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Post Processing

This document discusses post-processing of finite element analysis results in Abaqus. It describes how essential variables like displacement and temperature are determined from the finite element model and how natural variables like stress and heat flux are derived. It explains how results are localized at nodes, elements, and integration points and how to calculate strains and stresses from displacements. The document also provides an overview of visualizing and extracting results like fields, curves, images and movies in Abaqus.

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John Chiv
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45 views23 pages

Post Processing

This document discusses post-processing of finite element analysis results in Abaqus. It describes how essential variables like displacement and temperature are determined from the finite element model and how natural variables like stress and heat flux are derived. It explains how results are localized at nodes, elements, and integration points and how to calculate strains and stresses from displacements. The document also provides an overview of visualizing and extracting results like fields, curves, images and movies in Abaqus.

Uploaded by

John Chiv
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Post-processing

J.Cugnoni, LMAF/EPFL, 2012

Finite element outputs

Essential variables:
Displacement u, temperature T
find u such that : K u = f

Natural variables :
Stress , heat flux q
Directly related to (derivatives of) essential
variables by the constitutive relationship in
linear problems

Derived variables :
Like strain = u, strain energy density,
enthalpy

FE results: type &


localization

Data types:

Scalars (T): 1 component


Vectors (u): 3 components + magnitude
2nd order tensors (): 6 components if symm. +
invariants (von Mises, max. principal, hydrostatic)

Localization:

Unique Nodal values


Element Nodal values
Gauss (integration) points values
Element centroid

Displacement Strain post processing


Unique Nodal value

Nodal displacement u
(unique nodal val., essential var.)

Shape functions and


derivatives are only
evaluated at integ. pts

Shape functions & derivatives


at integration pt of the element
=> B matrix

Element Integration pt

Strain tensor at integration pt


= eB u

Stress calculation at integration pts (linear elasticity)


Element Integration pt

Element-wise
constitutive relation

Element Integration pt

Strain tensor at integration pt i


of element e: e i = eB eu

Constitutive relationship
of element e
=> eC matrix

Stress tensor at integration pt i


of element e: e i = eC e i

From integration pts to unique nodal values


Element Integration pt

Stress tensor at integration pt i


of the element e: e i
Shape functions or
other extrapolation functions

Element Nodal value

Stress tensor at nodal pt j


of the element e: e j
Weighted (or conditionnal)
averaging

Unique Nodal value

Stress tensor at nodal pt k


of the global mesh: k

FE results in Abaqus

Field output:

A snapshot of the values at all points in the


model for a given time

History output:

A timecurve for a single variable at a given


point over time

In STEP module:

Specify which variables must be computed in


field output & history outputs
Can specify a frequency to reduce the
output size
For history output, you need to define a set
to extract time evolution of given points /

How to:
specify non-default field / history
outputs

Example:

open thermoMecaExo1Correct.cae
Select to Model-1-Transient
In Step module:
Edit existing Field output:

Add all Energy outputs, add Forces-> NFORC


Add Thermal outputs NFLUX & HFLA (heat flux * area)

History outputs:

Tool -> Set -> Create : create a set of points for history output
Create a new history output
Domain=Set, Output: Thermal->NT (nodal temperature)

Run the Job thermoMecaTransient


Video: PostProDemo1.swf

FE result visualization in
Abaqus

Field outputs:

Select in Results -> Field outputs


Select the desired output time (Step & Frame)
Contour plot:
colormap + deformed shape

Symbol plot:

to display vectors or principal tensor components

Other features:

Cutting planes, display groups


A lot of options to customize display

Result localization in
Abaqus

Abaqus Standard solver stores only necessary


results in ODB files:
Essential variables : unique nodal values
Natural variables: only at integration points
Derived variables: localized where in makes sense

Abaqus CAE / visualization module can


extrapolate some results at other locations

Example: evaluate unique nodal stresses from integration


points
You can control the extrapolation in Results -> Option.
Use view discontinuities to identify strong gradient
(=low accuracy) regions of your mesh

How to:
visualize 3D fields

Example (open thermoMecaTransient.odb):

Contour plots of stress field, select time = 2000 s:

Select Mises, S33, Max. Principal components


Change Visualization options (deformation scale factor,
colormap range, edges)
Cutting plane

Results Options (select Mises stress):

Disable averaging, look at element nodal values, notice the


discontinuities.
Enable averaging, change the averaging threshold (0% ->
100%)
Display discontinuities, notice regions of large discontinuities:
sharp corners = stress singularities !!

Symbol plot:

Use display group to isolate a region


View principal stress tensor and displacements

Video PostProDemo2.swf

Extracting values at node /


element

Select Field output, activate Contour plot

Use Tools->Query->Probe Value


Select Probe = Element or Probe = Node
Select result localization (for elements only)
Integration pts, Centroid, Element nodal

Activate the desired results in the table


Pick a node / element to add it to the list
Can write the table values to a text file: write

How to:
extract values at selected points

Example:
Extract different stress values (int. pt, elem.
nodal, averaged nodal) at a given point
Video: PostProDemo3.swf

Extracting curves in
Abaqus

Path = spatial curve to cut the model:


Use Tools -> Path -> Create to generate
Generation method:

Node list: pick nodes to define a polyline


Point list: enter coordinates of polyline vertices
Edge list: select element edges = efficient !!
Circular: select points to generate a circle

To plot / save the curve:

Use Tools -> XY data -> Create

Select source = Path


Choose the path
choose configuration = undeformed
activate include intersection
Generate the curve & save it for later use

How to:
extract a 2D curve along a path

Example:

Define a linear path based on 2 nodes


Define a path along edges with feature edge
or shortest distance option
Define a circular path by 3 points
Extract curves of Mises Stress distribution along
each path, save XY data
Plot all XY curves
Video: PostProDemo4.swf

Extracting curves in
Abaqus

Time evolution curves :


From Field outputs:

Use Tools -> XY data -> Create


Choose source = Field Output
Select result localization (integ pt, nodal, )
Select result to extract
Pick elements or nodes from 3D view
Plot and save if necessary

From History outputs:


Use Tools -> XY data -> Create
Choose source = History output
Select the desired history output, plot and save

How to:
extract a time-evolution curve

Example:

Extract time evolution curves of the


temperature at some nodes
Extract time evolution curves of the Mises
stress at for different type of result localization
Plot all XY curves
Video: PostProDemo5.swf

Exporting data from


Abaqus

Exporting field outputs


If needed, isolate a region of interest with Display
Group
Use Report -> Field Output
Select the localization & type of the result
Select output file & check append / overwrite
Select Data: all data, column totals, statistics?

Exporting data from


Abaqus

Exporting XY curves

Create XY data and save it


Use Report -> XY
Select the XY curves
Select output file & check append / overwrite
Select Data: all data, column totals, statistics?

How to:
export data to text files

Example:
Use Report-> Field Output to extract the min,
max and average nodal temperature in a Text
file
Create a XY curve of the time evolution of the
temperature at one point and export it to
another text file
Video: PostProDemo6.swf

Extracting images &


movies

Image capture / printing:


File -> Print

Choose Destination = Printer or File


If File, choose format (PNG for example) and file name

Movies:

Enter an animation mode:

Animate -> Time History / Scale Factor / Harmonic

Use Animate -> Save As to generate movie

Select destination file and format


Set Options to choose the level of compression
Choose display option (background ?)
Set frame rate to ~5 image/s

How to:
capture images and animations

Example:
Extract an image of Mises stress field at t=2000s
showing the min & max values
Extract a movie of the time evolution of the
temperature in the model
Video: PostProDemo7.swf

Advanced post-processing

Changing coordinate system:

Create a coordinate system (for example cylindrical)


In Result -> Options:
choose Transformation, User defined
Pick the coordinate system to use for post processing

Calculate new fields:

If necessary, create a new coordinate system: Tools -> Coord.


System -> Create
Run Tools -> Create Field outputs -> From fields
Pick a time: Step & Increment
Enter an expression in the calculator:
Pick operators & operands (fields) in the list

The new result will be save in memory only in a temporary


Step called Session Step
You can use this tool to evaluate quantities in different coordinate
systems (for example stress in cylindrical coordinates)

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