To obtain history output of variables such as the forces summed over an exterior surface in contact or transmitted through a tie constraint between surfaces (see “Integrated output in ABAQUS/Explicit” in “Output to the output database,” Section 4.1.3 of the ABAQUS Analysis User's Manual; this type of output is available only for ABAQUS/Explicit steps), you must refer to an integrated output section to identify the surface where output is needed. In addition, the integrated output section definition can provide a local coordinate system in which to express the vector output quantities and/or a reference node as an anchor point about which the total moment across the surface is computed.

By default, an integrated output section is anchored at the global origin and does not follow the motion of the surface on which it is defined. You can define a reference point at which the output section is anchored and specify how this reference point tracks with the average motion of the surface. The reference point must not be connected to any other part of the finite element model.

Integrated output sections associated with a coordinate system and/or a reference node can be used independent of integrated output requests to track the average motion of a surface.

You define integrated output sections by selecting OutputIntegrated Output SectionsCreate from the main menu bar. For detailed instructions, see “Defining integrated output sections,” Section 14.13.1. For information on requesting output for an integrated output section, see “Modifying history output requests,” Section 14.12.3.