About interfacing to Abaqus for 3D meshes

Export Fill+Pack (with or without Fiber) results and Warp results for 3D models to Abaqus for further structural (usually Stress) analysis.

This interface is supported on PC for the following mesh type(s):

• 3D

and for all molding processes except:

• Powder injection molding
• Underfill encapsulation
• RTM or SRIM

The API script, mpi2abq.vbs automatically converts the necessary result and mesh files into a format that Abaqus uses. Results are exported in *.xml format, and the 3D mesh is exported in Abaqus input (*.inp) format. The API script saves the interface files in a folder created in the current project folder. For example, My Documents\My AMI 20XX Projects\Project1<study_name>_interface_files, where is the name of the study you are exporting to Abaqus.

Interfacing to Abaqus

Autodesk Moldflow Insight result and mesh files are binary files, that are converted to ASCII format by the API script, mpi2abq.vbs, for use in Abaqus.

Interface files

The files that are exported depend on what your study file contains.

Mesh file

The API script converts the 3D mesh to the Abaqus input format. This interface file is named _mesh.inp. Autodesk Moldflow Insight outputs the three point constraint for removal of the rigid body movement into the Abaqus input file.

For more information about the Abaqus *.inp format, please refer to your Abaqus manual.

Material properties data files

For fiber-filled materials, these files are produced:

Principal directions

The principal fiber orientation directions are the eigenvectors of the fiber orientation tensor. These data are stored in _principalDirections.xml. Autodesk Moldflow Insight directly outputs the principal directions of the material property set.

Mechanical properties

Are element-based results stored in individual engineering constant component files, such as _E11.xml, _E22.xml, _E33.xml, _v12.xml, ..., and these are nine elastic constants based on the orthotropic assumption. The calculations of these mechanical properties are based on the selected micro-mechanics model and a 9-constant fiber orientation average method along with a selected closure approximation option, which are specified in the Fiber parameters of the Fill+Pack process settings.

Thermal expansion coefficients

Are element-based results stored in _ltec_1.xml, _ltec_2.xml and _ltec_3.xml, representing the linear thermal expansion in the first, second, and third principal directions. These values are calculated based on the selected method in the Fiber parameters of the Fill+Pack process settings, with an orientation average.

For unfilled materials, these files are produced:

• _Moduli.xml
• _PoissonRatios.xml
• _ShearModuli.xml
• _Ltecs.xml

Initial stresses file

Autodesk Moldflow Insight passes the initial stresses to the interface. The API script converts these data and stores them in _initStresses.xml.

Unit conversion

The mpi2abq script takes care of the unit conversion if you select a unit system other than SI.