Abaqus Basics

Overview

The purpose of this tutorial to teach you the basics of running simulations in Abaqus using Abaqus - this includes creating parts, assigning materials and sections, applying loads and boundary conditions, meshing, running a simulation, and examining the results. 

To be more precise, this is an introduction to using Abaqus with Abaqus/CAE. Abaqus is a finite element solver, and Abaqus/CAE is the graphical user interface that is used for pre-processing (setting up the model) and post-processing (visualizing the simulation results). CAE stands for Complete Abaqus Environment. It is possible to use Abaqus without using Abaqus/CAE; you can write input files (*.inp) and submit them to the solver directly - in fact this is actually what Abaqus/CAE does in the background - but most Abaqus users use Abaqus/CAE, and that is what I demonstrate in this tutorial and in the rest of the series.

To demonstrate how to use the software I will analyze a barbell stand which must support the weight of a barbell.

 The dimensions of the barbell stand (metric units) are:

We won't actually model the barbell, just one stand, and apply a load equivalent to half the weight of a barbell. 

Procedure

The following videos will walk you through the simulation. (I apologize for the audio quality; the sound is a little distorted but you should be able to follow along just fine).

A. Overview

b. Models and Model Databases

C. Create A Part

D. Units in Abaqus

E. Rotate and Autofit View

F. Edit a Part

G. Create a Material

H. Create and assign a Section

I. Create A Profile

J. Create An Assembly

K. Create Steps

L. Field Output and History Output Requests

M. Apply A Load

N. Assign Boundary Conditions

O. Meshing

P. Create and Run a Job

Q. Post-Processing

R. Wrap-Up