Editing Abaqus .inp file format to use in Calculix

1

Hi,

I am trying to use ccx to run a .inp that is generated using pyNuMAD (for generating shell/solid elements). I have followed all the general rules to make it ccx compatible. I’m still getting errors.

Here is a one snippet of Shell General Section:

*Shell General Section, elset=set_00_00_HP_TE_FLAT, composite, orientation=ori_00_00_HP_TE_FLAT, offset=0.5, layup=lyp_00_00_HP_TE_FLAT
0.0005, , Gelcoat, 0.0
0.053, , glass_triax, 0.0
0.045, , glass_triax, 0.0

And one orientation:

*Orientation, name=ori_00_00_HP_TE_FLAT
-0.21795462123058096, -0.015483496043146583, 6.896551724137931, -0.04413309173430369, -0.13555182325790105, 0.0
3, 0.

I know ccx can’t handle ‘Shell general Section’. But my question is, if I remove all the Shell Generation Section, will it impact the mesh and the solution. Also, Is there a way to edit the shell generation section to make it ccx compatible?

2

You would have to replace *SHELL GENERAL SECTION with *SHELL SECTION because only this definition is supported in CalculiX. There you provide the material, thickness and (optionally) orientation. It can be composite too:

*SHELL SECTION, COMPOSITE, ELSET=…, ORIENTATION=…
thickness_1, , material_1, orientation_1
thickness_2, , material_2, orientation_2
…

So try this syntax. The *ORIENTATION keyword syntax in CalculiX is pretty much the same as in Abaqus if you don’t use some advanced Abaqus features.

3

Thank you so much for replying :blush:

So I edit to this,

*Orientation, name=ori_00_00_HP_TE_FLAT
-0.21795462123058096, -0.015483496043146583, 6.896551724137931, -0.04413309173430369, -0.13555182325790105, 0.0
3, 0.
....
*Shell Section, elset=set_00_00_HP_TE_FLAT, composite, orientation=ori_00_00_HP_TE_FLAT, offset=0.5
0.0005,  , Gelcoat, 0.0
0.053,  , glass_triax, 0.0
0.045,  , glass_triax, 0.0
....

but still getting errors as:

 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION: nonexistent orientation

 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION. Card image:
        0.001,,GLASS_BIAX,0

 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION: nonexistent orientation

 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION. Card image:
        0.001,,GLASS_BIAX,0

 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION: nonexistent orientation

 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION. Card image:
        0.001,,GLASS_BIAX,0


 STEP            1

 *ERROR in calinput: at least one fatal
        error message while reading the
        input deck: CalculiX stops.

The elements used are:

S4, S3

The nsets are defined like this:

*Nset, nset=RootNodes
1,
2,
17,
18,
.......
*Nset, nset=allShellNds
1, 5476, 1
*Elset, elset=allShellEls
1, 5831, 1
...

Could you tell me is the word offset required? or some issue with orientation

4

Offset is optional but CalculiX assumes that the zeroes you have at the end of each data line are orientation names. That’s why it says they are non-existent. Both global (ORIENTATION parameter of *SHELL SECTION) and layer-wise (last data line item) orientations are optional so you can skip them.

1 Like
5

Thank you so much. This solves the format, but the mesher which I’m using can generates only S3 and S4 elements. So, for using composites, I wont be able to use ccx :neutral_face:

 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION: *SHELL SECTION
        with the option COMPOSITE can
        only be used for S8R or S6 shell elements.
        Element         5804  is not a S8R nor a S6 shell element.
 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION: *SHELL SECTION
        with the option COMPOSITE can
        only be used for S8R or S6 shell elements.
        Element         5811  is not a S8R nor a S6 shell element.
 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION: *SHELL SECTION
        with the option COMPOSITE can
        only be used for S8R or S6 shell elements.
        Element         5818  is not a S8R nor a S6 shell element.
 *ERROR reading *SHELL SECTION: *SHELL SECTION
        with the option COMPOSITE can
        only be used for S8R or S6 shell elements.
        Element         5825  is not a S8R nor a S6 shell element.

 STEP            1

 *ERROR in calinput: at least one fatal
        error message while reading the
        input deck: CalculiX stops.

I’ll give a try without composites, but I wanted to have layers with different materials. Thanks!