Understanding deformed shape plotting

If you do not choose a deformed field output variable, Abaqus/CAE attempts to select a default. Most procedures in Abaqus/Standard and Abaqus/Explicit write displacement to the output database by default; in these cases Abaqus/CAE selects displacement as the nodal vector quantity to use for the default deformed variable. Some procedures—for example, heat transfer—do not write displacement to the output database by default; therefore, Abaqus/CAE does not select a default deformed variable. Abaqus/CAE cannot display a deformed plot if the output database does not contain any variables that can be used to compute a deformed shape.

After obtaining the information needed to produce a deformed plot from the output database, Abaqus/CAE computes the shape of your deformed model by adjusting the coordinates of each node according to:

• The deformed field output variable (see Selecting the deformed field output variable).

• The analysis step and frame (see Selecting a specific results step and frame).

• Uniform or nonuniform deformation scale factors (see Scaling deformations).

• Any user-defined rigid body transformation applied to the deformed field output variable (see Transforming results into a new coordinate system).

Like the undeformed plot shape, you can use the plot state–independent options to customize your deformed shape plot. Select OptionsCommon in the main menu bar to choose the plot state–independent customization options.

You can also use Abaqus/CAE to combine your undeformed and deformed model shapes into a single plot. Combining the shapes provides a context for evaluating the deformations. If you choose to superimpose your undeformed and deformed model shapes, you can use the Superimpose plot options to control the display of the undeformed shape separately from the deformed shape.

Tip: Use the Allow Multiple Plot States tool to display both model shapes if you want to display one or both shapes without contours, symbols, or material orientations. You can also use this tool to select any combination of plot states from the tools in the Visualization module toolbox (see Displaying multiple plot states, for more information).