Set this parameter equal to the name given for the *ORIENTATION option (“Orientations,” Section 2.2.5 of the Abaqus Analysis User's Guide) to be used to define a local coordinate system for integration point calculations in the gasket elements in the specified element set.

This parameter is usually not needed. It is used to change the default stabilization stiffness used in all but link elements to stabilize gasket elements that are not supported at all nodes, such as those that extend outside neighboring components. The default value is set equal to 10^–9 times the initial compressive stiffness in the thickness direction. To change the default, set this parameter equal to the desired stabilization stiffness. The units are stress (FL^–2). In case the thickness behavior is defined in terms of force versus closure, the initial compressive stiffness needs to be divided by the cross-sectional area to convert the units to stress before it can be used to set the desired stabilization stiffness.