Understanding Abaqus/CAE modules

Abaqus/CAE is divided into modules, where each module defines an aspect of the modeling process; for example, defining the geometry, defining material properties, and generating a mesh. As you move from module to module, you build the model from which Abaqus/CAE generates an input file that you submit to Abaqus/Standard or Abaqus/Explicit for analysis. For example, you use the Property module to define material and section properties and the Step module to choose an analysis procedure. The Abaqus/CAE postprocessor is called the Visualization module and is also licensed as a separate product called Abaqus/Viewer.

See Also
In Other Guides
Working with Abaqus/CAE Model Databases, Models, and Files
What is a module?

You enter a module by selecting it from the Module list in the context bar, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Selecting a module.

For the cantilever beam tutorial, you will enter the following Abaqus/CAE modules and perform the following tasks:

Part

Sketch a two-dimensional profile and create a part representing the cantilever beam.

Property

Define the material properties and other section properties of the beam.

Assembly

Assemble the model and create sets.

Step

Configure the analysis procedure and output requests.

Load

Apply loads and boundary conditions to the beam.

Mesh

Mesh the beam.

Optimization

Create an optimization task (not discussed here).

Job

Create a job and submit it for analysis.

Visualization

View the results of the analysis.

Although the Module list in the context bar lists the modules in a logical sequence, you can move back and forth between modules at will. However, certain obvious restrictions apply; for example, you cannot assign section properties to geometry that has not yet been created.

A completed model contains everything that Abaqus/CAE needs to generate an input file and start the analysis. Abaqus/CAE uses a model database to store your models. When you start Abaqus/CAE, the Start Session dialog box allows you to create a new, empty model database in memory. After you start Abaqus/CAE, you can save your model database to a disk by selecting FileSave from the main menu bar; to retrieve it from a disk, select FileOpen.

For a complete listing of which module generates a particular keyword, see Abaqus keyword browser table.