Summary

This section presents a summary of the concepts.

  • An Abaqus simulation can include any number of steps.

  • Implicit and explicit steps are not allowed in the same analysis job.

  • An analysis step is a period of “time” during which the response of the model to a specified set of loads and boundary conditions is calculated. The character of this response is determined by the particular analysis procedure used during the step.

  • The response of a structure in a general analysis step may be either linear or nonlinear.

  • The starting condition for each general step is the ending condition of the previous general step. Thus, the model's response evolves during a sequence of general steps in a simulation.

  • Linear perturbation steps (available only in Abaqus/Standard) calculate the linear response of the structure to a perturbation load. The response is reported relative to the base state defined by the condition of the model at the end of the last general step.

  • Analyses can be restarted as long as a restart file is saved. Restart files can be used to continue an interrupted analysis or to add additional load history to the simulation.