You use submodeling to study in detail an area of interest in your
model; for example, a region of high stress. In most cases you will mesh the
region of interest with a finer mesh, and the submodel can provide an accurate,
detailed solution. You can also change the modeling space from a shell global
model to a more representative solid submodel—shell-to-solid submodeling.
Creating a submodel is a two-step process. First you create and analyze
the global model. You then create the submodel and drive the boundaries of the
submodel with time-dependent variables that were saved during the analysis of
the global model. You can drive submodel boundaries either with boundary
conditions or in some cases with stresses from the global model. Submodeling is
described in detail in
About Submodeling.
Shell-to-solid submodeling and shell-to-solid coupling of a pipe joint,
includes an example of a submodel created using
Abaqus/CAE.