OdbStep object

An output database contains the same steps of the model database that originated it.

This page discusses:

Access

import odbAccess
session.odbs[name].steps[name]

Step(...)

This method creates an OdbStep object.

Path

session.odbs[name].Step

Required arguments

name

A String specifying the repository key.

description

A String specifying the step description.

domain

A SymbolicConstant specifying the domain of the step. Possible values are TIME, FREQUENCY, ARC_LENGTH, and MODAL.

The type of OdbFrame object that can be created for this step is based on the value of the domain argument.

Optional arguments

timePeriod

A Float specifying the time period of the step. timePeriod is required if domain=TIME; otherwise, this argument is not applicable. The default value is 0.0.

previousStepName

A String specifying the preceding step. If previousStepName is the empty string, the last step in the repository is used. If previousStepName is not the last step, this will result in a change to the previousStepName member of the step that was in that position. A special value 'Initial' refers to the internal initial model step and might be used exclusively for inserting a new step at the first position before any other existing steps. The default value is an empty string.

procedure

A String specifying the step procedure. The default value is an empty string. The following is the list of valid procedures:

*ANNEAL
*BUCKLE
*COMPLEX FREQUENCY
*COUPLED TEMPERATURE-DISPLACEMENT
*COUPLED TEMPERATURE-DISPLACEMENT, CETOL
*COUPLED TEMPERATURE-DISPLACEMENT, STEADY STATE
*COUPLED THERMAL-ELECTRICAL, STEADY STATE
*COUPLED THERMAL-ELECTRICAL
*COUPLED THERMAL-ELECTRICAL, DELTMX
*DYNAMIC
*DYNAMIC, DIRECT
*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT
*DYNAMIC, SUBSPACE
*DYNAMIC TEMPERATURE-DISPLACEMENT, EXPLICT
*ELECTROMAGNETIC, HIGH FREQUENCY, TIME HARMONIC
*ELECTROMAGNETIC, LOW FREQUENCY, TIME DOMAIN
*ELECTROMAGNETIC, LOW FREQUENCY, TIME DOMAIN, DIRECT
*ELECTROMAGNETIC, LOW FREQUENCY, TIME HARMONIC
*FREQUENCY
*GEOSTATIC
*HEAT TRANSFER
*HEAT TRANSFER, DELTAMX=__ 
*HEAT TRANSFER, STEADY STATE
*MAGNETOSTATIC
*MAGNETOSTATIC, DIRECT
*MASS DIFFUSION
*MASS DIFFUSION, DCMAX=
*MASS DIFFUSION, STEADY STATE
*MODAL DYNAMIC
*RANDOM RESPONSE
*RESPONSE SPECTRUM
*SOILS
*SOILS, CETOL/UTOL
*SOILS, CONSOLIDATION
*SOILS, CONSOLIDATION, CETOL/UTOL
*STATIC
*STATIC, DIRECT
*STATIC, RIKS
*STEADY STATE DYNAMICS
*STEADY STATE TRANSPORT
*STEADY STATE TRANSPORT, DIRECT
*STEP PERTURBATION, *STATIC
*SUBSTRUCTURE GENERATE
*USA ADDDED MASS GENERATION
*VISCO

totalTime

A Float specifying the analysis time spend in all the steps previous to this step. The default value is −1.0.

nlgeom

A Boolean specifying the nlgeom value for all steps. The default value is True.

Return value

An OdbStep object.

Exceptions

If previousStepName is invalid:

ValueError: previousStepName is invalid.

getFrame(...)

This method retrieves an OdbFrame object associated with a given frame value.

Required arguments

frameValue

A Double specifying the value at which the frame is required. frameValue can be the step time or frequency.

Optional arguments

match

A SymbolicConstant specifying which frame to return if there is no frame at the exact frame value. Possible values are CLOSEST, BEFORE, AFTER, and EXACT. The default value is CLOSEST.

When match=CLOSEST, Abaqus returns the closest frame. If the frame value requested is exactly halfway between two frames, Abaqus returns the frame after the value.

When match=EXACT, Abaqus raises an exception if the exact frame value does not exist.

Return value

An OdbFrame object.

Exceptions

If the OdbFrame object is not found:

OdbError: Frame not found.

getFrame(...)

This method retrieves an OdbFrame object associated with a given load case.

Required arguments

loadCase

An OdbLoadCase object specifying a load case in the step.

Optional arguments

None.

Return value

An OdbFrame object.

Exceptions

If the OdbFrame object is not found:

OdbError: Frame not found.

getFrame(...)

This method retrieves an OdbFrame object associated with a given load case and frame value.

Required arguments

loadCase

An OdbLoadCase object specifying a load case in the step.

frameValue

A Double specifying the value at which the frame is required. frameValue can be the step time or frequency.

Optional arguments

match

A SymbolicConstant specifying which frame to return if there is no frame at the exact frame value. Possible values are CLOSEST, BEFORE, AFTER, and EXACT. The default value is CLOSEST.

When match=CLOSEST, Abaqus returns the closest frame. If the frame value requested is exactly halfway between two frames, Abaqus returns the frame after the value.

When match=EXACT, Abaqus raises an exception if the exact frame value does not exist.

Return value

An OdbFrame object.

Exceptions

If the OdbFrame object is not found:

OdbError: Frame not found.

getHistoryRegion(...)

This method retrieves a HistoryRegion object associated with a HistoryPoint in the model.

Required arguments

point

A HistoryPoint object specifying the point in the model.

Optional arguments

loadCase

An OdbLoadCase object specifying a load case in the step.

Return value

A HistoryRegion object.

Exceptions

If a HistoryRegion object is not found:

OdbError: HistoryRegion not found.

setDefaultDeformedField(...)

This method sets the default deformed field variable in a step.

Required arguments

field

A FieldOutput object specifying the default deformed field variable for visualization.

Optional arguments

None.

Return value

None.

Exceptions

None.

setDefaultField(...)

This method sets the default field variable in a step.

Required arguments

field

A FieldOutput object specifying the default field variable for visualization.

Optional arguments

None.

Return value

None.

Exceptions

None.

Members

The OdbStep object has members with the same names and descriptions as the arguments to the Step method.

In addition, the OdbStep object can have the following members:

number

An Int specifying the step number.

nlgeom

A Boolean specifying whether geometric nonlinearity can occur in this step.

mass

A Float specifying the current value of the mass of the model. This does not include the mass of the acoustic media if any present.

acousticMass

A Float specifying the current value of the mass of the acoustic media of the model.

frames

An OdbFrameArray object.

historyRegions

A repository of HistoryRegion objects.

loadCases

A repository of OdbLoadCase objects.

massCenter

A tuple of Floats specifying the coordinates of the center of mass.

inertiaAboutCenter

A tuple of Floats specifying the moments and products of inertia about the center of mass. For 3D models inertia quantities are written in the following order: I(XX), I(YY), I(ZZ), I(XY), I(XZ), and I(YZ). For 2D models only I(ZZ) and I(XY) are outputted.

inertiaAboutOrigin

A tuple of Floats specifying the moments and products of inertia about the origin of the global coordinate system. For 3-D models inertia quantities are written in the following order: I(XX), I(YY), I(ZZ), I(XY), I(XZ), and I(YZ). For 2D models only I(ZZ) and I(XY) are outputted.

acousticMassCenter

A tuple of Floats specifying the coordinates of the center of mass of the acoustic media.