Companies at all levels in the supply chain recognize finite element analysis as a strategic technology—virtual prototyping enables creation of better products at lower cost and shortened time to market. Such companies are seeking to further leverage their investments in virtual prototyping by adopting best practices, processes, and tools in an integrated environment where engineers can readily share methods, models, and results.
Abaqus products are driven by SIMULIA's vision of Unified FEA to deliver best-in-class solutions for a wide range of simulations within the framework of a common data structure. SIMULIA's goal is to streamline and democratize realistic simulation across engineering disciplines, offering a scalable suite of finite element software that can be applied effectively by a wide variety of users.
Consolidating onto a single, powerful, integrated simulation environment allows smooth and consistent handling of multiple workflows, easy sharing of models and results, and evolution of legacy methods to a more sophisticated, real-world approach. In addition, Abaqus products are designed to effectively and efficiently complement existing processes and tools for design, production, and data management. Some of the benefits of our Unified FEA strategy include reduction in a company's FEA toolset and training expenses, greater efficiency in model generation, improved correlation between tests and analysis results, improved data transfer between simulations, and a more flexible workforce. For more information, visit the Unified FEA page at www.simulia.com/unified.
Individual components of the Abaqus suite are described in this section.
Abaqus/Standard: This general-purpose finite element analysis program includes all analysis capabilities except nonlinear dynamic analysis using explicit time integration—provided in the Abaqus/Explicit program—and the add-on analysis functionality described below.
Abaqus/Explicit: This product provides nonlinear, transient, dynamic analysis of solids and structures using explicit time integration. Its powerful contact capabilities, reliability, and computational efficiency on large models also make it highly effective for quasi-static applications involving discontinuous nonlinear behavior.
Abaqus/CFD: This product is a computational fluid dynamics program with extensive support for preprocessing, simulation, and postprocessing in Abaqus/CAE. Abaqus/CFD provides scalable parallel CFD simulation capabilities to address a number of nonlinear coupled fluid-thermal and fluid-structural problems.
Abaqus/CAE: This product is a Complete Abaqus Environment that provides a simple, consistent interface for creating, submitting, monitoring, and evaluating results from Abaqus simulations. Abaqus/CAE is divided into modules, where each module defines a logical aspect of the modeling process; for example, defining the geometry, defining material properties, generating a mesh, submitting analysis jobs, and interpreting results.
Abaqus/Viewer: This subset of Abaqus/CAE contains only the postprocessing capabilities of the Visualization module. It uses the output database (.odb) to obtain results from the analysis products. The output database is a neutral binary file. Therefore, results from an Abaqus analysis run on any platform can be viewed on any other platform supporting Abaqus/Viewer. It provides deformed configuration, contour, vector, and X–Y plots, as well as animation of results.
Abaqus/Aqua: This add-on analysis capability for Abaqus/Standard provides wave loading, drag, and buoyancy calculation capabilities for modeling offshore piping and floating platform structures.
Abaqus/Design: This add-on analysis capability for Abaqus/Standard allows the user to perform design sensitivity analysis (DSA). The derivatives of output variables are calculated with respect to specified design parameters.
Abaqus/Foundation: This analysis option offers more efficient access to the linear static and dynamic analysis functionality in Abaqus/Standard.
CZone for Abaqus: This add-on capability for Abaqus/Explicit provides access to a state-of-the-art methodology for crush simulation based on CZone technology from Engenuity, Ltd. Targeted toward the design of composite components and assemblies, CZone for Abaqus provides for inclusion of material crush behavior in simulations of composite structures subjected to impact.
DDAM for Abaqus: The Dynamic Design Analysis Method (DDAM) is a U.S. Navy methodology for qualifying shipboard equipment and supporting structures for survival of shock loading due to underwater explosions. DDAM for Abaqus is a custom Abaqus application that is designed to make the evaluation phase of DDAM easier to perform.
Abaqus/AMS: This add-on analysis capability for Abaqus/Standard allows the user to select the automatic multi-level substructuring (AMS) eigensolver when performing a natural frequency extraction.
Co-simulation with MpCCI: This add-on analysis capability for Abaqus can be used to solve multiphysics problems by coupling Abaqus with any third-party analysis program that supports the MpCCI interface.
Co-simulation with MADYMO: This add-on analysis capability for Abaqus/Explicit can be used to perform vehicle-occupant crash safety simulations by coupling Abaqus/Explicit with MADYMO.
Abaqus Interface for Moldflow: This optional interface translates finite element model information from a Moldflow analysis to an Abaqus input file.
Abaqus Interface for MSC.ADAMS: This optional interface allows Abaqus finite element models to be included as flexible components within the MSC.ADAMS family of products. The interface is based on the component mode synthesis formulation of ADAMS/Flex. Specifically, flexibility data from Abaqus superelements are translated to the modal neutral (.mnf) file format required by the ADAMS/Flex product. Although the ADAMS/Flex interface supports only linear flexibility data, the Abaqus user may include an arbitrary number of preloading steps before the linear flexibility data are obtained. Multiple flexible components generated by Abaqus can be included in an MSC.ADAMS model. Most Abaqus structural elements are supported by the interface.
CATIA V5 Associative Interface: This add-on capability for Abaqus/CAE creates a connection between a CATIA V5 session and an Abaqus/CAE session. This connection can be used to transfer model information from CATIA V5 to Abaqus/CAE. Subsequent modifications to the model in CATIA V5 can be propagated to the Abaqus/CAE model while retaining any analysis features (such as loads or boundary conditions) that were defined on the model in Abaqus/CAE. The geometry of CATIA V5-format Part (.CATPart) and Product (.CATProduct) files can also be imported directly into Abaqus/CAE.
SolidWorks Associative Interface: This add-on capability for Abaqus/CAE creates a connection between a SolidWorks session and an Abaqus/CAE session. This connection can be used to transfer model information from SolidWorks to Abaqus/CAE. Subsequent modifications to the model in SolidWorks can be propagated to the Abaqus/CAE model while retaining any analysis features (such as loads or boundary conditions) that were defined on the model in Abaqus/CAE.
Pro/ENGINEER Associative Interface: This add-on capability for Abaqus/CAE creates a connection between a Pro/ENGINEER session and an Abaqus/CAE session. This connection can be used to transfer model information between Pro/ENGINEER and Abaqus/CAE. Modifications to the model in Pro/ENGINEER can be propagated to the Abaqus/CAE model without affecting any analysis features (such as loads or boundary conditions) that were defined on the model in Abaqus/CAE, and certain geometric modifications can be made in Abaqus/CAE and propagated to the model in Pro/ENGINEER.
NX Associative Interface: This add-on capability for Abaqus/CAE creates a connection between an NX session and an Abaqus/CAE session. This connection can be used to transfer model data and to propagate design changes between NX and Abaqus/CAE. The NX Associative Interface can be purchased and downloaded from Elysium Inc. (www.elysiuminc.com).
Geometry Translator for CATIA V4: This add-on capability allows the user to import the geometry of CATIA V4-format parts and CATIA V4 assemblies (.model, .catdata, and .exp files) directly into Abaqus/CAE.
Geometry Translator for I-DEAS: This translator plug-in for I-DEAS generates a geometry file using the Elysium Neutral File (.enf) or Elysium Neutral Assembly File (.eaf) format, which can be imported into Abaqus/CAE.
Geometry Translator for Parasolid: This add-on capability allows the user to import the geometry of Parasolid-format parts and Parasolid assemblies (.x_t, .x_b, and .xmt files) directly into Abaqus/CAE.
Abaqus translators are provided with the release. They are invoked through the Abaqus execution procedure (the “driver”). The translators and the commands to invoke them are described below:
abaqus fromansys translates an ANSYS input file to an Abaqus input file.
abaqus fromnastran translates a Nastran bulk data file to an Abaqus input file.
abaqus frompamcrash translates a PAM-CRASH input file to a partial Abaqus input file.
abaqus fromradioss translates a RADIOSS input file to a partial Abaqus input file.
abaqus tonastran translates an Abaqus input file to Nastran bulk data file format.
abaqus toOutput2 translates an Abaqus output database file to the Nastran Output2 file format.
abaqus tozaero enables you to exchange aeroelastic data between the Abaqus and ZAERO analysis products.
Additional programs are included with the release. They are all invoked through the Abaqus execution procedure (the “driver”). The utilities and the commands to invoke these programs are described below:
abaqus append joins separate results files into a single file.
abaqus ascfil translates Abaqus results files between ASCII and binary formats, which is useful for moving results files between different computer types.
abaqus doc accesses the HTML Abaqus documentation collection using a web browser.
abaqus encrypt creates an encoded, password-protected version of an Abaqus input file, while abaqus decrypt converts an encrypted file back into its original, unencoded format.
abaqus fetch extracts example input files from the libraries included with the release.
abaqus findkeyword provides a list of sample problems that use the specified Abaqus options. This utility can help users find examples of features they may be using for the first time.
abaqus free converts all fixed format data in an input file to free format.
abaqus licensing provides a summary of Abaqus license usage reporting and the available FLEXnet Licensing utilities.
abaqus make compiles and links user-written postprocessing programs for Abaqus and creates user-defined libraries of Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit user subroutines.
abaqus restartjoin appends an output database file produced by a restart analysis of a model to the output database produced by the original analysis of that model.
abaqus odbcombine combines the results data in two or more Abaqus output database files into a single output database file.
abaqus odbreport creates organized reports of output database information in text, HTML, or CSV file formats.
abaqus python accesses the Python interpreter.
abaqus resume resumes an Abaqus analysis job.
abaqus script initiates a Python scripting session.
abaqus substructurecombine combines the model and results data produced by two of a model's substructures into a single output database file.
abaqus suspend suspends an Abaqus analysis job.
abaqus upgrade upgrades an input file or output database file from previous versions of Abaqus to the current version.
The PDF version of all Abaqus manuals except the Abaqus Scripting Reference Manual and the Abaqus GUI Toolkit Reference Manual includes a print option that offers the ability to print an entire section of the manual without specifying a page range. This feature was previously available only in the Abaqus Example Problems Manual.
The HTML documentation appearance has changed. The main reading frame is now displayed with a pure white background in place of the off-white background used in previous releases. The table of contents frame now has a beige background, and new icons (
and 
) replace the “book” icons used in previous releases to indicate topics that can be expanded or collapsed.
Many section titles have been revised to be more concise, making it easier to scan down the table of contents and locate appropriate sections. For example, the execution procedures in Chapter 3, “Job Execution,” no longer start with “Execution procedure for...”.
The discussion of parallel execution in the Abaqus Analysis User's Manual has been moved from Chapter 11, “Special-Purpose Techniques,” to “Parallel execution,” Section 3.5, in Chapter 3, “Job Execution.”
The links for help on searching the HTML documentation have been updated. The “Search Tips” link on the documentation collection page and in the search pane at the top of each manual opens a page with basic search information. The “Help” button available in the Advanced Search dialog box opens a page containing information on the advanced search functions. Each page contains a link to the other page and to the Using Abaqus Online Documentation book (which was the only resource available in previous releases).
In the Abaqus Keywords Reference Manual, keywords that are at least partially supported in the Abaqus/CAE user interface now include Abaqus/CAE in their list of supported products. Supported keywords also indicate the module or other area of the user interface within which you can access them.