A path is a line you define by
specifying a series of points or line segments through your model. The points
can be nodes or coordinate locations; the line segments can be element edges or
lines joining the ends of element edges. Paths can cross more than one part
instance.
Abaqus/CAE
offers four distinct types of paths:
Node
list
The points making up the path consist of nodal locations only. You specify
the points using node labels and node label ranges. A node label is a
persistent means of referring to a given node; that is, node labels do not
change as your model deforms. Because of this, the node labels that comprise a
node list path are equally applicable to the undeformed or the deformed model
shape. However, node labels are part instance-specific. In other words, you can
have the same node label for multiple part instances; therefore, you must
specify to which part instance you are referring when you use node labels. For
more information, see
Creating or editing a node list path.
Point
list
The points making up the path consist of coordinate locations within your
model. These locations may or may not coincide with nodal locations. Point list
coordinates remain fixed in space and are independent of your model. For
example, coordinates that coincide with a nodal location on the undeformed
shape may not coincide with any location on the deformed shape. By the same
logic, point list coordinates are independent of specific part instances. For
more information, see
Creating or editing a point list path.
Edge
list
The points making up the path consist of edges that connect nodes within
your model. You specify the edges by selecting individual element edges from
the viewport or by selecting the starting edge and direction and allowing
Abaqus/CAE
to automatically complete the path to the end of the feature edge or to an
endpoint that you select. Edges are defined by the elements in the model.
Because of this, the edges that comprise an edge list path are equally
applicable to the undeformed or the deformed model shape. However, element
labels are part instance-specific. In other words, you can have the same
element label for multiple part instances; therefore, you must specify to which
part instance you are referring when you use edges. For more information, see
Creating or editing an edge list path.
Circular
The points making up the path consist of coordinate locations within your
model. You can create two types of circular paths in
Abaqus/CAE:
circumferential and radial. A circumferential path lies along the edge of a
circle or an arc; a radial path lies along a radius. You specify either type of
path by selecting coordinates that define a circle or circular arc and then
defining the starting point, ending point, and number of points along the path.
Once you have defined the original circle or arc, you can select a new radius
length to create any path that shares the same center point as the original.
You can use circumferential paths to obtain cross-sectional results in a curved
portion of a model, as shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 1. A circumferential path.
You can use radial paths to obtain results spanning from the inner to the
outer face of a curve, as shown in
Figure 2;
radial paths are ideal for use in stress linearization (for more information on
stress linearization, see
Calculating linearized stresses).
Figure 2. A radial path.
You can select coordinates by picking nodes from the viewport or by entering
values in the prompt area; in either case, the coordinates remain fixed in
space and are independent of your model. For example, coordinates that coincide
with a nodal location on the undeformed shape may not coincide with any
location on the deformed shape. By the same logic, circular path coordinate
definitions are independent of specific part instances. For more information,
see
Creating or editing a circular path.
Abaqus/CAE
forms the path by connecting the nodes, points, or edges that you specify in
the order you have given.
After you create a path, you can select
ToolsPath
from the main menu bar to edit, copy, rename, delete, or plot it. Plotting the
path itself is a means to verify visually that you have specified the intended
line; to view results along the path, you must form
X–Y data pairs and produce an
X–Y plot. For more information on managing paths,
see
Managing objects using manager dialog boxes;
for more information on producing an X–Y plot of
path data, see
Obtaining X–Y data along a path.
