Creating the submodel load

The surface-based submodeling technique is an alternative submodeling technique that uses the stress field to interpolate global model results onto the submodel integration points on the driven element-based surface facets. To use surface-based submodeling, you create a submodel load.

  1. Enter the Load module and select LoadCreate from the main menu bar.
  2. From the list of steps, select the step during which the submodel load will be applied.
  3. From the Category field, select Other.
  4. From the Types for Selected Step field, select Submodel and click Continue.
  5. From the model, select the regions to which the load will be applied. In most cases you apply the load to faces that were created when you cut away regions from the global model. If you are applying the load to a face of a shell, Abaqus/CAE asks you to specify the side of the face to which the load will be applied. For more information, see Specifying a particular side or end of a region.
  6. From the Edit Load dialog box that appears, do the following:
    1. In the Driving region field, do one of the following:

      • Select Automatic to allow Abaqus/CAE to create the driving region by searching all regions in the global model that lie in the vicinity of the submodel.

      • Select Specify to specify a set name that will be used as the driving region. You must give the complete name of the set. The syntax for the set name is assembly_name.part_name-1.set_name, assuming that you are defining the driving region on the first instance of the part.

    2. In the Exterior tolerance field, do the following:

      • Enter the absolute exterior tolerance. This is the absolute value by which a driven node of the submodel may lie outside the elements of the global model. The default value is the relative exterior tolerance.

      • Enter the relative exterior tolerance. This is the fraction of the average element size in the global model by which a driven node of the submodel may lie outside the elements of the global model. The default value is .05.

      For more information, see About Submodeling.

    3. In the Global step number field, enter an integer representing the step number in the global analysis from which the values of the driven variables will be read.