University of Manchester

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Introduction to ABAQUS/CAE
1. Introduction
ABAQUS is a suite of powerful programs for engineering simulation based on the
finite element method, which can solve problems ranging from relatively simple
linear analyses to the most challenging nonlinear simulations. ABAQUS contains an
extensive library of elements that can model virtually any geometry. It has an equally
extensive list of material models that can simulate the behaviour of most typical
engineering materials including metals, rubber, polymers, composites, reinforced
concrete, crushable and resilient foams [1].
ABAQUS consists of two main analysis productsABAQUS/Standard and
ABAQUS/Explicit. ABAQUS/CAE is the complete ABAQUS environment that
includes capabilities for creating ABAQUS models, interactively submitting and
monitoring ABAQUS jobs and evaluating simulation results. ABAQUS/Viewer is a
subset of ABAQUS/CAE that includes the post processing functionality. The
relationship between these products is shown in Fig.1.1.

Fig.1.1 ABAQUS products [1].

ABAQUS/Standard is a general-purpose analysis product that can solve a wide range

of linear and nonlinear problems involving the static, dynamic, thermal, and electrical
responses of components. ABAQUS/Explicit is a special-purpose analysis product
that uses an explicit dynamic finite element formulation. It is suitable for modelling
transient dynamic events, such as impact and blast problems, and is very efficient for
highly nonlinear problems involving changing contact conditions, such as forming
simulations. ABAQUS/CAE (Complete ABAQUS Environment) is an interactive,
graphical environment for ABAQUS. It allows models to be created quickly and
easily by producing or importing the geometry of the structure to be analyzed and
decomposing the geometry into meshable regions. Physical and material properties
can be assigned to the geometry, together with loads and boundary conditions.
ABAQUS/CAE contains very powerful options to mesh the geometry and to verify
the resulting model. Once the model is complete, ABAQUS/CAE can submit,
monitor, and control the analysis jobs. The Visualization module can then be used to
interpret the results.

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2. Introduction to ABAQUS/CAE
ABAQUS/CAE is divided into functional units called modules. Each module contains
only those tools that are relevant to a specific portion of the modelling task. For
example, the Mesh module contains only the tools needed to create finite element
meshes, while the Job module contains only the tools used to create, edit, submit, and
monitor simulation jobs. You may select a module from the Module list in the
context bar, as shown in Fig.2.1

Fig.2.1 Selecting a module.

A completed model contains everything that ABAQUS needs to start the analysis.
ABAQUS/CAE uses a model database to store your models. The following list of the
modules available in ABAQUS/CAE briefly describes the modelling tasks, which can
be performed in each module. The order of the modules in the list corresponds to the
order of the modules in the context bar's Module list: Part: The Part module allows
you to create individual parts by sketching their geometry directly in ABAQUS/CAE
or by importing their geometry from other geometric modelling programs.
Property: A section definition contains information about the properties of a part or a
region of a part, such as a region's associated material definition and cross-sectional
geometry. In the Property module you can create section and material definitions and
assign them to regions of parts.
Assembly: When you create a part, it exists in its own coordinate system, which is
independent of other parts in the model. You use the Assembly module to create
instances of your parts and to position the instances relative to each other in a global
coordinate system, thus creating an assembly. An ABAQUS model contains only one
assembly.
Step: You use the Step module to create and configure simulation steps and
associated output requests. The step sequence provides a convenient way to capture
changes in a model (such as loading and boundary condition changes); output requests
can vary as necessary between steps.
Interaction: In the Interaction module, you can specify mechanical and thermal
interactions between regions of a model or between a region of a model and its
surroundings. An example of Interaction is the contact between two surfaces. Other
interactions that may be defined include constraints, such as tie, equation, and rigid
body constraints. Interactions are step-dependent objects, which means that you must
specify the analysis steps in which they are active.
Load: The Load module allows you to specify loads, boundary conditions and
predefined fields. Loading and boundary conditions are also step-dependent objects,

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which means that you must specify the simulation steps in which they are active;
some predefined fields are step-dependent too, while others are applied only at the
beginning of the analysis.
Mesh: The Mesh module contains tools that allow you to generate a finite element
mesh on an assembly created within ABAQUS/CAE. Various levels of automation
and control are available so that you can create a mesh that meets the needs of your
analysis.
Job: Once you have finished all of the tasks involved in defining a model, you may
use the Job module to analyze your model. The Job module allows you to
interactively submit a job for analysis and monitor its progress. Multiple models and
runs may be submitted and monitored simultaneously.
Visualization: The Visualization module provides graphical display of finite element
models and results. It obtains model and result information from the output database;
you can control what information is written to the output database by modifying
output requests in the Step module.
3. An example: an elastic cantilever beam [1]

Fig.3.1 A loaded cantilever beam [1].

E=209 GPa, n=0.3

3.1 Creating a part
You will start the cantilever beam tutorial by creating a three-dimensional,
deformable solid body. You do this by sketching the two-dimensional profile of the
beam (a rectangle) and extruding it. Abaqus/CAE automatically enters the Sketcher
when you create a part. Abaqus/CAE often displays a short message in the prompt
area near the bottom of the window to guide you through the procedure, as shown in
Fig.3.2.

Fig.3.2 Messages and instructions are displayed in the prompt area.

Click the Cancel button to cancel the current task. Click the Previous button to
cancel the current step in the task and return to the previous step.

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To create the cantilever beam:

1. Start_All Programs__Abaqus v6.11-1 to start Abaqus/CAE. From the Start
Session dialog box that appears, select Create Model Database With
Standard/Explicit Model.
2. Click on , the Create Part dialog box appears. Name
the part Beam. Accept the
default settings of a three-dimensional, deformable body and
a solid, extruded base feature. In the Approximate size text
field, type 400. Click Continue to exit the Create Part
dialog box.
3. When the sketch window opens you can sketch the profile
of the cantilever beam, you need to select the rectangle
drawing tool
. In the prompt area, input 0,0 and press Enter on the keyboard, and
then input 400, 1 and press Enter on the keyboard. Click mouse middle button and
then click Done in the bottom prompt area. (See Annex 1 for unit systems [2])
4. Because you are creating an extruded part, Abaqus/CAE displays the Edit Base
Extrusion dialog box for you to select the depth. In the Depth field, erase the default
value and type a value of 50. Click OK to accept this value. Abaqus/CAE displays an
isometric view of the new part, as shown in Fig.3.3.

Fig.3.3 Isometric view of the beam.

5. Before you continue the tutorial, save your model in a model database file. First
from the main menu bar, select File - Set Work Directory. This should be C:\Temp
or your P:\ drive. Then select File_Save. The Save Model Database As dialog box
appears. Type a name for the new model database in the File Name field, and click
OK.

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3.2 Creating a material, and defining and assigning section properties

For the cantilever beam tutorial you will create a single linear elastic material with
Young's modulus of 193103 MPa and Poisson's ratio of 0.3.
1. In the module list choose Property and click on
, the Edit
Material dialog box appears. Name the material Steel. From the
material editor's menu bar, select
Mechanical_Elasticity_Elastic. Abaqus/CAE displays the
Elastic data form. Type a value of 193E3 for Young's modulus
and a value of 0.3 for Poisson's ratio in the respective fields (See Annex 1 for units),
and click OK to exit the material editor.
2. Click on
, the Create Section dialog box appears. In the
Create Section dialog box, name the section Beam-section; in the
Category list, accept Solid as the default category selection; in the
Type list, accept Homogeneous as the default type selection.
Click Continue. The Edit Section dialog box appears. In the
dialog box, accept the default selection of Steel for the Material
associated with the section; accept the default value of 1 for the Plane stress/strain
thickness. Click OK.
3. Click on
, Abaqus/CAE displays a prompt Select the
regions to be assigned a section, click anywhere on the beam to
select the region to which the section will be applied.
Abaqus/CAE highlights the entire beam. Click Done in the
prompt area to accept the selected geometry. The Edit Section
Assignment dialog box appears. Accept the default selection of
Beam-section as the section, and click OK.

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3.3 Assembling the model

1. In the module list choose Assembly and click on
, and the Create Instance
dialog box appears. In the dialog box, select Beam and check the box for Independent
if required, then click OK.
3.4 Defining analysis steps
For the cantilever beam tutorial the analysis will consist of two steps:
An initial step, in which you will apply a boundary condition that constrains one end
of the cantilever beam.
A general, static analysis step, in which you will apply a pressure load to the top face
of the beam.
Abaqus/CAE generates the initial step automatically, but you must create the analysis
step yourself.
To create a general, static analysis step:
1. In the module list choose Step and click on
, the Create Step dialog box
appears with a list of all the general procedures and a default step name of Step-1.
General procedures are those that can be used to analyze linear or nonlinear response.
Name the step BeamLoad; from the list of available general procedures in the Create
Step dialog box, select Static, General if it is not already selected and click
Continue.
2. The Edit Step dialog box appears with the default settings for a general, static step.
The Basic tab is selected by default. In the Description field, type Load the top of the
beam. Click OK to create the step and to exit the Edit Step dialog box.
3.5 Applying a boundary condition and a load to the model
To apply boundary conditions to one end of the cantilever beam:
1. In the module list choose Load and then click on
, and the
Create Boundary Condition dialog box appears. In the dialog
box, name the boundary condition Fixed; from the list of steps,
select Initial as the step in which the boundary condition will be
activated; in the Category list, accept Mechanical as the default
category selection; in the Types for Selected Step list, accept
Symmetry/Antisymmetry/Encastre as the default type
selection, and click Continue.
2. Abaqus/CAE displays a prompt in the prompt area to ask you
to Select regions for the boundary condition, you will fix the face at the left end of
the cantilever beam; the desired face is shown in Fig.3.4.

Fig.3.4 Selecting the region on which to apply a boundary condition.

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By default, when you position the cursor over a region that overlaps more than one
face Abaqus/CAE highlights the face that is closest to the screen. To select the face
at the left end of the cantilever beam without changing your view of the beam, you
need to turn off this default behavior and cycle through the valid selections. Do the
following:
a. From the prompt area, click the selection options tool .

b. From the prompt area toggle off the closest object tool .

c. Click the mouse left button to highlighted a face. Abaqus/CAE displays Next,
Previous, and OK buttons in the prompt area.
d. Click Next and Previous until the desired face is highlighted.
e. Click OK to confirm your choice, and click Done in the prompt area.
The Edit Boundary Condition dialog box appears. In the dialog box, toggle on
ENCASTRE, and click OK to create the boundary condition and to close the dialog
box.
To apply a load to the top of the cantilever beam:
Now that you have fixed one end of the cantilever beam, you can apply a distributed
load to the top face of the beam. The load is applied during the general, static step you
created earlier.
1. Click on
, the Create Load dialog box appears. In the dialog box, name the
load Pressure; from the list of steps, select BeamLoad as the step in which the load will
be applied; in the Category list, accept Mechanical as the default category selection;
in the Types for Selected Step list, select Pressure, and click Continue.
2. Abaqus/CAE displays a prompt Select surfaces for the load in the prompt area, in
the viewport, select the top face of the beam as the surface to which the load will be
applied. The face is highlighted as shown Fig.3.5. then select OK

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Fig.3.5 Selecting the region on which to apply a pressure load.

3. Click Done in the prompt area, the Edit Load dialog box appears. In the dialog
box, enter a magnitude of 0.5 for the load; accept the default Distribution selection
Abaqus will apply the load uniformly over the face; accept the default Amplitude
selectionAbaqus will ramp up the load during the step; click OK to create the load
and to close the dialog box.
3.6 Meshing the model
1. In the module list, choose Mesh. Choose the Mesh Control
icon or, from the main menu bar, select Mesh Controls. The
Mesh Controls dialog box appears. In the dialog box, accept
Hex as the default Element Shape selection; accept Structured
as the default Technique selection; click OK to assign the mesh
controls and to close the dialog box.

2. From the main menu bar, select Mesh Element

Type. The Element Type dialog box appears. In
the dialog box, accept the following default
selections that control the elements that are
available for selection: Standard is the default
Element Library selection; Linear is the default
Geometric Order; 3D Stress is the default
Family of elements. Click the Hex tab, and
choose Incompatible modes from the list of
Element Controls. Click OK to assign the
element type and to close the dialog box.

3. From the main menu bar, select Seed Part/Instance to seed the part instance. The
Global Seeds dialog box appears. In the dialog box, enter an approximate global size
of 10, and click OK. Abaqus/CAE applies the seeds to the part instance, as shown in
Fig.3.6. You can gain more control of the resulting mesh by seeding each edge of the
part instance individually.

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School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Fig.3.6 Seeding the mesh.

4. From the main menu bar, select Mesh Part/Instance to mesh the part instance.
From the buttons in the prompt area, click Yes to confirm that you want to mesh the
part instance. Abaqus/CAE meshes the part instance and displays the resulting mesh,
as shown in Fig.3.7

Fig.3.7 Meshing the part.

3.7 Creating and submitting an analysis job

1. In the Module list, choose Job. From the main menu bar, select Job_Create. The
Create Job dialog box appears. Name the job Deform, Click Continue to create the
job. The Edit Job dialog box appears. In the Description field, type Cantilever beam
tutorial. Click OK to accept all the default job settings and to close the dialog box.
2. From the main menu bar, select Job_Submit_Deform to submit your job for
analysis. After you submit your job, from the main menu bar, select
Job_Monitor_Deform to open a monitor window, information appears next to the
job name indicating the job's status. The status of the cantilever beam tutorial shows
one of the following:
Submitted while the analysis input file is being generated.
Running while Abaqus analyzes the model.
Completed when the analysis is complete, and the output has been written to the
output database.
Aborted if Abaqus/CAE finds a problem with the input file or the analysis and
aborts the analysis. In addition, Abaqus/CAE reports the problem in the message area.
3. When the job completes successfully, you are ready to view the results of the
analysis with the Visualization module.
3.8 Open the Output Data File
From the File menu choose open Output Database;
In the dialogue box select your working directory and the file filter <Output
Database *.obd> and select your file Deform.odb .

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3.9 Viewing the results of your analysis

From the module list choose Visualization. From the main menu bar, select
Plot_Deformed Shape to view a deformed shape plot. Click the auto-fit tool
that the entire plot is rescaled to fit in the viewport, as shown in Fig.3.8

so

Fig.3.8 Deformed shape plot of model.

From the main menu bar, select Plot_Contours_On Deformed Shape to view a
contour plot of the von Mises stress, as shown in Fig.3.9.

Fig.3.9 Contour plot of Mises stress.

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ANNEX 1

http://polymerfem.com/polymer_files/FEM_Dimensions.pdf

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