Abaqus environment

The Abaqus environment allows you to build finite element models, define solution parameters, and view results for the Abaqus solver. When you work in the Abaqus environment, Abaqus terminology appears in the user interface. You create elements, loads, boundary conditions, and solution parameters using Abaqus keyword and parameter nomenclature. In the Abaqus environment, because you work directly with Abaqus elements, loads, and solution options, accuracy and mapping issues that can occur during data translation are eliminated. The Abaqus solver input file that you generate using this software is ready to solve.

Abaqus version compatibility

For information on the Abaqus version that is compatible with the Abaqus environment in the current release, see Solver version support.

For a complete list of Abaqus keywords that are supported for import and export, see Abaqus keywords supported for import and export.

Supported file types

In Pre/Post, you can work with the following types of Abaqus files:

• Abaqus results files (.fil)

• Abaqus output database (*.odb) files (limited support is available on Windows platforms only)

For more information, see Requesting output for Abaqus analyses.

Supported elements and loads

This software supports a wide variety of Abaqus elements, prescribed conditions, and loads. For more information, see:

• Abaqus elements

• Abaqus boundary conditions

Supported analysis types

In Abaqus, there are two main types of analysis steps:

• A general analysis step in which the response can be either linear or nonlinear. In a general analysis step, you can include the effects of any nonlinearities present in the model. In a general static stress procedure, inertia effects are not considered. Time-dependent material effects are ignored.In a linear analysis, there is a linear relationship between the applied loads and the response of the system.In a nonlinear analysis, the structure’s stiffness changes as it deforms.For more information, see Nonlinear analyses (Abaqus).In Pre/Post, a General type of analysis step corresponds to an Abaqus Static, General analysis, or a static stress/displacement type of step.

• A linear perturbation analysis step can only be used to analyze linear problems. Some examples of linear perturbation analyses include eigenvalue buckling prediction, natural frequency extraction, and response spectrum analyses.You can define the following types of Abaqus linear perturbation step:Buckling PerturbationComplex Eigenvalue ExtractionFrequency PerturbationResponse SpectrumStatic perturbationSteady-state Modal DynamicTransient Modal Dynamic

You can define the following types of Abaqus non-perturbation step:

• Direct Cyclic

• Heat Transfer (Steady-State and Transient)

• Implicit Dynamic

• Static (linear and nonlinear)

• Visco

The following table lists the different analysis types that are supported in the Abaqus solver environment:

Abaqus analysis type	Description	Analysis and solution types in the Solution dialog box	Corresponding Abaqus keyword
Complex Eigenvalue Extraction analysis	Performs eigenvalue extraction to calculate the complex eigenvalues and the corresponding complex mode shapes of a system. It requires that you perform an eigenfrequency extraction procedure (that is, a frequency perturbation step in the software) before the complex eigenvalue extraction. Complex eigenvalue extraction can use the Abaqus SIM software architecture.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Complex Eigenvalue Extraction as the Step Type	*COMPLEX FREQUENCY
Direct cyclic analysis	Uses a combination of Fourier series and time integration of the nonlinear material behavior to obtain the stabilized cyclic response of the structure iteratively.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Direct Cyclic as the Step Type	*DIRECT CYCLIC
Dynamic Coupled Thermal-Structural analysis	Performs a thermal-structural analysis that includes inertia effects and models a transient thermal response.	Dynamic Coupled Thermal-Structural as the specified Analysis Type****Dynamic Coupled Temperature-Displacement as the Solution Type****Dynamic Coupled Thermal-Stress as the Step Type	*DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE-DISPLACEMENT, EXPLICIT
Dynamic explicit analysis	Analyzes brief transient dynamic events.	Dynamic Explicit or Axisymmetric Dynamic Explicit as the Analysis Type****Dynamic Explicit Analysis as the Solution Type	*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT
Eigenvalue buckling prediction analysis	Estimates the critical buckling loads of stiff structures.	Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Buckling Perturbation as the Step Type	BUCKLESTEP, PERTURBATION
Implicit dynamic stress and displacement analysis	Uses implicit time integration to calculate the transient dynamic response of a system.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Implicit Dynamic as the Step Type	*DYNAMIC
Matrix Generation analysis	Generates a matrix representing the stiffness, mass, viscous damping, structural damping, or load vectors in a model. The software stores the matrices in a .sim file, which you can output to various matrix files and formats.	Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Matrix Generation as the Step Type	*MATRIX
Modal Flexible Body	Generates a flexible body from a substructure.	Structural as the Analysis Type****Modal Flexible Body as the Solution Type	MATRIX GENERATESUBSTRUCTURE GENERATE
Natural frequency extraction analysis	Uses eigenvalue extraction to calculate the natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Frequency Perturbation as the Step Type	FREQUENCYSTEP, PERTURBATION
Response spectrum analysis	Estimates the peak response (displacement, stress, and so on) of a structure to a particular base motion or force. Response spectrum analysis is only approximate, but it is often a useful, inexpensive method for preliminary design studies.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Response Spectrum as the Step Type	*RESPONSE SPECTRUM
Static linear perturbation analysis	Treats the response of the structure as a linear static perturbation analysis (a linear perturbation about a pre-loaded, pre-deformed state)	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Static Perturbation as the Step Type	STATICSTEP, PERTURBATION
Static stress or displacement analysis	Analyzes stable problems for stresses or displacements while ignoring inertia effects.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Static Perturbation as the Step Type	STATICSTEP
Steady-state Coupled Thermal-Structural analysis	Performs a thermal-structural analysis for a steady-state response.	Coupled Thermal-Structural as the Analysis Type****Coupled Temperature-Displacement as the Solution Type****Steady-state Coupled Thermal-Stress as the Step Type	*COUPLED TEMPERATURE-DISPLACEMENT, STEADY STATE
Steady-state heat transfer analysis	Analyzes uncoupled heat transfer for a steady-state response. Heat transfer problems can include conduction, forced convection, and boundary radiation.	Thermal or Axisymmetric Thermal as the Analysis Type****Heat Transfer as the Solution Type****Steady State Analysis as the Step Type	*HEAT TRANSFER, STEADY STATE
Steady-State Modal Dynamic	Calculates a system's linearized steady-state response to harmonic excitation. In a modal steady-state dynamic analysis, the response is based on modal superposition techniques.	Structural as the Analysis Type****General as the Solution Type****Steady-State Modal Dynamic as the Step Type	*STEADY STATE DYNAMICS
Substructure Generation	Generates substructures, collections of elements from which the internal degrees of freedom have been eliminated.	Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Substructure Generation as the Step Type	*SUBSTRUCTURE GENERATE
Transient Coupled Thermal-Structural analysis	Performs a thermal-structural analysis for a transient response.	Coupled Thermal-Structural as the Analysis Type****Coupled Temperature-Displacement as the Solution Type****Transient Coupled Thermal-Stress as the Step Type	*COUPLED TEMPERATURE-DISPLACEMENT
Transient heat transfer analysis	Analyzes uncoupled heat transfer for a transient response.	Thermal or Axisymmetric Thermal as the Analysis Type****Heat Transfer as the Solution Type****Transient as the Step Type	*HEAT TRANSFER, TRANSIENT
Transient modal dynamic analysis	Uses modal superposition to analyze a transient linear dynamic problem. Abaqus calculates the response of the model as a function of time based upon time-dependent loading.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Transient Modal Dynamic as the Step Type	*MODAL DYNAMIC
Visco analysis	Calculates a transient static response in a solution that includes time-dependent material behavior.	Structural or Axisymmetric Structural as the Analysis Type****General Analysis as the Solution Type****Visco as the Step Type	*VISCO

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