ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced!

Course by Peter Bejdák

Section: Creating and analyzing a model using the Abaqus CAE modules

PART MODULE
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák

Part modeling space

• Modeling space refers to the space in which the part is embedded rather than to the
topology of the part itself. Thus, you can create a three-dimensional part using a
topologically two-dimensional shell feature or a one-dimensional wire feature. You can
change the modeling space of a part after you have created it by clicking mouse button 3
on the part in the Model Tree and selecting Edit from the menu that appears.
• When you create a new part, you must specify the modeling space in which the part will
reside. You can assign the following three types of modeling space:
1. Three-dimensional
• Abaqus/CAE embeds the part in the X, Y, Z coordinate system. A three-dimensional part
can contain any combination of solid, shell, wire, cut, round, and chamfer features. You
model a three-dimensional part using three-dimensional solid, shell, beam, truss, or
membrane elements.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák

2. Two-dimensional planar
Abaqus/CAE embeds the part in the X–Y plane. A two-dimensional planar part can contain
a combination of only planar shell and wire features, and all cut features are defined as
planar through cuts. You model a two-dimensional planar part using two-dimensional solid
continuum elements, as well as truss or beam elements.

3. Axisymmetric
Abaqus/CAE embeds the part in the X–Y plane with the Y-axis indicating the axis of
revolution. An axisymmetric part can contain a combination of only planar shell and wire
features, and all cut features are defined as planar through cuts. You model an
axisymmetric part using axisymmetric solid continuum elements or axisymmetric shell
elements.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák

Part types
When you create a new part or import a part from a file containing geometry stored in a
third-party format, you must choose the part’s type. The possible types for Abaqus/Standard
and Abaqus/Explicit
1. Deformable
Any arbitrarily shaped axisymmetric, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional part that you
can create or import can be specified as a deformable part. A deformable part represents a
part that can deform under load; the load can be mechanical, thermal, or electrical. By
default, Abaqus/CAE creates parts that are deformable.
2. Discrete rigid
A discrete rigid part is similar to a deformable part in that it can be any arbitrary shape.
However, a discrete rigid part is assumed to be rigid and is used in contact analyses to
model bodies that cannot deform.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák

3. Analytical rigid
An analytical rigid part is similar to a discrete rigid part in that it is used to represent a rigid
surface in a contact analysis. However, the shape of an analytical rigid part is not arbitrary
and must be formed from a set of sketched lines, arcs, and parabolas.

4. Eulerian
Eulerian parts are used to define a domain in which material can flow for an Eulerian
analysis. Eulerian parts do not deform during an analysis; instead, the material within the
part deforms under load and can flow across the rigid element boundaries.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák

Part size
When you create a new part, you must choose the part’s approximate size. The size that
you enter is used by Abaqus/CAE to calculate the size of the Sketcher sheet and the
spacing of its grid. You should set the approximate size of the part to match the largest
dimension of the finished part. If you find subsequently that the part exceeds the size of the
Sketcher sheet, use the Sketch customization options to increase the sheet size. You
cannot change a part’s approximate size after you have created it. However, you can copy
the part to a new part and scale the part during the copy operation.

Abaqus/CAE uses a geometry engine to model parts and features. The recommended
approximate size limits are between 0.001 (10−3 ) and 1000 (104 ) units.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
Section: Creating and analyzing a model using the Abaqus CAE modules

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