Customizing element and surface edge style

You can customize the style and thickness in which Abaqus/CAE displays element and surface edges.

See Also
Controlling element and surface edge visibility
Selecting overall element and surface edge color

Context:

For example, Figure 1 shows a plot with default element edges on the left and customized edges on the right. Edge style options are plot state–independent; that is, you set them once for all undeformed, deformed, symbol, and material orientation plots. You can also set the edge style options that Abaqus/CAE will apply to the undeformed shape when the deformed shape is superimposed on it.

Figure 1. Models showing default and customized element edges.

  1. Locate the common or superimposed Edge Attributes options. The common edge attributes always apply to the deformed shape; they apply to the undeformed shape when it is plotted individually in any plot state (undeformed, deformed, contour, symbol, or material orientation). When the undeformed shape is plotted with the deformed shape, the superimpose edge attributes apply.

    From the main menu bar, select OptionsCommon or Superimpose. Click the Other tab in the dialog box that appears; then click the Color & Style tab in the dialog box that appears.

    The Edge Attributes options are at the bottom of the Color & Style page.

  2. Choose the style of the element and surface edges:
    1. Click the Style button to reveal the edge style options.
    2. Click the edge style you want.

      The specified edge style appears on the Style button.

  3. Choose the thickness of the element and surface edges:
    1. Click the Thickness button to reveal the edge thickness options.
    2. Click the edge thickness you want.

      The specified edge thickness appears on the Thickness button.

  4. Click Apply to implement your changes.

    The element and surface edge style changes according to your specification.

    By default, your changes are saved for the duration of the session and will affect all subsequent plots in the current viewport and in any new viewports created from the current viewport. If you want to retain the changes you applied for subsequent sessions, save them to a file. For more information, see Saving customizations for use in subsequent sessions.