ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced!
Course by Peter Bejdák
Section: Creating and analyzing a model using the Abaqus CAE modules
PROPERTY MODULE
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
The property module
• In this lecture we will learn something about the property module. You can enter
the Property module at any time during an Abaqus/CAE session by clicking
Property in the Module list located in the context bar. When you enter the
Property module, Material, Section, Profile, Assign, Special, Feature, and Tools
menus appear in the main menu bar. A Part list appears in the context bar that
allows you to select the part to which you want to assign properties. To exit the
Property module, select another module from the Module list. You need not take
any specific action to save your material, section, and other definitions before
exiting the module; they are saved automatically when you save the entire model
by selecting File→Save or File→Save As from the main menu bar.
• You can specify the properties of a part or part region by creating a section and
assigning it to the part. In most cases, sections refer to materials that you have
defined. Beam sections also refer to profiles that you have defined.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
Defining Material
• A material definition specifies all the property data relevant to a material. You specify a
material definition by including a set of material behaviors, and you supply the property
data with each material behavior you include. You use the material editor to specify all the
information that defines each material. Each material that you create is assigned its own
name and is independent of any particular section; you can refer to a single material in as
many sections as necessary.
Creating Material
• To create a material, select Material→Create from the main menu bar. An Edit Material
dialog box appears in which you can enter a name for the material and create or edit
material properties. Once you have created a material, it cannot be renamed using the
material editor; you must use Material→Rename to change the name of an existing
material.
The material editor consists of the following:
Material Behaviors list
• A list of the behaviors you have included in the material definition.
Behavior menu
• A set of menus beneath the behavior list from which you select material behaviors.
Behavior definition area
• The lower portion of the window in which the parameters, tabular data fields, and
suboptions associated with a selected behavior appear.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
Defining Section
• A section contains information about the properties of a part or a region of a part.
The information required in the definition of a section depends on the type of
region in question. For example, if the region is a deformable wire, shell, or two-
dimensional solid, you must assign a section to that region that provides
information about the region’s cross-sectional geometry. Likewise, a rigid region
requires a section that describes its mass properties. Most sections must refer to
a material name. Beam sections must also refer to a profile name.
• When you assign a section to a part, Abaqus/CAE automatically assigns that
section to each instance of the part. As a result, the elements that are created
when you mesh those part instances will have the properties specified in that
section.
• Sections are named and created independently of any particular region, part, or
assembly. You can assign a single section to as many different regions as
necessary. You can use the Property module to create solid sections, shell
sections, beam sections, fluid sections, and other sections.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
1. Solid sections
Solid sections define the section properties of two-dimensional, three-dimensional,
and axisymmetric solid regions.
• Homogeneous solid sections. Homogeneous solid sections consist of a
material name. In addition, if the section will be used with a two-dimensional
region, you must also specify the section thickness. (You have the option of
specifying a plane stress or plane strain thickness even if the section will be
assigned to a three-dimensional region. Abaqus/CAE ignores the thickness
information if it is not needed for the region type.)
• Generalized plane strain sections. Generalized plane strain sections consist of
a material name, thickness, and wedge angles about the global 1- and 2-axes.
You can assign generalized plane strain sections only to two-dimensional planar
regions.
• Eulerian sections. Eulerian sections consist of a list of material names. This list
specifies all of the materials that can be present in an Eulerian domain. You can
assign Eulerian sections only to Eulerian parts.
• Composite solid sections. Composite solid sections consist of layers of
materials. For each layer of material, you must specify a material name,
thickness, and orientation.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
2. Shell sections
Shell sections define the section properties of shell regions. Shells model
structures in which one dimension (the thickness) is significantly smaller than the
other two dimensions and in which the stresses in the thickness direction are
negligible. You can define one or more layers of reinforcement (rebar) in shell
sections.
• Homogeneous shell sections. Homogeneous shell sections consist of a shell
thickness, material name, section Poisson’s ratio, and optional rebar layers. You
can choose to provide the section property data before the analysis or to have
Abaqus calculate (integrate) the cross-sectional behavior from section integration
points during the analysis. If the latter is chosen, options are provided to control
the section integration and temperature variation through the thickness.
• Composite shell sections. Composite shell sections consist of layers of
materials, a section Poisson’s ratio, and optional rebar layers. For each layer of
material, you must specify a material name, thickness, and orientation. You can
choose to provide the section property data before the analysis or to have
Abaqus calculate (integrate) the cross-sectional behavior from section integration
points during the analysis. If the latter is chosen, options are provided to control
the section integration and temperature variation through the thickness.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
• Membrane sections. Membranes represent thin surfaces in space that offer
strength in the plane of the surface but have no bending stiffness. Membrane
sections consist of a material name, membrane thickness, section Poisson’s
ratio, and optional rebar layers.
• Surface sections. Surface sections represent surfaces in space that have no
inherent stiffness and behave like membrane elements with zero thickness.
Surface sections consist of optional rebar layers.
• General shell stiffness sections. General shell stiffness sections allow you to
define a shell’s mechanical response by directly specifying the stiffness matrix
and thermal expansion response. General shell stiffness sections consist of a
section stiffness matrix and scaling moduli. Optionally, you can also specify a
thermal expansion coefficient and thermal stresses in the section.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
3. Beam sections
Beams are used in two and three dimensions to model slender, rod-like structures
that provide axial strength and bending stiffness. Beams represent structures in
which the cross-section is assumed to be small compared to the length. You can
assign beam sections only to wire regions. In addition, you must assign a beam
section orientation to all regions with beam sections.
• Beam sections. Beam sections consist of a section Poisson’s ratio and a
reference to a profile. Additional information is required depending on whether
you choose to calculate (integrate) the section stiffness either before or during
analysis.
• Truss sections. Trusses, like beams, are used in two and three dimensions to
model slender, rod-like structures that provide axial strength but no bending
stiffness. Truss sections consist of a material name and cross-sectional area.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
4. Other sections
Other sections you can create include gasket sections, cohesive sections, acoustic
infinite sections, and acoustic interface sections.
• Gasket sections. Gaskets model thin sealing components that are positioned
between structural components. Gasket sections are used to provide pressure-
closure behaviors for sealing components. Gasket sections consist of a material
name, initial gasket thickness, initial gap, initial void, and cross-sectional area.
• Cohesive sections. Cohesive sections are used to model finite thickness
adhesives, negligibly thin adhesive layers for debonding applications, as well as
gaskets. No specialized gasket behavior (typically defined in terms of pressure
versus closure) is available. Cohesive sections consist of a material name,
response, initial thickness, and out-of-plane thickness.
• Acoustic infinite sections. Acoustic infinite sections are used to model an
acoustic medium undergoing small pressure changes involving exterior domains.
Acoustic infinite sections consist of an acoustic medium material name. In addition,
if the section will be used with a two-dimensional region, you must also specify the
section thickness. (You have the option of specifying a plane stress or plane strain
thickness even if the section will be assigned to a three-dimensional region.
Abaqus/CAE ignores the thickness information if it is not needed for the region
type.)
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
• Acoustic interface sections. Acoustic interface sections are used to couple an
acoustic medium to a structural model. Acoustic interface sections consist of an
acoustic medium material name. In addition, if the section will be used with a two-
dimensional region, you must also specify the section thickness. (You have the
option of specifying a plane stress or plane strain thickness even if the section
will be assigned to a three-dimensional region.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
Creating Section
• To create a section, select Section→Create from the main menu bar. A Create
Section dialog box appears in which you can name the section and specify the
type of section that you want to create. Once you have specified a section name
and type, click Continue in the Create Section dialog box to display the section
editor, which allows you to create and edit sections. The format of the section
editor varies according to the type of section you are defining.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
Defining Composite Layups
• You use a composite layup to model a part that contains many plies,
where each ply is defined by a material, a thickness, and a reference
orientation. Composite layups are similar to composite shell or composite
solid sections. A ply in a composite section is the same as a ply in a
composite layup; however, a composite section always contains the same
number of plies. In contrast, a composite layup can contain a different
number of plies in different regions. Abaqus/CAE converts a composite
layup to its constituent composite sections when you analyze your model.
Abaqus/CAE allows you to define three types of composite layups—shells,
continuum shells, and solids.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
Creating Composite Layups
You can use the Property module to create the following types of composite layups:
• Shell
• Continuum shell
• Solid
To create a composite layup, select Composite→Create from the main menu bar.
A Create Composite Layup dialog box appears in which you can name the layup,
specify the initial ply count, and specify the type of composite layup that you want
to create. Once you have finished entering this information, click Continue in the
Create Composite Layup dialog box to display the composite layup editor, which
allows you to create and edit layups. The format of the composite layup editor
varies according to the type of layup you are defining.
ABAQUS CAE: Go from Beginner to Advanced! Course by Peter Bejdák
Section: Creating and analyzing a model using the Abaqus CAE modules
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