Create or open the model database in which you want to specify substructures in Abaqus/CAE.

In the Step module, create a Substructure generation step. Abaqus/CAE converts the entire model into a single substructure. For more information, see “Generating a substructure,” Section 39.2.

In the Load module, create Retained nodal dofs boundary conditions to determine which degrees of freedom will be retained as external degrees of freedom on the substructure. You can also define a load case in the substructure generation step if you want to apply a load to the substructure at a location other than its retained degrees of freedom. For more information, see “Specifying the retained nodal degrees of freedom and load cases for a substructure,” Section 39.3.

In the Job module, create a new job and submit the analysis.

When you perform an analysis of an assembly that includes substructure data, Abaqus/CAE creates separate output databases for the results of each substructure part instance and does not include the results from the substructure part instances in the output database for the assembly. The Visualization module provides tools that enable you to integrate the results from the substructure components back into the results from the assembly; for more information, see “Visualizing substructure output,” Section 39.8.