How to use Abaqus2Matlab Step by Step tutorial

1. Create an Abaqus .inp file.

a. Generate your model in Abaqus CAE
b. Go to Job>Write Inp

c. Search the .inp file generated (It is usually in the Abaqus Temp folder)

2. Select the variables that you want to extract by using Abaqus2Matlab

a. Go to Abaqus2Matlab Documentation
b. Look the RECORD KEY and OUTPUT VARIABLE IDENTIFIER assigned to
your interesting variables:

In this example:
Element definitions Rec1900;
Displacements Rec101;
Volume Rec78;
Principal stresses Rec401;
Stress Invariants Rec12(Rec);
J_integral Rec1991(Rec);

If using this toolbox for research or industrial purposes, please cite:

G. Papazafeiropoulos, M. Muiz-Calvente, E. Martnez-Paeda. Abaqus2Matlab: a suitable tool for finite
element post-processing. Advances in Engineering Software. Vol 105. March 2017. Pages 9-16. (2017)
DOI:10.1016/j.advengsoft.2017.01.006
 3. Modify the .inp file to include in the .fil file the information selected:
a. Go to the end of the .inp file
b. Modify the .inp file according to Abaqus documentation:

In this example:
*FILE FORMAT, ASCII
*NODE FILE, nset=Point1
U
*EL FILE, FREQUENCY=1
EVOL
SP, SINV
** HISTORY OUTPUT: Fracture
*Contour Integral, crack name=Fracture_Crack-1, contours=10, crack tip nodes, symm
_PickedSet11, _PickedSet12, 1., 0., 0.
*End Step

4. Open and start to edit Abaqus2Matlab Basic_template:

If using this toolbox for research or industrial purposes, please cite:

G. Papazafeiropoulos, M. Muiz-Calvente, E. Martnez-Paeda. Abaqus2Matlab: a suitable tool for finite
element post-processing. Advances in Engineering Software. Vol 105. March 2017. Pages 9-16. (2017)
DOI:10.1016/j.advengsoft.2017.01.006
 5. Submit your Job
a. Change 'name_ of_the_input_file' for the name of your .inp file (
In this example FEM_SIMULATION)
b. Lines 16 to 19 are optional. These lines create a new folder to run the
simulation and group all Abaqus output files.
c. Line 22 runs the FEM simulation (Submit job in Abaqus CAE).
d. Lines 24 to 31 are necessary to check if the Abaqus calculation is
finished (Alternatively you can write system(['abaqus job='
Inp_file interactive]) in line 22.

6. Post-Process your results by Abaqus2Matlab functions:

a. Read the .fil file by line 37.
b. Line 42: Obtain your selected data by RecXXX funcionts.

In this example:
%Obtain connectivity
disp('Obtaining connectivity')
connec = Rec1900(Rec);

%Obtain displacements
disp('Obtaining displacements')
U_displacements = Rec101(Rec);

%obtain element volume

disp('Obtaining volume')
VOLUME = Rec78(Rec);

%Obtain Principal Stresses

disp('Obtaining Principal stresses')
SP = Rec401(Rec);

%Obtain Stress Invariants

disp('Obtaining Stress Invariants')
S_invariants = Rec12(Rec);

%Obtain J-Integral
disp('Obtaining J-Integral')
J_integral_output = Rec1991(Rec);

If using this toolbox for research or industrial purposes, please cite:

G. Papazafeiropoulos, M. Muiz-Calvente, E. Martnez-Paeda. Abaqus2Matlab: a suitable tool for finite
element post-processing. Advances in Engineering Software. Vol 105. March 2017. Pages 9-16. (2017)
DOI:10.1016/j.advengsoft.2017.01.006
 7. Read Abaqus Documentation to understand what are recorded in your output
variables. Abaqus Analysis User's Manual 5.1.2 Results file output format

Record key: 1900 Record type: Element definitions

Attributes: 1 Element number.
2 Element type (characters, A8 format, left justified).
3 First node on the element.
4 Second node on the element.
5 Etc
Record key: 101 Output variable identifier: U
Record type: Displacements
Attributes: 1 Node number.
2 First component of displacement.
3 Second component of displacement.
4 Etc.
Record key: 78(S) Output variable identifier: EVOL
Record type: Whole element volume
Attribute: 1 Current element volume
Record key: 401 Output variable identifier: SP
Record type: Principal stresses
Attributes: 1 Minimum principal stress.
2 Etc.
Record key: 12(S) Output variable identifier: SINV
Record type: Stress invariants
Attributes: 1 Mises stress.
2 Tresca stress.
3 Hydrostatic pressure.
4 Currently not used.
5 Currently not used.
6 Currently not used.
7 Third stress invariant.
Record key: 1991(S) Record type: J-integral values
Attributes: 1 Crack number.
2 Node set (A8 format).
3 Number of contours.
4 J-integral value estimated by first contour.
5 J-integral value estimated by second contour.
6 Etc.

8. Edit your output variables for your own use (reshape, cell2matrix)

If using this toolbox for research or industrial purposes, please cite:

G. Papazafeiropoulos, M. Muiz-Calvente, E. Martnez-Paeda. Abaqus2Matlab: a suitable tool for finite
element post-processing. Advances in Engineering Software. Vol 105. March 2017. Pages 9-16. (2017)
DOI:10.1016/j.advengsoft.2017.01.006