Animating by scale factor produces a sequence of images created from a single step and frame of the output database. These images can consist of either deformed shape, contour, or symbol plots. For deformed shape plots and for contour and symbol plots on the deformed shape, the images vary in the scale factors applied to the deformations. For contour and symbol plots, the images also vary in the scale factors applied to the field output.
By default, ABAQUS/CAE displays a frame counter during scale factor animation. If the field output values being displayed are real numbers, the frame counter indicates the current scale factor. If the field output values are complex numbers having real and imaginary components, the frame counter indicates the current phase angle.
To produce a scale factor animation:
Use the File menu to open the output database containing your analysis results.
Use the Result menu to select the analysis results to be plotted, including the step and frame, the deformed field output variable, and, for contour or symbol plot animation, the primary field output variable to be plotted. For more information on field output variable selection, see “Overview of field output variable selection,” Section 24.3.1.
Use the Options and View menus to select the customization options that you want.
To initiate the animation, select Animate
Scale Factor from the main menu bar.
Tip:
You can also produce a scale factor animation using the 
tool in the toolbox.
Animation begins in the current viewport, and the animation controls appear in the prompt area. ABAQUS is now in the scale factor animation plot mode. In this mode ABAQUS automatically refreshes your plot each time you click Apply or OK in the Results, Options, or View menu dialog boxes. The current viewport will remain in the scale factor animation mode until you produce a plot in some other (for example, undeformed, deformed) mode. For more information on customizing the underlying model shape, see “Choosing the underlying model shape for contour, symbol, and material orientation plots,” Section 37.5.1.
