A profile specifies the properties of a beam section that are related to its cross-sectional shape and size (for example, cross-section area and moments of inertia). When you define a beam section, you must include a reference to a profile in the section definition.
You can create the following types of profiles:
Shape-based profiles
Shape-based profiles define the specific shape and dimensions of the beam cross-section. ABAQUS uses the information provided by the shape-based profile to calculate the engineering properties of the section.
You can create this type of profile by first selecting from a list of shape options and then specifying that particular shape's dimensions. For example, if you select a box shape, you must then specify the height and width of the box as well as the thickness of the four walls. You can select from the following shape options:
Arbitrary
Box
Circular
Hexagonal
I, L, T
Pipe
Rectangular
Trapezoidal
Generalized profiles
Generalized profiles specify the engineering properties of the section directly. You can create a generalized profile by specifying values for the area, moments of inertia, torsional rigidity, and, if applicable, sectorial moment and warping constant. For more information, see Using a general beam section to define the section behavior, Section 23.3.7 of the ABAQUS Analysis User's Manual.