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)