Defining the model geometry

A suggested approach to creating the part geometry is outlined.

Context: Start Abaqus/CAE, and create a three-dimensional, deformable body with a planar shell base feature. Name the part Plate, and specify an approximate part size of 4.0.

  1. In the Sketcher, create an arbitrary rectangle using the Create Lines: Rectangle (4 Lines) tool.
  2. Delete all constraints automatically imposed by the sketcher (four perpendicular constraints and one horizontal constraint).
  3. Constrain the left and right edges to remain vertical and the bottom and top edges to be parallel.
  4. Dimension the left edge by selecting the line and assign it a value of 0.4 m.
  5. Dimension the bottom edge. Select the vertices of the line rather than the line itself to define a horizontal dimension. Set the horizontal distance between the vertices to 1.0 m.

    Note:

    If you were to dimension the line itself, you would control only the length of the line (in whatever orientation it assumes).

  6. Dimension the angle between the left and bottom edges. Select the left and bottom edges in succession, and set the value of the angle to 60°.

    The final sketch is shown in Figure 1.

    Figure 1. Sketch of the plate geometry (with grid spacing doubled).

  7. In the prompt area, click Done to finish the sketch.