Adding elements in CAE

[AntCrespo]

Hello,

I'm trying to model a process of material deposition into a substrate. My analysis is composed of several steps where I activate different blocks with *MODEL CHANGE,ADD, ie. in step 1 I activate a certain cubic element set
, step 2 the adjacent one, and so forth untill I get a small wall composed of various cubes on top of my substrate.
I am generating my own inp. file, but I'm limited to simple geometries and meshings. With abaqus CAE I am able to generate complex geometries and create several instances of those geometries, but I haven't found a way of activating (*MODEL CHANGE,ADD) them step by step.
For example, if I wanted to have a substrate and activate "half moon" shaped blocks in successive steps, would that be possible with CAE? If so, how?
I'll be really greatfull for any advice you can spare.
Thanks

Antonio

 

[ankurnaik]

Hello Antonio,

I just wanted to tell you that I might have a solution to a lot of your problems.

1) Adding Elements: You can use the *MODEL CHANGE command in CAE by using Edit Keywords option. Go in the pull down menu - MODEL - EDIT KEYWORDS and select your model. This will open a window where you can add lines to your ".inp" file. I have used it and it works well. However there is one thing that you have to do before you can do anything. The default Abaqus setting for creating an input file is such that it creates Assemblies and parts. With this setting you cannot add extra elements because they have to be a part of the assembly structure and it is messy to do (apart from the fact that I do not know how to do it . So

2) Change env setting: Goto the directory where abaqus is installed. In my case it was C:\ABAQUS\6.4-2SE\site There you will find a file called abaqus_v6.env open that file in a text editor and then add the following line to it:

cae_no_parts_input_file=ON

Just add this line at the end. Restart Abaqus if you have already started it before. With this setting CAE will always create a flattened input file for you without parts and assemblies and you can modify the files in the same fashion as you did it without CAE.

I think this should solve your problem.

BTW I was able to write my script. Let me know if you need to have it.

Thanks,
Ankur

 

[AntCrespo]

Hi Ankur,

thanks a lot for your suggestion, it may just solve a lot of my problems. I'm going to try it right away.
Thanks again,

Antonio