HyperMesh 11.

0 Tutorials
Abaqus Solver Interface
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 HyperMesh 11.0 Tutorials - Abaqus Solver Interface

Abaqus ........................................................................................................................................... 1
HM-4300: Setting Up an Abaqus Analysis in HyperMesh
........................................................................................................................................... 2
HM-4310: Defining Abaqus Contacts for 2-D Models in HyperMesh
........................................................................................................................................... 7
HM-4320: Defining Abaqus Contacts for 3-D Models in HyperMesh
........................................................................................................................................... 15
HM-4330: Defining *STEP using Abaqus Step Manager
........................................................................................................................................... 28
HM-4340: Pre-Processing for Bracket and Cradle Analysis using Abaqus
........................................................................................................................................... 38
HM-4350: Pre-Processing for Crashing Tubes Analysis using Abaqus
........................................................................................................................................... 53
HM-4360: Creating Analytical Rigid Surface
........................................................................................................................................... 64

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Abaqus

The following Abaqus tutorials are available:

HM-4300: Setting Up an Abaqus Analysis in HyperMesh

HM-4310: Defining Abaqus Contacts for 2-D Models in HyperMesh
HM-4320: Defining Abaqus Contacts for 3-D Models in HyperMesh
HM-4330: Defining *STEP using Abaqus Step Manager
HM-4340: Pre-Processing for Bracket and Cradle Analysis using Abaqus
HM-4350: Pre-Processing for Crashing Tubes Analysis using Abaqus
HM-4360: Creating Analytical Rigid Surface

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HM-4300: Setting Up an Abaqus Analysis in HyperMesh

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Load the Abaqus user profile and model

Define the material and properties and assign them to a component

View the *SOLID SECTION for solid elements

Define the *SPRING properties and create a component collector for it

Create the *SPRING1 element

Assign a property to the selected elements

Step 1: Load the Abaqus user profile and model

A set of standard user profiles is included in the HyperMesh installation. They include: RADIOSS (Bulk Data
Format), RADIOSS (Block Format), Abaqus, Actran, ANSYS, LS-DYNA, MADYMO, Nastran, PAM-CRASH,
PERMAS, and CFD. When the user profile is loaded, applicable utility menus are loaded, unused panels are
removed, unneeded entities are disabled in the Find, Mask, Card and Reorder panels and specific
adaptations related to the Abaqus solver are made.
1. From the menu bar select Preferences > User Profiles.
2. Select Abaqus as the profile name.
3. Select Standard3D and click OK.
4. From the menu bar select File > Open > Model.
5. Browse to the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/interfaces/abaqus folder and select
the abaqus3_0tutorial.hm file.

6. Click Open.

Step 2: Define the material properties

HyperMesh supports many different material models for Abaqus. In this example, you will create the basic
*ELASTIC material model with no temperature variation. The material will then be assigned to the property,
which is assigned to a component collector.

Follow the steps below to create the *ELASTIC material model card:
1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create > Material.
2. For Name enter STEEL.

3. For Card Image select ABAQUS_MATERIAL.

4. Check the options for Card edit material upon creation and Close dialong upon creation.
5. Click Create. The card image for the new material opens.

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6. In the card image, select Elastic in the option list.

7. By default, the selected type is ISOTROPIC. If not, click the switch and select ISOTROPIC.
8. By default, the ELASTICDATACARDS= field value is 1. If not, input 1 to set the number of datalines.

9. Click the field beneath E(1) and enter 2.1E5.

10. Click the field beneath NU(1) and enter 0.3.

11. Click return to accept the changes to the card image.

Step 3: Define the *SOLID SECTION properties

1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create > Property.
2. For Name enter Solid_Prop.

3. Choose a color for the property.

4. Click the drop down next to Type and set it to SOLID SECTION. This ensures that sections pertaining
only to solid elements are available as card image options. Alternatively, the type = field can be set to
ALL ensuring that all available card images are listed.
5. Click the drop down next to Card image and select SOLIDSECTION.
6. Click on the Material tab and check the box for Assign material.
7. Click on the drop down next to Name and select STEEL.
8. Click Create.
9. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 4: Assign the property to the component

Because the material is assigned to the property, when you assign the property to a component, the material
is automatically assigned as well.

1. Within the Model Browser, ,expand the Component folder, highlight both BEAM and INDENTOR, right
click and select Assign.

This opens the Assign to component(s) window.

2. Click the drop down next to Property and select Solid_Prop.
3. Click Apply.

Step 5: View the *SOLID SECTION for solid elements

HyperMesh supports sectional properties for all elements from the property collector.

Complete the steps below to view the *SOLID SECTION card for an existing component:
1. Within the Model Browser, expand the Property folder.

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2. Right click on Solid_Prop and select Card Edit.

This allows you to view the *SOLID SECTION property card image.
3. Click return to finish the viewing process.

Step 6: Define the *SPRING properties

In Abaqus contact problems, it is common to use grounded springs to provide stability to the solution in the
first loading step. This section explains how to create these springs and how to create the *SPRING card.

Complete the steps below to create the *SPRING card:

1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create > Property.
2. For Name enter Spring_Prop.

3. Choose a color for the property collector.

4. Click on the drop down next to Type and set it to LINE SECTION. This ensures that sections pertaining
only to 1D elements are available as card image options. Alternatively, the type = field can be set to ALL
ensuring that all available card images are listed.
5. For Card image select SPRING.
6. Click the Material tab and check the box for Assign material.
7. Next to the Name field, select STEEL.
8. Click Create.
9. In the dof1 field, enter 3.

The dof2 field in the *SPRING card is ignored by Abaqus for SPRING1 elements.
10. In the Stiffness field, enter 1.0E-5.

11. Click return to accept the changes to the card image.

Step 7: Create a component collector for the *SPRING property

1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create > Component.
2. For Name enter GROUNDED.

3. Choose a color for the component collector.

4. Click on the Property tab and activate the Assign Property option.
5. For Name select Spring_Prop.
6. Click Create.

To reset the view for further processing:

1. Click the Isometric View icon .

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Step 8: Create the SPRING1 element
1. From the menu bar select Mesh > Assign > Element Type.
2. In the 1D subpanel, click mass = and select SPRING1.

In HyperMesh, grounded elements are created and stored as mass elements since they only have one
node in the element connectivity.

3. Click return to exit the panel.

4. In the Model Browser, right click on GROUNDED and select Make Current.

As the spring elements are created, they will be placed in this component.
5. From the menu bar select Mesh > Create > Masses.
6. Click nodes and select by id from the pop-up menu.
7. In the id = field, enter 451t460b3 and click Enter on the keyboard.

This shorthand selects all of the nodes from 451 to 460 in increments of 3.
8. Click create.
9. Click return to exit the panel.

Step 9-10: Assign a property to selected elements

In most cases, a property (e.g. SHELL SECTION, SOLID SECTION) is assigned to a component collector.
The elements belonging to the component collector assume the assigned property.

It is also possible in HyperMesh 11.0 to assign a property to individual elements without having to organize
these elements in a separate component collector. A property can be assigned directly to selected
elements. In this case, HyperMesh automatically creates an Abaqus element set (ELSET) for the selected
elements and assigns the property to the ELSET.

The name of the ELSET follows the naming convention HMprop_propertyname, where
propertyname is the name of the property collector that is assigned to the elements. In the example
below, a property collector called ElemPrp is created and assigned to elements 12, 13 and 14. This
information is translated in the Abaqus *.inp file as:

*ELSET, ELSET=HMprop_ElemPrp
12, 13, 14

**HM_set_by_property 22
*SHELL SECTION, ELSET=HMprop_ElmPrp, MATERIAL=steel
3.0 ,

The HMprop_ prefix can be suppressed in the property’s card image by checking on the option
No_auto_prefix_for_names.

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The comment **HM_set_by_property 22 is written by HyperMesh to the *.inp file so that
the element property definition and assignment are read properly when the *.inp file is imported in
HyperMesh. The number 22 refers to the color chosen for the property.

Step 9: Create a property

1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create > Property.
2. Enter ElemPrp in the Name field.

3. Choose a color.
4. For Type select SOLID SECTION.
5. For Card image select SOLIDSECTION.
6. Click Create.
7. Click return.

Step 10: Assign a property to individual elements

1. Within the Model Browser, right click on the property ElemPrp and select Assign.

2. Choose the XZ Right Plane View icon from the toolbar.

3. Choose the leftmost and rightmost layers of solid elements belonging to the horizontal BEAM
component.
4. Click proceed to assign the property.
5. Answer OK to the message which appears.

6. From the toolbar, select By Prop from the list of Element Color Mode .

Notice how elements are now colored by property assignment.

Note: When a property is assigned to a component collector, HyperMesh writes out the comment
**HM_comp_by_property to distinguish the component property assignment from that of
individual element.

See HyperMesh Tutorials for a complete list of tutorials.

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HM-4310: Defining Abaqus Contacts for 2-D Models in
HyperMesh

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Load the Abaqus user profile and model

Start Abaqus Contact Manager

Define surfaces for 2D solid elements

Define surfaces by set

Define surface interaction property

Define contact pair

Step 1: Load the Abaqus user profile and model

A set of standard user profiles is included in the HyperMesh installation. They include: RADIOSS (Bulk Data
Format) and OptiStruct, Abaqus, Actran, ANSYS, LS-DYNA, MADYMO, Nastran, PAM-CRASH, PERMAS,
and RADIOSS (Block Format). While the user profiles change the appearance of some panels, they do not
affect the internal behavior of each function.
1. From the menu bar, select Preferences > User Profiles.
2. Select Abaqus as the profile name.
3. Select Standard2D and click OK.
4. From the menu bar, select File > Open > Model.
5. Browse to the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/interfaces/abaqus folder and select
the contactManager_2D_tutorial.hm file.

6. Click Open.

Step 2: Start the Contact Manager

1. From the menu bar select Tools > Contact Manager.

The Abaqus Contact Manager dialog displays.

Step 3: Define surfaces for 2D solid elements

In HyperMesh, you can define the *SURFACE, TYPE=ELEMENT card by using individual element IDs or
sets with corresponding face identifiers. In this exercise, you will create surfaces by defining individual 2D
solid element IDs and corresponding faces.
Follow the steps below to create the "frame-top" surface:
1. Select the Surface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

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2. Click the New… button.

The Create New Surface dialog opens.

3. In the Name: field, type frame-top.

4. For Type, select Element based.

5. Click the box next to Color: and select the desired color.
6. Click Create….

The Element Based Surface dialog for defining elements and corresponding faces for the surface
opens.
7. Select the Define tab.
8. Select 2D solid, axisymmetric, gasket option from the Define surface for: radio buttons.
9. Click Elements.

The element selector panel opens.

10. Click elems >> by collector.

11. Select frame and click select.

You will see the elements in the frame component highlighted.

12. Click proceed to return to the Element Based Surface dialog.

13. For Select edges by:, select Nodes on edge.

14. Click Nodes.

The node selector panel displays.

15. Select two nodes from the top of a selected solid element as shown below.

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16. Click proceed to return to the Element Based Surface dialog.

17. In the Break Angle box, type 30.00.

18. Click the Add button to find all edges of the selected solids that fall within the break angle of the edge
defined by the two nodes. You may need to enlarge the size of the Element Based Surface window to
see the Add button, which is all the way to the right.

This adds these edges to the current surface and creates special contactsurface elements for display.
They show the normal direction of those elements. In the current example, they show towards the
component slider, which is correct.
19. To change the normal direction, use the Adjust Normals tab in the Element Based Surface window.
Element normal should be adjusted towards the mating surface.
20. To delete edges you do not want, click on the Delete Face tab.

21. When satisfied with the surface definition, click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Step 4: Define the surfaces by set

In HyperMesh, you can define the *SURFACE, TYPE=ELEMENT card by using individual element IDs or
sets with corresponding face identifiers. Using the steps below, you will create surfaces by defining a set and

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corresponding face identifiers.
Complete the steps below to create the "slider-bot" surface:
1. Select the Surface tab from the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog and click the Display None button to
turn off the display all surfaces.
2. Click the New… button.

The Create New Surface dialog is opened.

3. In the Name: field, enter slider-bot.

4. Select Element based as the type of surface.

5. Click the box next to Color: to select the desired color.
6. Click Create….

This opens the Element Based Surface dialog for defining elements and corresponding faces for the
surface.
7. Select the Define tab.
8. From the Define surface for: radio buttons, select the Element set option.
9. Click the the drop down menu under Element set: and select slider-bot from the list of existing sets.
10. Click the Review Set button to highlight all the elements in the selected set.

11. Right-click the Review Set button to reset the highlighting.

12. Click the right arrow button to move the slider-bot element set name into the table.

13. In the Face: column, select NoLabel.

14. Click the Update button.

A new dataline for ELSET slider-bot has been added to the *SURFACE card. By selecting NoLabel the
face identifier has been left blank.
15. Click the Review button in the lower right corner to review the contents of the *SURFACE card, and
right-click the button to reset the highlighting.
16. Select the Optional Parameters tab in the Element Based Surface window.

17. Select the Trimming of open free surface option and select YES.

18. Click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

In the Surface: table, the Display options for the slider-bot surface are disabled.

At this point, you have created all the surfaces required.

19. Click the Display All button to display all surfaces.

You can review any surface by selecting from the table and clicking the Review button. The selected
surface will be highlighted with white and show up through the solid mesh when using performance
graphics. If the surface is defined with sets (display option disabled), the underlying elements are
highlighted. Right-clicking on Review will clear the highlighting.

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Step 5: Define the surface interaction property
In this step, you will define the *SURFACE INTERACTION card with corresponding *FRICTION card.
Complete the steps below to create the "friction1" surface interaction:
1. Select the Surface Interaction tab from the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Surface Interaction window.

3. In the Name: field, enter friction1.

4. Click Create… .

This opens the Surface Interaction dialog.

5. Select the Define tab.
6. Select the Friction option as the surface interaction property to activate the tab.
7. Click on the Friction tab.
8. Set the Friction type: as Default and select the Direct option.

Selecting this option means that the exponential decay and Anisotropic parameters will not be written to
the input file.
9. In the No of data lines field, enter 1 and click set.

A single row will show up in the Direct table.

10. Click the first cell in the Friction Coeff column and enter 0.05.

For Direct and Anisotropic tables:

The column numbers in the table will change with the No of Dependencies selected. The row
numbers can be defined in the No of data lines entry box. Clicking the corresponding Set button
will update the table to have the specified number of rows.

For inputting values in the table, click on a cell to make it active and enter the values from the
keyboard. The table works like a regular spread sheet.

You can also read comma-delimited data from a text file by clicking the Read From a File button.
This button opens up a file browser window. Select the file and click Open to export the comma-
delimited data. The row number will be set to the number of data lines found in the file.

Right-clicking in the table displays a pull down menu with copy, cut and paste options. Comma-
separated data can be copied/cut into, or pasted from the clipboard with these options. Relevant hot
keys (for example, Ctrl-c, Ctrl-x and Ctrl-v in Windows) will also work.

Clicking in a cell activates that cell. Clicking into an already active cell moves the insertion cursor to
the character nearest the mouse.

Moving the mouse while the left mouse button is pressed strokes out a selection area.

The left, right, up and down arrows move the active cell.

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 Shift-<arrow> extends the selection in that direction.

Ctrl-left arrow and Ctrl -right arrow moves the insertion cursor within the cell.

Ctrl -slash selects all the cells.

Back space deletes the character before the insertion cursor in the active cell. If multiple cells are
selected, Back space deletes all selected cells.

Delete deletes the character after the insertion cursor in the active cell. If multiple cells are selected,
Delete deletes all selected cells.

Ctrl -A moves the insertion cursor to the beginning of the active cell. Ctrl -E moves the insertion
cursor to the end of the active cell.

Ctrl –minus (-) and Ctrl –equals (=) decrease and increase the width of the column with the active
cell in it.

While you are over a border, pressing Button-1 (Left button) or Button-3 (the right button in Windows)
and moving the mouse causes interactive resizing of that row and/or column to occur.

11. Click OK to go back to the Abaqus Contact Manager window.

Step 6: Define the contact pair

In this step, you will define the *CONTACT PAIR card with corresponding surfaces and surface interaction.
Complete the steps below to create the "slider-frame" contact pair:
1. Select the Interface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Interface dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter slider-frame.

4. Select Contact pair as the type of interface.

5. Click Create….

This opens the Contact Pair window.

6. Select the Define tab.
7. From the Surfaces pull down menu, select slider-bot.

Note The corresponding New button opens the Create New Surface dialog for creating a new
surface. When you are done creating and defining the surface, the Contact Pair dialog will
return with the new surface selected as the slave surface.

To ensure that you are dealing with the right surface, click on the Review button. The selected
surface is highlighted in red, while the rest of the model is grayed out. Right-click on Review to
clear the highlighting.
8. Click Slave>> to move slider-bot into the table as the slave surface.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8, selecting frame-top and clicking the Master>> button to move it into the table as

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 the master surface.

Note: To more clearly see the surfaces available for selection, click the icon. This opens an
enhanced browser where you can easily search for the appropriate item. You can also click the
Filter button to filter the items displayed.
10. Click the Interaction: pull down menu to display a list of the existing surface interactions.

Note: To more clearly see the interaction available for selection, click the icon. This opens an
enhanced browser where you can easily search for the appropriate item. You can also click the
Filter button to filter the items displayed.
11. Select friction1 from the list as the interaction property for the current contact pair.

12. Click on the Parameter tab.

13. Select Small sliding from the available options.

14. Click OK to go back to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

15. At this point, you have created the contact pairs required. You can review any contact pair by selecting it
from the table and clicking the Review button. The master surface is displayed in blue, the slave surface
is displayed in red and the rest of the model is shown in grey. If a surface is defined with sets (display
option disabled), the underlying elements are highlighted. Right-clicking on Review will clear the
highlighting.
16. Click the Close button to close the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

General comments:

The Edit button opens the corresponding window for editing the selected interface, surface or surface
interaction.

The Delete button deletes the selected interfaces, surfaces or surface interactions. This button
accepts multiple selections from the Interface table.

The Sync button updates the Contact Manager with the current HyperMesh database. If you
create, update or delete any components, groups, properties or entity sets from HyperMesh panels
while the Contact Manager is open, click the Sync button to update the Contact Manager with
the changes.

If you minimize the Contact Manager window or it goes behind the HyperMesh window, clicking
Tools > Contact Manager restores it.

There is bubble help for important buttons. Place the mouse on the buttons for a few moments to
view it.

Double-clicking on the interface, surface or surface interaction names in the table opens the
corresponding edit windows. Right-clicking on these names displays pull down menu with options.

Clicking on the border with the left or right mouse button pressed down and moving the mouse can
resize columns in a table.

Shift and Ctrl keys can be used with left mouse clicks to select multiple items in a table (useful for
deleting multiple items).

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Go to HyperMesh Tutorials

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HM-4320: Defining Abaqus Contacts for 3-D Models in
HyperMesh

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Load the Abaqus user profile and model

Start the Abaqus Contact Manager

Define surfaces for solid elements

Define surfaces for shell elements

Define surfaces by set

Define surface interaction property

Define contact pair

Step 1: Load the Abaqus user profile and model

A set of standard user profiles is included in the HyperMesh installation. They include: RADIOSS (Bulk Data
Format) and OptiStruct, Abaqus, Actran, ANSYS, LS-DYNA, MADYMO, Nastran, PAM-CRASH, PERMAS,
and RADIOSS (Block Format). While the user profiles change the appearance of some panels, they do not
affect the internal behavior of each function.
1. From the menu bar select Preferences > User Profiles.
2. Select Abaqus as the profile name.
3. Select Standard3D and click OK.
4. From the menu bar select File > Open > Model.
5. Browse to the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/interfaces/abaqus folder and select
the contactManager_3D_tutorial.hm file.

6. Click Open..

Step 2: Start the Contact Manager

1. From the menu bar select Tools > Contact Manager.

The Abaqus Contact Manager dialog opens.

Steps 3 - 5: Defining Surfaces for Solid Elements

In HyperMesh, you can define the *SURFACE, TYPE=ELEMENT card by using individual element IDs or
sets with corresponding face identifiers. In this exercise, you will create surfaces by defining individual
element IDs and corresponding faces.

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Step 3: Create the "box1-top" surface
1. Select the Surface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.
2. Click the New… button.

The Create New Surface dialog opens.

3. In the Name: field, enter box1-top.

4. Select Element based as the type of surface.

5. Click the box next to Color and select a color.
6. Click Create….

The Element Based Surface dialog opens for defining elements and corresponding faces for the
surface.
7. In the Model Browser, expand the Components folder to display all the contents. Right-click on
BOX_1 and select Isolate.

8. In the toolbar select XY Top Plane View.

9. In the Element Based Surface dialog, select the Define tab.
10. In the Define surface for: list, select 3D solid, gasket.

11. Click the Elements button.

This opens the element selector panel.

12. Click the elems >> by collector.

13. Check the BOX_1 component and click select.

You will see the elements in the BOX_1 component highlighted.

14. Click proceed to return to the Element Based Surface dialog.

15. Select the Solid skin option from the Select faces by: radio buttons.

16. Select a color from the Solid skin color: button.

17. Click the Faces button.

This creates a temporary skin of the selected elements and opens the element selector panel.
18. Select an element from the top of the solid skin.

19. Click elems >> by face.

You will see all faces at the top of the solid skin are highlighted.
20. Rotate the model in HyperMesh interface to verify all desired faces are selected.

You can deselect any element (by right clicking) or add more if you like.

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21. When you are satisfied with the element faces selected, click proceed to return to the Element Based
Surface dialog.

22. Click the Add button to add these faces to the current surface.

This creates special face elements (rectangles with dot in the middle) for display.

You can reject the recently added faces by clicking the Reject button. You can also delete faces from
the Delete page.
23. When satisfied with the surface definition, click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Step 4: Create the "box2-top" surface

1. Select the Surface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog and click the Display None button to
turn off the display of all surfaces.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Surface dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter box2-top.

4. Select Element based as the type of surface.

5. Click the box next to Color: and select a color.
6. Click Create… button.

This opens the Element Based Surface dialog for defining elements and corresponding faces for the
surface.
7. In the Model Browser, expand the Components folder to display all the contents. Right-click on
BOX_2 and select Isolate.

8. In the toolbar select XY Top Plane View .

9. In the Element Based Surface window, select the Define tab.

10. In the Define surface for: list, select 3D solid, gasket.

11. Click the Elements button.

This opens the element selector panel.

12. Click elems >> by collector, check the BOX_2 component and click select.

You will see the elements in the BOX_2 component highlighted.

13. Click proceed to return to the Element Based Surface dialog.

14. Select the Nodes on face option from the Select faces by: radio buttons.

15. Click the Nodes button to open the node selector panel.

16. Select two corner nodes (or three nodes) from the top of the selected solids as shown below.

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17. Click proceed to return to the Element Based Surface dialog.

18. In the Break Angle field, enter 30.00.

19. Click the Add button to find all faces of the selected solids that fall within the break angle of the face
defined by nodes.

It adds these faces to the current surface and creates special face elements (rectangles with dot at the
middle) for display.

You can reject the recently added faces by clicking the Reject button. You can also delete faces from
the Delete page.
20. When satisfied with the surface definition, click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Step 5: Create the "cylinder-top" surface

1. Select the Surface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog and click the Display None button to
undisplay all surfaces.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Surface dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter cylinder-top.

4. Select Element based as the type of surface.

5. Click the Color: button and select a color.

6. Click Create….

The Element Based Surface dialog opens for defining elements and corresponding faces for the
surface.
7. In the Model Browser, expand the Components folder to display all the contents. Right-click on
TOP_CYLINDER and select Isolate.
8. In the Element Based Surface dialog, select the Define tab.
9. In the Define surface for: list, select 3D solid, gasket.
10. Click the Elements button.

This opens the element selector panel.

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11. Click elems >> by collector, check TOP_CYLINDER and click select.

This highlights the elements in the TOP_CYLINDER component.

12. Click proceed to return to the Element Based Surface dialog.

13. Select Solid skin from the Select faces by: radio buttons.

14. Select a color from the Solid skin color: button.

15. Click the Faces button.

This creates a temporary skin of the selected elements and opens the element selector panel.
16. Select an element from the solid skin and click elems >> by face.

You will see faces all around the solid skin are highlighted.
17. Rotate the model in the HyperMesh interface to verify all desired faces are selected.

You can deselect any element (by right clicking) or add more if you like.
18. When you are satisfied with the element faces selected, click proceed to return to the Element Based
Surface dialog.
19. Click the Add button to add these faces to the current surface.

This creates special face elements (rectangles with dot at the middle) for display.

You can reject the recently added faces by clicking the Reject button. You can also delete faces from
the Delete page.
20. When satisfied with the surface definition, click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Step 6: Define surfaces for shell elements

In HyperMesh, you can define the *SURFACE, TYPE=ELEMENT card by using individual shell element IDs
or sets with corresponding SPOS/SNEG face identifiers. In this exercise, you will create surfaces by defining
individual element IDs and corresponding normals to define the SPOS/SNEG faces.
Complete the steps below to create the "cylinder-bot" surface:
1. Select the Surface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog and click the Display None button to
undisplay all surfaces.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Surface dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter cylinder-bot.

4. Select Element based as the type of surface.

5. Click the Color: button and select a color.
6. Click Create….

The Element Based Surface dialog opens for defining elements and corresponding faces for the
surface.

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7. Select the Define tab.

8. In the Define surface for: list, select 3D shell, membrane, rigid.

9. In the Model Browser, expand the Components folder to display all the contents. Right-click on
BOT_CYLINDER and select Isolate.
10. In the Element Based Surface dialog, click the Elements button.

This opens the element selector panel.

11. Click elems >> by collector, check BOT_CYLINDER and click select.

The elements in the BOT_CYLINDER component highlighted.

12. Click proceed.

13. The normals of the selected elements will be displayed at this point. If the normals are too big, click the

YZ Front Plane View icon . Restore the Element Based Surface dialog and repeat steps 10 -11.

You'll notice that all normals are pointing inwards.

14. Check the Reverse option.

15. Click the Add button to add these faces to the current surface.

It will create special face elements (rectangles with dot at the middle) for display.

You can reject the recently added faces by clicking the Reject button. You can also delete faces from
the Delete page.
16. Go to the Adjust Normal tab and select Display normals.

The normals of all the faces in the current surface will be displayed. You'll notice that all normals are
pointing outwards.
17. When satisfied with the surface definition, click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Steps 7 - 8: Define Surfaces by Set

In HyperMesh, you can define the *SURFACE, TYPE=ELEMENT card by using individual element IDs or
sets with corresponding face identifiers. In this exercise, you will create surfaces by defining a set and
corresponding face identifiers. HyperMesh allows only one set in a surface. It also does not support
combination of sets and individual elements in the same *SURFACE data line.

Step 7: Create the box1-bot surface

1. Select the Surface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog and click the Display None button to
undisplay all surfaces.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Surface dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter box1-bot.

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4. Select Element based as the type of surface.

5. Click the Color: button and select a color.

6. Click the Create… button.

The Element Based Surface dialog opens for defining elements and corresponding faces for the
surface.
7. Select the Define tab.

8. In the Define surface for: list, select Element set.

9. In the Model Browser, expand the Components folder to display all the contents. Right-click on
BOX_1 and select Isolate.

10. On the toolbar, select YX Bottom Plane View .

11. In the Element Based Surface dialog, click the Element set: pull down list and select box1-bot.

12. Click the Review Set button to highlight all the elements in the selected set.

13. Right click the Review Set button to reset the highlighting.

14. Click the Show Faces button.

This creates a temporary skin of the selected element set and opens the HyperMesh element selector
panel.
15. Select an element from the bottom of the solid skin and click elems >> by face.

You will see all faces at the bottom of the solid skin are highlighted. You can deselect any element (by
right clicking) or add more if you like.
16. When you are satisfied with the element faces selected, click proceed to return to the Element Based
Surface dialog.

The face identifier tags (color coded) of the selected faces are displayed at this point. In performance
graphics, the solid mesh sometimes blocks these tags. You might have to rotate the model a little to
make these tags visible or switch to Standard graphics.

17. Click the right arrow key to move the box1-bot set into the table.

18. In the table, click on the Face pull down menu and select S3 from the pull down menu.

Since all face identifiers tags for the bottom side of the box1-bot set are S3, you can use the S3
identifier for this set.
19. Check the Display option and click the Update button.

This adds the selected set and face identifier to the current surface. In addition, it creates a special
display for the surface.

HyperMesh, by default, does not create any display for surfaces defined with sets. However, if you check
the Display option before clicking Update, it will create a special display using contactsurface
elements. The special display does not have any link to the set in HyperMesh database. Therefore, if you
edit the set later on, the display would not reflect them automatically. In this case, you need to come to
this page, check the Display option and click Update button again.

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20. Click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Step 8: Create the box2-bot surface

1. Select the Surface tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog and click the Display None button to
undisplay all surfaces.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Surface dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter box2-bot.

4. Select Element based as the type of surface.

5. Click the Color button and select a color.
6. Click Create….

The Element Based Surface dialog opens for defining elements and corresponding faces for the
surface.
7. Select the Define tab.
8. In the Define surface for: list, select Element set.
9. In the Model Browser, expand the Component folder to display all the contents. Right-click on BOX_2
and select Isolate.

10. In the toolbar select YX Bottom Plane View .

11. In the Element Based Surface dialog, click the Create/Edit Sets button to open the Entity Sets panel.

12. In the name = field, enter box2-bot.

13. Click the yellow elems button and graphically select all the elements from the bottom of the BOX_2
component.

14. Click create.

15. When you are done creating/editing the set, click return.

16. Click the Element set pull down menu and select box2-bot from the list of existing sets.

17. Click on the Review Set button to highlight all the elements in the selected set.

18. Right-click the Review Set button to reset the highlighting.

19. Click the Show Faces button.

This creates a temporary skin of the selected element set and opens the HyperMesh element selector
panel.
20. Select an element from the bottom of the solid skin and click elems >> by face.

You will see all faces at the bottom of the solid skin are highlighted. You can deselect any element (by

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 right clicking) or add more if you like.

21. When you are satisfied with the element faces selected, click proceed to return to the Element Based
Surface dialog.

The face identifier tags (color coded) of the selected faces display at this point. In performance graphics,
the solid mesh sometimes blocks these tags. You might have to rotate the model a little to make these
tags visible or switch to Standard graphics.
22. Click the right arrow key to move the box2-bot set into the table.

23. In the table, click on the Face pull down menu and select S3.

Since all face identifiers tags for the bottom side of the box2-bot set are S3, you can use the S3
identifier for this set.
24. Uncheck the Display option, if checked and click the Update button to add the selected set and face
identifier to the current surface.

Note: HyperMesh, by default, does not create any display for surfaces defined with sets.
25. Click Close to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

You'll notice in the Surface: table that the Display option for the box2-bot surface is disabled.

At this point, you have created all the surfaces required.

26. Click the Display All button to display all surfaces.

27. In the Model Browser, right-click on the Components folder and select Show to display all the

components. On the toolbar, click the Isometric View .

You can review any surface by selecting it from the table and clicking Review button. Selected surfaces
will be highlighted in red while the rest of the model displays in gray. If the surface is defined with sets
(display option disabled), the underlying elements are highlighted. Right-click on Review to clear the
highlighting.

Step 9: Define the surface interaction property

In this exercise, you will define the *SURFACE INTERACTION card with corresponding *FRICTION card.
Complete the steps below to create the "friction1" surface interaction:
1. Select the Surface Interaction tab in the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Surface Interaction dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter friction1.

4. Click the Create… button.

The Surface Interaction dialog opens.

5. Select the Define tab.

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6. Select Friction option as surface interaction property.

That makes the Friction tab active.

7. Select the Friction tab.
8. Select the Friction type: as Default and click the Direct option.

Selecting this option means that the exponential decay and Anisotropic parameters will not be written to
the input file.

9. In the No of data lines field, enter 1 and click set.

A single row appears in the Direct table.

10. Click the first cell on the Friction Coeff column and enter 0.05.

For Direct and Anisotropic tables:

The column numbers in the table will change with the No of Dependencies selected. The row
numbers can be defined at the No of data lines entry box. Clicking the corresponding Set button
will update the table to have the specified number of rows.

For placing values in the table, click a cell to make it active and type in the values. The table works
like a regular spreadsheet.

You can also read comma-delimited data from a text file by clicking the Read From a File button.
This button opens up a file browser window. Select the file and click Open to export the comma-
delimited data. The row number will be set to the number of data lines found in the file.

Right-clicking in the table shows a pull down menu with copy, cut and paste options. Comma-
separated data can be copied/cut into or pasted from clipboard with these options. Relevant hot keys
(for example, Ctrl-c, Ctrl-x and Ctrl-v in Windows) will also work.

Clicking the left mouse button in a cell activates that cell. Clicking into an already active cell moves
the insertion cursor to the character nearest the mouse.

Moving the mouse while the left mouse button is pressed highlights a selected area.

The left, right, up and down arrows moves the active cell.

Shift-<arrow> extends the selection in that direction.

Ctrl-left arrow and Ctrl –right arrow move the insertion cursor within the cell.

Ctrl -slash selects all the cells.

Back space deletes the character before the insertion cursor in the active cell. If multiple cells are
selected, Back space deletes all selected cells.

Delete deletes the character after the insertion cursor in the active cell. If multiple cells are selected,
Delete deletes all selected cells.

Ctrl -a moves the insertion cursor to the beginning of the active cell. Ctrl-e moves the insertion cursor
to the end of the active cell.

Ctrl –minus (-) and Ctrl –equal (=) decrease and increase the width of the column with the active cell
in it.

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 To interactively resize a row or column, move the mouse over the border while Button-1 or Button-3
(the right button on Windows) is pressed.

11. Click OK to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Steps 10-13: Define the Contact Pairs

In this exercise, you will define the *CONTACT PAIR card with corresponding surfaces and surface
interaction.

Step 10: Create the top-cylinder-box1 contact pair

1. Go to the Interface tab of the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.
2. Click the New… button.

This opens the Create New Interface dialog.

3. In the Name: field, enter top-cylinder-box1.

4. Select Contact pair as the type of interface.

5. Click the Create… button.

The Contact Pair window opens.

6. Select the Define tab.
7. Click the Surface: pull down menu to show a list of the existing surfaces.
8. Select box1-top from the list and click the Slave>> button to identify it as the slave surface and move it
into the table.
9. Click the corresponding Review button.

The selected surface is highlighted in red. If the surface is defined with sets (display option disabled), the
underlying elements are highlighted. Right-click on Review to clear the highlighting.

The corresponding New button opens the Create New Surface dialog for creating a new surface. When
you are done creating and defining the surface, the Contact Pair window returns with the new surface
selected as the slave surface.
10. Repeat steps 7 and 8, selecting cylinder-top and clicking the Master>> button to identify it as the
master surface.

Note: To more clearly see the surfaces available for selection, click the icon. This opens an
enhanced browser where you can easily search for the appropriate item. You can also click the Filter
button to filter the items displayed.
11. Click the Interaction: drop down list to see a list of the existing surface interactions.

Note: To more clearly see the interactions available for selection, click the icon. This opens an
enhanced browser where you can easily search for the appropriate item. You can also click the Filter
button to filter the items displayed.

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12. Select friction1 from the list as the interaction property for the current contact pair.

13. Select the Parameter tab.

14. Select Small sliding from the available options.

15. Click OK to return to the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

Step 11: Create the top-cylinder-box2 contact pair

Follow step 1 through 15 above to define the top-cylinder-box2 contact pair with box2-top as slave
surface, cylinder-top as master and friction1 as the surface interaction.

Step 12: Create the bot-cylinder-box1 contact pair

Follow step 1 through 15 above to define the bot-cylinder-box1 contact pair with box1-bot as slave
surface, cylinder-bot as master and friction1 as the surface interaction.

Step 13: Create the bot-cylinder-box2 contact pair

Follow steps 1 through 15 above to define the bot-cylinder-box2 contact pair with box2-bot as slave
surface, cylinder-bot as master and friction1 as the surface interaction.

At this point, you have created all the contact pairs required. You can review any contact pair by selecting
from the table and clicking Review button. Both the master and slave surface will be highlighted in red while
the rest of the model is grey. If a surface is defined with sets (display option disabled), the underlying
elements are highlighted. Right-click on Review to clear the highlighting.

Click Close to close the Abaqus Contact Manager dialog.

General comments:

The Edit ... button opens the corresponding window for editing the selected interface, surface or
surface interaction

The Delete button deletes the selected interfaces, surfaces or surface interactions. This button
accepts multiple selections from the Interface table.

The Sync button updates the Contact Manager with the current HyperMesh database. If you
create, update or delete any components, groups, properties or entity sets from HyperMesh panels
while the Contact Manager is open, click the Sync button to update the Contact Manager with
the changes.

If you minimize the Contact Manager dialog or it goes behind the HyperMesh window, clicking
Tools > Contact Manager restores it.

Bubble help exists for important buttons. Place the mouse on the buttons for a few moments to view
it.

Double-clicking the interface, surface and surface interaction names in the table will open the
corresponding edit windows. A right-mouse click on these names displays a pull down menu with

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 options.

Clicking a table border, pressing and holding the left or right mouse button and moving the mouse
can resize columns in a table.

Shift and Ctrl keys can be used with a left mouse click to select multiple items in a table (useful for
deleting multiple items).

See HyperMesh Tutorials for a complete list of tutorials.

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HM-4330: Defining *STEP using Abaqus Step Manager

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Load the Abaqus user profile

Retrieve the HyperMesh model file

Define the *STEP card and specifying *STATIC as an analysis procedure

Define loads (*CLOAD) and boundary conditions (*BOUNDARY)

Define pressure loads (*DLOAD) with an element set

Define output requests

Export the database to an Abaqus input file

Step 1: Load the Abaqus user profile and the model

A set of standard user profiles is included in the HyperMesh installation. They include RADIOSS (Bulk Data
Format) and OptiStruct, RADIOSS (Block Format), Abaqus, ANSYS, Actran, LS-DYNA, MADYMO, Nastran,
PAM-CRASH, and PERMAS. The user profiles change the appearance of a panel - they do not affect the
internal behavior of each function.
Complete the steps below to load the Abaqus user profile and the model:
1. From the menu bar select Preferences > User Profiles.
2. Select Abaqus as the profile name.
3. Select Standard3D and click OK.
4. From the menu bar select File > Open > Model.
5. Browse to the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/interfaces/abaqus folder and select
the abaqus_StepManager_tutorial.hm file.

6. Click Open.

The abaqus_StepManager_tutorial.hm file contains pre-defined model data. Use this file in the
following exercises to define the history data portion of this model.

Step 2: Define a *STEP card and specify *STATIC as the analysis procedure
In this exercise, you will create a *STEP card with the *STATIC analysis procedure.
1. From the menu bar, select Tools > Load Step Browser.

The Step Manager dialog is displayed.

2. Click New…
3. In the Name: text box enter step1.

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4. Click Create to create the step.

This creates a step called step1 and opens the Load Step edit dialog.
5. From the tree on the left side of the window, select Title.

The Step heading: option with a disabled field is displayed.

6. Activate the Step heading: check box and enter 100kN load in the text box.

7. Click Update to store the heading information into step1.

8. From the tree, select Parameter.

9. Activate the Name and Perturbation check boxes, and click Update. Notice that name is already set
to step1.
10. From the tree, select Analysis procedure.

11. For Analysis type:, select static and click Update.

In this exercise, you created a step (*STEP) called step1 and specified *STATIC as the analysis
procedure.
12. To add a dataline, go to the Dataline tab and enable Optional dataline.

13. To add individual data, such as Initial increment, enable the appropriate field and enter a value. If one
entry field is not enabled, a space will be added in the ASCII file, and the Abaqus solver uses the default
value.

Next, you will define the loads and boundary conditions.

Steps 3 - 6: Define the Loads (*CLOAD) and Boundary Conditions

(*BOUNDARY)
In the following exercises, you will add *CLOAD and *BOUNDARY keywords to the current load collector by
defining loads and boundary conditions.

Step 3: Create constraints (*BOUNDARY)

1. From the tree, select Boundary.
2. Click New… and enter loads_and_constraints in the Name: text box.

3. Click Create to create the load collector.

4. Optionally, click the button in the Display column and select a color for the load collector.
5. Make sure the Status check box for loads_and_constraints is checked. By selecting this check box,
you are adding this load collector into the loadstep.
6. Click the loads_and_constraints load collector in the table.

A set of new tabs is displayed on the right.

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7. From the Define tab, keep Type: set to default (disp).

8. Click the Define from ‘Constraints’ panel button.

This takes you to the Constraints panel in HyperMesh. Use this panel to create constraints.

Step 4: Create constraints from the Constraints panel

1. On the toolbar, click the XZ Right Plane view icon .

2. Click the yellow nodes button and select by window.

3. With the exception of the nodes at the ends of the cradle, draw a rectangle around all the displayed
nodes to select them as shown below.

4. In the menu area, activate exterior and click select entities. This selects all nodes outside the window
you drew.
5. Activate all six dofs – dof1, dof2, dof3, dof4, dof5, dof6.
6. Click create.

HyperMesh creates constraints at the nodes you selected.

7. Click return.

You are returned to the Step Manager Load Step dialog.

8. Look at the Load type: line at the bottom of the Step Manager dialog. Notice that Bc (short for
BOUNDARY) appears on this line, identifying it as a load type created in the load_and_constraints
load collector. The corresponding load type on the tree is also highlighted.

Step 5: Create Forces (*CLOAD)

1. From the tree, double-click Concentrated loads.
2. Select CLOAD-Force from the expanded options under Concentrated loads.

A new set of tabs is displayed.

3. From the Define tab, click Define from ‘Forces’ Panel.

The Forces panel is displayed. Use this panel to create forces.

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Step 6: Create forces from the Forces panel
1. From the graphics area, click the central node on the top side of the bracket arm. Refer to the figure
below to see which node to select.

2. In the magnitude: text box, enter –100.

3. Click the switch next to N1, N2, N3 and select z-axis.

4. Click create.
5. Click return.

You are returned to the Step Manager Load Step dialog.

6. Notice that Cload-f is now added to the Load type: line, indicating CLOAD-force as another load type
created in the loads_and_constraints load collector. The corresponding load types on the tree are also
highlighted.
7. From the Load Step dialog, left-click Review.

The constraints and forces that belong to the loads_and_constraints load collector are highlighted.
8. Right-click Review.

The highlighted constraints and forces revert back to the load collector color.

Step 7: Define pressure loads (*DLOAD) with element set

In this exercise, you will add *DLOAD (pressure) load to the current load collector with an element set.
Follow the steps below to create pressure loads (*DLOAD):
1. From the tree, double-click Distributed loads.
2. Select DLOAD from the expanded options under Distributed loads.

A new set of tabs appears on the right.

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3. From the Define tab, select Element sets.

The element sets table is displayed.

4. Using the mouse controls, rotate the model to the view shown in the image below.

5. From the Load Step dialog, select default (Pressure) from the Type: drop-down list.
6. From the Element sets drop-down list, select pressure_set. To view the entire list of element sets, click

the Expand icon to see the Set Browser window. Here you can also use the Filter and Sort
buttons to help narrow your search.
7. Click on the right arrow button to add the selected set to the element sets table.
8. Click Review set under the Element sets drop-down list.

The element set in HyperMesh is highlighted as shown below.

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9. Right-click Review set to clear the highlighted display in HyperMesh.

The highlighted elements revert back to the load collector color.

10. Under the Label column of the element sets table, select P from the drop-down list for the newly added
pressure_set.
11. Since the pressure_set contains shell elements, the direction of normal to the elements must be known
to determine the sign of the magnitude. To find the direction of the normal, select the pressure_set
element from the table and click Show faces under the table.

The normals for pressure_set are displayed in HyperMesh as shown below.

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12. Right-click Show faces to clear the display.

13. Enter -10 in the Magnitude field of the element sets table for pressure_set.

Note that the negative magnitude means pressure load in the opposite direction of the underlying shell
element normals.
14. Click Update under the element sets table.

The HyperMesh database is updated. Notice that Dload is now added to the Load type: line, indicating
DLOAD as another load type created in the loads_and_constraints load collector. The corresponding
load types on the tree are also highlighted.
15. Select pressure_set from the element sets table.

16. Click Review under the element sets table to review the loads as seen below.

In this exercise, you constrained and applied distributed loads on the model using HyperMesh panels. The
loads (*DLOAD) information is automatically stored in step1. Next, you will specify the output requests for
this step.

Steps 8-9: Define Output Requests

In this exercise, you will specify several output requests for step1. There are two methods for defining output
request described below.

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Step 8: Request ODB file outputs
1. From the tree, double-click Output request.
2. Select ODB file from the expanded options under Output request.
3. Click New… and enter step1 output in the Name: text box.

4. Click Create.

5. Click step1 output (which you just created).

A new set of tabs is displayed on the right.

6. From the Output tab, activate the Output check box. Leave Output set to field.
7. Activate the Node output and Element output options.

The Node Output and Element Output tabs are activated.

8. Click the Node Output tab.
9. Double-click Displacement and activate the U check box.

U is added to the data line on the right. You are now requesting displacement results in the ODB file.

Note: You can manually type in an output request into this table, including unsupported requests. They
will be written out as entered in the table.
10. Click Update.

11. Click the Element Output tab.

12. Activate the Position check box and set it to Nodes.

13. Double-click Stress and activate the S check box.

S is added to the data line on the right. You are now requesting stress results in the ODB file.
14. Click Update.

Step 9: Request results file (.fil) outputs

1. From the tree, under Output request, select Result file (.fil).
2. From the Define tab, activate the Node file and Element file check boxes.

The Node File and Element File tabs are activated.

3. From the Node File tab, in the lower left area, expand Displacement and activate U.

U is added to the data line on the right. You are now requesting displacement results in the .fil file.

4. Click Update.
5. From the Element File tab, activate the Position check box and set it to averaged at nodes.

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6. In the lower left area, double-click Stress and activate S.

S is added to the data line on the right. You are now requesting stress results in the .fil file.

7. Click Update.
8. Click Review.

A text-editor showing the output requests you made is displayed. This is the format used in the Abaqus
input file (.inp).

9. Click Close on the text-editor window.

10. Click Close.

The Load Step edit dialog of the Step Manager closes and you are returned to the main Step
Manager dialog. The main Step Manager dialog displays step1 information as we defined in previous
exercises.
11. Click Close to exit the Step Manager dialog.

Steps 10-11: Export the database to an Abaqus input file

The data currently stored in the database must be output to an Abaqus .inp file for use with the Abaqus
solver. The .inp file can then be used to perform the analysis using Abaqus outside of HyperMesh.

Step 10: Export the .inp file

1. From the menu bar select File > Export > Solver Deck.
2. In the File: field, enter job1.inp.

3. Click the Export options down arrows.

4. Click the Export: toggle to all.

5. Click Export.
6. Click Close to close the Export panel.

Step 11: Save the .hm file and quit HyperMesh

1. From the menu bar select File > Save as > Model.
2. Select your working directory and for File name:, enter job1.hm.

3. Click Save.
4. From the menu bar select File > Exit to quit HyperMesh.

After you quit HyperMesh, you can run the Abaqus solver using the job1.inp file that was written from

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HyperMesh.

For additional tools and techniques, refer to the tutorial Pre-Processing for Bracket and Cradle Analysis
using Abaqus - HM-4340.

See HyperMesh Tutorials for a complete list of tutorials.

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HM-4340: Pre-Processing for Bracket and Cradle Analysis
using Abaqus

In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up an Abaqus input file in HyperMesh for obtaining the linear static
response of a cradle and bracket assembly subjected to a 100 kN load on the bracket, with the cradle’s ends
fully constrained. Specifically, you will learn how to:

View images of keywords and data lines in HyperMesh as they appear in the Abaqus input file

Create and edit Abaqus materials and section properties

Select Abaqus entity types for HyperMesh element and load configurations

Create loads and boundary conditions for model data (*KINEMATIC COUPLING and *BOUNDARY)

Create an Abaqus step containing title, analysis procedure, parameters, *CLOAD on bracket, and
output requests

Export a model to an Abaqus formatted input file

Note: The units millimeters and kilonewtons (mm, kN) are used in this document.

Exercise
The following graphic displays the model that is used in the tutorial. Follow the steps below to start up
HyperMesh using the Abaqus template and load the model.

Bracket and cradle assembly

Step 1: Load the Abaqus user profile and model

1. From the menu bar select Preferences > User Profiles.
2. Select Abaqus as the profile name.

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3. Select Standard3D and click OK.

4. From the menu bar select File > Open > Model.
5. Browse to the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/interfaces/abaqus folder and select the
file bracket_cradle.hm.

6. Click Open.

The bracket_cradle.hm file contains the following Abaqus model data:

ELSET bracket modeled with penta (C3D6) and hexa (C3D8) elements

ELSET cradle modeled with tria (S3) and quad (S4) elements

Two *KINEMATIC COUPLING entities at the bracket’s bottom bolt holes

Material named aluminum

*SOLID SECTION property for ELSET bracket with the aluminum material associated to it

Understanding the relationship between Abaqus and HyperMesh entities

HyperMesh card images allow you to view images of keywords and data lines for defined Abaqus entities as
interpreted by the loaded template. The keywords and data lines appear in the Abaqus input file as you see
them in the card images. Additionally, for some card images, you can define and edit various parameters and
data items for the corresponding Abaqus keyword.

Click the Card Edit icon to review and edit card images. You can also review and edit the card image for
many entities from the panel in which they are created. Most of the card images are also accessible from
the Model Browser by right-clicking on the entity and selecting Card Edit.

*ELEMENT with Sectional Property

The Abaqus keyword *ELEMENT, TYPE = <type>, ELSET = <name>, is defined by Abaqus elements
collected in a HyperMesh component collector. One *ELEMENT keyword is written to the Abaqus input file
for each element type in the component. The name of the ELSET is the name of the component.

If a property is assigned to a component, the ELSET name of that sectional property will be the name of the
component collector. If properties are directly assigned to elements, HyperMesh will write an additional
ELSET with the name of the property collector it is assigned to. The sectional property card will then point to
this ELSET. Assignment of individual elements to a property takes precedence over assigning a component
to a property. Individual element assignment is only recommended when the ratio of elements per component
is very small. This is the situation explained in this tutorial.

The material referenced in the sectional property is defined by a HyperMesh material collector associated
with the property collector. The diagram below shows how elements and its associated properties are
organized in HyperMesh.

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Abaqus materials in HyperMesh
An Abaqus *MATERIAL is a HyperMesh material collector with a card image.
There are four card images for the HyperMesh Abaqus templates: ABAQUS_MATERIAL,
GASKET_MATERIAL (for the Standard templates), CONNECTOR_BEHAVIOR and GENERIC_MATERIAL.
There are two ways to create a material collector and associate it to a component.

Method One (Drop down menu)

From the menu bar, create a material collector with a card image and edit it to define material data.
By selecting the material while creating a property, it will automatically be assigned to the sectional
property. As pointed out in the paragraph above you now can assign the property containing the
sectional properties to a component or to individual elements. To assign properties to existing
components or individual elements, click on Collectors > Assign > Component Properties or click
on Properties > Assign.

Method Two (Model Browser)

In the Model Browser, while in either the model or material view, right-click and select Create to
create a new material collector with the appropriate card image. If you select the Create/Edit button,
the card image displays so you can set up all necessary parameters and keywords. Properties can
also be created in this manner. You can directly assign the material to the new property by selecting
the material in the Material name field.

Within the card image of each material card, it is possible to add as many data lines as you want for a
material (such as *PLASTIC with yield stress, plastic strain, and temperature data). Manually enter the data
in HyperMesh or import an Abaqus formatted input file on top of the model in HyperMesh to create the data

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lines.

Steps 2-4: Review and edit the model’s content

In this section, you will use the card editor panel to review elements, sectional properties, and materials as
they appear in the Abaqus input file. You can also review and edit card images by right-clicking on an entity
in the Model Browser and selecting the Card Edit option.

Step 2: Review the card image of one of the elements

1. From the menu bar select Mesh > Card Edit > Elements.
2. Verify the toggle is set to elems. Graphically select an element from the bracket (blue elements) in the
model and select edit.

A card image for the element is displayed. It shows the element’s type to be either C3D6 or C3D8 and
the ELSET name as bracket.
3. Click return to close the card image.

Step 3: View the property card

Use the steps below to card edit the property assigned to the components to review the sectional properties
associated with the elements in these components.
1. Within the Model Browser, expand the Property folder .
2. Right click on bracket and select Card Edit.

A card image is displayed. It shows the bracket’s *SOLID SECTION property and aluminum as the
material associated with it.
3. Click return to close the card image.

Step 4: View the material collector card

Follow the steps below to card edit the aluminum material collector to review the defined aluminum material.
1. Within the Model Browser, expand the Material folder.
2. Right click on aluminum and select Card Edit.

A card image is displayed. It contains Abaqus data lines defining the material.
3. Click return to close the card image.

Review of the model’s content is complete. Next you will complete the model data.

Step 5-6: Create and assign a *MATERIAL for the cradle

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In this section, you will learn to create a *MATERIAL with *ELASTIC to define as steel the ELSET cradle.
This will be completed by following the steps below. When you define the sectional property for the cradle
component in the next section, the material will already be referenced in the property.

Step 5: Create the material STEEL

1. Within the Model Browser, right click and select Create > Material.
2. In the Name: field, enter steel.

3. Leave the Type: field set to all. Click the Card image: drop down and select ABAQUS_MATERIAL.
4. Check the option for Card edit material upon creation and then click Create.
5. From the menu area of the card editor, slide the scroll bar down and activate the Elastic option to create
*ELASTIC.
6. In the displayed card image, enter 200 for elastic modulus E(1).

7. Specify 0.3 for Poisson’s ratio NU(1).

8. Click return.

The material steel is defined.

Step 6: Assign the material Steel to the component and define *SHELLSECTION for
the cradle property
1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create > Property.
2. In the Name: field, enter cradle.

3. Click the Type: drop down and select PLANAR SECTION.

4. Click the Card image: drop down and select SHELLSECTION.
5. Click the Material tab.

6. Check the option for Assign Material to be able to assign the material.
7. In the Name: field, select steel.
8. Verify that Card edit property upon creation is checked on and then click Create.
9. Click Thickness and enter 2.5.

Notice the steel material is already specified in the section property definition:

*SHELL SECTION, ELSET=cradle, MATERIAL=steel

10. Click return to close the card image.

11. Right click on the component cradle in the Model Browser and select Assign.

12. From the Property: field, select cradle, and then click Apply.

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 The steel material is now associated to the ELSET cradle.

Understanding HyperMesh Entity Configurations and Types

HyperMesh element and load entities have two identifiers: configuration and type. The entity configuration is
a HyperMesh core feature while the entity type is defined by the template. For example, HyperMesh element
configurations include rigid, spring, quad4, and hex8. Possible quad4 configuration types in the Standard3D
template include S4, S4R, S4R5, among others. Similarly, HyperMesh load configurations include
constraints, force, pressure, and temperature. In the HyperMesh Abaqus templates, pressure configuration
types include DLOAD, DFLUX, FILM, DECHARGE and Radiate.

Most of the HyperMesh element and load configurations have their own panels. From the 1D, 2D, and 3D
pages, use the Elem Types panel. Load types can be chosen directly in the related panels. You can also
use the load or element types panels to change the type of load.

Kinematic Constraints in HyperMesh

With the exception of *EQUATION, Abaqus kinematic constraints, such as *KINEMATIC COUPLING and
*MPC (BEAM, TIE, LINK, PIN), are rigid (1D) elements in HyperMesh. From the 1D page, use the Rigids
panel to create them. Organize them into HyperMesh component collectors. No sectional property or
material is needed for these entities. Hence, either organize them into their own component or into a
component containing different Abaqus entities.

Steps 7-10: Constrain the bracket to the cradle

In this section, you will create the Abaqus constraint *KINEMATIC COUPLING to simulate a bolt connecting
the bracket’s top bolt hole to the cradle. The model already contains two *KINEMATIC COUPLING entities,
one at each of the bracket’s bottom bolt holes. They are organized into the bracket component.

Using the steps below, you will start by creating a new component in which you will organize all the
*KINEMATIC COUPLING entities. This is not necessary, but is done to organize the data and demonstrate
the selection of entities by configuration. This component will contain the *KINEMATIC COUPLING to be
created. You will need to select any existing material to avoid creating one that is not needed.

Be sure to use the Elem Types panel to set the type for rigids to KINCOUP. This allows all elements
created from the Rigids panel to be of the type *KINEMATIC COUPLING.

Finally, you will create the *KINEMATIC COUPLING using the Rigids panel.

Step 7: Create a new component collector

Complete the steps below to create a new component collector and set the element type rigid to KINCOUP.
1. Right click in the Model Browser and select Create > Component.
2. In the Name: field enter the name connection.

3. Select a color the component and click Create.

The connection component is now the current component as shown in the header bar. All elements and
geometry created from this point forward are automatically organized into it.

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4. From the menu bar select Mesh > Assign > Element Type.

5. Select the 1D subpanel.

6. Click rigid = and select KINCOUP.
7. Click return.

Step 8: Create a reference node

Follow the steps below to use the distance panel to create a node at the center of the bolt hole to be the
*KINEMATIC COUPLING reference node.
1. Zoom into the top bolt hole as shown in the figure below.
2. Press the F4 key to display the Distance panel.
3. Select the three nodes subpanel.
4. From the graphics area, select three nodes on the top side of the bolt hole for N1, N2, and N3 (see figure
below).

Selecting nodes for circle center

5. Click the circle center button to create a node at the center of the selected nodes.
6. Click return.

Step 9: Create a spider-like rigid link

Follow the steps below to use the Rigids panel to create a spider-like rigid link for the *KINEMATIC
COUPLING.
1. From the menu bar select Mesh > Create > 1D Elements > Rigids.
2. Select the create subpanel.

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3. Activate all six degrees of freedom, dof1 to dof6, to constrain the *KINEMATIC COUPLING reference
node in all six directions.

4. Set dependent: to multiple nodes.

5. With the node selector for independent: active, select the center node created in the previous step.
6. With the nodes selector for dependent: active, select all the nodes on the top side of the bolt hole (see
figure below).

Selecting independent and dependents nodes

7. In the Model Browser, right-click on the bracket component and select Hide.
8. With the nodes selector for dependent: still active, select the nodes around the hole in the cradle (see
figure below).

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 Selecting dependent nodes from the cradle

9. Click create to create the *KINEMATIC_COUPLING.

10. In the Model Browser, right-click on the bracket component and select Show to turn the elements from
the bracket component back on.
11. Click return.

Kinematic coupling

The *KINEMATIC COUPLING is now created and organized into the connection component.

Step 10: Move the *KINEMATIC COUPLING entities

Use the steps below to move all *KINEMATIC COUPLING entities into the connection component using the
organize panel.
1. From the menu bar, click Mesh > Organize > Elements > To Component.
2. Click elems >> by config.

3. For config =, select rigidlink.

4. For type =, select *KINCOUP.
5. Click the toggle in the middle of the panel to change displayed rigid links to all rigid links.
6. Click select entities to select all rigid links in the model.
7. For destination =, select connection.
8. Click move to move all rigid links to the connection component.
9. Click return.

All the *KINEMATIC COUPLING entities are now organized into the connection component. Model data
definition is complete.

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Using Step Manager for initial conditions

HyperMesh includes a tool named Step Manager. It is used to create, edit, review, re-order, and delete
Abaqus initial conditions and steps. This tool is accessible accessible through the menu bar by selecting
Tools > Load Step Browser.

Step Manager has a default step named Initial Condition. It is used to create boundary conditions and
loads (initial conditions) in the model data portion of the Abaqus input file.

A dialog is displayed to edit the Initial Condition step. Only valid boundary conditions and load types for
model data can be selected from the Step Manager’s Load Step options list for the Initial Condition step.

Initial condition dialog

Use this dialog from left to right by:

selecting a load step type from the list (left column)

creating a load collector (center area)

creating the loads using the menu area (right side)

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Step 11: Define *BOUNDARY
Follow the steps below to create these constraints at the cradle’s ends using the Step Manager. Define
them as model data, not history data, by editing the Step Manager’s default step named Initial Condition.
For this step, you will create a load collector and then create the constraints.
1. From the menu bar select Tools > Load Step Browser.
2. From the Step tab, select Initial Condition from the table.

3. Click Edit to modify this step.

A new dialog is displayed.

4. From the Load Step options list, select Boundary.

This specifies the type of initial condition you want to create.

5. Use New… to create a new load collector. Name it constraints and click create.

6. Check Display for the constraints load collector.

7. Optionally, select a Display color for the constraints load collector.
8. From the load collector table, click constraints to make this collector active.

New menus are displayed on the right for the Load Type selected (Boundary).
9. From the Define tab, set Type: to default (disp).
10. Click Define from Constraints panel to go to the Constraints panel.

The Constraints panel is displayed.

11. From the toolbar, select the XZ Right Plane View .

12. Click nodes >> by window.

13. Draw a window in the graphics area so that all nodes at both ends of the cradle are selected.

Selecting nodes for constraints

14. Activate all six degrees of freedom, dof1 to dof6, to constrain the selected nodes in all six directions.

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15. Click Create to create the constraints.

16. Click return to return to the Step Manager.

17. Click Close to close the Initial Condition step and return to the Step Manager’s main window.

Define the history data

The history data portion of the Abaqus input file defines the sequence of events for the simulation. The
loading history is divided into a series of steps. Each step contains the type of simulation, loads, constraints,
output requests, and contacts (for Abaqus Explicit). The Abaqus *STEP option marks the start of a step,
while the *END STEP option marks the end.

In the Step Manager, create, review, edit, delete, and re-order the Abaqus steps. In the Step Manager,
loads are organized into load collectors and output requests are organized into HyperMesh output blocks.

Step 12: Define the Abaqus step

For this analysis, we are interested in the linear static response of the cradle and bracket assembly to a 100
kN load applied on the bracket, with the cradle’s ends fully constrained. This is a single event, so only one
Abaqus step is needed. In this section, use the Step Manager to create the step as follows:

Define its title, heading, parameters, and the analysis procedure.

Apply a concentrated force (*CLOAD) on the bracket’s arm.

1. From the Step tab of the Step Manager, click New... to create a new step. Name it step1 and click
create.
2. From the Load Step options list, select Title to define the step’s title.

The menu for Title will be displayed on the window’s right side.
3. Activate the Step heading: option.
4. Enter 100kN load for the step heading name and click Update.

5. From the Load Step options list, select Parameter.

6. Activate the option Name so the step’s name is written to the Abaqus input file.
7. Activate the option Perturbation to set the analysis for small-scale, linear deformations.
8. Click Update.
9. From the Load Step options list, select Analysis procedure.
10. For the Analysis type:, select static and click Update.

11. Click the Text… button to review what has been defined so far for the step. When finished reviewing the
contents of the window, click Close.
12. From the Load Step options list, expand the list for Concentrated loads and select CLOAD-Force.

13. Click New to create a new load collector. Enter the name as force and click create.

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14. Optionally, select a color for the force load collector.

15. From the Load collector table, select force to activate this collector.

New menus are displayed on the right for the selected load type (CLOAD-Force).
16. From the Define tab, click Define from ‘Forces’ Panel to create a CLOAD from the Forces panel.

17. From the graphics area, select the central node on the top side of the bracket’s arm (see figure below).

Node for CLOAD

18. Click the magnitude = field and enter –100.

19. Leave the system selector set to global system.

20. Select z-axis for the force’s direction vector.

21. Click create to create the force.

22. Click return to return to the Step Manager.

Step 13: Specify output requests for the step

In this section, use the Step Manager to specify displacement and stress results to be output to the ODB
and FIL results files for step1. Then, export the model to an .inp file.

1. From the Load Step options list, expand the list for Output request and select ODB file.
2. Click New to create a new output block. Enter the name as step1_output and click Create.

3. From the Output block: table, select step1_output to make it active.

4. From the Output tab, activate the option Output and leave it set to field.
5. Activate the Node output and Element output options.
6. To specify the nodal displacement output for the ODB file, go to the Node Output tab and expand the

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 Displacement options list.

7. Activate the option U from the Output options list.

Resize the Step Manager window as needed to view the output options list more easily.
8. Click Update.
9. To specify elemental stress output for the ODB file, select the Element Output tab and expand the
Stress options list.

10. Activate S and click Update.

11. From the Load Step options list, under Output request, select Result file (.fil).

The output block step1_output is still highlighted (active) in the Output block table.
12. From the Define tab, activate the options Node file and Element file.

13. To specify nodal displacement output for the FIL file, select the Node File tab.

14. Expand the Output options list, and under Displacement, activate U.

15. Click Update.

16. To specify the elemental stress output for the FIL file, select the Element File tab.

17. Activate the Position option and set it to averaged at nodes.

18. From the Output options list, under Stress, activate S.

19. Click Update.

20. Click Close to close the Load Step window.

21. Click Close to close the Step Manager window.

Defining the step is now complete.

Step 14: Export the model

1. From the menu bar select File > Export > Solver Deck to export the model to your working directory.
2. In the File: field, enter the file name as bracket_cradle_complete.inp and click Export.

You can now submit the .inp file to Abaqus for analysis.

This concludes this tutorial. You may discard this HyperMesh model or save it to your working directory for
your reference.

In this tutorial, you were introduced some of the concepts that govern the HyperMesh interface to Abaqus.
You also used the Step Manager that allowed you to do basic modeling in terms of Abaqus, such as
defining boundary conditions, output requests, and steps.

For additional tools and techniques, refer to the tutorial HM-4350: Pre-Processing for Crashing Tubes
Analysis using Abaqus.

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See HyperMesh Tutorials for a complete list of tutorials.

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HM-4350: Pre-Processing for Crashing Tubes Analysis using
Abaqus

For this tutorial it is recommended that you complete the introductory tutorial, HM-1000: Getting Started with
HyperMesh as well as the tutorial HM-4310: Defining Abaqus Contacts for 2-D Models in HyperMesh.
Working knowledge of the creation and editing of collectors and card images are a definite pre-requisite.

In this tutorial you will learn how to setup in HyperMesh an Abaqus input file for obtaining the dynamic
response of multiple tubes with one tube fully constrained and gravity applied on the other tubes. The
modeling steps that are covered are:

Create *ORIENTATION system

Create contact between shell elements

Create a step with *AMPLITUDE associated to *DLOAD

The units used in this tutorial are Milliseconds, Millimeters, Kilograms, and Kilonewtons (ms, mm, kg, kN),
and the tutorial is based on Abaqus 6.9-EF1.

For more information regarding the panels used in this tutorial, please refer to the Panels section of the on-
line help, or click the h key while in the panel to bring up its context sensitive help. For detailed information
on the HyperMesh Abaqus interface, refer to the External Interfacing section of the on-line help.

This tutorial requires about 30 minutes to complete.

The model used is composed of four tubes (see image below).

Crashing tubes

Step 1: Load the Abaqus Explicit user profile and retrieve the model
1. From the menu bar select Preferences > User Profiles.

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2. Select Abaqus as the profile name.

3. Select Explicit and click OK.

4. From the menu bar select File > Open > Model.
5. Browse to the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/interfaces/abaqus folder and select
the crash_tubes.hm file.

6. Click Open.

The model contains the following Abaqus model and history data:

Four tubes with shell (S4R) elements. The corresponding ELSETs are named FixTube, MovTube,
MovTube2 and MovTube3.

A *SHELL SECTION property for each tube. Each property is associated with one of two materials.

*BOUNDARY constraints on the ELSET named FixTube.

A HyperMesh system.

Defining the Abaqus *ORIENTATION in HyperMesh

*ORIENTATION specifies a local system defining local material directions for elements.

In Abaqus, shell and membrane elements have default local directions. They are not the global system
directions. The default local 1-direction is the projection of the global x axis direction onto the shell surface. If
the global x axis is normal to the shell surface, the local 1-direction is the projection of the global z axis onto
the shell surface. The local 2-direction is perpendicular to the local 1-direction in the surface of the shell.
Refer to the figure below.

Default local shell directions

The general steps outlined below can help you understand the process followed in this tutorial.
1. Create a System Collector with no card image and give it a name as per your preference.

Note: You can collect any number of systems in a system collector.

2. Create a system using the Geometry drop down menu.

3. Create the *ORIENTATION using the Card panel.

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4. In the Card panel, select the HyperMesh system (systs) and click edit.

5. Activate the ORIENTATION option to create the *ORIENTATION keyword.

6. If the *ORIENTATION system is for solid elements, do not activate the locdir_alpha option. If this
*ORIENTATION system is for shell and membrane elements, activate the locdir_alpha option. By
default, the local axis closest to being normal to the elements’ 1 and 2 material directions is the local 1-
axis. Also by default, the additional rotation about the local normal axis is 0. You can change these
values by editing the [locdir] and [alpha] fields in the pop-up card image.
7. Associate the *ORIENTATION to the desired sectional properties.

Local directions for this model

The default set of local material directions can sometimes cause problems; a case in point is the model’s
fixed tube pictured below. For most of the elements in the tube, the local 1-direction is circumferential.
However, there is a line of elements normal to the global x axis. For these elements the local 1-direction is
the projection of the global z axis onto the shell, making the local 1-direction axial instead of circumferential.
A contour plot of the direct stress in the local 1-direction will look strange, since for most elements, it is the
circumferential stress, whereas for some elements it is the axial stress. In this case, use the *ORIENTATION
option for the fixed tube to define more appropriate local directions.

Default local 1-direction in the fixed tube

Step 2: Create the *ORIENTATION for the fixed tube

In this section, you will use the approach described in the previous section to create an *ORIENTATION for
the fixed tube. Use the pre-defined cylindrical coordinate system for this tube and define the card using the
card panel.
1. Use your mouse to position the model to the view shown below. This system is located at one end of the
fixed tube and is organized in the system collector.

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2. From the menu bar select Geometry > Card Edit > Systems to edit the system's card and define the
*ORIENTATION option.
3. Verify the entity selector switch is set to systs.
4. Select the local system in the graphics area.
5. Click edit.
6. Activate the ORIENTATION option.
7. In the Name = field, enter Orient_Coord.

8. Activate the locdir_alpha option.

The locdir and alpha fields are now displayed under *ORIENTATION in the card image.
9. Leave the locdir field set to 1 to specify the radial axis as the axis closest to being normal to the shells’
1 and 2 material directions.
10. Leave the alpha field set to 0 for the additional rotation of the local normal axis.

11. Click return to close the card image.

12. Use the card editor to associate *ORIENTATION to the fixed tube’s sectional property by clicking the
entity selector switch and selecting props.
13. Click props, select FixTube and click select.

14. Click edit.

*SHELL SECTION, ELSET = FixTube is shown in the card image.

15. Activate the Orientation option from the options list.

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16. Activate the UseOrientationId checkbox, then click on the yellow SystemId selector and graphically
select the system. This method will also assign the system name to the card image.

17. Click return to close the card image.

18. Click return to exit the panel.

You have defined the *ORIENTATION for the ELSET FixTube.

Step 3: Define contact between the tubes as Abaqus general contact

General contact is usually easier to set up than common contact between two surfaces. Follow the steps
below to set up a general contact.

The following is the simplest definition of general contact:

*CONTACT

*CONTACT INCLUSIONS, ALL EXTERIOR

You can assign other contact properties within a general contact using the following option.

*CONTACT PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT

surf_1, surf_2, prop_1

In this section, you will use the Contact Manager to define a contact pair property between the FixTube and
the MoveTube (the closest tube to the fixed tube). Then you will define a general contact for the entire model
and assign the contact pair property to it.

The general contact algorithm is used to define contacts between the tubes. A contact pair property is
assigned to the general contact to define a different type of contact algorithm between the FixTube and the
MoveTube. This contact pair property is not required. However, it is created here for the purpose of
demonstrating how it is specified in a general contact using HyperMesh.

In a model like this, where both components have similar geometry (mesh) and material properties, either the
fixed or moving tube can be chosen for the slave or master surface. Here use the ELSET FixTube for the
slave surface of the contact pair property.

Complete the steps below to create a slave *SURFACE on FixTube by selecting elements in the Contact
Manager:
1. From the menu bar select Tools > Contact Manager.
2. On the Surface tab, click New… to begin defining a surface.
3. In the Name: field, enter S1_Fixed.

4. Leave the surface Type: as Element based.

5. Optionally, choose a Color: for visualizing the surface.
6. Click Create….

The Element Based Surface, Name: S1_Fixed dialog is now displayed.

7. From the Define surface for: options list, select 3D shell, membrane, rigid.

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8. Click Elements to select the elements on which the surface will be defined.

9. In the HyperMesh panel, click elems >> by collector to select elements by component collector.
10. Select the component FixTube and click select.

11. Click proceed.

The normals for the selected elements are displayed. They are pointing out of the fixed tube. This is the
desired direction. SPOS will be written to the input file for the elements in this contact surface. To
specify SNEG in the input file, activate Reverse in the Contact Manager dialog before going to the next
step. This does not change the element normals.
12. Click Add to add the elements to the surface.

13. Click Close to close the Sl_Fixed surface dialog and return to the Contact Manager’s main window.

Notice the surface Sl_Fixed is listed in the Surface tab.

Step 4: Create master *SURFACE on MoveTube by selecting a set of elements in

the Contact Manager
1. On the Surface tab, click New… to begin defining a second surface.
2. In the Name: field, enter Ma_Moving.

3. Leave the surface Type: as Element based.

4. Optionally, select a Color: for visualizing the surface.
5. Click Create.

The Element Based Surface, Name: Ma_Moving dialog is now displayed.

6. From the Define surface for: options list, select Element set.
7. Use the Element set: pull-down menu to select the pre-defined element set Ma_TubeContSet.
8. Click Review Set to highlight the elements in the selected set.

9. Right-click Review Set to remove the highlight on the elements.

10. Click Show Faces to view the direction of the element normals.

In the graphics window, the normals are pointing into the moving tube. Hence, the faces on the inside of
the moving tube elements are SPOS.
11. When finished reviewing the normals, in the Element Based Surface dialog, click on the right arrow key
to move the Ma-TubeContSet element set into the table.
12. Click on the Face: pull down menu and select SNEG.

This specifies the faces on the outside of the moving tube elements. SNEG is written to the input file for
the set of elements forming this master contact surface.
13. Activate the Display option.

14. Click Update.

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15. Answer Yes to the pop-up confirmation question.

16. Click Close to close the Ma_Moving surface dialog and return to the Contact Manager’s main
window.

Notice the surface Ma_Moving is now listed in the Surface tab.

Step 5: Create *SURFACE INTERACTION in the Contact Manager

1. On the Surface Interaction tab, click New… to create a new surface interaction.
2. In the Name: field, enter CrashContact_Inter and click Create.

A Surface Interaction dialog displays.

3. On the Define tab, activate the Friction option.
4. On the Friction tab, in the Friction Coeff column in the table, enter 0.2.

5. Click OK to return to the Contact Manager’s main window.

Notice the surface interaction CrashContact_Inter listed in the Surface Interaction tab.

Step 6: Define a general contact *CONTACT in the Contact Manager

1. On the Interface tab, click New… to define a new interface.
2. In the Name: field, enter CrashContact.

3. Set the interface Type: to General Contact.

4. Click Create…

The Card Image subpanel opens with *CONTACT shown.

5. Activate Contact_Inclusions to create *CONTACT INCLUSIONS.
6. Activate the All_Exterior option in the *CONTACT INCLUSIONS line.

7. Scroll down the options list and activate Contact_Property_Assignment to create *CONTACT
PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT.
8. In the card image, click Surface1(1) to activate it, and then click it again and select the surface
S1_Fixed.
9. Click Surface 2(1) twice and select the surface Ma_Moving.
10. At the top of the card image, use the scroll bar to scroll horizontally to the right to see all of the options
available for *CONTACT PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT.
11. Click Surface_Interaction(1) and select interface CrashContact_Inter.

12. Click return to return to the Contact Manager.

13. Click Close to close the Contact Manager.

Defining the general contact between the tubes is complete.

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Step 7: Create *STEP
For this analysis, only one *STEP is needed. You will create a *DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT step and specify field
output requests. Lastly, you will add the general *CONTACT and *SURFACE INTERACTION (groups) to the
step. Adding the latter is required for Abaqus/Explicit, but not Abaqus/Standard. It is history data for Explicit.
1. From the menu bar select Tools > Load Step Browser.
2. Click New… to begin defining a step.

3. In the Name: field, enter Crash.

4. Click Create… to create the step.

5. Select Title from the Load Step options list.
6. Activate Step heading: and type in Moving tubes Rho 1.8E-09.

7. Click Update.
8. Select Analysis procedure in the Load Step options list.
9. Set the Analysis type: to dynamic.
10. On the Dataline tab, activate Time period and specify 0.2.

11. Click Update.

12. Close the Step Manager.

Understanding boundary conditions for this model

In Abaqus/Standard, common boundary conditions are *BOUNDARY constraints to prevent rigid body motion
and *CLOAD and *DLOAD (forces and pressures). In Abaqus/Explicit, common boundary conditions are
constraints and time varying boundary conditions, like time varying displacement, velocity or acceleration,
causing dynamic structural response.

For this analysis, the nodes at the ends of the fixed tube are fully constrained with *BOUNDARY constraints.
These *BOUNDARY constraints are model data. In HyperMesh, they are organized into a load collector
named "Constraint" with the card image INITIAL_CONDITION.

*DLOAD, TYPE = GRAVITY, AMPLITUDE = curve will be created for all nodes of the moving tubes. This is a
constant acceleration applied in the global x direction. *AMPLITUDE is not required for gravity since it has a
constant magnitude. However, *AMPLITUDE is assigned to the *DLOAD in this section for the purpose of
showing you how to do this in HyperMesh. *AMPLITUDE allows arbitrary time variations of the applied
condition throughout a step.

Step 8: Create *AMPLITUDE in HyperMesh

*AMPLITUDE is an xy curve in HyperMesh. There are two methods for creating *AMPLITUDE in HyperMesh.

Method 1:

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Create *AMPLITUDE using the curve editor via XY Plots > Curve Editor drop down menus. This is a quick
and easy way to create new AMPLITUDE cards.

Method 2:

Create plots and curve via the drop down menu: XY-Plots > Create > Plots or Curves. This method provides
additional functionalities, such as reading data from a file or generating curves by simple math. Please refer
to XY Plotting in the online documentation for more information.

HyperMesh supports *AMPLITUDE with DEFINITION = TABULAR, EQUALLY SPACED and SMOOTH
STEP. Use the Step Manager to associate a *AMPLITUDE to a load in HyperMesh.

Complete the steps below to create *AMPLITUDE in the Curve Editor.

1. From the menu bar select XYPlots > Curve Editor.

2. Click New… to create a new curve.

2. In the Name = field, enter amp_1 and click proceed.

3. In the Curve List area, click on amp_1 to activate the new curve.
4. Enter the following values into the table and click Update:

x y

0.0 0.0

0.5 1.0

1.0 2.0

1.5 3.0

Your new amplitude curve displays in the window on the right.

As an alternative you can also copy and paste values column by column from a spreadsheet (e.g.
Excel). Before closing the Curve Editor, review the visualization possibilities and buttons available.

5. Click Close to close the Curve editor window.

Step 9: Define *DLOAD, TYPE = GRAVITY

Define this on all the nodes of the moving tubes. Use the Step Manager for the step named Crash.
1. From the menu bar select Tools > Load Step Browser.
2. Highlight the step Crash and click Edit.
3. In the Load Step options list, expand Distributed loads and select DLOAD.
4. Under the Load collector: table, click New…
5. In the Name field, enter GRAVITY.

6. Optionally, select a display color for the GRAVITY load collector.

7. Highlight GRAVITY in the load collector table to make this collector active.

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8. On the Define tab, set the load Type: to gravity.

9. From the Define DLOAD on: option list, select Element sets.
10. From the Element sets pull-down list, select the set named ALLTUBES.

Note: You can click on the icon to view the enhanced browser. This window provides filtering and
sorting options for easier selections.
11. Click the right-arrow button to add the set ALLTUBES to the table.

12. In the Magnitude column, enter 9810.

13. Enter 1, 0, 0 in the table for Comp1, Comp2, Comp3 respectively.

This defines a unit vector in the global x direction.

14. Click Update to update the step.

15. On the Parameter tab, activate the option Amplitude curve and set it to amp_1.

16. Click Review/edit to display amp_1 in the graphics area.

17. Click Close to close the Curve Editor.

18. Click Update to update the step and write the changes to the database.

Step 10: Define output requests for the ODB file

In this section, use the Step Manager to define output request for the step Crash.
1. Expand Output request from the Load Step options list.
2. Select ODB file.
3. Click New… and enter the name: as field_output. Click Create.

4. In the Output block: table, highlight field_output to make it active.

5. On the Output tab, activate the Output option and set it to field.
6. Activate the options Node output and Element output.
7. Activate the Time marks option and set it to yes.

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8. Activate the Number interval option and specify 20 intervals.

9. Click Update to update the step.

10. Go to the Node Output tab.

11. Expand Displacement from the output options list and select U to request nodal displacement output.

12. Click Update.

13. Go to the Element Output tab.

14. Expand Section_points and then expand 0. Select 0 and 1 through 5 to request results on element
layers 1 through 5.
15. Expand Stress and select S to request element stress output.

16. Click Update and click Close.

17. Close the Step Manager.

Step 11: Export the model

Use the steps below to export the model file as an INP file using the Explicit template.
1. From the menu bar select File > Export > Solver Deck to export the model to your working directory.
2. In the File: field, enter the file name as crash_tubes_Complete.inp.

3. Make sure the template field is set as Explicit and click Export.

This concludes this tutorial. You may discard this HyperMesh model or save it to your working directory for
your own reference.

In this tutorial we introduced some of the concepts that govern the HyperMesh interface to Abaqus. We used
the Contact Manager to setup a general contact between all the tubes. We also used the Step Manager
to do basic modeling in terms of Abaqus such as defining boundary conditions, output requests and steps.

For more detailed information on the Contact Manager and Step Manager, please refer to the on-line help.

See HyperMesh Tutorials for a complete list of tutorials.

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HM-4360: Creating Analytical Rigid Surface

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Create an analytical rigid surface (AR surface)

Define properties of an AR surface

Create a local coordinate system

Define a reference node

Create a mesh around the AR surface

An analytical rigid surface in Abaqus is defined as a geometric surface whose motion is governed by a
reference node. The TYPE = SEGMENTS, CYLINDER or REVOLUTION parameters in the *SURFACE
keyword defines an analytical rigid surface. The two-dimensional profile of a rigid surface is described with
straight and curved line segments. This profile can be swept along a generator vector or rotated about an axis
to form a three-dimensional surface.

Tools
The Contact Manager dialog can be accessed from the menu bar by selecting Tools > Contact Manager.

The Abaqus Contact Manager allows you to create, edit and review the following cards in HyperMesh:

*CONTACT PAIR *PRE-TENSION SECTION

*TIE *CONTACT

*SURFACE, TYPE = ELEMENT *SURFACE, TYPE = NODE

*SURFACE, COMBINE *SURFACE, CROP

*SURFACE, TYPE = CUTTING *SURFACE, TYPE = CYLINDER, REVOLUTION or SEGMENTS

SURFACE

*SURFACE INTERACTION *FRICTION

*SURFACE BEHAVIOR *CONTACT DAMPING

Exercise
This exercise uses the model file, geometry.hm.

Step 1: Load the Abaqus profile

1. From the menu bar select Preferences > User Profiles.

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2. Select Abaqus as the profile name.

3. Select Standard3D and click OK.

4. From the menu bar select File > Open > Model.
5. Browse to the <install_directory>/tutorials/hm/interfaces/abaqus folder and select
the geometry.hm file.

6. Click Open.

The file opens and the model appears in the graphics area.

Step 2: Create an Analytical Rigid Surface

1. From the menu bar select Tools > Contact Manager and click on the Surface tab.

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2. Click New.... The Create New Surface dialog box opens.

3. In the Name: field, enter a_rigid01.

4. Select the Analytical rigid type.

5. Select a color for the surface.
6. Click Create....

The Analytical Rigid Surface dialog box opens. There are four tabs in this dialog: Define, Adjust
Normal, Rigid Body and Optional Parameters. You can use this window to define the analytical rigid
surface.

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Step 3: Define the rigid surface type
The Define tab allows you to select the type (Cylinder or Revolution) and the corresponding data lines.
Note: If using the 2D template, only the Segments option is available.

1. In the Type field, select Revolution.

The analytical surface will revolve around the z-axis of the local coordinate system, which is created in
the next few steps.

2. Minimize the Analytical Rigid Surface dialog so you can access the main HyperMesh window.

Steps 4 - 6: Create the local coordinate system

Step 4: Create nodes to help define the local coordinate system

1. Go to the Nodes panel (F8 on the keyboard).
2. In the x=, y= and z= fields, enter 0, 0, and 0 respectively.

3. Click create node to create the node.

4. Click f on the keyboard to fit the model to the screen. Now you can see the node you just created.
5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to create nodes at locations (5, 0, 0) and (0, 5, 0).

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 These nodes will help define the z-axis and the yz plane of the local coordinate system.

6. Click return to close the panel.

Step 5: Create a rectangular coordinate system

1. Return to the Analytical Rigid Surface dialog.
2. Click Create/Edit System....

The System panel appears.

3. Click origin.
4. Select the node at (0,0,0) as the origin node.
5. Toggle the axis switch to the z-axis.
6. With the z-axis button active, select the node at (5,0,0).
7. With the yz plane button active, select the node at (0,5,0).
8. Verify that the coordinate system type is set to rectangular.
9. Click create.

A local rectangular system has been created at the origin.

10. Click return.

Step 6: Select the system to be used

1. In the Analytical Rigid System dialog, verify that User defined is selected in the Plane/axis: field.
2. Click Pick System...
3. In the graphics window, select the system that was created.

4. Click proceed.

HyperMesh extracts the coordinates from the system and converts it to a format that Abaqus
understands. Notice that the local system table becomes populated with the numbers.

Step 7: Pick the lines to define the analytical rigid surface

For 3D models (type= CYLINDER or REVOLUTION), the local plane, generator vector or the revolution axis
can be defined by selecting a HyperMesh system. Alternatively, you can manually input the values in the
table.

The line segments of the analytical rigid surface's profile can be defined primarily in two ways: by picking
nodes or by picking existing line segments.

For the picking nodes option, select the line-segment type, and click the Pick Nodes button to
select the corresponding end (or mid) locations from the HyperMesh graphics area. When you return

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 from the node selection panel, the coordinate values of the selected nodes will be transformed into
the local plane and appear in the selected cells. In addition, temporary line segments (white color)
will be drawn in the HyperMesh graphics area from the picked nodes. You must select two nodes in
the correct order for circles and parabolas.

For the picking existing line segments option, click the Pick Lines button to select some existing
lines from the HyperMesh graphics area. These lines must be single curvature and connected, and
node1 of a line must be the same as node2 of the previous line. When you return, the segment type
and corresponding coordinate values (transformed to the local plane) will appear in the table.
Note: For 2D models (type = SEGMENTS), Abaqus does not require the local plane definition in the data
line. However, in HyperMesh, the XY plane must be used for a 2D model (even in axisymmetric
analysis). Therefore, the XY plane is selected by default for SEGMENTS.
Complete the steps below:
1. In the Analytical Rigid Surface dialog, click START, and then click Pick Lines....
2. Zoom in on the model to easily select the lines.
3. Select each line individually starting from one end, going sequentially to the other.

Note: Do not select the top horizontal line.

4. Click proceed.

HyperMesh extracts the line’s data and inputs it into a format that Abaqus understands. Notice that the
Line table becomes populated with the numbers.
5. Press the CTRL + middle mouse button to fit the model to the screen.
6. Select the Revolution angle check box in the Analytical Rigid Surface dialog and type 360 for the
degrees.
7. Click Update.

8. Click the Shaded Geometry and Surface Edges icon on the toolbar.

You can now see the created analytical rigid surface in shaded mode.

Step 8: Review and reverse the normal

The Adjust Normal tab allows you to display the normal direction for each line segment in an analytical rigid
surface. Also, you can reverse the normals of all line segments by clicking the Reverse button.

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 Normals have been reversed

1. Select the Adjust Normal tab.

2. Activate the Display normals checkbox.

3. Click the Wireframe Geometry icon.

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4. Zoom in on the model to determine the direction from which the contact will take place.

The normals are all pointing outward.

5. In the Analytical Rigid Surface dialog, click Reverse.

The normals are now pointing inward.

When the model is exported as an Abaqus deck, all the cards related to the analytical rigid surface will
be exported.

Step 9: Define the *RIGID BODY and reference nodes

An analytical rigid surface must have a *RIGID BODY card with a reference node associated to it. When you
create a new rigid surface in the Contact Manager, a *RIGID BODY property collector and an empty
component collector (with the same name) are automatically created and linked together. The component
collector contains the analytical rigid surface’s geometry and its corresponding elements (if meshed). You
can also associated the surface to an existing *RIGID BODY property or create a new one from the Rigid
Body tab.

1. Click on the Rigid Body tab.

2. Click Pick Node.
3. Select the node at the origin (0,0,0).
4. Click proceed.

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5. Click Update.

A reference node has been assigned to the analytical rigid surface, and its behavior will be based on the
reference node.

Step 10: Define the rigid mesh for visualization in HyperView

HyperView currently does not support geometric entities such as analytical rigid surfaces. If you mesh the
analytical rigid surfaces with rigid elements that point to the same *RIGID BODY card, these elements would
not participate in the analysis. They would move with the reference node as rigid body. These rigid elements
would act like a "display body" in Abaqus, and would be imported in HyperView. The Rigid Body tab allows
you to define this "display body rigid mesh" for visualization.
1. In the Uniform field, type 10.

2. In the Revolution angle field, type 360.

3. In the No. of layers field, type 36.

4. Click Mesh.

Step 11: Drawing a rigid surface after import

When an Abaqus input file with analytical rigid surfaces is imported into HyperMesh, the surfaces are not
displayed automatically. In order to draw the rigid surfaces, you need to open the Abaqus Contact Manager
and click on the Draw Rigid Surface button in the Surface tab.

Go to HyperMesh Tutorials

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