Predefined fields for sequential coupling

The time history of the following nodal output quantities, generated in an Abaqus/Standard analysis, can be read into subsequent Abaqus/Standard analyses as predefined fields for sequentially coupled multiphysics workflows:

  • Temperature

  • Normalized concentration

  • Electric potential

A sequentially coupled multiphysics analysis can be used when the coupling between one or more of the physical fields in a model is only important in one direction—a special common case is a sequential thermal-stress analysis (Sequentially coupled thermal-stress analysis). While the uncoupled thermal-stress analysis is the most common sequential multiphysics workflow, the predefined field capability in Abaqus/Standard directly supports similar sequential workflows involving normalized concentrations (Mass diffusion analysis) and electric potentials (Coupled thermal-electrical analysis). As with temperatures, normalized concentrations and electric potentials can be read from the output database (.odb) file into subsequent analyses as predefined fields.

When defined by results from a previous analysis, predefined fields typically vary with position and are time dependent—they are predefined because they are not changed by the current analysis. When predefined fields are read from a previous analysis, they are read in at the nodes. They are then interpolated within elements as needed (see Interpolating data between meshes). Any number of predefined fields can be read in, and material properties can be defined to depend on them. In addition, volumetric strain will arise in a stress analysis if thermal expansion (Thermal expansion) or field expansion (Field expansion) are included in the material property definition.

Predefined fields may affect the system response through:

  • the constitutive behavior, such as the yield stress defined as a function of temperature or field variables; or

  • volumetric strains when thermal or field expansion behaviors (Thermal expansion and Field expansion) are included in the material definition in a stress/displacement analysis.

The following topics are discussed:

Related Topics
Defining an analysis
Sequentially coupled thermal-stress analysis
In Other Guides
Predefined Fields
Creating and modifying output requests
Defining a temperature field

ProductsAbaqus/StandardAbaqus/CAE