Combining data from multiple output databases

The Combine ODBs plug-in enables you to combine model data and results data from two or more Abaqus output database (.odb) files into a new output database. You can use this utility to combine any output database files, including those with model data and results from the following:

  • Output from different substructures in the same model.

  • Output from two different analysis products such as Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit, as part of a co-simulation.

If you want to experiment with different combinations of output databases without creating a new combined output database, you can first attempt to display data from different output databases together by using an overlay plot. Data in an overlay plot cannot be saved, but plotting results data from different output databases together can help you decide which data you want to include in a combine operation. For more information about overlay plots, see Overlaying multiple plots.”

All model data from the selected output databases are included in the output database. However, for results data you can choose to include a subset of the data from the output databases that you specify. Abaqus/CAE determines which results data are included in the combined output database based on two factors: the filtering options you specify and your selection of primary output database.

Filters

You can filter the data that the plug-in includes in the combined output database to include results only from selected steps or frames, from selected output variables, or from a combination of these options. For example, a filter can enable you to include results data only from the last step and the last frame of the specified output databases, and the same filter can dictate that only Mises stress results are included in the combined output database. You can also establish multiple filters if you want to set up different filtering conditions in different steps.

The Combine ODBs plug-in also provides two levels of filtering: output database–specific filters, which filter results from only a single output database, and default filters, which apply to the entire job. The output database–specific filters take precedence over the default filters, so Abaqus/CAE employs the settings in the default filters only when the default filter you define does not conflict with filters for one of the individual output databases.

The filtering syntax is flexible enough to allow you to specify multiple steps, frames, or output variable values. You can specify multiple step names in a comma-separated list, such as Step-1, Step-2, Step-4. For frames you can include ranges or individual values; for example, entering 1, 3, 5, 7:9 returns frames 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9 to the combined output database.

You can also use the symbolic constants “ALL”, “FIRST”, and “LAST” as shortcuts to specify the data you want to include. These options enable you to include results data from all steps or frames and data from all output variables rather than one or more selected variables.

Primary output database

You designate one output database in every combine operation as the primary output database. Combine ODBs first transfers all results data, subject to filtering selections, from the primary output database to the combined output database. The plug-in then locates results data from matching steps and frames in the subsequent output databases and copies only those data into the combined output database. This strategy provides a more coherent structure for the combined results data.

Note:

Each time you combine output databases using the plug-in, Abaqus/CAE records your output database and filtering selections in XML format in a configuration file. You can upload this file into the plug-in for subsequent combine operations.

The Combine ODBs plug-in excludes the following types of data from the combined output database:

  • History data

  • Surface data

  • Analytical rigid part instances

  • Local coordinate systems associated with field output data

  1. From the main menu bar in the Visualization module, select Plug-insToolsCombine ODBs.

    The Combine ODBs dialog box appears.

  2. In the Job name field, specify a name for the combine job.
  3. If you want to specify your combine options using data in an XML configuration file, do the following:
    1. Click mouse button 3 anywhere in the dialog box, and select Read from XML File from the list that appears.

      The Select XML File dialog box appears.

    2. Navigate to the XML configuration file you want to use, and click OK. For more information, see Using file selection dialog boxes.

      Abaqus/CAE populates the table in the dialog box with the output database files and filtering selections specified in the configuration file. You can customize any of these settings further before running the combine operation.

  4. Do the following to specify the primary output database:
    1. Click mouse button 3 anywhere in the dialog box, and select Select Primary ODB from the list that appears.

      The Select Primary ODB dialog box appears.

    2. Navigate to the output database you want to use, and click OK. For more information, see Using file selection dialog boxes.
  5. If you want to add output databases to the combine operation one at a time, do the following:
    1. Click mouse button 3 anywhere in the table, and select Add ODB from the list that appears.

      Abaqus/CAE adds a row labeled ODB to the table and displays the Select ODB dialog box.

    2. Navigate to the output database you want to include, and click OK. For more information, see Using file selection dialog boxes.

      Abaqus/CAE adds the output database to the selected row.

    3. Repeat these steps for each output database you want to add to the combine operation.
  6. If you want to add multiple output databases to the combine operation at once, do the following:
    1. Double-click the Name heading.

      The Select ODBs dialog box appears.

    2. Navigate to the folder containing the output databases you want to include, select the output database files, and click OK. For more information, see Using file selection dialog boxes.

      Abaqus/CAE adds the selected output databases in new ODB rows to the Combine ODBs dialog box.

  7. If desired, define filtering options to specify the steps, frames, and output variables to be included in the combined output database.

    • Define a single step, frame, or output variable filter for all output databases:

      1. Double-click the Step, Frame, or Variable heading.

      2. Specify the filtering criteria in the Set Values dialog box.

        If you specify the symbolic constants “ALL”, “FIRST”, and “LAST”, you must include the surrounding quotes.

      3. Click OK.

      Abaqus/CAE adds the selected criteria to the Step, Frame, or Variable column for the default filters and for every output variable included in the dialog box.

    • Define default filtering options or filtering options for a single output database:

      1. In the Default row, Primary row, or in one of the ODB rows, specify the step, frame, and output variable filters that you want to use as default filters or filters for the selected output database only.

      2. If desired, add more default filters or output database–specific filters by clicking mouse button 3 in the appropriate row, selecting Add filter from the menu that appears, and populating the new row with additional filtering criteria.

  8. Toggle on Open the combined ODB after job completion to display the combined output database in the viewport when the job completes.
  9. Click OK.

    Abaqus/CAE opens the Odb Combine Log Message dialog box, which displays the progress of the combine job and displays any errors that may arise. If any of the output databases you select are from an earlier release, Abaqus/CAE upgrades the output databases, saves the upgraded copy as a new file, and uses the new file in the combine job. If you selected Open the combined ODB after job completion and the combine job completes without errors, Abaqus/CAE opens the combined output database in the viewport after the combine job is complete.