Nonlinear Structural Analysis and Thermal Analysis

Enhanced Functionality

Geometric Correction for Surface-to-Surface Contact Pairs
In a Nonlinear Structural analysis, you can now specify geometric correction for a surface-to-surface contact pair definition in your model. The contact smoothing definition recognizes cylindrically or spherically shaped surfaces and automatically smooths the surfaces. Using the smoothed surface geometry can greatly improve the results in some cases. For more information about specifying geometric correction in a contact pair, see Configuring the General Options in a Contact Pair.
Saving a Results Image as a New Template
You can now save a results image as the template for other results images you create in your analysis. Nonlinear Structural Analysis and Thermal Analysis make image templates available for selection in the Abaqus Image Generation dialog box. For more information about saving results images as templates, see Generating a Results Image.
Job Names Can Start With Numbers
The job name can now start with a number, which provides greater flexibility for naming and sorting the jobs in an analysis. For more information about job definition, see Creating a New Job.
Consistency Check Error Displayed When Input File Writing Errors Occur
Nonlinear Structural Analysis or Thermal Analysis now show a consistency check error at the top of the list of errors in the Consistency Check Messages tabbed window if there are one or more input file writing errors in the Write Input File Messages tabbed window. This consistency check error does not appear if the input file writing generates only warnings, and only one consistency check error is displayed even if multiple input file writing errors are displayed in the Write Input File Messages tabbed window. The Job Submission dialog box shows the Write Input File Messages tabbed window by default if an input file writing error occurs.
For more information about running consistency checks for an Abaqus job, see Submitting Jobs.
Automatic Creation of Surface Groups During Postprocessing
By default, Nonlinear Structural Analysis and Thermal Analysis now automatically create a display group for every Surface Group definition in your analysis when you run an Abaqus job. This enhancement makes it easier for you to define a results image for selected surfaces in your model, because creating results images on a subset of your model requires the selection of a display group. You can also customize this behavior so that display groups are created for contact surfaces only, or you can disable the new behavior for all surfaces. Control over display group creation for surface groups is available in the Analysis & Simulation settings in the Options dialog box.
For more information about this enhancement, see Creating a Display Group.
Automatic and Consistent Input File Naming
Nonlinear Structural Analysis and Thermal Analysis now uses the name of the .CATAnalysis file as the basis for the names of all Abaqus jobs you create. This approach makes the management of Abaqus analysis and postprocessing files easier, because their names automatically match those of the CATIA analysis files you create.
For more information about this enhancement, see Creating a New Job.
Extending the Selected Face for Surface Selection
You can now use the Extend Selected Face method to select multiple faces as the support for a surface-based feature. For each face you select, the Extend Selected Face method selects all faces in the model that are within a user-specified angle from the selected face or faces and connected to them. You can also specify that this method selects only adjacent faces or only meshed surfaces. For more information about this selection method and the features to which it applies, see Advanced Selection Options for Supports.
Abaqus Input File Available After Analysis
When you run an analysis in the Nonlinear Structural Analysis and Thermal Analysis workbenches, the Abaqus input file created by the analysis is now available. This enhancement enables you to make further edits to the input file directly if you want to refine your analysis further or run the analysis elsewhere.
Analyses Can Now Use Up to Four Processors
The Nonlinear Structural Analysis and Thermal Analysis workbenches now enable you to run an Abaqus job using as many as four processors. For more information on parallel processing for Abaqus jobs, see Controlling Parallel Execution.
Support for Rigid and Smooth Couplings
The Nonlinear Structural Analysis workbench now supports the definition of Rigid Couplings and Smooth Couplings. For more information about these features, see Creating Rigid Couplings and Creating Smooth Couplings respectively.
Support for General Contact
You can now specify general contact for your analysis in the Nonlinear Structural Analysis workbench, which enables you to prevent surface penetration between multiple bodies in your model. For more information about general contact, see General Contact.
CPD Properties Now Available With ACP License
The ACP license now enables you to use the Imported Composite Property tool and the Mapping Property tool.