Creating mapped fields from output database mesh data

You can create a mapped field by reading parameter values in from an Abaqus output database (.odb) file. When the mapping data source is an Abaqus output database, the field values must be displayed in a contour plot in the Visualization module. See Mesh-to-mesh mapping from an output database file, for an overview of mesh-to-mesh mapping.

Related Topics
Using the interaction editors
Using the load editors
Using the boundary condition editors
The Analytical Field toolset

  1. When creating a mapped field from an output database, you must have two files open:

    • the model database (.cae) file containing your main target model for the mapping, and

    • the output database (.odb) file containing field output variable data from a previous analysis run on the same (or similar) model.

  2. Select the source data you want to use.

    1. In the Visualization module, open the output database file that contains the source data.
    2. Display the undeformed contour plot in a viewport. You can also use the deformed plot, but the data are still read from the undeformed mesh.
    3. Choose the field output variable for the values you want to map, at a specific step and frame of the analysis. See Producing a contour plot, for details about contour plots.

  3. In the model database containing the main (target) model, open the Create Mapped Field dialog box using one of the following methods:

    • From the main menu bar, select ToolsAnalytical FieldCreate.

      Tip: You can also click Create in the Analytical Field Manager.

    • From the interaction editor in the Interaction module, click next to the Definition or Emissivity distribution field.

    • From the load, boundary condition, or predefined field editor in the Load module, click next to the Distribution field.

  4. Choose Mapped field as the Type, and click Continue.

  5. In the Name text field, enter a name for the mapped field. For information on naming objects, see Using basic dialog box components. In the Description text field, enter a description for the mapped field.

  6. Choose ODB mesh as the Data source.

  7. If desired, choose one of the following to enter a Scale factor and to scale the source data coordinates; for example, to account for a mismatch of units (i.e., meters to millimeters):

    • Choose Uniform, and enter a single scale factor.

    • Choose Nonuniform, and enter a scale factor for the X-, Y-, and Z-coordinates.

  8. Enter a value for Default unmapped field value, or accept the default of zero. Abaqus/CAE assigns this value at any target points for which it cannot find a source point from which to map. See Search controls for mapped fields.

  9. On the ODB Mesh Data tabbed page, select the Viewport to map from the list of open viewports.

    Abaqus/CAE uses the current plot state of the selected viewport as the set of values to be mapped onto the target model in your model database (.cae) file; namely, the specific field output variable displayed at a specific step and frame of the analysis.

  10. On the Mapper Controls tabbed page, you can adjust the search tolerance parameters. See Search controls for mapped fields.

  11. Click OK to create the mapped field and to close the dialog box.

After you have created a mapped field using mesh-to-mesh mapping, you cannot edit the source data mesh specifications; you can edit an existing mapped field only to change the default field value or the mapper controls.

When you later apply a load, interaction, or predefined field using a mapped field, you can display symbols in the viewport to visualize the locations and magnitudes of the field values. However, you must mesh the model first to be able to see these symbols.