# Editing Abaqus .inp file format to use in Calculix **URL:** \ **Category:** Model setup\ **Created:** [August 11, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/editing-abaqus-inp-file-format-to-use-in-calculix/2849 "2025-08-11T13:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Partha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Partha](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Partha)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/editing-abaqus-inp-file-format-to-use-in-calculix/2849/1 "2025-08-11T13:09:26Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Calc\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Calc\_em](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Calc_em)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 1:19pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/editing-abaqus-inp-file-format-to-use-in-calculix/2849/2 "2025-08-11T13:19:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Partha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Partha](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Partha)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/editing-abaqus-inp-file-format-to-use-in-calculix/2849/3 "2025-08-11T16:11:33Z")
Thank you so much for replying 😊 So I edit to this, ```auto *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: ```auto *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: ```auto *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 ---
**Author:** ![Calc\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Calc\_em](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Calc_em)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/editing-abaqus-inp-file-format-to-use-in-calculix/2849/4 "2025-08-11T16:25:37Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Partha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Partha](https://calculix.discourse.group/u/Partha)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 10:01am UTC](https://calculix.discourse.group/t/editing-abaqus-inp-file-format-to-use-in-calculix/2849/5 "2025-08-12T10:01:56Z")
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 😐 ```auto *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!