Graphical postprocessing is important because of the great volume of data created during a simulation. For any realistic model it is impractical for you to try to interpret results in the tabular form of the data file. ABAQUS/Viewer allows you to view the results graphically using a variety of methods, including deformed shape plots, contour plots, vector plots, animations, and X–Y plots. All of these methods are discussed in this guide. For more information on any of the postprocessing features discussed in this guide, consult the sections on the Visualization module in the ABAQUS/CAE User's Manual. For this example you will use ABAQUS/Viewer to do some basic model checks and to display the deformed shape of the frame.
Start ABAQUS/Viewer by typing
abaqus viewerat the operating system prompt. The ABAQUS/Viewer window appears.
Reading the output database file
To begin this exercise, open the output database file that ABAQUS/Standard generated during the analysis of the problem.
To open the output database file:
From the main menu bar, select File
Open; or use the 
tool in the toolbar.
The Open Database dialog box appears.
From the list of available output database files, select frame.odb.
Click OK.
Tip: You can also open the output database frame.odb by typing
abaqus viewer odb=frameat the operating system prompt.
ABAQUS/Viewer displays a fast plot of the model. A fast plot is a basic representation of the undeformed model shape and is an indication that you have opened the desired file.
Important: The fast plot does not display results and cannot be customized, for example, to display element and node numbers. You must display the undeformed model shape to customize the appearance of the model.
The title block at the bottom of the viewport indicates the following:
The description of the model (from the first line of the *HEADING option in the input file).
The name of the output database (from the name of the analysis job).
The product name (ABAQUS/Standard or ABAQUS/Explicit) and version used to generate the output database.
The date the output database was last modified.
Which step is being displayed.
The increment within the step.
The step time.
Displaying and customizing an undeformed shape plot
You will now display the undeformed model shape and use the plot options to enable the display of node and element numbering in the plot.
From the main menu bar, select PlotUndeformed Shape; or use the 
tool in the toolbox. ABAQUS/Viewer displays the undeformed model shape, as shown in Figure 2–15.
To display node numbers:
From the main menu bar, select OptionsUndeformed Shape.
The Undeformed Shape Plot Options dialog box appears.
Click the Labels tab.
Toggle on Show node labels.
Click Apply.
ABAQUS/Viewer applies the change and keeps the dialog box open.
To display element numbers:
In the Labels tabbed page of the Undeformed Shape Plot Options dialog box, toggle on Show element labels.
Click OK.
ABAQUS/Viewer applies the change and closes the dialog box.
To disable the display of node and element numbers in the undeformed shape plot, repeat the above procedure and, under Labels, toggle off Show node labels and Show element labels.
Displaying and customizing a deformed shape plot
You will now display the deformed model shape and use the plot options to change the deformation scale factor and overlay the undeformed model shape on the deformed model shape.
From the main menu bar, select PlotDeformed Shape; or use the 
tool in the toolbox. ABAQUS/Viewer displays the deformed model shape, as shown in Figure 2–18.
For small-displacement analyses the displacements are scaled automatically to ensure that they are clearly visible. The scale factor is displayed in the state block. In this case the displacements have been scaled by a factor of 42.83.
To change the deformation scale factor:
From the main menu bar, select OptionsDeformed Shape.
From the Deformed Shape Plot Options dialog box, click the Basic tab if it is not already selected.
From the Deformation Scale Factor area, toggle on Uniform and enter 10.0 in the Value field.
Click Apply to redisplay the deformed shape.
The state block displays the new scale factor.
To overlay the undeformed model shape on the deformed model shape:
In the Basic tabbed page of the Deformed Shape Plot Options dialog box, toggle on Superimpose undeformed plot.
Click OK.
Checking history data with ABAQUS/Viewer
By default, both the model data and history data are written to the output database file during the datacheck phase. Thus, you can use ABAQUS/Viewer to check that the input data are correct before running the simulation. You have already learned how to draw plots of the model and to display the node and element numbers. These are useful tools for checking that ABAQUS is using the correct mesh.
The boundary conditions applied to the overhead hoist model can also be displayed and checked using ABAQUS/Viewer.
To display boundary conditions on the undeformed model:
From the main menu bar, select PlotUndeformed Shape; or use the tool in the toolbox.
From the main menu bar, select ViewODB Display Options.
In the ODB Display Options dialog box, click the Entity Display tab.
Toggle on Show boundary conditions.
Click OK.
ABAQUS/Viewer displays symbols to indicate the applied boundary conditions, as shown in Figure 2–20.
Exiting ABAQUS/Viewer
From the main menu bar, select FileExit to exit ABAQUS/Viewer.
