Modify the Output Requests

To view Simulation Composite Analysis solution-dependant state variables in Abaqus Viewer, they must be written to the .odb file.

The state variables are only written to the .odb file if explicitly requested in the Abaqus input file. This request is accomplished by adding SDV to the list of element output variables. By default, a preselected list of output variables is written to the output database. This default list will be modified as well.

1. Locate the output definition by searching for *Output.
2. The definition should appear as:

   *OUTPUT, FIELD, VARIABLE=PRESELECT

3. Delete , variable=PRESELECT. This parameter indicates that the default list of output variables will be written to the output database. State variables are not included in this list, so each output variable (represented by an identifying key) must be individually requested. This is done in Step 5.
4. After the *Output line, add the following lines:

   *Node Output
   RF, U

   These lines write the nodal displacements (U) and reaction forces (RF) to the database.

5. After the RF, U line, add the following lines:

   *Element Output, directions=YES
   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
   S, E, SDV
   *Element Output, directions=YES
   17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
   S, E, SDV

   • The first line, *Element Output, directions=YES, writes element variables and section points to the output database. The directions=YES parameter indicates that element material directions should be written to the database.
   • The second line, 1, 2, 3, … indicates specific section points in the layered element where the output variables are computed. Two instances of these commands are required since the maximum number of section points allowed per line is 16 (the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th lines).
   • The third line, S, E, SDV, is a list of the variable identifying keys. S represents stress components, E represents total strain components, and SDV represents state variables.
6. The definition should now read:

   *OUTPUT, FIELD
   *NODEOUTPUT
   RF, U
   *ELEMENTOUTPUT, DIRECTIONS=YES
   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
   E, S, SDV
   *ELEMENTOUTPUT, DIRECTIONS=YES
   17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
   E, S, SDV

7. Save the file

The above is a simple output definition. Other input files may be different and more complicated. Generally speaking, there is only one modification to the output definition that is Simulation Composite Analysis-specific: the addition of SDV to the list of element output variable identifying keys.