Creating predefined fields

When you create a predefined field, you must specify the name of the field, the step in which to activate the field, the type of field, and the region of the assembly to which you want to apply the field.

Related Topics
Understanding and using toolboxes and toolbars
What are step-dependent managers?
Selecting objects within the viewport
Using the predefined field editors
The Set and Surface toolsets

Context:

Note:

The process for creating temperature fields is described separately; see Defining a temperature field.

  1. From the main menu bar, select Predefined FieldCreate.

    A Create Predefined Field dialog box appears with a default name displayed in the Name text field.

    Tip: You can also create a predefined field using the tool in the Load module toolbox.

  2. Type a name for the predefined field. For more information on naming objects, see Using basic dialog box components.

  3. Select the step in which to activate the predefined field. Click the arrow next to the Step text field, and select from the list that appears.

  4. From the Category list on the left side of the dialog box, choose the desired category. The Category choices available are dependent upon the type of analysis procedures you are performing.

    The Types for Selected Step list on the right side of the dialog box changes to a list of all the available predefined field types.

  5. From the Types for Selected Step list, select the predefined field type and click Continue.

  6. If the model contains a combination of mesh and geometry, you must choose the type of region to which you want to apply the predefined field. From the prompt area, select one of the following:

    • Click Geometry to apply the predefined field to geometry or to a reference point.

    • Click Mesh to apply the predefined field to a native or orphan mesh selection.

  7. Select the region to which you want to apply the predefined field.

    If you are creating a material assignment field or an initial state field, use the mouse to select a part instance in the viewport. For all other predefined fields, select a region using one of the following methods:

    • Use the mouse to select a region in the viewport. You can use the angle method to select a group of faces or edges from geometry or a group of element faces or nodes from a mesh. For more information, see Using the angle and feature edge method to select multiple objects. When you have finished selecting, click mouse button 2.

      Tip: You can limit the types of objects that you can select in the viewport by specifying filtering options in the Selection toolbar. See Using the selection options, for more information.

      By default, a set is created that contains the selected objects. You can change this behavior by toggling off the option to create a set in the prompt area. A default name is provided in the prompt area, but you can enter a new name.

    • To select from a list of existing sets, do the following:

      1. Click Sets on the right side of the prompt area.

        Abaqus/CAE displays the Region Selection dialog box containing a list of available sets.

      2. Select the set of interest and click Continue.

        Note:

        The default selection method is based on the selection method you most recently employed. To revert to the other method, click Select in Viewport or Sets on the right side of the prompt area.

    The predefined field editor appears. The region to which you are applying the predefined field is highlighted in the viewport.

  8. Enter all of the data necessary to define the predefined field and click OK. For detailed information on a particular feature of the editor, select HelpOn Context from the main menu bar and then click the feature of interest or see Using the predefined field editors.

    Symbols appear in the viewport that represent the predefined field that you just created. For more information, see Understanding symbols that represent prescribed conditions.