Results file output format

The results file is written as a sequential file. Each record has the following format:

All words in the results file are of the same length, whether they contain integer, floating point number, or character string data. The word length is that of a double precision floating point number (8 bytes).

The attributes in a given record may depend on the element type being considered. For example, the stress components associated with three-dimensional shell elements are ${\sigma }_{11}$, ${\sigma }_{22}$, and ${\sigma }_{12}$ (in local directions), while those associated with three-dimensional solids are ${\sigma }_{xx}$, ${\sigma }_{yy}$, ${\sigma }_{zz}$, ${\sigma }_{xy}$, ${\sigma }_{xz}$, and ${\sigma }_{yz}$ (in global directions if no local orientation is specified). Thus, care must be used in interpreting the data when postprocessing the file output. Refer to Abaqus Elements Guide for a definition of the ordering of element-dependent attributes.

In steady-state dynamic analyses, complex values are stored as the real components followed by the imaginary components. For example, the stress components associated with three-dimensional shell elements are $\mathrm{\Re }\left({\sigma }_{11}\right)$, $\mathrm{\Re }\left({\sigma }_{22}\right)$, and $\mathrm{\Re }\left({\sigma }_{12}\right)$ followed by $\mathrm{\Im }\left({\sigma }_{11}\right)$, $\mathrm{\Im }\left({\sigma }_{22}\right)$, and $\mathrm{\Im }\left({\sigma }_{12}\right)$.

In models that are defined in terms of an assembly of part instances, the results file contains internal (global) node and element numbers, as explained in About Output. Part and assembly records are not included in the results file.

If the components of an element quantity are in local directions, a record of type 85 defining these directions is generated for each point at which component output is requested if the local coordinate directions were requested in Abaqus/Standard (see Output of local directions to the results file) and automatically in Abaqus/Explicit. The local coordinate system may be inherent to the element, as is the case in shells and membranes, or may have been defined by a local orientation (see Orientations).

For shell elements a direction record is written for every material point in the section for which component output is requested, and a separate direction record is written for section forces and section strains. For geometrically nonlinear analysis in Abaqus/Standard the record contains the current, updated directions, except for small-strain shells, in which case the original directions are given. Direction output is not provided for trusses, two-dimensional beams, axisymmetric shells or membranes, or for values averaged at nodes.

Some record types include labels, such as element and node set names, written in A8 format. If a label exceeds 8 characters, an integer identifier will be written instead. This identifier can then be used to cross-reference the actual label stored in 10A8 format on record type 1940.