Abaqus Visualization | Tools & Tips to Read Results Right

Are you interested in customizing the Abaqus interface? Are you looking to create comprehensive analysis reports? Would you like to alter the appearance of Abaqus results? Stay with the CAE assistant team in this practical post, where we delve into essential tasks within the Abaqus visualization and result modules. Gain valuable insights and discover how to efficiently capture Abaqus screenshots in the viewer.

1. Changing Fonts (Texts in results plot) in Abaqus visualization

From the main menu bar select Viewport > Viewport Annotations Options:

Go to the any of Legend, Title Block or State Block tabs. Now, click on the Set Font… button. In the Select Font form that appears you can set the size and type of font. The new size/type can be applied to the various categories:

1. Triad
2. Legend
3. Title Block
4. State Block

Tick the box you need.

You can also change the color of texts by selecting Color beneath the Set Font… button in Legend, Title Block or State Block tabs.

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2. Showing items or not in Abaqus results

You can tell Abaqus whether to display different items in Abaqus results or not. From the main menu bar, select Viewport > Viewport Annotations. Then in General tab, check/uncheck items as favorable:

3. Modifying legend display in Abaqus visualization

In section 1 of the current article we have learned about modifying the font and color of the legend text. You can also make these other modifications to the Abaqus legend options:

i) The position of the Abaqus legend (by changing the upper left corner (x,y) with respect to Viewport)
ii) Whether showing legend outlining the box or not
iii) Whether showing the legend title or not
iv) Showing Min/Max value in every frame with corresponding element and node No.
v) Format of the numbers in legend. Look at the table as a guide:

vi) Legend background

There are some more points about the Abaqus legend option that you can see in the next posts.

3.1. How do I display the location of the maximum and minimum values of stresses?

one of the common questions about this matter which our visitors ask us: I am looking for the position of maximum compression and tension stress. These values are reported on the rainbow spectrum in visualization module but I need to know the places of them.

The answer:

Click on the Contour Options icon, or you can find that in menu bar:

And in the dialog box which appears go to the Limits tab:

Check the boxes marked Show location for both/each of Max and Min values.

Click on Apply.

Bravo! Now you know how to show the maximum and minimum stress in Abaqus; but do you know what their units are? you can learn that too via this article: Abaqus units 

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6. Display results on full model

Is that possible to display the results on a full model when we make use of the symmetry?

In the Visualization module, you can copy analysis results representing a repetitive portion of a model to visualize results for the entire model. To mirror results, you can select the coordinate system and up to three mirrors corresponding to the principal planes of the selected system:

Mirrors are a visualization aid only. Any numerical representation of the results, such as the contour legend, indicates only the portion of the model that was analyzed.

In Visualization module, choose View > ODB Display Options…:

In the dialogue box, choose the Mirror/Pattern tab and tick the appropriate mirror planes. Then click on Apply.
The full model should be displayed.

7. Displaying boundary conditions (B.C.) in Abaqus results

In the Abaqus visualization module or Abaqus result module, you can show the boundary conditions of problem besides the result contours. From the main menu bar, select View > ODB Display Options…. In Entity Display tab, select Show boundary conditions:

You can also decrease the size of the symbols if they are large and unsuitable or increase if required from Options section at the top.
Note: The display of model entities can affect Abaqus/CAE performance significantly and slowing down your computer.

8. Showing nodes and element labels

Element/node labels are numeric labels that identify each element/node in FEA.
To visualize the nodes and element labels within the Visualization module, from main menu bar select Options > Common… (or also Common Options from toolbox):

In the window appeared, go to Labels tab and tick Show element labels and/or Show node labels as required.
In addition, you can choose the Color of the element/nodes labels.

You can learn more about Abaqus elements and Abaqus Mesh.

In the below video, I have summarized these tasks enjoy it and learn in a few minutes:

9. Changing Abaqus Background

When reporting your Abaqus results, the appearance of pictures you capture from Abaqus/CAE plots is affected by the difference in contrast between the model colors and the colors in the viewport background. You can improve this contrast by changing the color or colors displayed in the viewport background. You can display a single color or you can create a gradient background.

Especially when you need to print your contoured model or want to use it in a document, this is important to capture a high-quality picture, for example from your results in the Visualization module or your assembly or your meshed parts. To remove/change the default background color of Abaqus, follow these steps:

In any module, choose View > Graphics Options…:

In the dialog box, notice the toggle buttons Solid and Gradient. Gradient will be active. Also, notice the colors marked (Top) and (Bottom). The default is Dark Blue at the top gradually changing to Silver Gray at the bottom.

To change the color to be uniform click on Solid and then click on the (Top) button and choose the color from color palette. Click OK in both dialog boxes:

Here I select white as the background color, which is suitable when printing or using the picture of your model in presentations.

This is general and works in every module of Abaqus. Follow the instructions in the Visualization module.
It is recommended to select a solid white color.

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10. Capture an image (Abaqus screenshot)

Abaqus/CAE allows you to take an Abaqus screenshot of viewports to a file for later use, for example, to include in a presentation or embed in a printed report. To capture an image, from the main menu bar in Abaqus viewer, select File > Print:

You can also use CTRL+P shortcut on your keyboard.
Now, select an image format such as PNG or TIFF and assign a File name to be saved in your working directory (as default). You can change the save directory by choosing the File Select Browser icon (look at the above picture).

If you want to have the most options when saving the Abaqus screenshot, you must select EPS format, which allows selecting image resolution besides its size.
As a simple trick, to get rid of these settings and Print window, just press CTRL+C on your keyboard to Capture an image. This will make a Copy of your current Viewport that can be Paste anywhere else (Word, Presentation, etc.). The function of this shortcut is exactly like Print Screen key (but is limited to the area of current Viewport in Abaqus/CAE).

11. How can I save the graphical (display) settings I made in Abaqus/CAE? (Abaqus graphical setting)

If you change your Abaqus display settings, such as altering the render style or disabling the visibility of datum planes, you can save these changes (Abaqus graphical setting) for future use. Abaqus/CAE records these customized settings in a file called “abaqus_your Abaqus version.gpr”. This file is loaded and the Abaqus display settings are automatically applied whenever you initiate a new session in Abaqus/CAE. With this method, you don’t have to apply your settings every time you start a new session in Abaqus. Just save settings and start your modeling right away! But how to save settings?

From the main menu bar, select File > Save Display Options to save all the current display options settings:

The Save Display Options will give you two choices:

• Save the abaqus_Abaqus version.gpr file in your Home directory and utilize the settings for all future Abaqus/CAE sessions.
• Save the abaqus_Abaqus version.gpr file in a specific directory and implement the settings for any Abaqus/CAE sessions initiated from that particular directory.

Modifying the abaqus_Abaqus version.gpr file is not possible, but you can remove it to revert back to the default settings. Additionally, you have the option to duplicate the file in different directories on your computer or transfer it to another machine. Whenever you use Save Display Options to save settings in abaqus_Abaqus version.gpr, Abaqus/CAE consistently saves all the current settings and replaces any previously saved settings. It is not possible to selectively save specific settings. (Abaqus Display settings)

Please keep in mind that if you launch Abaqus/CAE from a directory lacking an abaqus_Abaqus version.gpr file but containing a display options settings file from a previous version, Abaqus/CAE will try to implement the settings indicated in that earlier file version. Furthermore, it will generate an abaqus_Abaqus version.gpr file to save the settings it applies.

By using Save Display Options Abaqus/CAE saves the following display options settings:

• Display options for parts and assemblies include settings such as the render style, visibility of prescribed conditions, different types of datum geometry, and the display of mesh, element, and node labels.
• Abaqus/CAE save settings for both the graphics options and viewport annotation options. Additionally, it preserves the perspective setting.
• Print options.
• Display options in the Visualization module; for example, the contour type for contour plots and the render style and fill color in the common plot options.
• Animation options in the Visualization module.
• Other options in the Visualization module, such as probe, field report, X–Y plot, and X–Y report options.

12. How do I store a viewing position and direction of my model? | Abaqus Views Toolbar

First, if you cannot see the Abaqus Views Toolbar in Abaqus/CAE:

The toolbar must be activated. Select in menu bar:

View > Toolbar > Views

Now, to save a viewing position click on the last icon in that panel named as Save View.

In the dialog box appeared, choose User 1, select the toggle button Save current, and click on OK:

This will save your current view (zoom, angle of view), the way you see your model in viewport, as a View named User1. When you want to view your model as you defined before beneath User 1, just select 1 icon from View toolbar:

Now that you have learned the basic tools for displaying the results, it is time for practice with Abaqus Examples.

Get this post as a PDF file: cae assistant.com a-fast-guide-to-the-most-useful-tasks-in-abaqus-visualizat

Refrences:
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adnWYQS1CS0
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pymmvbp4Kz8
[3] https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=303284
[4] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0098300416306926
[5] https://www.researchgate.net/post/How-to-extract-results-for-analysis-in-abaqus-explicit

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