The Abaqus INP Comprehensive Analyzer is a free, standalone Windows desktop tool that reads Abaqus finite element input files (.inp) and presents the model’s contents in an organized, searchable, and visual format. It does not modify your simulation files. It does not run simulations. It reads what is already there and helps you understand it, question it, and verify it.

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Version 21.0 is the most capable release to date. Building on the model type detection and static analysis support introduced in Version 20.0, it adds a smart contact analysis tool, an interaction viewer for all constraint types, a PSD plotter with Miles’ equation estimator, a 42-profile PSD reference library, random vibration best-practices validation, a HyperMesh converter, redacted INP export for secure model sharing, material data extraction, and a multi-part INP export pipeline with submodel and harmonic response step templates. The Learning Center has grown to more than twenty-five topics across four categories with difficulty-level filtering. Version 21.0 also applies a set of critical safety fixes to the node merging, export, and STL pipelines identified through a multi-AI code review process.

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1.1 The Mission: Combating Engineering Mind Blindness

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Engineering mind blindness is the condition that develops when engineers use simulation tools fluently but no longer truly see what those tools are doing. It is the analyst who trusts the mesh because the software accepted it. It is the program manager who approves a simulation report without being able to read it. It is the designer who receives a frequency response table and does not know whether the model even had a proper boundary condition. This tool was built to fight that condition at every level of the engineering organization.

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By making the model readable without a solver license, by surfacing automated recommendations that explain their reasoning, and by providing a Learning Center that teaches the concepts behind the checks, the Analyzer turns opaque input files into understandable engineering artifacts. That transparency is the core purpose.

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1.2 Who This Manual Is For

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This manual is written for three audiences. CAE analysts will find detailed coverage of every parsing capability, the full tab and tools reference, and the model evaluation workflows for each of the supported analysis categories. Design engineers will find accessible explanations of what the simulation model contains and how the tool’s visual and summary features help them verify design intent. Program managers will find plain-language descriptions of the model review outputs they can use for oversight and documentation.

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The manual is written so that each section can be read independently. A program manager does not need to read the constraint parsing reference. An analyst does not need to read the executive summary section. Navigate by chapter heading to the content most relevant to your role.

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1.3 What You Need

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The Abaqus INP Comprehensive Analyzer requires Windows 10 or Windows 11, an Abaqus .inp input file in text format, and no Abaqus license of any kind. The standalone EXE includes all required libraries. You do not need Python, PyVista, or any other software installed separately.

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If someone hands you a .cae binary file rather than a .inp text file, the Analyzer will detect this and display a clear message. Ask the analyst to export the input file from Abaqus/CAE using Job, Write Input.

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Note: Version 21.0 was developed and tested on Python 3.13 and Windows 11. The EXE is self-contained. The EXE filename follows the convention: McFadden_Version_21_0_AbaqusINPAnalyzer.exe.

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2. Installation and Setup

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2.1 Downloading the Analyzer

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The Analyzer is distributed as a free download from www.McFaddenCAE.com. Download the ZIP archive, extract it to any folder on your machine, and double-click the EXE to launch. The ZIP archive contains the EXE and a required subfolder named _internal. Both the EXE and the _internal folder must remain in the same directory for the application to function. Do not move the EXE to a different location without also moving the _internal folder.

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2.2 First Launch

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On first launch, Windows SmartScreen may display a warning indicating that the publisher is unknown. This is expected for any EXE that is not code-signed through Microsoft’s commercial certificate authority. Click More Info and then Run Anyway to proceed. This prompt appears only on the first launch after downloading.

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When the main window opens, you will see a file path field and Browse button at the top, the model type detection banner just below, and the tabbed analysis interface filling the remainder of the window. No configuration is needed before loading your first file.

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2.3 System Requirements

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Requirement

Detail

Operating System

Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)

Disk Space

Approximately 200 MB for the EXE and _internal folder

RAM

4 GB minimum; 8 GB recommended for assemblies over 500,000 elements

GPU

Any DirectX 11 capable GPU for 3D visualization; integrated graphics work but may be slow on very large models

Display

1280×720 minimum; the interface is screen-aware and adapts to monitor resolution

Abaqus License

Not required

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3. Getting Started

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3.1 Loading Your First Model

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Click Browse in the top file bar and navigate to your .inp file, or type the full path directly into the path field. When a file is selected, the Process button becomes active. Click Process to begin parsing.

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A progress dialog appears showing each parsing stage as it completes. For a typical 200,000-element assembly the processing takes approximately 10 to 15 seconds. A 1.1-million-element model processes in approximately 25 seconds. You may cancel processing at any time; the progress dialog includes a Cancel button that terminates parsing cleanly.

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3.2 The Model Type Detection Banner

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This is the first thing to read after processing. The banner spans the full width of the window just below the file bar and reports what category of analysis the Analyzer detected in your model. Version 21.0 recognizes four categories: Perturbation (modal and random vibration models), Impact (explicit dynamic drop and crash models), Static (implicit stress and structural models), and Mixed (models containing elements of more than one category).

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The detection logic examines the step keywords, procedure types, and loading conditions in the INP file. A model containing *FREQUENCY or *RANDOM RESPONSE under *STEP, PERTURBATION is classified as Perturbation. A model with *DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT and initial velocity loads is classified as Impact. A model with *STATIC or *STATIC, STABILIZE is classified as Static. When multiple procedure types coexist, the Mixed classification is reported.

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The model type classification drives automatic recommendations, configures the BC and Load Viewer, and gates certain tool behaviors. If the detected type appears incorrect, you can proceed to any of the specialized review dialogs, which will surface a mismatch warning and provide guidance on reconciling the classification with the model content.

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3.3 The Tab Interface

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After processing, the model’s contents are organized across ten tabs. The tabs are always visible; switching between them does not require reprocessing. The following table describes each tab.

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Tab

Content

Summary

High-level overview: part count, element count, node count, unit system, step summary, constraint counts, and detected model type

Materials

All material definitions parsed from the INP file, organized by keyword with full property tables

Mat. Properties

Searchable material-to-section-to-part mapping tree showing which materials are used where

Sections

Section assignments (solid, shell, beam, membrane, cohesive, gasket) with thickness values, orientation data, and part linkage

Mat. Plots

2D mesh visualization with element quality overlays and coordinate plane projection

Parts

Complete list of all identified parts with node/element counts, material assignments, 3D visualization, STL export, INP export, and working set management. Includes the Islands detection button.

1D Elements

Springs, masses, connectors, dashpots, and rigid elements with their properties and connectivity

Recommendations

Automated best-practice checks with severity ratings and plain-language explanations, calibrated to the detected model type

Edits

Proposed INP file modifications with preview and apply capability, including PSD-to-edit staging pipeline

Learning

Built-in reference with 25+ topics covering analysis types, best practices, material properties, and tool guides, with difficulty-level and category filtering

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4. The Parts Tab

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4.1 Parts List and Selection

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The left panel of the Parts tab shows all identified parts in the model. Parts are identified by the Analyzer’s reverse-engineering pass, which groups elements into coherent assemblies using element set declarations, instance-to-part mappings, and geometric connectivity. The part count shown in the banner reflects the number of parts the Analyzer has identified, which may differ from the number declared in the INP file when the naming scheme uses ELSET declarations.

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Click any part name to select it and view its details in the right panel. Use Ctrl+Click to add individual parts to a multi-part selection. Use Shift+Click to select a contiguous range. Type in the search field above the list and click Filter to narrow the display.

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4.2 Island Part Detection

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The top row of the Parts tab always includes the Islands button, which is active as soon as processing completes. The button label reads Islands followed by the count of detected island parts in parentheses. When no islands are detected the count reads zero. Click the button to open the Islands Detail dialog.

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An island part is one that has no connection to the rest of the assembly. It shares no nodes with any other part, is not involved in any constraint definition, and does not appear in any contact pair. Islands in a model intended for simulation are almost always errors: a part that was included in the geometry but never merged into the mesh, a component left over from an earlier model revision, or an instance that was added but never constrained.

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Tip: An island part in a modal analysis model is particularly significant: a disconnected mass adds modes at zero or near-zero frequency, distorts the mode shape participation, and produces meaningless results for that component. Address all islands before submitting a perturbation model.

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4.3 Interactive 3D Assembly Viewer

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Select one or more parts and click View 3D to open the Interactive Assembly Viewer. This is a full-featured GPU-accelerated PyVista viewer with a dark-themed control panel that provides real-time part visibility management, section cutting, and camera controls. Each part is rendered in a distinct color from a configurable palette.

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4.3.1 Part Visibility Controls

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The control panel lists every part with its assigned color. Click a part name to select it. The viewer supports show, hide, and isolate operations: Hide removes the selected parts from the viewport, Isolate hides everything except the selected parts, Show All restores all parts to visibility. Hidden parts appear grayed with an [H] prefix in the control panel. An opacity slider at the top of the panel adjusts transparency for all visible parts simultaneously.

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4.3.2 View Styles: Tessellated vs. Actual Mesh

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The viewer offers two rendering modes. Tessellated mode, the default, converts the element topology into smooth triangulated surfaces. This produces visually appealing geometry with smooth curved surfaces, but the edge lines shown are tessellation artifacts rather than true element boundaries. Actual Mesh mode renders the finite element mesh directly from the element connectivity data, showing true element edges and exact topology. This mode is preferred when you need to inspect mesh quality or verify element sizes.

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Toggle between the two modes using the view style control in the viewer panel. The Learning Center topic on 3D Rendering Modes explains the trade-offs in detail.

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4.3.3 Section Cutting

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The Section Cut feature provides an interactive clipping plane that slices through the entire assembly in real time. Click the Section Cut button in the control panel or press C in the VTK window to activate. Choose the cutting axis (X, Y, or Z) and drag the cutting plane to the desired position. The Dynamic Drag checkbox controls whether the cut updates continuously while dragging or freezes while orbiting the model. Press the button again or press C to deactivate and restore the full geometry.

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4.3.4 Camera Controls

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The viewer includes a full set of camera controls accessible both from toolbar buttons and keyboard shortcuts.

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Control

Action

Left mouse drag

Rotate the model

Right mouse drag or scroll wheel

Zoom in and out

Middle mouse drag

Pan the view

X / Y / Z buttons

Snap to the corresponding axis view

Reverse button

Flip the current snap axis direction

Perspective button

Toggle between perspective and orthographic projection

Zoom All button

Reset camera to fit all visible parts

L key

Toggle the part name legend

E key

Toggle edge visibility

H key

Hide selected part

I key

Isolate selected part

S key

Show selected part

A key

Show all parts

R key

Reset camera

C key

Toggle section cut

Q key

Close the 3D window

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4.4 Part Naming Scheme

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Click the Part Naming Scheme button to open the naming dialog. This dialog compares the number of parts declared in the INP file via ELSET annotations against the number of parts the Analyzer detected through its reverse-engineering pass. When the declared count is less than the detected count, the Analyzer recommends using the Detected naming method, which reflects the true number of distinct physical components the mesh represents. When the counts agree, Declared naming is appropriate and preserves the analyst-assigned names.

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4.5 Working Set

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The Working Set feature allows you to pin frequently accessed parts to a persistent list for quick re-selection. Pin parts from the main parts list and they remain available even when you filter or search the full list. The Output Request Builder pre-populates from the Working Set when available, streamlining the workflow of identifying nodes of interest in your most critical components.

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4.6 Multi-Part INP Export

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Select one or more parts and click Export Selected Parts (INP) to extract them into a standalone INP file. The export dialog provides per-part custom naming, interface node detection, and optional submodel helper blocks. Version 21.0 adds TIE constraint carryover, which writes TIE keyword blocks for constraints connecting two parts both within the export set. A harmonic response step template with configurable frequency range, point count, and modal damping ratio is available as a one-click preset.

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When the export detects boundary nodes between exported and non-exported parts, it writes CUT node sets and appends a commented submodel template block showing the correct *SUBMODEL syntax. This streamlines the workflow for analysts building submodels from extracted assemblies.

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4.7 STL Export

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Select one or more parts and use the STL export function to generate mesh files suitable for visualization in external tools or 3D printing review. The export dialog offers binary or ASCII format selection, triangle count limits, weld tolerance control, and per-part quality recommendations. For large selections (more than ten parts), a preliminary dialog offers recommended defaults for batch export.

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4.8 Spatial Analysis Tools

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The Parts tab includes several spatial analysis tools that operate in assembly-transformed coordinates. Find Nearest Parts uses a KD-tree algorithm to locate the N closest parts to the current selection, or all parts within a user-specified distance threshold. Common Nodes finds parts that share node IDs, indicating tied or merged mesh regions. The Suggest Pairs and Check Penetrations tools detect geometric overlap between parts.

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5. Materials Tab

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The Materials tab displays every *MATERIAL block found in the INP file. Materials are listed by name in the left panel. Selecting a material in the list populates the right panel with all sub-keywords and their data tables. The Analyzer recognizes more than thirty material keywords including *ELASTIC, *PLASTIC, *DENSITY, *DAMPING, *HYPERELASTIC, *VISCOELASTIC, *EXPANSION, *CONDUCTIVITY, *SPECIFIC HEAT, and *JOHNSON COOK, among others.

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Elastic type variants are handled explicitly: ISOTROPIC, ORTHOTROPIC, ANISOTROPIC, ENGINEERING CONSTANTS, and LAMINA all display with the correct number of columns for that formulation. Rate-dependent plasticity, defined by *PLASTIC with a RATE parameter, displays tabular yield stress, plastic strain, and strain rate in a three-column table.

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Material property values are shown in the detected unit system. If the unit system detection is uncertain, the Summary tab will show a confidence flag and you can override the detection via Tools, Unit System.

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Note: The Materials tab shows what is defined in the INP file. It does not validate whether those property values are physically realistic for the intended material. That validation is the purpose of the Recommendations tab, which checks density, modulus, and Poisson ratio values against expected ranges for the detected unit system.

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6. Sections Tab

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The Sections tab lists all *SOLID SECTION, *SHELL SECTION, *BEAM SECTION, *MEMBRANE SECTION, *COHESIVE SECTION, and *GASKET SECTION assignments. Each section entry shows the element set it applies to, the material it references, the section type, and any additional parameters such as shell thickness or beam profile. The part-to-section linkage is shown in the right panel, connecting each section assignment back to the parts that use it.

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Missing section assignments are flagged with a warning indicator. A part that appears in the parts list but has no corresponding section assignment cannot be submitted to the solver and represents an incomplete model. The Recommendations tab also surfaces this condition.

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7. Property Viewer Tab

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The Property Viewer provides a cross-reference view connecting materials to the sections that use them and the parts those sections govern. The left panel lists all materials. Selecting a material populates the dataset list with all property keyword datasets defined for that material. Selecting a dataset populates the right panel with the full tabular property data for that dataset.

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This tab is most useful for verifying material completeness: every material that appears in a section assignment should have at minimum an *ELASTIC and *DENSITY definition. Materials missing density cannot support inertial loads in dynamic analyses. Materials missing elastic data cannot compute stress. The Property Viewer makes it easy to spot gaps at a glance.

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8. 1D Elements Tab

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The 1D Elements tab reports on all discrete elements in the model: springs, dashpots, connectors, point masses, and rotary inertia elements. For each element type the tab shows the element count, node pair connectivity, and associated properties such as spring stiffness values, dashpot coefficients, and connector section definitions.

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The summary statistics at the top of the tab report the total count of 1D elements, the number of distinct types found, and the count of springs with explicitly defined stiffness values. This information is particularly useful for verifying that all connector and spring elements have been properly configured before submission.

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9. Tools Menu Reference

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The Tools menu provides access to the specialized analysis tools that go beyond passive display. These tools interpret the model’s content, perform calculations, and present findings that cannot be derived from reading individual tabs in isolation. Version 21.0 includes seventeen tool entries organized into analysis, export, and configuration groups.

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9.1 BC and Load Viewer

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The BC and Load Viewer opens a PyVista 3D window that renders the assembly and overlays boundary conditions and loads as directional arrows. The viewer is generalized to work with all model categories: Perturbation, Impact, and Static.

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For perturbation models the viewer renders applied displacement boundary conditions as cyan arrows at the constrained nodes, colored by instance so that boundary conditions applied to different instances are visually distinguishable. For impact models the viewer adds the initial velocity vector as a green arrow and the gravity vector as a yellow arrow. For static models the viewer renders CLOAD point forces as red arrows, gravity as yellow, PRESSURE load indicators at surface regions, and applied displacement arrows in cyan.

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If the model type detected in the banner does not match the content the viewer finds, a mismatch warning dialog appears before the viewer opens. The warning describes the discrepancy and suggests what to check in the INP file.

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Tip: The BC and Load Viewer is one of the most effective pre-submission checks available. A visual inspection of where boundary conditions are applied, and in which direction loads act, catches setup errors that would be invisible in the raw keyword listing.

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9.2 Drop Simulation Analysis

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The Drop Simulation Analysis tool is designed for impact models. It reads the *INITIAL CONDITIONS, TYPE=VELOCITY block and the *DLOAD or *GRAVITY blocks to identify the velocity vector, the gravity vector, and the candidate hit surface. The smart detection algorithm scores rigid-element parts by how well their surface normal opposes the velocity direction, with anti-parallel normals scoring highest and shown with a green indicator.

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The dialog shows a candidate hit surface list with scores and lets you preview each candidate in the 3D viewer before confirming the selection. The drop visualization renders the full assembly with the hit surface highlighted in red, the velocity vector as a green arrow, gravity as yellow, and the center of mass as an orange sphere, all positioned correctly in assembly coordinates.

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9.3 Perturbation Review

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The Perturbation Review dialog is the primary evaluation tool for modal and random vibration models. It presents a structured checklist organized into seven sections covering model classification, boundary conditions, constraint definitions, material completeness, island detection, step configuration, and random vibration best-practices validation.

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The constraint section covers all eight constraint types recognized by Version 21.0: TIE, MPC, RIGID BODY, COUPLING, EQUATION, EMBEDDED ELEMENT, and the two legacy constraint forms. For each constraint type the dialog reports the count found, lists the definitions, and notes any definitions that reference sets or surfaces the Analyzer could not resolve.

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Section 7, added in Version 20.4, validates random vibration model setup with eight checks: density on all materials, modal damping inside the random response step, base motion or DSLOAD excitation, correlation linking PSD to base motion, RMS output requests, PSD data quality (monotonicity, slope limits, extreme GRMS), effective mass and modal participation output, and unit consistency of the g-conversion factor on the PSD definition. A pass/warn/fail tally with critical-issue alert summarizes the results.

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9.4 Contact Analysis

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The Contact Analysis tool, introduced in Version 20.3, provides a smart review of every contact pair and TIE constraint in the model. For each contact definition it resolves the parts and materials behind each surface, compares elastic modulus between master and slave sides, identifies the surface friction coefficient from the surface interaction property, and estimates representative mesh element sizes.

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Best-practice flags are raised when the slave surface is on the stiffer side (the convention is that the slave should be less stiff or more finely meshed), when master-slave mesh ratios suggest potential penetration risk, or when friction coefficients appear inconsistent with typical engineering values for the materials involved. The dialog is searchable and exportable.

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9.5 Interaction Viewer

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The Interaction Viewer, introduced in Version 20.3, displays all interactions parsed from the model in a single searchable, exportable dialog. It covers tie constraints, contact pairs, general contact, couplings, MPCs, and equations. Each entry shows names, surfaces or node sets, and the interaction property. The total interaction count is shown in the dialog header.

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9.6 PSD Plotter and GRMS Calculator

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The PSD Plotter is a standalone tool for visualizing power spectral density profiles and computing the overall GRMS level. Enter frequency and PSD level pairs in the input area, or load a profile from the built-in reference library of 42 profiles spanning space and launch, military and defense, avionics, automotive, transport, rail, industrial and energy, marine and offshore, and medical and precision environments. The plotter renders a log-log graph with fill-under shading and displays the computed GRMS value.

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Version 20.4 added the Miles’ Equation Estimator, which takes a natural frequency and damping ratio as input and computes the one-sigma GRMS and three-sigma quasi-static design load using log-log interpolation of the PSD data at the specified frequency. The estimator includes SDOF assumption notes and validity limit warnings.

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A real-time search filter lets you find profiles by name, standard, category, or description. Double-click any result to load it into the plotter. The Stage for Export button sends the current PSD data to the Edits tab as a set of pre-checked proposals covering PSD definition insertion, modal damping, RMS output requests, base motion and correlation blocks, and frequency extraction limit adjustments.

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9.7 Analyze Simulation Intent

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The Simulation Intent Analyzer classifies the model’s purpose using a scoring algorithm that weighs evidence from step types, loading conditions, constraint configurations, element types, and output requests. The classification is presented with a confidence level and an evidence chain listing the specific keywords and patterns that contributed to the score.

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When the detected intent matches your expected analysis type, the dialog presents purpose-specific recommendations calibrated to that simulation type. When you believe the classification is wrong, the dialog provides a correction workflow: select the intended analysis type, and the Analyzer performs a gap analysis comparing the current model content against what a correctly configured model of that type should contain. Evaluation reports can be exported as formatted text.

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9.8 Material Consistency Review

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The Material Consistency Review scans all materials (or a filtered selection) and flags inconsistencies: missing density, missing elastic data, Poisson ratio out of physical range, density values that suggest unit errors, and modulus values that do not match the detected unit system. The dialog presents a summary of issues found with per-material detail and an overall health score.

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9.9 Model Quality Report

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The Model Quality Report is an automated scorecard covering mesh completeness, material definitions, boundary conditions, constraint configuration, and contact setup. It aggregates findings from multiple analysis passes into a single document suitable for archiving or review by team members.

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9.10 Convert for HyperMesh

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The Convert for HyperMesh tool transforms a loaded Abaqus CAE-generated INP into a HyperMesh-compatible flat INP by converting every *COUPLING and *KINEMATIC block into *MPC BEAM entries and removing the coupling-region node surface definitions that are superseded by the MPC entries. The underlying node set blocks are preserved. The resolution chain follows coupling surface definitions to node surfaces, then to node sets, and finally to individual slave node lists and reference point nodes.

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The tool detects whether the file also needs part and instance flattening and provides scaffolding for that transformation. The converted file is saved with an _HM suffix.

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9.11 Export Redacted INP

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The Export Redacted INP tool creates a version of the loaded INP file suitable for secure sharing. It preserves every keyword, comment, material, section, step, and constraint while replacing the bulk mesh data (node and element blocks) with a single redacted marker per block. A configuration dialog lets you choose how many data lines to keep at the start and end of each block for context. Material data is always preserved in full. The result can be viewed in a scrollable dialog or saved as a new file.

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9.12 Extract Material Data

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The Extract Material Data tool scans the loaded INP file and extracts every *MATERIAL block, including all sub-keywords, into a standalone INP snippet. The result is a valid Abaqus material library file that can be imported directly into another model or used as input for material parameter studies. A summary shows the material count and names before export.

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9.13 Other Tools

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Tool

Description

Unit System

Displays the detected unit system and the property values used to determine it. Allows manual override.

Check Unit Consistency

Scans all materials for property values inconsistent with the detected unit system. Flags likely unit errors.

Part Naming Scheme

Compares declared versus detected part counts and recommends the appropriate naming method.

Export FEA Bill of Materials

Structured BOM mapping every part to its material, section type, element count, and assembly instance.

Export Comprehensive Evaluation

Multi-section evaluation report covering all model aspects, formatted for distribution.

Output Request Builder

Staging queue for *OUTPUT HISTORY and FIELD blocks with three node selection strategies: center of mass nearest, uniform grid, and manual entry. Sends checked requests to the Edits tab.

3D Viewer Settings

Configures legend color, font size, background color, and default visibility for all 3D views.

Debug Console Output

Toggles diagnostic logging for troubleshooting. Debug logs can be opened from the Tools menu.

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10. Recommendations Tab

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The Recommendations tab aggregates the results of all automated best-practice checks into a single organized list. Each recommendation carries a severity level: Error (a condition that will likely prevent the model from running or produce meaningless results), Warning (a condition that may produce incorrect results or indicates a common setup mistake), and Note (an informational observation that does not indicate a problem but may be worth reviewing).

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In Version 21.0, the recommendation set is model-type aware. A Perturbation model receives a different recommendation profile than a Static model. The perturbation profile includes checks for base excitation boundary conditions, frequency extraction request completeness, and damping definition. The static profile includes checks for bolt loads, pressure boundary conditions, thermal loading consistency, stabilization adequacy, and reaction force output requests. The impact profile checks energy balance outputs, mass scaling limits, hourglass control, and contact pair completeness.

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11. Edits Tab

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The Edits tab presents proposed modifications to the INP file, generated by the automated analysis tools. Each proposed edit appears with a checkbox, a description, and a preview of the INP lines that would be added or modified. You can selectively enable or disable individual edits, preview the combined result, and apply the selected edits to generate a new INP file.

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Version 20.4 introduced the PSD-to-Edits pipeline, which stages five edit proposals from the PSD Plotter: E8 inserts or replaces the PSD definition block, E9 adds modal damping if missing, E10 adds RMS output requests including fatigue workflow annotations, E11 adds base motion and correlation blocks if missing, and E12 raises the frequency extraction limit to at least 1.5 times the PSD maximum frequency. Each proposal is pre-checked with a light green background and can be previewed before application.

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The tab also provides an Export TIE Constraints INP button that writes all parsed TIE constraint definitions to a standalone INP snippet for reference or inclusion in other models.

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12. Learning Center

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The Learning Center is a built-in educational reference organized into four categories: Analysis Types, Best Practices, Material Properties, and Behind the Scenes. Topics are filterable by category and difficulty level (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced). Select any topic from the list to display the content in the reading panel.

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12.1 Analysis Types

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Analysis Types topics cover Modal Analysis, Shock Analysis, SRS (Shock Response Spectrum), Random Vibration, Harmonic Response, and Static Analysis. Each topic explains when the analysis type is appropriate, what keywords are required, what the output represents, and what common mistakes produce incorrect results. Analysis Type topics with INP generators include a Generate Example INP button that creates a minimal working INP file demonstrating correct setup. The generated file can be opened in Abaqus/CAE or submitted directly to the solver.

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12.2 Best Practices

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Best Practices topics cover element selection, thin brittle material modeling, millisecond unit systems, jerk and fragility assessment, output requests and post-processing, and stabilizing static analysis with contact. The random vibration content was significantly expanded in Version 20.4 to include Miles’ equation with formula and assumptions, a fatigue post-processing workflow covering RMS to Dirlik to Miner’s damage, output request templates, spectral methods comparison, and statistical peaks explanation.

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12.3 Material Properties

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Material Properties topics cover materials for drop and impact analysis (explicit dynamics), materials for static and structural analysis, materials for modal and frequency analysis, and hyperelastic, viscoelastic, and advanced material models. Each topic provides property value guidance in common unit systems and explains which material keywords are required for that analysis type.

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12.4 Behind the Scenes

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Behind the Scenes topics explain how the tool works. Topics include assumptions and limitations, 3D rendering modes (tessellated versus actual mesh), impact and drop analysis tool guide, assembly instance transforms, the HyperMesh converter, the redacted INP exporter, the BC and Load Viewer, the Interaction Viewer, assembly view styles, contact analysis methodology, and contact stabilization guidance. These topics help advanced users understand the algorithms driving the tool’s analysis.

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Note: The Learning Center content is embedded in the application. It does not require an internet connection and is available in any environment where the EXE can run.

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13. Version 21.0 Improvements

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13.1 Smart Contact Analysis (V20.3)

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The Contact Analysis tool resolves the parts, materials, elastic moduli, mesh sizes, and friction coefficients behind every contact pair and TIE constraint. It flags master-slave convention violations, mesh ratio concerns, and friction inconsistencies. Combined with the Interaction Viewer, which lists all constraints in a searchable dialog, these tools provide the most complete contact review available without a solver license.

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13.2 PSD Plotter and Random Vibration Validation (V20.4)

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The PSD Plotter gained a reference library of 42 profiles with real-time search filtering, a Miles’ Equation Estimator for quick design load estimation, and a staging pipeline that sends PSD data and associated model edits to the Edits tab. The Perturbation Review dialog added Section 7 with eight random vibration best-practices checks covering density, damping, excitation, correlation, output requests, PSD data quality, effective mass, and unit consistency.

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13.3 Multi-Part Export Enhancements (V21.0)

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The multi-part INP export now carries over TIE constraints between exported parts, writes CUT boundary node sets with true connectivity-based detection, appends commented submodel template blocks, and offers a one-click harmonic response step preset with configurable frequency range and modal damping ratio.

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13.4 HyperMesh Converter

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The Convert for HyperMesh tool converts Abaqus CAE coupling blocks to HyperMesh-compatible MPC BEAM entries, removing coupling-region surfaces while preserving node sets. This enables analysts to move models between Abaqus/CAE and HyperMesh without manual constraint conversion.

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13.5 Secure Model Sharing

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The Export Redacted INP tool and the Extract Material Data tool address two common workflows: sharing model structure without proprietary mesh data, and extracting reusable material libraries from existing models. Both tools preserve complete keyword and material information while giving the user control over what mesh data is retained.

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13.6 Expanded Keyword Parsing

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Version 21.0 parses more than seventy Abaqus keywords. The additions since Version 20.0 include *DSLOAD, *CONNECTOR LOAD, *CONNECTOR MOTION, *NONSTRUCTURAL MASS, *ROTARY INERTIA, *GLOBAL DAMPING, *DAMPING, *COHESIVE SECTION, *GASKET SECTION, *SELECT EIGENMODES, *MODAL OUTPUT, *CONTACT OUTPUT, *DIRECT CYCLIC, *STEADY STATE TRANSPORT, *SUBSPACE DYNAMIC, *PSD-DEFINITION, *BASE MOTION, *CORRELATION, *MODAL DAMPING, *FRICTION, and *SURFACE INTERACTION.

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13.7 Interactive Assembly Viewer Enhancements

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The Interactive Assembly Viewer gained section cutting with dynamic drag, two rendering modes (tessellated and actual mesh), an opacity slider, a working set system, and keyboard shortcuts for all visibility operations. Camera controls include axis snap, perspective toggle, and zoom-all, all accessible from both buttons and keyboard. In Version 21.0, the duplicate opacity slider that previously appeared in the VTK viewport has been removed; the tkinter control panel slider is now the single opacity control, eliminating sync issues between the two sliders.

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13.8 Version 21.0: Safety and Robustness Fixes

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Version 21.0 applies a set of targeted safety and robustness fixes identified through a multi-AI code review process involving Grok, Perplexity, and Claude. The fixes address the highest-risk areas in the satellite module pipeline without modifying the sacred parse pipeline in the main application.

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13.8.1 Safe Node Merging

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The node merging logic in model_analyzer.py was rewritten to preserve original local node IDs whenever they are free, only remapping to new IDs on true collisions across parts. The previous implementation aggressively renumbered every composite node key, which silently broke *NSET, *BOUNDARY, *INITIAL CONDITIONS, *RIGID BODY, and *TIE references that depend on original node IDs. This was the highest-priority fix identified in the review.

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13.8.2 Export Safety

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The INP exporter module was updated to use the merged global node map safely, eliminating a fragile composite-key reconstruction path that guessed the node key format during export. The exporter now falls back to the global node coordinate map when per-part node data is unavailable, and logs warnings for any missing nodes rather than silently producing incomplete output.

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13.8.3 STL Exporter Robustness

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The STL exporter’s element face dictionary was expanded from 9 to 21 element types. The additions include C3D20 (quadratic hex), C3D6 and C3D15 (wedge and pentahedral), S8R, S8R5, and S9R5 (quadratic shell), and M3D3, M3D4, M3D6, M3D8, and M3D8R (membrane). A double-tuple nesting bug in the surface element face handling was also corrected, and the element suffix stripping logic now handles multi-character suffixes like RH and IH correctly.

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13.8.4 Viewer Settings Applied Everywhere

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The 3D Viewer Settings (viewport background color, legend colors, font size, section cut plane color) are now applied to all seven viewer paths in the application: single-part view, interactive assembly viewer, BC and Load Viewer, drop simulation preview, drop simulation main visualization, and the multiple views grid. Two call sites that were previously missing the preference handoff have been corrected.

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13.8.5 Material Consistency Review Dialog

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The Material Consistency Review dialog was rebuilt with a scrollable canvas layout. The previous fixed-height layout caused the Strain Rate Data section and Close button to be pushed below the visible window area when multiple sections were present. The new layout wraps all content in a single scrollable canvas with a bottom-first Close button that is always visible regardless of content height. The material table height is now dynamic, sizing to fit the actual number of materials.

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14. Troubleshooting

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14.1 Common Issues

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Symptom

Resolution

The application says my file is a CAE binary

The tool needs the text-format .inp file. In Abaqus/CAE use Job > Write Input to export it.

Parts count shows zero after processing

This usually indicates a Python 3.13 compatibility issue in an older version. Version 21.0 corrects the known crash. If the problem persists, enable Debug Console Output from the Tools menu and check the log.

3D view does not open or crashes

Ensure the _internal folder is in the same directory as the EXE. The PyVista VTK libraries in _internal are required for 3D rendering.

Processing is very slow on large models

Models over 500,000 elements take 30 to 60 seconds. Multi-pass parsing including the volume calculation pass drives most of the time. The progress dialog shows which stage is running.

Assembly parts appear stacked at the origin

The INP file does not contain *INSTANCE transformation data. Ask the analyst to verify that the model was exported from an assembled job, not a part-level job.

Unit system was detected incorrectly

Use Tools > Unit System to view the evidence and override the detection manually.

Islands count is unexpectedly high

Verify whether the model uses a node-based assembly where many parts share a global node set. Such models may appear to have many islands because the shared-node detection relies on explicit NSET definitions.

Section cut plane does not appear

Ensure at least one part is visible in the viewer before activating the section cut. The cutting plane requires visible geometry to clip.

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14.2 Getting Help

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Send questions, bug reports, and suggestions to McFadden@snet.net. Visit www.McFaddenCAE.com for updated documentation, new version announcements, and companion tools. Connect with Joseph P. McFadden Sr. on LinkedIn under The Holistic Analyst for ongoing educational content about simulation transparency and best practices.

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Appendix A: Supported Abaqus Keywords

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The following table lists the major Abaqus input file keywords that Version 21.0 parses and processes. Keywords not in this list are passed over silently and do not cause errors.

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Keyword

Category

Notes

*NODE

Geometry

Global and part-local node coordinate blocks

*ELEMENT

Geometry

All standard element types including C3D4, C3D8R, C3D10, R3D4, M3D4, S3, S4R, B31, CONN3D2

*NSET

Sets

Named node sets with GENERATE support

*ELSET

Sets

Named element sets with GENERATE support and ELSET=name@id naming

*PART / *END PART

Assembly

Part definition blocks

*ASSEMBLY / *END ASSEMBLY

Assembly

Assembly block with instance definitions

*INSTANCE / *END INSTANCE

Assembly

Instance placement with translation and rotation

*SYSTEM

Coordinate

Local coordinate system transforms for R3D rigid body placement

*MATERIAL

Material

Material definition block

*ELASTIC

Material

Isotropic, orthotropic, anisotropic, engineering constants, lamina

*PLASTIC

Material

Rate-dependent and rate-independent plasticity

*DENSITY

Material

Mass density

*DAMPING

Material

Alpha and beta Rayleigh damping coefficients

*GLOBAL DAMPING

Material

Model-level alpha and beta damping

*HYPERELASTIC

Material

Neo-Hookean, Mooney-Rivlin, Ogden, Arruda-Boyce

*EXPANSION

Material

Thermal expansion coefficient

*CONDUCTIVITY

Material

Thermal conductivity

*SPECIFIC HEAT

Material

Heat capacity

*SOLID SECTION

Section

Continuum element section assignments

*SHELL SECTION

Section

Shell section with thickness

*BEAM SECTION

Section

Beam section with profile and orientation

*MEMBRANE SECTION

Section

Membrane section

*COHESIVE SECTION

Section

Cohesive element section

*GASKET SECTION

Section

Gasket element section

*RIGID BODY

Constraint

Rigid body constraint with reference node

*TIE

Constraint

Surface-to-surface tie constraint

*MPC

Constraint

Multi-point constraint

*EQUATION

Constraint

Linear constraint equation

*COUPLING

Constraint

Distributing and kinematic coupling

*EMBEDDED ELEMENT

Constraint

Embedded element constraint

*STEP / *END STEP

Step

Step definition block

*FREQUENCY

Step

Frequency extraction (perturbation)

*RANDOM RESPONSE

Step

Random response procedure

*MODAL DYNAMIC

Step

Modal dynamic procedure

*STEADY STATE DYNAMICS

Step

Harmonic response procedure

*DYNAMIC, EXPLICIT

Step

Explicit dynamic procedure

*STATIC

Step

General static procedure

*STATIC, STABILIZE

Step

Static with automatic stabilization

*DIRECT CYCLIC

Step

Direct cyclic loading procedure

*SUBSPACE DYNAMIC

Step

Subspace dynamic procedure

*BOUNDARY

Loads/BCs

Boundary condition definitions

*CLOAD

Loads/BCs

Concentrated force loads

*DLOAD

Loads/BCs

Distributed loads

*DSLOAD

Loads/BCs

Distributed surface loads and pressures

*GRAVITY

Loads/BCs

Gravity body force

*PRESSURE

Loads/BCs

Surface pressure loads

*TEMPERATURE

Loads/BCs

Temperature field loads

*BOLT LOAD

Loads/BCs

Bolt preload definition

*INITIAL CONDITIONS

Loads/BCs

Initial velocity and temperature conditions

*BASE MOTION

Loads/BCs

Base excitation for random/harmonic response

*PSD-DEFINITION

Loads/BCs

Power spectral density profile definition

*CORRELATION

Loads/BCs

PSD-to-base-motion correlation

*MODAL DAMPING

Loads/BCs

Modal damping ratio specification

*CONTACT PAIR

Contact

Surface-to-surface contact pair

*CONTACT CONTROLS

Contact

Contact algorithm control parameters

*SURFACE

Contact

Surface definition from element faces

*SURFACE INTERACTION

Contact

Contact interaction property

*FRICTION

Contact

Friction coefficient definition

*MASS

Elements

Point mass elements

*NONSTRUCTURAL MASS

Elements

Distributed non-structural mass

*ROTARY INERTIA

Elements

Point rotary inertia

*SPRING

Elements

Discrete spring elements

*DASHPOT

Elements

Discrete dashpot elements

*CONNECTOR SECTION

Elements

Connector element section

*CONNECTOR LOAD

Elements

Connector load definition

*OUTPUT

Output

Output request control

*NODE OUTPUT

Output

Nodal variable output (including RF, CF detection)

*ELEMENT OUTPUT

Output

Element variable output

*MODAL OUTPUT

Output

Modal variable output

*CONTACT OUTPUT

Output

Contact variable output

*SELECT EIGENMODES

Output

Mode selection for output

*INCLUDE

File Control

File inclusion with recursive resolution

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End of User Manual

‍ ‍

Abaqus INP Comprehensive Analyzer V21.0

‍ ‍

Joseph P. McFadden Sr. • www.McFaddenCAE.com • McFadden@snet.net

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Developed in collaboration with Claude (Anthropic).

‍ ‍

Joseph McFadden https://www.mcfaddencae.com

CAE Evaluator, for the CAE Analyst

1. Introduction

1.1 The Mission: Combating Engineering Mind Blindness

1.2 Who This Manual Is For

1.3 What You Need

2. Installation and Setup

2.1 Downloading the Analyzer

2.2 First Launch

2.3 System Requirements

3. Getting Started

3.1 Loading Your First Model

3.2 The Model Type Detection Banner

3.3 The Tab Interface

4. The Parts Tab

4.1 Parts List and Selection

4.2 Island Part Detection

4.3 Interactive 3D Assembly Viewer

4.3.1 Part Visibility Controls

4.3.2 View Styles: Tessellated vs. Actual Mesh

4.3.3 Section Cutting

4.3.4 Camera Controls

4.4 Part Naming Scheme

4.5 Working Set

4.6 Multi-Part INP Export

4.7 STL Export

4.8 Spatial Analysis Tools

5. Materials Tab

6. Sections Tab

7. Property Viewer Tab

8. 1D Elements Tab

9. Tools Menu Reference

9.1 BC and Load Viewer

9.2 Drop Simulation Analysis

9.3 Perturbation Review

9.4 Contact Analysis

9.5 Interaction Viewer

9.6 PSD Plotter and GRMS Calculator

9.7 Analyze Simulation Intent

9.8 Material Consistency Review

9.9 Model Quality Report

9.10 Convert for HyperMesh

9.11 Export Redacted INP

9.12 Extract Material Data

9.13 Other Tools

10. Recommendations Tab

11. Edits Tab

12. Learning Center

12.1 Analysis Types

12.2 Best Practices

12.3 Material Properties

12.4 Behind the Scenes

13. Version 21.0 Improvements

13.1 Smart Contact Analysis (V20.3)

13.2 PSD Plotter and Random Vibration Validation (V20.4)

13.3 Multi-Part Export Enhancements (V21.0)

13.4 HyperMesh Converter

13.5 Secure Model Sharing

13.6 Expanded Keyword Parsing

13.7 Interactive Assembly Viewer Enhancements

13.8 Version 21.0: Safety and Robustness Fixes

13.8.1 Safe Node Merging

13.8.2 Export Safety

13.8.3 STL Exporter Robustness

13.8.4 Viewer Settings Applied Everywhere

13.8.5 Material Consistency Review Dialog

14. Troubleshooting

14.1 Common Issues

14.2 Getting Help

Appendix A: Supported Abaqus Keywords

A Student’s Guide to the INP Analyzer