Solution-dependent state variables are values in user subroutines that you can define to evolve with the solution of an analysis. If you refer to a material definition in a user subroutine, you can use the Edit Material dialog box to specify the number of solution-dependent variables required at the points or nodes to which that material is applied. See “User subroutines: overview,” Section 13.2.1 of the ABAQUS Analysis User's Manual, for more information.
To specify the number of solution-dependent state variables:
From the menu bar in the Edit Material dialog box, select General
Depvar.
(For information on displaying the Edit Material dialog box, see “Creating or editing a material,” Section 12.6.1.)
Click the arrows to the right of the Number of solution-dependent state variables field to specify how many solution dependent state variables you want to allocate space for at each applicable integration point or contact slave node.
If applicable, enter the state variable number controlling the element deletion flag in the field labeled Variable number controlling element deletion (ABAQUS/Explicit only). For more information, see “Deleting elements from an ABAQUS/Explicit mesh using state variables” in “User-defined mechanical material behavior,” Section 20.8.1 of the ABAQUS Analysis User's Manual.
Click OK to close the Edit Material dialog box. Alternatively, you can select another material behavior to define from the menus in the Edit Material dialog box (see “Browsing and modifying material behaviors,” Section 12.6.2, for more information).