You can define sets that contain only selected portions of your model. Once you create a set, you can use it to perform the following tasks:
Assign section properties in the Property module.
Create contact pairs with contact node sets and surfaces in the Interaction module.
Define loads and boundary conditions in the Load module.
Request output to either the output database or the status file from specific regions of the model in the Step module. Output to the status file is also reported back to the Job module in the form of a continuously updated X–Y plot.
Display results for specific regions of the model in the Visualization module.
In this example you will define a set consisting of a single point. You will then be able to monitor the results for one degree of freedom at that point when you submit your job for analysis later in this tutorial.
In the Model Tree, expand the Assembly container and double-click the Sets item.
The Create Set dialog box appears.
Name the set Monitor, and click Continue.
Select the vertex of the solid hinge piece shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Monitor a degree of freedom on the solid hinge piece.
Click Done to indicate that you have finished selecting the geometry for the set.
Abaqus/CAE creates a node set with the name Monitor that contains the node you selected.
From the main menu bar of the Step module, select OutputDOF Monitor.
The DOF Monitor dialog box appears.
Toggle on Monitor a degree of freedom throughout the analysis.
Click , then click Points in the prompt area and choose the set Monitor from the Region Selection dialog box.
Type 1 in the Degree of freedom text field, and click OK.
, then click in the prompt area and choose the set Monitor from the Region Selection dialog box.