SIMULIA Software Canada Alberta

Is a Structural Engineer-In-Training who joined ENA2 is early 2019. He received his master’s degree in civil engineering, with specialization in structures and solid mechanics, at University of Calgary, and did research on finite element modelling of recessed concrete girders reinforced with headed studs.

What's New in 2022?

Abaqus is a household name in the realm of finite elements analysis (FEA). It has been used across industry and academia and is widely regarded for its accuracy and reliability. The software contains powerful solvers for performing complex non-linear simulations, offering advanced features for material modelling, meshing, contact definitions, and CAD preprocessing. As a one-stop-shop, cradle-to-grave solution for your FEA needs, Abaqus has far-reaching applications across numerous fields in engineering and physical sciences, enabling reduced cost from physical testing, increased productivity, and faster turnaround times. 

Software enhancements typically provide subtle, but important upgrades to workflow and functionality. Multiple Abaqus fix packs and upgrades are regularly made available for download well before a new version is released. while many of the changes from Abaqus 2021 (or any previous version) are routine, there were a few which caught our attention. In this short blog, we will cover the top five improvements in Abaqus 2022 which we found interesting. 

Increased Model Size

Using the Abaqus/Standard solver, you can now analyze models with more than 16 million nodes on a single computing node. This is achieved using shared memory parallel analysis and removes the need for split execution. The model size that can be solved has also been significantly expanded for Abaqus/Explicit; a twofold increase in analysis capacity is cited using Abaqus 2022 when compared with earlier versions.

Electrochemical-Structural Simulations

Expanding on its multiphysics capabilities, coupled thermal-electrochemical-structural simulations are now possible using Abaqus/Standard solver. This is an excellent tool for the analysis of batteries, providing insight into charge-discharge sequences, ion transfer, electrode behaviour, capacity, and life cycle performance. Unlike previous versions of these features, the constitutive behaviour of components is now integrated into the porous electrode theory (PET), enabling stress analysis of materials subject to combined thermal and microstructural effects. 

Material Extrapolation

In previous versions of Abaqus, if you defined a single stress-strain point at material yielding, the program would extrapolate stress using a constant value beyond the strain range you defined. Now you can specify linear extrapolation to define hardening within the post-yield region. Although seemingly straightforward, the new capability eliminates the need to define an additional data point. This means you no longer need to guess the point at which the plastic strain changes, and you can avoid stress regularization issues in Abaqus/Explicit.

Element Distortion Control 

Using tetrahedral elements is normally frowned upon if your model is simple enough to be meshed using brick elements, but it is often necessary for more complex geometries where model partitioning may not be sufficient or helpful. Tetrahedral elements have a better ability to accommodate unusual contours and geometric features, but this occasionally comes at the cost of decreased mesh quality. You may have encountered instances where small, sliver elements are present in your model, which can become problematic for explicit analyses. The smallest upsets in constraints, contact interactions, or loading can lead to excessive element distortion. It is now possible to apply distortion control for C3D10 elements (the default tetrahedral element used in Abaqus/Explicit). The option enforces constraints and limits the volume ratios to prevent your elements from “blowing up”. Along with enhancements for stable time increment calculations, this update makes the explicit solver more robust for C3D10 elements. 

Condensed Output Database

At one point or another you likely performed simulations that took days to run and resulted in output files on the order of tens or even hundreds of gigabytes. With Abaqus 2022, now you can hand-pick the data you want to include in your output files, including mesh nodes and elements, sets, sections, materials, profiles, datums, and simulation steps and frames. This feature is available using the ODB Reducer/Builder plugin and will give smaller file sizes, reduced database load times, and improved collaboration between engineers and designers. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

We are excited to see some of these upgrades come into play for Abaqus 2022. The consistent improvements are a testament to how well Abaqus is maintained to keep up with ever-changing customer demands and an evolving technology sector. 

These are only a few of the improvements of Abaqus 2022. The full list of changes for every version can be found in the documentation release notes. While many upgrades have already been implemented in fix packs for the 2021 version, they will be widely available during the 2022 release alongside upgrades available only to the 2022 release. For more information about Abaqus and other SIMULIA products please contact info@ena2.com 

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