AE4131

ABAQUS Lecture
Part I
Patrick Roberts
gt0398b@prism.gatech.edu
x5-2773
Weber 201

Overview
What is ABAQUS?
Why learn ABAQUS?
ABAQUS documentation and online
resources
Solver structure
How to build a simple model

What is ABAQUS?
The ABAQUS suite of software for finite element
analysis (FEA) is known for its high performance,
quality and ability to solve more kinds of
challenging simulations than any other software.
The ABAQUS suite consists of three core
products: ABAQUS/Standard, ABAQUS/Explicit
and ABAQUS/CAE. Each of these packages offers
additional optional modules that address
specialized capabilities some customers may
need.
(From www.abaqus.com)

What is ABAQUS?

ABAQUS/Standard, provides ABAQUS analysis technology to solve

traditional implicit finite element analyses, such as static, dynamics, thermal, all
powered with the widest range of contact and nonlinear material options.
ABAQUS/Standard also has optional add-on and interface products with
address design sensitivity analysis, offshore engineering, and integration with
third party software, e.g., plastic injection molding analysis.

ABAQUS/Explicit, provides ABAQUS analysis technology focused on

transient dynamics and quasi-static analyses using an explicit approach
appropriate in many applications such as drop test, crushing and many
manufacturing processes.

ABAQUS/CAE, provides a complete modeling and visualization environment

for ABAQUS analysis products. With direct access to CAD models, advanced
meshing and visualization, and with an exclusive view towards ABAQUS
analysis products, ABAQUS/CAE is the modeling environment of choice for
many ABAQUS users.

(From www.abaqus.com)

Why learn ABAQUS?

Experience has shown that ABAQUS is
the easiest FEA software package to
learn.
Very good online documentation
Small learning curve which means you
can model much faster.

ABAQUS documentation and

online resources
There are many online resources to help
you find solutions.
ABAQUS Documentation
http://www.isye.gatech.edu/v6.4
Newsgroup sci.engr.analysis
ABAQUS Yahoo group
Engineering Computing Services
http://www.ecs.gatech.edu

Solver Structure
Command
line

ABAQUS
CAE

Standard

How to build a simple model

All models are called input files.
An input file has two sections; Model and History
The Model section contains all the information
about the model and comes before the history
section.
The History section is what you do to the model.
You work on the model in Steps.
Input files have a .inp extension and can be
created in any ASCII (text) editor.

Beam example
y, 2
20,000 lbs

x, 1
Steel beam, Youngs modulus 30x106 lbs/in2
Length 100 inches, width = 1 inch, height = 2 inches

Beam example
I want to know stresses and strains along
the x-direction and the forces and moments
in each section of the beam due to a static
load.

Sketch out your FEA model

y, 2
20,000 lbs

1
1

3
2

Nodes
Elements

5
4

x, 1

Pick your elements

ABAQUS has a large library of elements

(From ABAQUS documentation)

Ill pick B31 2-node linear beam

Simple Input file (Model data)

*HEADING
CANTILEVER BEAM
**
** This is in inches
**
*NODE
1, 0.
6, 100.
*NGEN, NSET=allnodes
1, 6
*ELEMENT, TYPE=B31
1, 1, 2
*ELGEN, ELSET=BEAM
1, 5
*BEAM SECTION, SECTION=RECTANGULAR, ELSET=BEAM, MATERIAL=STEEL
1., 2.
*MATERIAL, NAME=STEEL
*ELASTIC
30.E6,
*BOUNDARY
1, ENCASTRE

Simple Input file (History Section)

*STEP,
*STEP, PERTURBATION
PERTURBATION
*STATIC
*STATIC
**
**
**
** The
The load
load is
is in
in pounds
pounds
**
**
*CLOAD
*CLOAD
6,
6, 2,
2, -20000.
-20000.
*EL
*EL PRINT,
PRINT, POSITION=AVERAGED
POSITION=AVERAGED AT
AT NODES,
NODES, SUMMARY=YES
SUMMARY=YES
S11,
S11, E11
E11
SF,
SF,
*NODE
*NODE FILE,
FILE, NSET=allnodes
NSET=allnodes
U,
U, CF,
CF, RF
RF
*OUTPUT,
*OUTPUT, FIELD,
FIELD, VARIABLE=PRESELECT
VARIABLE=PRESELECT
*ELEMENT
*ELEMENT OUTPUT
OUTPUT
SF,
SF,
*OUTPUT,
*OUTPUT, HISTORY
HISTORY
*NODE
*NODE OUTPUT,
OUTPUT, NSET=allnodes
NSET=allnodes
U,
U, CF,
CF, RF
RF
*END
*END STEP
STEP

To run ABAQUS
At the command line
abaqus job=filename
Use the Input File
filename
WITHOUT the file
extension (.inp)

The results
You will get many files after your job is complete.
.dat Contains results information you can read. Very
important for debugging.
.fil
Only for the computer
.com Only for the computer
.odb Only for the computer but will be used by CAE
.msg Contains information you can read about how the
job ran. Can be important for debugging.
.prt Only for the computer
.sta Contains information you can read about the status
of the job while running
.log Contains information you can read about how the
job ran. Can be important for debugging.

A truss problem

y, 2

20 in.

100 lbs

x, 1
20 in.
Steel truss segments, Youngs modulus 30x106 lbs/in2
Diameter of each truss is 1 inch

200 lbs

Beam example
I want to know stresses and strains in all
truss segments due to the static loads
shown in the figure.

y, 2

Sketch out your FEA model

11

12
17

8
13

11

12

16

20
4

x, 1
5

Steel truss segments, Youngs modulus 30x106 lbs/in2

Diameter of each truss is 1 inch

10
15

14
19

18

10

Pick your elements

(From ABAQUS documentation)

Ill pick T3D2 2-node linear displacement

Modal Section
*HEADING
*HEADING
CANTILEVER
CANTILEVER BEAM
BEAM
**
**
**
** This
This is
is in
in inches
inches
**
**
*NODE
*NODE
1,
1, 0.,
0., 0.
0.
6,
100.,
6, 100., 0.
0.
7,
7, 0.,
0., 20.
20.
12,
12, 100.,
100., 20.
20.
*NSET,
*NSET, NSET=FIXED
NSET=FIXED
1,
1, 77
*NGEN,
*NGEN, NSET=allnodes
NSET=allnodes
1,
6
1, 6
7,
7, 12
12
*ELEMENT,
*ELEMENT, TYPE=T3D2,
TYPE=T3D2, ELSET=BEAM
ELSET=BEAM
1,
1, 1,
1, 22
2,
2, 2,
2, 33
3,
3, 3,
3, 44
4,
4, 4,
4, 55
5,
5, 5,
5, 66
6,
6, 7,
7, 88
7,
7, 8,
8, 99

8, 9, 10
9, 10, 11
10, 11, 12
11, 1, 8
12, 2, 9
13, 3, 10
14, 4, 11
15, 5, 12
16, 6, 12
17, 2, 8
18, 3, 9
19, 4, 10
20, 5, 11
*SOLID SECTION, ELSET=BEAM,
MATERIAL=STEEL
1.,
*MATERIAL, NAME=STEEL
*ELASTIC
30.E6,
*BOUNDARY
FIXED, ENCASTRE

History Section
*STEP,
*STEP, PERTURBATION
PERTURBATION
*STATIC
*STATIC
**
**
**
** The
The load
load is
is in
in pounds
pounds
**
**
*CLOAD
*CLOAD
6,
6, 1,
1, 200.
200.
12,
12, 2,
2, -100,
-100,
*EL
*EL PRINT,
PRINT, POSITION=AVERAGED
POSITION=AVERAGED AT
AT NODES,
NODES, SUMMARY=YES
SUMMARY=YES
S,
S, EE
*NODE
*NODE FILE,
FILE, NSET=allnodes
NSET=allnodes
U,
U, CF,
CF, RF
RF
*OUTPUT,
*OUTPUT, FIELD,
FIELD, VARIABLE=PRESELECT
VARIABLE=PRESELECT
*ELEMENT
*ELEMENT OUTPUT
OUTPUT
S,
S, EE
*OUTPUT,
*OUTPUT, HISTORY
HISTORY
*NODE
*NODE OUTPUT,
OUTPUT, NSET=allnodes
NSET=allnodes
U,
U, CF,
CF, RF
RF
*END
*END STEP
STEP

Looking at the results files

Starting with the .log file you should review
the results files.

Models with continuum elements

To model most 3D structures that are
bending Continuum or brick elements are
the best.
Each element requires any nodes.
Models can be made by hand rather than
CAE but can take much longer.

Continuum Elements

3D Cantilever Beam Model data

*HEADING
*HEADING
cantilever
cantilever beam
beam
**
**
**
** Coordinates
Coordinates are
are in
in
inches
inches
**
**
*NODE
*NODE
1,
0.,0.,0.
1,
0.,0.,0.
193,
0.,0.,24.
193,
0.,0.,24.
1601,
1601, 2.,0.,0.
2.,0.,0.
1793,
1793, 2.,0.,24.
2.,0.,24.
8001,
8001, 0.,0.5,0.
0.,0.5,0.
8193,
8193, 0.,0.5,24.
0.,0.5,24.
9601,
9601, 2.,0.5,0.
2.,0.5,0.
9793,
9793, 2.,0.5,24.
2.,0.5,24.
**
**

** Create nodes for beam

**
*NGEN,NSET=FIX1
1,1601,200
*NGEN,NSET=FIX2
8001,9601,200
*NFILL,NSET=FIX
FIX1,FIX2,4,2000
*NGEN,NSET=END1
193,1793,200
*NGEN,NSET=END2
8193,9793,200
*NFILL,NSET=END
END1,END2,4,2000
*NFILL,NSET=CBEAM
FIX,END,192,1
**
*NSET, NSET=SENSOR
8993

Model section (cont.)

**
**
**
** Make
Make master
master elements
elements for
for beam
beam
**
**
*ELEMENT,TYPE=C3D20R
*ELEMENT,TYPE=C3D20R
1,
1, 1,401,4401,4001,
1,401,4401,4001, 5,405,4405,4005,
5,405,4405,4005, 201,2401,4201,2001,
201,2401,4201,2001,
205,2405,4205,2005,
205,2405,4205,2005, 3,403,4403,4003
3,403,4403,4003
**
**
**
** Create
Create elements
elements for
for beam
beam
**
**
*ELGEN,ELSET=CBEAM
*ELGEN,ELSET=CBEAM
1,4,400,1,48,4,10,2,4000,2000
1,4,400,1,48,4,10,2,4000,2000
*ELSET,
*ELSET, ELSET=LOCSTRESS
ELSET=LOCSTRESS
2,3,12,22,32,42,52,62,13,23,33,43,53,63,2002,2003
2,3,12,22,32,42,52,62,13,23,33,43,53,63,2002,2003
2012,2022,2032,2042,2052,2062,2013,2023,2033,2043,2053,2063
2012,2022,2032,2042,2052,2062,2013,2023,2033,2043,2053,2063
**
**
**
** Material
Material properties
properties for
for steel
steel
**
**
*SOLID
*SOLID SECTION,
SECTION, MATERIAL=STEEL,
MATERIAL=STEEL, ELSET=CBEAM
ELSET=CBEAM
*MATERIAL,
NAME=STEEL
*MATERIAL, NAME=STEEL
**
**
**
** Youngs
Youngs modulus
modulus is
is in
in lbf/in^2
lbf/in^2
**
**
*ELASTIC
*ELASTIC
29.E6,0.3
29.E6,0.3
**
**

Student Accounts
Now you are ready to work the projects.
You can use your AE student account in
the AE Computer Lab (Knight 318) to run
ABAQUS on these systems.
Or you can get an account on the ECS
network (go to http://www.ecs.gatech.edu)