producing an X–Y plot.. ..2702
Operating on saved X–Y data objects.. ..2704
Customizing X–Y plot axes.. ..2784
Customizing X–Y curve appearance........ ....2799
Customizing X–Y plot appearance.. ..2808
Customizing the X–Y plot title...... .....2814
Customizing the appearance of the X–Y plot legend.. ....2818
Customizing border and fill colors for an X–Y plot... ..2825
Viewing results along a path... ..2826
Understanding results along a path.. ..2827
Creating a path through your model.. ..2832
Obtaining X–Y data along a path. ..2843
Animating plots.. ..2849
Understanding animation... ..2850
Object-based animation.. ..2854
Saving an animation file.. ..2861
Controlling animation playback. ..2867
Querying the model in the Visualization module... ..2876
Understanding the Query toolset in the Visualization module..... ..2877
Using the Query toolset.... ....2879
Probing the model... ..2884
Understanding probing....... ....2885
Using the Query toolset to probe the model.. ..2887
Calculating linearized stresses.. ..2897
Understanding stress linearization........... ....2898
Stress linearization example. ..2902
Obtaining linearized stress results. ..2906
Viewing a ply stack plot... ..2909
Understanding ply stack plots.. ..2910
Customizing ply stack plots.. ..2912
Generating tabular data reports. ..2919
Producing a tabular report.. ..2920
Using tabular report options.. ..2921
Selecting report data.. ..2922
Specifying your report file name.. ..2928
Controlling report layout, width, format, and coordinate system.. ..2929
Sorting field output data.. ..2931
Formatting report values........ ....2932
Reporting data values, minimums, maximums, and totals.. ..2934
Customizing plot display...... ..2935
Selecting plot display options.......... ....2936
Customizing render style, translucency, and fill color........ ....2940
Customizing element and surface edges.. ..2945
Customizing model shape...... ...2952
Customizing model labels.. ..2956
Displaying multiple plot states.. ..2967
Displaying element and surface normals.. ..2968
Customizing the appearance of display bodies.. ..2969
Customizing camera movement.. ..2970
Controlling the display of model entities......... ....2972
Controlling the display of constraints in the Visualization module..... ...2974
Customizing general model display......... ....2975
Customizing viewport annotations.. ..2994
Customizing the legend... ...2995
Customizing the title block..... ...2998
Customizing the state block.. ..3000
Using viewport annotation options.. ..3002
Using toolsets.... ..3003¶
The Amplitude toolset..... ..3004
Understanding the role of the Amplitude toolset.. ....3005
Understanding the amplitude editors......... ....3006
Selecting an amplitude type to define.. ..3007
Using tabular data to define an amplitude curve....... ....3009
Using equally spaced data to define an amplitude curve.. ..3010
Using periodic data to define an amplitude curve... ..3011
Using modulated data to define an amplitude curve.. ..3012
Using exponential decay data to define an amplitude curve...... ....3013
Defining a solution-dependent amplitude curve... ..3014
Using smooth step data to define an amplitude curve....... ....3015
Defining a spectrum......... .....3016
Defining a user-defined amplitude curve........ .....3017
Defining a PSD definition... ..3018
The Analytical Field toolset..... ..3019
Using the Analytical Field toolset...... ....3020
Using analytical expression fields. ..3021
Using analytical mapped fields.. ..3026
Displaying symbols for interactions and prescribed conditions that use analytical fields.. ..3037
Displaying symbols to visualize mapping source data.. ..3040
Creating expression fields.. ..3041
Creating mapped fields.. ..3043
The Attachment toolset.. .3053
Understanding attachment points and lines........ .....3054
Understanding the projection methods.. ....3056
Creating attachment points by picking or reading from a file...... ...3057
Creating attachment points by choosing a direction and a spacing.. ..3059
Creating patterns of attachment points based on edges.. ..3061
Creating attachment lines by projecting points. ..3063
Editing attachment points and lines.. ..3065
Removing attachment points and lines.......... .....3069
The CAD Connection toolset.. ..3070
Creating a CAD connection.. ..3071
Updating geometry parameters in an imported model.. ..3074
The Customize toolset.. ..3076
Configuring the visibility of toolbars.. ..3077
Configuring keyboard shortcuts.. ..3078
Custom toolbars.. ..3079
Configuring icons in custom toolbars.. ..3080
Using the Customize toolset.. ..3081
The Datum toolset.. .3089
Understanding the role of datum geometry.. ..3090
Using the Datum toolset.. ..3092
Why are datum coordinate systems so important?.. ..3093
Understanding a datum as a feature.. ..3094
Datum creation techniques.. ..3095
Creating datum points.. ..3109
Creating datum axes.. ..3118
Creating datum planes.. ..3130
Creating datum coordinate systems.. ..3140
The Discrete Field toolset.. ..3146
Using the Discrete Field toolset.. ..3147
Creating discrete fields.. ..3148
Evaluating discrete fields.. ..3150
Creating discrete fields for material volume fractions.. ..3153
The Edit Mesh toolset..... ..3155
What can I do with the Edit Mesh toolset?..... .....3156
What is the difference between editing an orphan mesh, a meshed part, and a meshed part instance in the assembly?.3165
Meshing strategies and mesh editing techniques... ..3166
Using the mesh editing tools.. ..3175
Editing nodes.. ..3177
Editing elements.. ..3197
Editing the entire mesh.. ..3217
Editing and refining an orphan mesh.. ..3241
Undoing or redoing a change in the Edit Mesh toolset... ..3245
The Feature Manipulation toolset... ..3249
Using the Feature Manipulation toolset.. ..3250
Using the Model Tree to manage features.. ..3252
Tuning feature regeneration.. ..3254
Modifying and manipulating features.. ..3260
The Filter toolset... ..3269
Filtering field and history data.. ..3270
Applying bounding values to field and history data.. ..3271
Creating a filter... ..3272
The Free Body toolset.. .3274
Resultant forces and moments on free body cuts in Abaqus/CAE. ..3275
Creating or editing a free body cut.. ..3276
Selection methods for free body cross-sections.. ..3279
Displaying, hiding, and highlighting free body cuts.. ..3280
Customizing free body cut display........ ....3281
The Options toolset.... ..3288
Customizing memory limits and regeneration options...... ...3289
Using view manipulation shortcuts.. ..3290
Scaling the size of icons.. ..3291
The Geometry Edit toolset.. ..3292
Editing techniques.. ..3293
Editing techniques.. ..3294
What is stitching?... ..3302
A strategy for repairing geometry... ..3303
Creating a part from orphan elements.. ..3305
Editing and repairing edges...... ....3306
Editing and repairing faces...... .....3314
Editing parts....... ....3332
The Partition toolset.... ..3335
Understanding the role of partitions......... ....3336
Using the Partition toolset.. ..3337
Understanding partitions.. ..3338
Partitioning techniques.. ..3342
Partitioning edges... ..3355
Partitioning faces... ..3360
Partitioning cells... ..3377
The Query toolset... ..3390
Understanding the role of the Query toolset.. ..3391
Querying the model...... ....3400
The Reference Point toolset... ..3413
What is a reference point?.. ...3414
What is a reference point used for?..... .....3415
Creating a reference point..... .....3416
The Set and Surface toolsets.... ..3417
Understanding the role of the Set and Surface toolsets...... ....3418
Understanding sets and surfaces........ .....3419
Using the Set and Surface toolsets.. ..3428
The Stream toolset... ..3437
Understanding stream display.. ..3438
Creating a stream.. ..3439
Displaying and hiding streams.. ..3440
Customizing stream display.. ..3441
The Virtual Topology toolset.. ..3444
What is virtual topology?.. ..3445
What can I do with the Virtual Topology toolset?.. ....3448
What can I do with a part or a part instance containing virtual topology?... ...3450
Why repair a part if I can use virtual topology?...... ....3451
Creating virtual topology based on geometric parameters.. ..3452
Using the Virtual Topology toolset...... ....3457
Customizing model display...... ..3464¶
Customizing geometry and mesh display... ..3465
Using geometry and mesh display options. ..3466
Choosing a render style...... ....3467
Controlling edge visibility... ..3469
Controlling curve refinement...... ....3472
Defining mesh feature edges. ..3473
Controlling translucency for substructure parts.. ..3474
Controlling beam profile display... ..3475
Controlling shell thickness display.. ..3477
Controlling datum display... ..3479
Controlling the display of individual coordinate systems........ ....3480
Controlling reference point display.. ..3481
Customizing mesh display.. ..3482
Controlling model lighting.. ..3483
Controlling instance visibility. ..3485
Controlling the display of attributes.. ..3486
Saving your display options settings. ..3488
Color coding geometry and mesh elements.. ...3489
Understanding color coding.. ..3490
Changing the initial color... ..3494
Changing the translucency... ..3495
Coloring geometry and mesh elements.. ..3496
Coloring all geometry in the Visualization module.. ..3497
Coloring nodes or elements in the Visualization module....... ....3498
Coloring constraints in the Visualization module.. ..3500
Customizing the display color of individual objects.. ..3501
Displaying multiple color mappings.. ..3503
Editing the colors in the Auto-Color List.. ..3504
Saving and restoring custom color mappings.. ..3505
Using display groups to display subsets of your model.. ..3506
Understanding display groups.. ..3507
Managing display groups.. ..3512
Overlaying multiple plots.. .3523
Understanding how to overlay plots.. ..3524
Producing and modifying overlay plots. ..3526
Cutting through a model.. .3533
Understanding view cuts.. ..3534
Managing view cuts.. ..3539
Using plug-ins.... ..3554¶
The Plug-in toolset.. ..3555
What is a plug-in?.. ..3556
Where can I get plug-ins?.. ..3557
How can I get information about a plug-in?.. ..3558
An example of a Python module and a function... ..3559
What can I do with a GUI plug-in?.. ..3560
How do I make a plug-in available from Abaqus/CAE?.. ..3561
How are kernel plug-ins executed?.. ..3567
Overwriting plug-ins........ ....3568
How are GUI plug-ins executed?.. ..3569
Hiding a plug-in's source code. ..3570
Displaying exceptions for imported plug-ins at startup....... ....3571
Abaqus/CAE modules and plug-ins.. ..3572
How can I provide information about a plug-in?... ....3573
Abaqus plug-ins....... ..3574
Running the Getting Started with Abaqus examples. ..3575
Creating a GUI plug-in....... ....3576
Creating a kernel plug-in.. ..3577
Creating dialog boxes with the Really Simple GUI (RSG) Dialog Builder.. ..3578
Upgrading a script.. ..3579
Displaying modal contribution factors.. ..3582
Displaying the history of the adaptive remeshing error indicator.. ..3593
Generating a report of postprocessing results. ..3597
Exchanging data between Abaqus/CAE and Microsoft Excel.. ...3599
Importing a model from a file in stereolithography (STL) format... ...3600
Exporting a part or assembly in stereolithography (STL) format.. ..3601
Plotting amplitude data.. ..3602
Combining data from multiple output databases.. ..3603
Finding the nearest node to a point.. ..3606
Finding the average temperature of a set of elements.. ..3607
Creating a planar constraint.. ..3608
Resetting midside nodes.. ..3609
ODB Reducer/Builder....... ....3610
Additive manufacturing. ..3613
Appendix... ..3619¶
Abaqus keyword browser table.. ..3620
Keyword support from the input file reader.... ..3660
Special element types..... ..3695
Special graphical symbols.... ..3696
Symbols used to represent prescribed conditions... ..3697
Symbols used to represent interactions, constraints, and connectors.. ..3700
Symbols used to represent special engineering features. ..3702
Symbols used in the Visualization module.. ..3703
Element and output variable support.. ...3704