In Abaqus there is a direct relationship between geometry and the final meshed shape: if we want to defeature or do an axisymmetric analysis, the geometry needs to be modified*. On the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, this is not the case. The geometry can remain unchanged. One or more abstraction shapes can be connected to the geometry, to represent simplified geometry. In this blog I will show this process for a bolt-and-nut assembly. We will have an axisymmetric model and 3D model based on the same geometry.

*An exception to this is the use of virtual topology. This allows small differences between mesh and geometry, by ignoring entities. This way you do not force the mesh to create element edges along all geometrical edges.

A fundamental question for each finite element problem is the type of solver to use: implicit or explicit? The solver type influences the set of equations that are solved, the availability of certain features, the run time and even whether a solution is obtained. It is therefore important. In this blog I’ll explain the difference between the two solvers available in Abaqus, their advantages and disadvantages, and when to choose which. I'll end with a simple example to illustrate the points made.

Finite element analysis of stents is challenging. It typically involves small structures, large deformations, complex contact conditions and intricate material definitions. What can Abaqus offer for this type of analysis? In this blog we will find out.

In this blog we'll simulate a sheet metal forming process called deep drawing, with SIMULIA Abaqus Software. It can be challenging to design a deep drawing product and the tools to create it, because many potential issues are not observed until the first prototype is produced. Simulations can help determine whether a design suffices, without actually having to create costly tools or do time consuming tests. Multiple design iterations can easily be investigated.

In this blog we’ll do an FSI droptest – on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. We’ve done something similar before in Abaqus. Doing it on the platform will give an idea of its user interface and capabilities.

The result

Let’s start with the end result, so you have an idea of where we’re going:

Five years ago, we posted a blog about analyzing a PET-bottle, including a top load analysis performed with Abaqus. This type of analysis is used to determine the maximal force a bottle can withstand under axial loading. In the current blog I want to revisit the topic, and focus specifically on materials properties. Often these are not readily available. Perhaps a data sheet is present, specifying a Young's modulus and a Yield stress (if you're lucky) but not the actual stress-strain data. Here we'll take a look at the impact of using limited material data on the limit load in a top load analysis.

Abaqus has many built-in options but sometimes these do not suffice. You may want to include a material model that is not implemented, have a complex type of loading that is not available by default or even define your own element. Abaqus' user subroutine capabilities allow you to do this. User subroutines are written in Fortran and in order to use them, you need a Fortran compiler. In this blog I'll show how to install a freely available fortran compiler and link it to Abaqus. Thanks to Oliver Lundqvist working for Sweco in Finland for making me aware of this option, and to oaeres on https://community.intel.com/t5/Registration-Download-Licensing/How-to-link-ABAQUS-with-Intel-One-API-toolkits-to-run-FORTRAN/td-p/1244548/page/2 who provided this solution (especially the last workaround).

Personally, I find solving finite element problems way more interesting than installing the software, ensuring the hardware works and worrying about licenses. Unfortunately, hardware and licenses are needed to do the more interesting stuff. Therefore I’ll say a bit more about that in this blog.

I’ll go into the traditional options with standalone Abaqus as well as the running an .inp file using the 3D experience platform on the cloud.

From Simuleon we wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2021!

And at least I am hoping for some snow ;)

Here in the Netherlands we have the expression that something can 'snow under'. Figuratively, this indicates that it's forgotten, because something else is taking up all the attention. Typically, this isn't a good thing, but in light of the current pandemic, it may not be a bad thing if we can forget 2020, hence this simulation with 2020 numbers ;-).

In the hot rolling process, metal is heated and passed through one or more sets of rollers, to give it the desired cross-section for example. This process is used for the fabrication on railway tracks (Figure 1).