Description: The matrix generation procedure has been enhanced to allow you to specify “public nodes” that will be visible in the matrix usage model; all other nodes are designated as internal nodes and effectively hidden in the matrix usage model. By specifying public nodes, you can reduce the number of user-defined nodes in the matrix usage model, which simplifies the new remapping process (described below).

The behavior for writing generated global matrices has been changed. By default, matrices are generated in the matrix input text format, which now retains negative node numbers for internal nodes; previously, internal node labels were converted into large positive numbers. If matrices are generated in the text labeling format, internal node labels are now converted into large positive numbers; previously, internal node labels were not converted when using this format. The matrix usage functionality has been enhanced to allow using matrices with negative node labels for the Abaqus internal nodes.

User-defined matrix nodes specified as public nodes can be remapped (renamed) to different node labels in the matrix usage model. This new remapping feature allows you to use several instances of the same matrix, and it makes the matrix usage functionality similar to using substructures.