46910: PhD Course in advanced finite

element simulations using Abaqus

Lars P. Mikkelsen
DTU Wind Energy

Topic 3f: User subroutines

• Different user subroutines
• Build up a UMAT case

• Note that the Fortran part does note work on the Scientific
desktop 2017. Therefore, we have made a new “Abaqus
Desktop 2018” which is the Abaqus 2018 version and where
the Fortran part is working
Motivation – Why & when to use user
subroutines?

• When Standard Abaqus built-in capabilities are limited,

restrictive or insufficient

• Go away from black-box modelling

• Achieve more accurate material models from experimental

data

• Adapt Abaqus to a particular analysis requirement

• Straightforward for other to use your code

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Some common Abaqus subroutines

• CREEP - to define time-dependent, viscoplastic deformation in a material

• DLOAD - to define nonuniform, distributed mechanical loads

• FILM - to describe complex film coefficient behavior (f(T), f(STV), etc.)

• FRIC - to describe the transmission of shear forces between surfaces

• HETVAL - to define complex models for internal heat generation in a material

• UEXPAN - to define incremental thermal (or other) strains

• UEL - to create user defined elements

• UMAT - to define any complex, constitutive models

• USDFLD - to define values of field variables directly at element integration points

• UVARM - for defining a user output variable (e.g. for post-procesing)

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Simple example: UVARM user subroutine
- for defining a user output variable

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UVARM
- Modification of the Necking model in order
to add a stop criteria (stop when LE22>0.1)

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Add user subroutine to job
description

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Uvarm.for
example

• Use uvarm to define a

stop criteria for the
analysis

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 Output from the example

• Output:

When upgrade model: Open up in now version

and unlock parts and instances by right click
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Other example: Define a new field variable

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Output

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Python way of modifying field output
• Example: Normalize S11 with applied stress

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Plot options

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Where User subroutines fit into Abaqus/Std

Global flow

In the first iteration of an increment all

subroutines shown in the figure are called twice:
– First call: the initial stiffness matrix is being
formed using the configuration of the model at
the start of the increment.
– Second call: a new stiffness, based on the
updated configuration of the model, is created.

• In subsequent iterations the subroutines are

called only once.
– The corrections to the model’s configuration
are calculated using the stiffness from the end of
the previous iteration.

Important to know when

debugging!

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Implementing material models
- common choice

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 USDFLD:
Define Field parameter in material points

Define material properties, e.g. the stiffness E, as function of field parameters

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Example of USDFLD from Abaqus Manual

• http://
abaqus.software.polimi.it/v6.14/books/exa/default.htm?startat=ch01s01
aex14.html#exa-sta-damagefailcomplate

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Example of USDFLD from Abaqus Manual

• http://
abaqus.software.polimi.it/v6.14/books/exa/default.htm?startat=ch01s01
aex14.html#exa-sta-damagefailcomplate

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 UMAT: User defined materials

NTENS=NDI+NSHR (normal and shear stress components)

  written on vector form

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 Good reference for UMAT implementation
including large deformations

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 Uel: User defined element

Example on Uel-model:
Sørensen, K. D., Mikkelsen, L. P., & Jensen, H. M. (2009). User subroutine for
compressive failure of composites. In 2009 Simulia Customer Conference (pp.
618–632). London, UK: SIMULIA. Retrieved from
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http://www.pmik.dk/RefWorks/Mikkelsen-SCC2009.pdf
 Uel - Visualization: E.g. using UMAT shadow
elements with zero stiffness

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Modify Box-script to Umat model

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Possible error when using reduced
integration
*.dat

*.inp

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Modify Element Definition

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Extra field output

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Including the UMAT to the analysis

Set location of subroutine here.

NB: Subroutines fortran files

end with ”.f” on unix platforms
and ”.for” on windows

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Including user defined State variables
(STATEV)

Set number of user state

variables to be used here!

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UMAT subroutine

Subroutine Identifier including

the variables that can be called
into the subroutine from
Abaqus

Specifies implicit precision

Called “VABA_PARAM.INC” for
explicit schemes

Your code here !

Recommended text editors: Notepad++, Kwrite (linux)

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Detailed information in the manual:
Abaqus User Subroutines Reference Guide

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Detailed information in the manual:
Abaqus User Subroutines Reference Guide

• Start with the code presented in the manual

under the ”User subroutine interface” and
identify what should and can be defined in the
routine.

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Strategi
• Extract the code from the user manual

• Make a very simple version e.g. the one on the previous slide which can run

• Start making a Umat model which also is in Abaqus and compare the solution

• Use fortran 77 notation

– If using implicit declaration variables starting with I,J,K,L,M and N are
integers. All other are real
– When integers: 2/3 == 0 (like default Python)
– Column 1: “c” or “*” for comments
– Column 1-5: Statement label
– Column 6: indicate continuation of the previous line
– Column 7-71: Code
– Case insensitive variables
– For more see e.g. : http://
web.stanford.edu/class/me200c/tutorial_77/index.html

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Some Do’s and Dont’s
• User variables implemented should range from A-H, O-Z

• For debugging use ” WRITE(6,*)‘<Your text here>‘, <variable>” to write

to output data file
-> or .dat file in directory

• Debug everytime you add something

new!

• Always keep the model as simple

as possible during implementation

• Pay attention to Fortran coding

conventions!

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UMAT implementation exercise

• In the exercise you will test your own implemented UMAT codes in tension
and shear, for single and multiple element 2D plane strain cases:

• Why?
– The four-element problem - ‘free’ node
– The force controlled test is important for checking errors in the Jacobian
– Shear tests control correct use of e.g. engineering shear strains

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3D, plane strain and plane stress
• 3D constitutive law

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3D -> 2D Plane strain

 xy  2 xy

• Plane strain: (      0)
zz yz xz

 xx   xx 
   
 
yy
 PE  PE  
yy
 zz    zz 
   
 xy   xy 

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3D -> 2D plane stress

• Plane stress: ( zz   yz   xz  0)

 xx   xx 
   
 PS   yy   PS   yy 
 xy   xy 
   

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Startup Umat.for routine: Plane strain case

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Script for running the Umat model

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Script for running the Umat model

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Some good references
• F. Dunne & N. Petrinic ”Introduction to
Computational Plasticity”, Department of
Engineering Science, Oxford University
Press, 1st Edition, 2005.

• http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~
ww46/pictures/files/ImplementationofVUMAT
.pdf

Forums:
• www.polymerfem.com
• www.imechanica.org

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