ABAQUS Release Notes  


1.2 ABAQUS products

The various components of the ABAQUS finite element analysis program are described in this section.


Analysis

ABAQUS/Standard: This module is the general-purpose finite element analysis product. It includes all analysis capabilities except nonlinear dynamic analysis using explicit time integration—provided in the ABAQUS/Explicit module—and the add-on analysis functionality described below.

ABAQUS/Explicit: This product provides nonlinear, transient, dynamic analysis of solids and structures using explicit time integration. Its powerful contact capabilities, reliability, and computational efficiency on large models also make it highly effective for quasi-static applications involving discontinuous nonlinear behavior.


Add-on analysis

ABAQUS/Aqua: This add-on analysis capability for ABAQUS/Standard provides wave loading, drag, and buoyancy calculation capabilities for modeling offshore piping and floating platform structures.

ABAQUS/Design: This add-on analysis capability for ABAQUS/Standard allows the user to perform design sensitivity analysis (DSA). The derivatives of output variables are calculated with respect to specified design parameters.

ABAQUS/Foundation: This analysis option offers more efficient access to the linear static and dynamic analysis functionality in ABAQUS/Standard.


Analysis environment

ABAQUS/CAE: This product is a Complete ABAQUS Environment that provides a simple, consistent interface for creating, submitting, monitoring, and evaluating results from ABAQUS simulations. ABAQUS/CAE is divided into modules, where each module defines a logical aspect of the modeling process; for example, defining the geometry, defining material properties, generating a mesh, submitting analysis jobs, and interpreting results.


Postprocessing

ABAQUS/Viewer: This subset of ABAQUS/CAE contains only the postprocessing capabilities of the Visualization module. It uses the output database (.odb) to obtain results from the analysis products. The output database is a neutral binary file. Therefore, results from an ABAQUS analysis run on any platform can be viewed on any other platform supporting ABAQUS/Viewer. It provides deformed configuration, contour, vector, and X–Y plots, as well as animation of results.


Interfaces

ABAQUS Interface for MOLDFLOW: This interface translates finite element model information from a MOLDFLOW analysis to an ABAQUS input file. For Version 6.5 the ABAQUS Interface for MOLDFLOW supports filled and unfilled three-dimensional MOLDFLOW simulations. For more information, see the ABAQUS Interface for MOLDFLOW User's Manual.

ABAQUS Interface for MSC.ADAMS: This interface allows ABAQUS finite element models to be included as flexible components within the MSC.ADAMS family of products. The interface is based on the component mode synthesis formulation of ADAMS/Flex. Specifically, flexibility data from ABAQUS superelements are translated to the modal neutral (.mnf) file format required by the ADAMS/Flex product. Although the ADAMS/Flex interface supports only linear flexibility data, the ABAQUS user may include an arbitrary number of preloading steps before the linear flexibility data are obtained. Multiple flexible components generated by ABAQUS can be included in an MSC.ADAMS model. Most ABAQUS structural elements are supported by the interface.


Translators

  • ABAQUS translators are provided with the release. They are invoked through the ABAQUS execution procedure (the “driver”). The translators and the commands to invoke them are described below:

    • abaqus fromnastran translates a NASTRAN bulk data file to an ABAQUS input file.

    • abaqus frompamcrash translates a PAM-CRASH input file to a partial ABAQUS input file.

    • abaqus toOutput2 translates an ABAQUS output database file to the NASTRAN Output2 file format.

    • abaqus tozaero enables you to exchange aeroelastic data between the ABAQUS and ZAERO analysis products.


Utilities

  • Additional programs are included with the release. They are all invoked through the ABAQUS execution procedure (the “driver”). The utilities and the commands to invoke these programs are described below:

    • abaqus append joins separate results files into a single file.

    • abaqus ascfil translates ABAQUS results files between ASCII and binary formats, which is useful for moving results files between different computer types.

    • abaqus networkDBConnector creates a connection to a network ODB server that can be used to access a remote output database.

    • abaqus doc accesses the online documentation for the ABAQUS manuals.

    • abaqus fetch extracts example input files from the libraries included with the release.

    • abaqus findkeyword provides a list of sample problems that use the specified ABAQUS options. This utility will help users find examples of features they may be using for the first time.

    • abaqus free converts all fixed format data in an input file to free format.

    • abaqus licensing provides a summary of the available FLEXlm licensing utilities.

    • abaqus make compiles and links user-written postprocessing programs for ABAQUS and creates user-defined libraries of ABAQUS/Standard and ABAQUS/Explicit user subroutines.

    • abaqus python accesses the Python interpreter.

    • abaqus resume resumes an ABAQUS analysis job.

    • abaqus script initiates a Python scripting session.

    • abaqus suspend suspends an ABAQUS analysis job.

    • abaqus upgrade upgrades an input file or output database file from previous versions of ABAQUS to the current version.

  • The convertenv utility for converting Version 5.8 and earlier abaqus.env files to Version 6.1 and later abaqus_v6.env files that use Python syntax has been removed. If you want to convert Version 5.8 and earlier abaqus.env files, use an earlier version of ABAQUS to access the convertenv utility or convert the file manually.


Documentation