This guide is a complete reference to using Abaqus/CAE (including Abaqus/Viewer, a subset of Abaqus/CAE that contains only the Visualization module). In general, any references to the Visualization module throughout this guide apply equally to Abaqus/Viewer.

The Abaqus/CAE user interface is very intuitive and allows you to begin working without a great deal of preparation. However, you may find it useful to read through the tutorials at the end of the Getting Started with Abaqus/CAE guide before using the product for the first time. Only Appendix D, “Viewing the Output from Your Analysis,” of Getting Started with Abaqus/CAE applies if you are running Abaqus/Viewer.

This guide is divided into the following parts:

• Part I, “Interacting with Abaqus/CAE,” contains general information on the user interface

• Part II, “Working with Abaqus/CAE model databases, models, and files,” contains information on the various files created by and used with Abaqus/CAE

• Part III, “Creating and analyzing a model using the Abaqus/CAE modules,” discusses each of the Abaqus/CAE modules in detail, except the Visualization module

• Part IV, “Modeling techniques,” discusses how to define special engineering features in an Abaqus/CAE model and discusses modeling techniques that span multiple Abaqus/CAE modules.

• Part V, “Viewing results,” discusses the Visualization module (Abaqus/Viewer) in detail

• Part VI, “Using toolsets,” contains information on the toolsets in all Abaqus/CAE modules except the Visualization module (discussed in Part V, “Viewing results”)

• Part VII, “Customizing model display,” contains customization information

• Part VIII, “Using plug-ins,” discusses how you can use plug-ins and the Plug-in toolset to extend the capabilities of Abaqus/CAE.

Appendix A, “Keyword support,” provides tables that you can use to determine which Abaqus/CAE module embodies the functionality of a particular Abaqus keyword, as well as whether a particular keyword is supported. Appendix B, “Special element types,” lists element types used in Abaqus for model features that are not part of the mesh. Appendix C, “Special graphical symbols,” explains how to interpret the special graphical symbols used by Abaqus/CAE. Appendix D, “Element and output variable support,” lists the Abaqus output variables that are not supported by the Visualization module.