49.3 What can I do with a part or a part instance containing virtual topology?

ABAQUS/CAE stores virtual topology as features of the assembly. As a result, you can use the Model Tree to rename, suppress, resume, and delete virtual topology features. You cannot edit a virtual topology feature.

You can create sets and surfaces that contain virtual faces and edges. In addition, if an existing set or surface contains an edge or vertex that you ignored, the edge or vertex is removed from the set or surface. Similarly, if an existing set or surface contains faces or edges that you combined, ABAQUS/CAE replaces the original faces and edges with the new combined faces and edges. This is true only if all of the faces and edges that you combined are members of the same set.

If a part or part instance contains virtual topology, there are limitations on the changes that you can subsequently make to it; for example, if a part or part instance contains virtual topology, you cannot partition it. As a result, creating virtual topology should be your final operation prior to meshing.

Virtual topology is not exported; for example, if you export an assembly containing virtual topology to an ACIS file, ABAQUS/CAE removes the virtual topology from the exported model.