ABAQUS/CAE is divided into modules, where each module defines an aspect of the modeling process; for example, defining the geometry, defining material properties, and generating a mesh. As you move from module to module, you build the model from which ABAQUS/CAE generates an input file that you submit to ABAQUS/Standard or ABAQUS/Explicit for analysis. For example, you use the Property module to define material and section properties and the Step module to choose an analysis procedure. The ABAQUS/CAE postprocessor is called the Visualization module and is also licensed as a separate product called ABAQUS/Viewer.

You enter a module by selecting it from the Module list under the toolbar, as shown in Figure 2–3.

For the cantilever beam tutorial, you will enter the following ABAQUS/CAE modules and perform the following tasks:Although the Module list under the toolbar lists the modules in a logical sequence, you can move back and forth between modules at will. However, certain obvious restrictions apply; for example, you cannot assign section properties to geometry that has not yet been created.

A completed model contains everything that ABAQUS/CAE needs to generate an input file and start the analysis. ABAQUS/CAE uses a model database to store your models. When you start ABAQUS/CAE, the Start Session dialog box allows you to create a new, empty model database in memory. After you start ABAQUS/CAE, you can save your model database to a disk by selecting FileSave from the main menu bar; to retrieve it from a disk, select FileOpen.

For a complete listing of which module generates a particular keyword, see “ABAQUS keyword browser table,” Section A.1 of the ABAQUS/CAE User's Manual.

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