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Explicit dynamic analysis

An explicit dynamic analysis: Related Topics

is computationally efficient for the analysis of large models with relatively short Defining an analysis
dynamic response times and for the analysis of extremely discontinuous events
or processes; In Other Guides
allows for the definition of very general contact conditions (About contact
interactions); *DYNAMIC
uses a consistent, large-deformation theory—models can undergo large Configuring a dynamic, explicit
rotations and large deformation; procedure
can use a geometrically linear deformation theory—strains and rotations are
assumed to be small (see Defining an analysis);
can be used to perform an adiabatic stress analysis if inelastic dissipation is
expected to generate heat in the material (see Adiabatic analysis);
can be used to perform quasi-static analyses with complicated contact
conditions; and
allows for either automatic or fixed time incrementation to be used—by default,
Abaqus/Explicit uses automatic time incrementation with the global time
estimator.

The following topics are discussed:

Explicit dynamic analysis
Numerical implementation
Nodal mass and inertia
Stability
Dilatational wave speed
Time incrementation
Advantages of the explicit method
Computational cost
Bulk viscosity
Material damping
Obtaining diagnostic information about critical elements
Obtaining diagnostic information about the deformation speed
Monitoring output variables for extreme values
Initial conditions
Boundary conditions
Loads
Predefined fields
Material options
Elements
Output
Input file template

Products: Abaqus/Explicit Abaqus/CAE

Explicit dynamic analysis

The explicit dynamics procedure performs a large number of small time increments efficiently. An explicit central-difference
time integration rule is used; each increment is relatively inexpensive (compared to the direct-integration dynamic analysis
procedure available in Abaqus/Standard) because there is no solution for a set of simultaneous equations. The explicit
central-difference operator satisfies the dynamic equilibrium equations at the beginning of the increment, t; the
accelerations calculated at time t are used to advance the velocity solution to time and the displacement solution
to time .
Input File Usage:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Step module: Create Step: General: Dynamic, Explicit

Numerical implementation
The explicit dynamics analysis procedure is based upon the implementation of an explicit integration rule together with the
use of diagonal (“lumped”) element mass matrices. The equations of motion for the body are integrated using the explicit

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central-difference integration rule

where is a degree of freedom (a displacement or rotation component) and the subscript i refers to the increment
number in an explicit dynamics step. The central-difference integration operator is explicit in the sense that the kinematic
state is advanced using known values of and from the previous increment.

The explicit integration rule is quite simple but by itself does not provide the computational efficiency associated with the
explicit dynamics procedure. The key to the computational efficiency of the explicit procedure is the use of diagonal element
mass matrices because the accelerations at the beginning of the increment are computed by

where is the mass matrix, is the applied load vector, and is the internal force vector. A lumped mass matrix is
used because its inverse is simple to compute and because the vector multiplication of the mass inverse by the inertial force
requires only n operations, where n is the number of degrees of freedom in the model. The explicit procedure requires no
iterations and no tangent stiffness matrix. The internal force vector, , is assembled from contributions from the individual
elements such that a global stiffness matrix need not be formed.

Nodal mass and inertia

The explicit integration scheme in Abaqus/Explicit requires nodal mass or inertia to exist at all activated degrees of freedom
(see Conventions) unless constraints are applied using boundary conditions. More precisely, a nonzero nodal mass must
exist unless all activated translational degrees of freedom are constrained and nonzero rotary inertia must exist unless all
activated rotational degrees of freedom are constrained. Nodes that are part of a rigid body do not require mass, but the
entire rigid body must possess mass and inertia unless constraints are used. Nodes that belong to Eulerian elements also do
not require mass, since the surrounding Eulerian elements may be void at some time during the simulation.
When degrees of freedom at a node are activated by elements with a nonzero mass density (e.g., solid, shell, beam) or
mass and inertia elements, a nonzero nodal mass or inertia occurs naturally from the assemblage of lumped mass
contributions.
When degrees of freedom at a node are activated by elements with no mass (e.g., spring, dashpot, or connector elements),
care must be taken either to constrain the node or to add mass and inertia as appropriate.

Stability
The explicit procedure integrates through time by using many small time increments. The central-difference operator is
conditionally stable, and the stability limit for the operator (with no damping) is given in terms of the highest frequency of
the system as

With damping, the stable time increment is given by

where is the fraction of critical damping in the mode with the highest frequency. Contrary to our usual engineering
intuition, introducing damping to the solution reduces the stable time increment. In Abaqus/Explicit a small amount of
damping is introduced in the form of bulk viscosity to control high frequency oscillations. Physical forms of damping, such as
dashpots or material damping, can also be introduced. Bulk viscosity and material damping are discussed below.

Estimating the stable time increment size

An approximation to the stability limit is often written as the smallest transit time of a dilatational wave across any of the
elements in the mesh

where is the smallest element dimension in the mesh and is the dilatational wave speed in terms of and ,

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defined below.
In general, for beams, conventional shells, and membranes the element thickness or cross-sectional dimensions are not
considered in determining the smallest element dimension; the stability limit is based upon the midplane or membrane
dimensions only. When the transverse shear stiffness is defined for shell elements (see Shell section behavior), the stable
time increment will also be based on the transverse shear behavior.
This estimate for is only approximate and in most cases is not a conservative (safe) estimate. In general, the actual
stable time increment chosen by Abaqus/Explicit will be less than this estimate by a factor between and 1 in a two-
dimensional model and between and 1 in a three-dimensional model. The time increment chosen by Abaqus/Explicit
also accounts for any stiffness behavior in a model associated with penalty contact. For further discussion, see
Computational cost below.

Stable time increment report

Abaqus/Explicit writes a report to the status (.sta) file during the data check phase of the analysis that contains an
estimate of the minimum stable time increment and a listing of the elements with the smallest stable time increments and
their values. The initial stable time increments listed do not include damping (bulk viscosity), mass scaling, or penalty
contact effects.
This listing is provided because often a few elements have much smaller stability limits than the rest of the elements in the
mesh. The stable time increment can be increased by modifying the mesh to increase the size of the controlling element or
by using appropriate mass scaling.

Dilatational wave speed

The current dilatational wave speed, , is determined in Abaqus/Explicit by calculating the effective hypoelastic material
moduli from the material's constitutive response. Effective Lamé's constants, and , are determined in the
following manner. Define as the increment in the mean stress, as the increment in the deviatoric stress, as
the increment of volumetric strain, and as the deviatoric strain increment. We assume a hypoelastic stress-strain rule of
the form

The effective moduli can then be computed as

For shell elements defined by a shell cross-section that requires numerical integration (see Using a shell section integrated
during the analysis to define the section behavior), the effective moduli for the section are computed by integrating the
effective moduli at the section points through the thickness. These effective moduli represent the element stiffness and
determine the current dilatational wave speed in the element as

where is the density of the material.

In an isotropic, elastic material the effective Lamé's constants can be defined in terms of Young's modulus, E, and Poisson's
ratio, , by

and

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Time incrementation
The time increment used in an analysis must be smaller than the stability limit of the central-difference operator. Failure to
use a small enough time increment will result in an unstable solution. When the solution becomes unstable, the time history
response of solution variables such as displacements will usually oscillate with increasing amplitudes. The total energy
balance will also change significantly.
If the model contains only one material type, the initial time increment is directly proportional to the size of the smallest
element in the mesh. If the mesh contains uniform size elements but contains multiple material descriptions, the element
with the highest wave speed will determine the initial time increment.
In nonlinear problems—those with large deformations and/or nonlinear material response—the highest frequency of the
model will continually change, which consequently changes the stability limit. Abaqus/Explicit has two strategies for time
incrementation control: fully automatic time incrementation (where the code accounts for changes in the stability limit) and
fixed time incrementation.

Scaling the time increment

To reduce the chance of a solution going unstable, you can adjust the stable time increment computed by Abaqus/Explicit by
a constant scaling factor. This factor can be used to scale the default global time estimate, the element-by-element
estimate, or the fixed time increment based on the initial element-by-element estimate; it cannot be used to scale a fixed
time increment specified directly by you.
Input File Usage:
Use the following option to scale the stable time increment based on the global time estimate:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, SCALE FACTOR=f
Use the following option to scale the stable time increment based on the element-by-element estimate:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, ELEMENT BY ELEMENT, SCALE FACTOR=f
Use the following option to scale the stable time increment based on the fixed time increment on the initial
element-by-element estimate:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, FIXED TIME INCREMENTATION, SCALE FACTOR=f
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Step module: Create Step: General: Dynamic, Explicit: Incrementation: Time scaling factor: f

Automatic time incrementation

The default time incrementation scheme in Abaqus/Explicit is fully automatic and requires no user intervention. Two types of
estimates are used to determine the stability limit: element by element and global. An analysis always starts by using the
element-by-element estimation method and may switch to the global estimation method under certain circumstances, as
explained below.
Element-by-element estimation
In an analysis Abaqus/Explicit initially uses a stability limit based on the highest element frequency in the whole model. This
element-by-element estimate is determined using the current dilatational wave speed in each element.
The element-by-element estimate is conservative; it will give a smaller stable time increment than the true stability limit
that is based upon the maximum frequency of the entire model. In general, constraints such as boundary conditions and
kinematic contact have the effect of compressing the eigenvalue spectrum, and the element-by-element estimates do not
take this into account.
The concept of the stable time increment as the time required to propagate a dilatational wave across the smallest element
dimension is useful for interpreting how the explicit procedure chooses the time increment when element-by-element
stability estimation controls the time increment. As the step proceeds, the global stability estimate, if used, will make the
time increment less sensitive to element size.
Input File Usage:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, ELEMENT BY ELEMENT
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Step module: Create Step: General: Dynamic, Explicit: Incrementation: Stable increment estimator: Element-by-
element
Global estimation
The stability limit will be determined by the global estimator as the step proceeds unless the element-by-element estimation
method is specified, fixed time incrementation is specified, or one of the conditions explained below prevents the use of
global estimation. The switch to the global estimation method occurs once the algorithm determines that the accuracy of the
global estimation method is acceptable.
The adaptive, global estimation algorithm determines the maximum frequency of the entire model using the current
dilatational wave speed. This algorithm continuously updates the estimate for the maximum frequency. The global estimator
will usually allow time increments that exceed the element-by-element values.

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Abaqus/Explicit monitors the effectiveness of the global estimation algorithm. If the cost for computing the global time
estimate is more than its benefit, the code will turn off the global estimation algorithm and simply use the element-by-
element estimates to save computation time.
Conditions that will prevent the use of the global time estimator
The global estimation algorithm will not be used when any of the following capabilities are included in the model:
Fluid elements
Infinite elements
Dashpots
Thick shells (thickness to characteristic length ratio larger than 0.92)
Thick beams (thickness to length ratio larger than 1.0)
The JWL equation of state
Material damping
Nonisotropic elastic materials with temperature and field variable dependency
Distortion control
Adaptive meshing
Subcycling

“Improved” stable time increment for three-dimensional continuum elements and elements with plane stress
formulations
For three-dimensional continuum elements and elements with plane stress formulations (shell, membrane, and two-
dimensional plane stress elements) an “improved” estimate of the element characteristic length is used by default. This
“improved” method usually results in a larger element stable time increment than a more traditional method. For analyses
using variable mass scaling, the total mass added to achieve a given stable time increment will be less with the improved
estimate.
Input File Usage:
Use the following option to activate the “improved” element time estimation method:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, IMPROVED DT METHOD=YES
Use the following option to deactivate the “improved” element time estimation method:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, IMPROVED DT METHOD=NO
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
The ability to deactivate the “improved” element time estimation method is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Fixed time incrementation

A fixed time incrementation scheme is also available in Abaqus/Explicit. The fixed time increment size is determined either
by the initial element-by-element stability estimate for the step or by a user-specified time increment.
Fixed time incrementation may be useful when a more accurate representation of the higher mode response of a problem is
required. In this case a time increment size smaller than the element-by-element estimates may be used. The element-by-
element estimate can be obtained simply by running a data check analysis (see Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit
execution).
When fixed time incrementation is used, Abaqus/Explicit will not check that the computed response is stable during the
step. You should ensure that a valid response has been obtained by carefully checking the energy history and other
response variables.
Basing the fixed time increment size on the initial element-by-element stability limit
You can use time increments the size of the initial element-by-element stability limit throughout a step. The dilatational
wave speed in each element at the beginning of the step is used to compute the fixed time increment size.
Input File Usage:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, FIXED TIME INCREMENTATION
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Step module: Create Step: General: Dynamic, Explicit: Incrementation: Type: Fixed: Use element-by-element time
increment estimator
Specifying the fixed time increment size directly
Alternatively, you can specify a time increment size directly.
Input File Usage:
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, DIRECT USER CONTROL
Abaqus/CAE Usage:

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Step module: Create Step: General: Dynamic, Explicit: Incrementation: Type: Fixed: User-defined time increment

Advantages of the explicit method

The use of small increments (dictated by the stability limit) is advantageous because it allows the solution to proceed
without iterations and without requiring tangent stiffness matrices to be formed. It also simplifies the treatment of contact.
The explicit dynamics procedure is ideally suited for analyzing high-speed dynamic events, but many of the advantages of
the explicit procedure also apply to the analysis of slower (quasi-static) processes. A good example is sheet metal forming,
where contact dominates the solution and local instabilities may form due to wrinkling of the sheet.
The results in an explicit dynamics analysis are not automatically checked for accuracy as they are in Abaqus/Standard
(Abaqus/Standard uses the half-increment residual). In most cases this is not of concern because the stability condition
imposes a small time increment such that the solution changes only slightly in any one time increment, which simplifies the
incremental calculations. While the analysis may take an extremely large number of increments, each increment is relatively
inexpensive, often resulting in an economical solution. It is not uncommon for Abaqus/Explicit to take over 105 increments
for an analysis. The method is, therefore, computationally attractive for problems where the total dynamic response time
that must be modeled is only a few orders of magnitude longer than the stability limit; for example, wave propagation
studies or some “event and response” applications.

Computational cost
The computer time involved in running a simulation using explicit time integration with a given mesh is proportional to the
time period of the event. The time increment based on the element-by-element stability estimate can be rewritten (ignoring
damping) in the form

where the minimum is taken over all elements in the mesh, is a characteristic length associated with an element (see
Explicit dynamic analysis), is the density of the material in the element, and and are the effective Lamé's constants
for the material in the element (defined above).
The time increment from the global stability estimate may be somewhat larger, but for this discussion we will assume that
the above inequality always holds (when the inequality does not hold, the solution time will be somewhat faster).
For linear, nonisotropic elastic materials this stability limit is further scaled down by the square root of the ratio of the
effective material stiffness to the maximum material stiffness in one particular direction. Since this effectively means that
the time increment can be no larger than the time required to propagate a stress wave across an element, the computer
time involved in running a quasi-static analysis can be very large: the cost of the simulation is directly proportional to the
number of time increments required.

The number of increments, n, required is if remains constant, where T is the time period of the event being
simulated. (Even the element-by-element approximation of will not remain constant in general, since element distortion
will change and nonlinear material response will change the effective Lamé constants. But the assumption is sufficiently
accurate for the purposes of this discussion.) Thus,

In a two-dimensional analysis refining the mesh by a factor of two in each direction will increase the run time in the explicit
procedure by a factor of eight—four times as many elements and half the original time increment size. Similarly, in a three-
dimensional analysis refining the mesh by a factor of two in each direction will increase the run time by a factor of sixteen.
In a quasi-static analysis it is expedient to reduce the computational cost by either speeding up the simulation or by scaling
the mass. In either case the kinetic energy should be monitored to ensure that the ratio of kinetic energy to internal energy
does not get too large—typically less than 10%.

Reducing the computational cost by speeding up the simulation

To reduce the number of increments required, n, we can speed up the simulation compared to the time of the actual
process—that is, we can artificially reduce the time period of the event, T. This will introduce two possible errors. If the
simulation speed is increased too much, the increased inertia forces will change the predicted response (in an extreme case
the problem will exhibit wave propagation response). The only way to avoid this error is to choose a speed-up that is not too
large.
The other error is that some aspects of the problem other than inertia forces—for example, material behavior—may also be
rate dependent. In this case the actual time period of the event being modeled cannot be changed.

Reducing the computational cost by using mass scaling

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Artificially increasing the material density, , by a factor reduces n to , just like decreasing T to . This concept,
called “mass scaling,” reduces the ratio of the event time to the time for wave propagation across an element while leaving
the event time fixed, which allows rate-dependent behavior to be included in the analysis. Mass scaling has exactly the
same effect on inertia forces as speeding up the time of simulation.
Mass scaling is attractive because it can be used in rate-dependent problems, but it must be used with care to ensure that
the inertia forces do not dominate and change the solution. Either fixed or variable mass scaling can be invoked (see Mass
scaling).
Mass scaling can also be accomplished by altering the density; however, the fixed and variable mass scaling capabilities
provide more versatile methods of scaling the mass of the entire model or specific element sets in the model.

Reducing the computational cost by using selective subcycling

One disadvantage in an explicit dynamic analysis is that a few very small elements will force the entire model to be
integrated with a small time increment. You can use mixed time integration or “subcycling” methods to reduce this problem.
In these methods the equations of motion for the body are still integrated using the explicit central-difference integration
rule as shown above, but the different time increments are allowed for different groups of nodes in the finite element model.
If most nodes are integrated with a large stable time increment and only a few nodes are integrated with a small time
increment, the computational cost may be reduced significantly.
Selective subcycling can be invoked by defining the subcycling zones. See Selective subcycling for details.

Bulk viscosity
Bulk viscosity introduces damping associated with volumetric straining. Its purpose is to improve the modeling of high-
speed dynamic events (see Stability above for a discussion of the effect of damping on the stable time increment).
Abaqus/Explicit contains two forms of bulk viscosity: linear and quadratic. Linear bulk viscosity is included by default in an
Abaqus/Explicit analysis.
The bulk viscosity parameters and defined below can be redefined and can be changed from step to step. If the
default values are changed in a step, the new values will be used in subsequent steps until they are redefined. Bulk
viscosities defined this way apply to the whole model. For an individual element set the linear and quadratic bulk viscosities
can be scaled by a factor by defining section controls (see Section controls).
Input File Usage:
Use the following option to define bulk viscosity for the entire model:
*BULK VISCOSITY
Use the following options to define bulk viscosity for an individual element set:
*BULK VISCOSITY
*SECTION CONTROLS
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Use the following option to define bulk viscosity for the entire model:
Step module: Create Step: General: Dynamic, Explicit: Other: Linear bulk viscosity parameter and Quadratic bulk
viscosity parameter
Defining bulk viscosity for an individual element set is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Linear bulk viscosity

Linear bulk viscosity is found in all elements and is introduced to damp “ringing” in the highest element frequency. This
damping is sometimes referred to as truncation frequency damping. It generates a bulk viscosity pressure that is linear in
the volumetric strain rate

where is a damping coefficient (default=.06), is the current material density, is the current dilatational wave speed,
is an element characteristic length, and is the volumetric strain rate.
For acoustic elements, the bulk viscosity pressure can be obtained from the above equation by using the relationship of the
fluid particle velocity and the pressure rate (see Coupled acoustic-structural medium analysis) as

where and c are the pressure rate and the speed of sound in the fluid, respectively.

Quadratic bulk viscosity

The second form of bulk viscosity pressure is found only in solid continuum elements (except the plane stress element
CPS4R). This form is quadratic in the volumetric strain rate

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where is a damping coefficient (default=1.2) and all other quantities are as defined for the linear bulk viscosity. Quadratic
bulk viscosity is applied only if the volumetric strain rate is compressive.
The quadratic bulk viscosity pressure will smear a shock front across several elements and is introduced to prevent
elements from collapsing under extremely high velocity gradients. Consider a simple one-element problem in which the
nodes on one side of the element are fixed and the nodes on the other side have an initial velocity in the direction of the
fixed nodes. If the initial velocity is equal to the dilatational wave speed of the material, without the quadratic bulk viscosity,
the element would collapse to zero volume in one time increment (because the stable time increment size is precisely the
transit time of a dilatational wave across the element). The quadratic bulk viscosity pressure will introduce a resisting
pressure that will prevent the element from collapsing.

Fraction of critical damping due to bulk viscosity

The bulk viscosity pressure is not included in the material point stresses because it is intended as a numerical effect only—it
is not considered part of the material's constitutive response. The bulk viscosity pressures are based upon the dilatational
mode of each element. The fraction of critical damping in the dilatational mode of each element is given by

Rotational bulk viscosity for shell elements

For the displacement degrees of freedom, bulk viscosity introduces damping associated with volumetric straining. Linear
bulk viscosity or truncation frequency damping is used to damp the high frequency ringing that leads to unwanted noise in
the solution or spurious overshoot in the response amplitude. For the same reason, in shells the high frequency ringing in
the rotational degrees of freedom is damped with linear bulk viscosity acting on the mean curvature strain rate. This
damping generates a bulk viscosity “pressure moment,” m, which is linear in the mean curvature strain rate

where is a damping coefficient (default = 0.06), is the original thickness, is the mass density, is the current
dilatational wave speed, L is the characteristic length used for rotary inertia and transverse shear stiffness scaling (see
Finite-strain shell element formulation), and is twice the mean curvature strain rate. The resultant pressure
moment , where h is the current thickness, is added to the direct components of the moment resultant.

Material damping
Defining inelastic material behavior, dashpots, etc. will introduce energy dissipation into a model. In addition to these
mechanisms, general (“Rayleigh”) material damping can be introduced (see Material damping). Adding damping to a model,
especially stiffness proportional damping, , may significantly reduce the stable time increment.

Input File Usage:

*DAMPING, ALPHA= , BETA=
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Property module: material editor: Mechanical > Damping: Alpha and Beta

Obtaining diagnostic information about critical elements

Abaqus/Explicit writes critical elements (elements with the smallest stable time increments) and their stable time increment
values to the output database at each summary increment for visualization in Abaqus/CAE. By default, the number of critical
elements written to the output database is 10.
Input File Usage:
*DIAGNOSTICS, CRITICAL ELEMENTS=value
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
The ability to control the number of critical elements written to the output database is not supported in
Abaqus/CAE.

Obtaining diagnostic information about the deformation speed

The deformation speed in an element is defined as the largest absolute value of all the deformation rate components of an
element times the element characteristic length, . You can request diagnostic information about the deformation speed
within a step definition, as described below. In a multistep analysis diagnostic requests remain in effect until they are
explicitly redefined.

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Deformation speed warnings

By default, Abaqus/Explicit will check for a relatively large deformation speed in all the elements since too high a value may
cause the element to deform or collapse unrealistically. A warning message is issued if the ratio of deformation speed versus
dilatational wave speed in an element reaches the value specified for the “warning ratio.” By default, the warning ratio is
0.3. You can redefine this limit.
The first occurrence of the warning message is written to the status (.sta) file; subsequent occurrences are written to the
message (.msg) file. See About Output for a description of these output files.
Generally when the ratio of deformation speed to dilatational wave speed is greater than 0.3, it is an indication that the
purely mechanical material constitutive relationship is no longer valid and that a thermomechanical equation of state
material is required.
Input File Usage:
*DIAGNOSTICS, WARNING RATIO=ratio
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
The ability to redefine the warning ratio limit is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Deformation speed errors

An error message is issued and the analysis is terminated when the maximum ratio of deformation speed versus current
dilatational wave speed for any element is greater than the “cutoff ratio.” By default, the cutoff ratio is 1.0. You can redefine
this limit.
The check for this cutoff ratio is not applied to any model that has an equation of state material (see Equation of state) or a
user-defined material (see User-defined mechanical material behavior).
Input File Usage:
*DIAGNOSTICS, CUTOFF RATIO=ratio
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
The ability to redefine the cutoff ratio limit is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Obtaining a summary of the deformation speed information

You can request summary diagnostic information to obtain warning and error messages for only the element with the largest
ratio of deformation speed to dilatational wave speed.
Input File Usage:
*DIAGNOSTICS, DEFORMATION SPEED CHECK=SUMMARY
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
A summary of the deformation speed diagnostic information is output by default in Abaqus/CAE.

Obtaining detailed deformation speed information

You can request detailed diagnostic information to obtain warning and error messages for all elements with large
deformation speed to dilatational wave speed ratios.
Input File Usage:
*DIAGNOSTICS, DEFORMATION SPEED CHECK=DETAIL
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
You cannot output detailed diagnostic information about the deformation speed in Abaqus/CAE.

Disabling deformation speed checks

You can choose to completely bypass the checks for large deformation speed.
Input File Usage:
*DIAGNOSTICS, DEFORMATION SPEED CHECK=OFF
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
You cannot disable the deformation speed checks in Abaqus/CAE.

Monitoring output variables for extreme values

There are some analyses in which it is useful to monitor the value of a variable at every increment. For example, in a force-
driven analysis such as hydro-forming, the simulation time that is sufficient to model the completion of the physical process
may depend on the magnitude of the displacement of a node or a group of nodes in the model. Another example is a drop
test simulation where the postfailure response is not of interest. Monitoring the values of critical variables and halting the
analysis when those variables exceed a given criterion can reduce computational expense and turnaround time.
For such problems Abaqus/Explicit allows output variables to be monitored during an analysis to verify whether or not their

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values have exceeded or fallen below user-specified values in specified element or node sets. Comparisons of specified
element integration point variables, element section variables, or nodal variables with user-specified values are performed
at every increment. At the first occurrence of a variable exceeding the user-specified bounds, the variable name, the
associated element or node number, and the increment number are written to the status (.sta) file. In addition, you can
request that the analysis be stopped and/or the output state be written in the increment following the one in which the
variable has exceeded the user-specified bound. At the end of each step in which variables are monitored, the maximum,
minimum, or absolute maximum value that each variable attains during the course of the analysis, along with the number of
the element or node where the extreme value occurred, will be written to the status file.

Defining the element and nodal variables to be monitored

The element output variables that can be monitored include all the element integration point variables and element section
point variables that are available for history-type output to the output database. Similarly, the nodal output variables that
can be monitored include all the nodal variables that are available for history output to the output database. The keys
identifying the output variables are defined in Abaqus/Explicit output variable identifiers.
Input File Usage:
Use the first option with one or both of the following options in the history portion of the input file:
*EXTREME VALUE
*EXTREME ELEMENT VALUE, ELSET=element_set_name
*EXTREME NODE VALUE, NSET=nset_set_name
The *EXTREME VALUE option can be repeated in the same step, and the *EXTREME ELEMENT VALUE and
*EXTREME NODE VALUE options can be repeated as many times as necessary.
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Extreme value output monitoring is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Halting the analysis when the extreme value criterion is met

You can choose to halt the analysis when the extreme value criterion is met. The analysis will stop at the end of the
increment following the one in which any of the specified element or nodal variables exceeded the prescribed bounds.
Input File Usage:
Use the following options:
*EXTREME VALUE, HALT=YES
*EXTREME ELEMENT VALUE and/or *EXTREME NODE VALUE
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Extreme value output monitoring is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Obtaining output when the extreme value criterion is met

You can obtain field-type output to the output database and an additional restart state when any of the selected variables
fall outside the specified bounds for the first time during the analysis. The output will be written in the increment following
the one in which such an occurrence took place. Since output is automatically written when the analysis terminates, this
request has an effect only if you have not chosen to halt the analysis when the extreme value criterion is met as described
above.
Input File Usage:
Use either or both of the following options in conjunction with the *EXTREME VALUE option:
*EXTREME ELEMENT VALUE, ELSET=element_set_name, OUTPUT=YES
*EXTREME NODE VALUE, NSET=node_set_name, OUTPUT=YES
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Extreme value output monitoring is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Monitoring variables in a multistep analysis

In a multistep analysis the monitoring requests you specify remain in effect until they are redefined. You must redefine all
requests to add or change any variables, element or node sets, or maxima or minima.

Stopping the monitoring of variables in a new step

You can stop monitoring variables in a new step.
Input File Usage:
Use the *EXTREME VALUE option without the *EXTREME ELEMENT VALUE and *EXTREME NODE VALUE options.
Abaqus/CAE Usage:
Extreme value output monitoring is not supported in Abaqus/CAE.

Initial conditions

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Initial conditions in Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit describes all of the initial conditions that are available for an
explicit dynamic analysis.

Boundary conditions
Boundary conditions can be defined as explained in Boundary conditions in Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit. Boundary
conditions applied during an explicit dynamic response step should use appropriate amplitude references (Amplitude
Curves). If boundary conditions are specified for the step without amplitude references, they are applied instantaneously at
the beginning of the step. Since Abaqus/Explicit does not admit jumps in displacement, the value of a nonzero displacement
boundary condition that is specified without an amplitude reference will be ignored, and a zero velocity boundary condition
will be enforced.

Loads
The loading types available for an explicit dynamic analysis are explained in About loads. Concentrated nodal forces or
moments can be applied to the displacement or rotation degrees of freedom (1–6). Distributed pressure forces or body
forces can also be applied; the distributed load types available with particular elements are described in Abaqus Elements
Guide.
As with boundary conditions, loads applied during a dynamic response step should use appropriate amplitude references
(Amplitude Curves). If loads are specified for the step without amplitude references, they are applied instantaneously at the
beginning of the step.

Predefined fields
The following predefined fields can be specified, as described in Predefined Fields:
Although temperature is not a degree of freedom in explicit dynamic analysis, nodal temperatures can be specified.
Any difference between the applied and initial temperatures will cause thermal strain if a thermal expansion
coefficient is given for the material (Thermal expansion). The specified temperature also affects temperature-
dependent material properties, if any.
The values of user-defined field variables can be specified. These values affect only field-variable-dependent
material properties, if any.

Material options
Any of the material models in Abaqus/Explicit can be used in a general explicit dynamic analysis (see Combining material
behaviors).

Elements
All of the elements available in Abaqus/Explicit can be used in an explicit dynamic analysis. The elements are listed in
Abaqus Elements Guide.
If coupled temperature-displacement elements are used in an explicit dynamic analysis, the temperature degrees of
freedom will be ignored.

Output
The element output available for a dynamic analysis includes stress; strain; energies; and the values of state, field, and
user-defined variables. The nodal output available includes displacements, velocities, accelerations, reaction forces, and
coordinates. All of the output variable identifiers are outlined in Abaqus/Explicit output variable identifiers. The types of
output available are described in About Output.
When an Abaqus/Explicit analysis encounters a fatal error, the preselected variables applicable to the current procedure are
added automatically to the output database as field data for the last increment.
Energy output is particularly important in checking the accuracy of the solution in an explicit dynamic analysis. In general,
the total energy (ETOTAL) should be a constant or close to a constant; the “artificial” energies, such as the artificial strain
energy (ALLAE), the damping dissipation (ALLVD), and the mass scaling work (ALLMW) should be negligible compared to
“real” energies such as the strain energy (ALLSE) and the kinetic energy (ALLKE).
In a quasi-static analysis the value of the kinetic energy (ALLKE) should not exceed a small fraction of the value of the
strain energy (ALLIE).
It is a good practice to output the constraint penalty work (ALLCW) and the contact penalty work (ALLPW) in analyses
involving constraints (such as ties and fasteners) and contact. The value of these energies should be close to zero.

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Input file template

*HEADING
…
*MATERIAL, NAME=name
*ELASTIC
…
*DENSITY
Data lines to define density
*DAMPING, ALPHA= , BETA=
Data lines to define Rayleigh damping
…
*BOUNDARY
Data lines to specify zero-valued boundary conditions
*INITIAL CONDITIONS, TYPE=type
Data lines to specify initial conditions
*AMPLITUDE, NAME=name
Data lines to define amplitude variations
*************************
*STEP
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT
Data line to specify the time period of the step
*DIAGNOSTICS, DEFORMATION SPEED CHECK=SUMMARY
*BOUNDARY, AMPLITUDE=name
Data lines to describe zero-valued or nonzero boundary conditions
*CLOAD and/or *DLOAD
Data lines to specify loading
*TEMPERATURE and/or *FIELD
Data lines to specify predefined fields
*FILE OUTPUT, NUMBER INTERVAL=n
*EL FILE
Data line specifying element output variables
*NODE FILE
Data line specifying node output variables
*ENERGY FILE
*OUTPUT, FIELD, NUMBER INTERVAL=n
*ELEMENT OUTPUT
Data line specifying element output variables
*NODE OUTPUT
Data line specifying node output variables
*OUTPUT, HISTORY, TIME INTERVAL=t
*ELEMENT OUTPUT, ELSET=element set name
Data line specifying element output variables
*NODE OUTPUT, NSET=node set name
Data line specifying node output variables
*ENERGY OUTPUT
Data line specifying energy output variables
*END STEP
*************************
*STEP
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT, ELEMENT BY ELEMENT
…
*BULK VISCOSITY
Data line to define linear and/or quadratic bulk viscosity in this step
…
*END STEP

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