Abaqus to Nastran Conversion Mapping
The Abaqus to Nastran conversion uses an open conversion scheme; you can specify different mappings in the configuration file.
Care has to be taken so that the element and property mappings are consistent. A valid mapping scheme is provided in the ConfigurationFile.txt file. This document explains the scope and limitations of the mapping scheme.
Elements
HyperWorks elements have two basic attributes – configuration (or config) and type. The "config" defines the basic geometrical shape of an element. For example, tria3 configuration is a 3 node triangular element and hexa8 is an 8-node hexahedral element. The "type" defines the solver specific element type of a particular configuration. For example, the 4-node quadrilateral (quad4) element in Abaqus can be any of the following types: S4, S4R, M3D4, R3D4 and so on. The Element Types panel shows all supported element configurations and their types for a user profile.
HM configuration | Abaqus type | Nastran type |
---|---|---|
Mass | MASS | CONM2 |
ROTARYI | CONM2 | |
SPRING1 | CELAS1, CELAS2, CBUSH | |
DASHPOT1 | CDAMP1 | |
CONN3D2 | CBUSH | |
CONN2D2 | CBUSH | |
rigid | BEAM | RBE2 |
LINK | RBE2 | |
PIN | RBE2 | |
TIE | RBE2 | |
KINCOUP | RBE2 | |
COUP_KIN | RBE2 | |
COUP_DIS | RBE2 | |
RB3D2 | RBE2 | |
R2D2 | RBE2 | |
RAX2 | RBE2 | |
RB2D2 | RBE2 | |
rbe3 | DCOUP3D | RBE3 |
COUP_DIS | RBE3 | |
DCOUP2D | RBE3 | |
rigidlink | KINCOUP | RBE2 |
RB3D2 | RBE2 | |
BEAM | RBE2 | |
LINK | RBE2 | |
PIN | RBE2 | |
TIE | RBE2 | |
COUP_KIN | RBE2 | |
COUP_DIS | RBE2 | |
R2D2 | RBE2 | |
RAX2 | RBE2 | |
spring | SPRING2 | CELAS1,CBUSH |
SPRINGA | CBUSH | |
DASHPOT2 | CDAMP1, CBUSH | |
DASHPOTA | CBUSH | |
JOINTC | CBUSH | |
bar2 | B31 | CBAR,CBEAM |
B31H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B33 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B33H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B31OS | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B31OSH | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE31 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE31H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
ELBOW31 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
ELBOW31B | CBAR,CBEAM | |
ELBOW31C | CBAR,CBEAM | |
AC1D2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
GK3D2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
GK3D2N | CBAR,CBEAM | |
SAX1 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B21 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B21H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B23 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B23H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE21 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE21H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
F2D2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
FAX2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
bar3 | B32 | CBAR,CBEAM |
B32H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B32OS | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B32OSH | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE32 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE32H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
ELBOW32 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
AC1D3 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
MGAX2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
SFMAX2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
SFMGAX2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
SAX2 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B22 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
B22H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE22 | CBAR,CBEAM | |
PIPE22H | CBAR,CBEAM | |
rod | T3D2 | CROD |
T3D2H | CROD | |
T3D2T | CROD | |
T3D2E | CROD | |
MGAX1 | CROD | |
SFMAX1 | CROD | |
SFMGAX1 | CROD | |
CONN3D2 | CBUSH | |
T2D2 | CROD | |
T2D2H | CROD | |
T2D2T | CROD | |
T2D2E | CROD | |
GK2D2 | CROD | |
GK2D2N | CROD | |
CONN2D2 | spring CELAS1,CELAS2,CBUSH | |
gap | GAPUNI | CGAP |
GAPCYL | CGAP | |
GAPSPHER | CGAP | |
tria3 | S3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR |
S3R | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
STRI3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
M3D3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
SFM3D3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
R3D3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
DS3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CPE3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CPE3H | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CPE3E | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CPS3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CPS3E | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CAX3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CAX3H | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CAX3E | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CGAX3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
CGAX3H | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
AC2D3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
ACAX3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
DCAX3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
DCAX3E | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
DC2D3 | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
DC2D3E | CTRIA3,CTRIAR | |
quad4 | S4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR |
S4R | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
S4R5 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
M3D4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
M3D4R | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
SFM3D4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
SFM3D4R | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
R3D4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
DS4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
GK3D4L | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
GK3D4LN | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
F3D4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4I | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4H | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4IH | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4R | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4RH | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4T | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4HT | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPE4E | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPS4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPS4I | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPS4R | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPS4T | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CPS4E | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4H | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4I | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4IH | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4R | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4RH | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4T | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4HT | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAX4E | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAXA4N | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAXA4HN | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAXA4RN | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CAXA4RHN | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CGAX4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CGAX4H | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CGAX4R | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
CGAX4RH | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
AC2D4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
ACAX4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
DC2D4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
DC2D4E | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
DCAX4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
DCAX4E | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
DCCAX4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
DCCAX4D | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
GKPS4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
GKPE4 | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
GKPS4N | CQUAD4,CQUADR | |
tria6 | STRI65 | CTRIA6 |
M3D6 | CTRIA6 | |
SFM3D6 | CTRIA6 | |
DS6 | CTRIA6 | |
CPE6 | CTRIA6 | |
CPE6H | CTRIA6 | |
CPE6M | CTRIA6 | |
CPE6MH | CTRIA6 | |
CPS6 | CTRIA6 | |
CPS6M | CTRIA6 | |
AC2D6 | CTRIA6 | |
ACAX6 | CTRIA6 | |
DCAX6 | CTRIA6 | |
DC2D6 | CTRIA6 | |
DCAX6E | CTRIA6 | |
DC2D6E | CTRIA6 | |
CAX6 | CTRIA6 | |
CAX6H | CTRIA6 | |
CAX6M | CTRIA6 | |
CAX6MH | CTRIA6 | |
CGAX6 | CTRIA6 | |
CGAX6H | CTRIA6 | |
quad8 | S8R | CQUAD8 |
S8R5 | CQUAD8 | |
S8RT | CQUAD8 | |
M3D8 | CQUAD8 | |
M3D8R | CQUAD8 | |
SFM3D8 | CQUAD8 | |
SFM3D8R | CQUAD8 | |
DS8 | CQUAD8 | |
CPE8 | CQUAD8 | |
CPE8H | CQUAD8 | |
CPE8R | CQUAD8 | |
CPE8RH | CQUAD8 | |
CPS8 | CQUAD8 | |
CPS8R | CQUAD8 | |
AC2D8 | CQUAD8 | |
ACAX8 | CQUAD8 | |
DC2D8 | CQUAD8 | |
DCAX8 | CQUAD8 | |
DCAX8E | CQUAD8 | |
DC2D8E | CQUAD8 | |
CAX8 | CQUAD8 | |
CAX8H | CQUAD8 | |
CAX8HT | CQUAD8 | |
CAX8R | CQUAD8 | |
CAX8RH | CQUAD8 | |
CAX8RHT | CQUAD8 | |
CAX8RHT | CQUAD8 | |
CGAX8 | CQUAD8 | |
CGAX8H | CQUAD8 | |
CGAX8R | CQUAD8 | |
CGAX8RH | CQUAD8 | |
CAXA8N | CQUAD8 | |
CAXA8HN | CQUAD8 | |
CAXA8PN | CQUAD8 | |
CAXA8RN | CQUAD8 | |
CAXA8RHN | CQUAD8 | |
CAXA8RPN | CQUAD8 | |
tetra4 | C3D4 | CTETRA |
C3D4H | CTETRA | |
C3D4E | CTETRA | |
AC3D4 | CTETRA | |
DC3D4 | CTETRA | |
DC3D4E | CTETRA | |
penta6 | C3D6 | CPENTA |
C3D6H | CPENTA | |
C3D6E | CPENTA | |
AC3D6 | CPENTA | |
GK3D6 | CPENTA | |
GK3D6N | CPENTA | |
SC6R | CPENTA | |
COH3D6 | CPENTA | |
hex8 | C3D8I | |
C3D8 | ||
C3D8T | ||
C3D8H | ||
C3D8HT | ||
C3D8IH | ||
C3D8R | ||
C3D8RH | ||
C3D8E | ||
AC3D8 | ||
DC3D8 | ||
DC3D8E | ||
DCC3D8 | ||
DCC3D8D | ||
SC8R | ||
COH3D8 | ||
tetra10 | C3D10 | DC3D10 |
C3D10H | DC3D11 | |
C3D10M | DC3D12 | |
C3D10MH | DC3D13 | |
C3D10E | DC3D14 | |
DC3D10E | DC3D15 | |
AC3D10 | DC3D16 | |
DC3D10 | DC3D17 | |
penta15 | C3D15 | CPENTA |
C3D15H | CPENTA | |
C3D15E | CPENTA | |
AC3D15 | CPENTA | |
DC3D15 | CPENTA | |
DC3D15E | CPENTA | |
hex20 | C3D20 | CHEXA |
C3D20H | CHEXA | |
C3D20R | CHEXA | |
C3D20RH | CHEXA | |
C3D20E | CHEXA | |
C3D20RE | CHEXA | |
C3D20T | CHEXA | |
C3D20HT | CHEXA | |
C3D20RT | CHEXA | |
C3D20RHT | CHEXA | |
DC3D20 | CHEXA | |
AC3D20 | CHEXA | |
DC3D20E | CHEXA |
- Connector1 types converted:
- AXIAL: Active = [1], Rigid = [-]
- CARTESIAN, PROJECTION CARTESIAN: Active = [123], Rigid = [-]
- JOIN: Active = [-], Rigid = [123]
- RADIAL-THRUST: Active = [13]*, Rigid = [-]Note: Requires cylindrical system
- SLIDE-PLANE: Active = [23], Rigid = [1]
- SLOT: Active = [1], Rigid = [23]
- Connector2 types converted:
- ALIGN: Active = [-], Rigid = [456]
- CARDAN, EULER, ROTATION, FLEXION-TORSION, PROJECTION FLEXION-TORSION: Active = [456], Rigid = [-]
- REVOLUTE: Active = [4], Rigid = [56]
- Special assembled Connector1 types:
- BEAM, WELD = (JOIN + ALIGN): Active = [-], Rigid = [123456]
- CYLINDRICAL = (SLOT + REVOLUTE): Active = [14], Rigid = [2356]
- HINGE = (JOIN + REVOLUTE): Active = [4], Rigid = [12356]
- PLANAR = (SLIDE-PLANE + REVOLUTE): Active = [234], Rigid = [156]
- TRANSLATOR = (SLOT + ALIGN): Active = [1], Rigid = [23456]
- BUSHING = (PROJECTION CARTESIAN + PROJECTION FLEXION-TORSION): Active = [123456], Rigid = [-]
- PBUSH stiffness and damping values (Ki, Bi) for active DOFs are mapped from *CONNECTOR BEHAVIOR material data. Rigid DOFs map to RIGID option inside PBUSH.
- CBUSH orientation is mapped from *CONNECTOR SECTION Orientation system.
- Only 1 Orientation system can be mapped to CBUSH CID.
- If 2 Orientation systems are present in the Abaqus card, HyperWorks only maps the first one.
It is also possible to use a simplified conversion of Abaqus connectors (CONN3D2) to rbe2 elements when modifying the ConfigurationFile.txt file. Change the entry for rod element type configuration to: rod,CONN3D2 rigid,rbe2
CONN3D2 elements will now be converted to RBE2 elements. Depending on the connection type set in the CONNECTOR SECTION, such as AXIAL or HINGE, degrees of freedom will be set for the RBE2 element. If systems are associated to the connector elemental nodes they will be assigned to the nodes of the RBE2 as well. Not all connection types are supported. If a system is ignored by a particular CONNECTOR SECTION, it will not be assigned to the nodes of the RBE2 either.
These connector types are currently considered in conversion: AXIAL, JOIN, LINK, SLIDE-PLANE, SLOT, ALIGN, REVOLUTE, BEAM, CYLINDRICAL, HINGE, PLANAR, TRANSLATOR, WELD.
*COUPLING/*KINEMATIC constraints with element based surfaces, currently mapped to groups in HyperWorks, are converted into RBE2 rigid elements. *COUPLING/*DISTRIBUTING constraints are converted to RBE3 elements.
- SPRING1/2 without ORIENTATION converts to CELAS1
- SPRINGA or SPRING1/2 with ORIENTATION converts to CBUSH/PBUSH/PBUSHT with K/KN lines. For SPRING1/2, ORIENTATION maps to CBUSH, CID.
- DASHPOT1/2 without ORIENTATION converts to CDAMP1
- DASHPOTA or DASHPOT1/2 with ORIENTATION converts to CBUSH/PBUSH/PBUSHT with B line. For DASHPOT1/2, ORIENTATION maps to CBUSH, CID.
Sectional Properties
Some of the properties in one solver can be converted to two different sections in the other solver. For an Abaqus to Nastran conversion, for example, *DASHPOT can be converted to *PELAS or PDAMP. The property mapping scheme can be edited under the *PropertyConversion block in the ConfigurationFile.txt file.
Please note that the property conversion scheme and corresponding element conversion scheme must be consistent. For example, if you define *CONNECTOR SECTION to PBUSH at the property mapping scheme, the corresponding element CONN3D2 must map to CBUSH in the element mapping scheme.
For SOLID SECTION the converter will always convert to PSOLID unless the property has a data line indicating a cross-sectional area for a truss element. In this case, conversion results in a PROD property.
Abaqus type | Nastran type |
---|---|
*BEAM GENERAL SECTION | PBAR(L), PBEAM(L) |
*BEAM SECTION | PBAR(L), PBEAM(L) |
*CONNECTOR SECTION | PELAS,PBUSH |
*DASHPOT | PELAS,PDAMP |
*GAP | PGAP |
*MASS | CONM2 |
*MEMBRANE SECTION | PSHELL |
*ROTARY INERTIA | CONM2 |
*SHELL GENERAL SECTION | PSHELL |
*SHELL SECTION | PSHELL |
*SOLID SECTION | PSOLID |
*SPRING | PELAS, PBUSH |
*SOLID SECTION (Homogeneous) | PROD |
*SHELL GENERAL SECTION (Homogeneous) | PSHELL |
*SHELL SECTION (Homogeneous) | PSHELL |
*SHELL GENERAL SECTION (User) | PSHELL |
*SHELL SECTION (Composite) | PCOMP, PCOMPG |
*SHELL GENERAL SECTION (Composite) | PCOMP, PCOMPG |
Materials
Abaqus | Nastran type |
---|---|
*MATERIAL | MAT1, MAT4, MATT1, MATS1 |
*CONNECTOR BEHAVIOR | PBUSH, PELAS |
Loads
HyperWorks loads have two basic attributes – configuration (or config) and type. The supported load "configs" are: force, moment, constraint, pressure, temperature, flux, velocity, acceleration and equation. The load "type" defines the solver specific type of a particular configuration. For example, pressure load can be any of the following Nastran types: PLOAD, PLOAD2 or PLOAD4. The Load Types panel shows all supported load configurations and their types for a user profile.
The converter also converts distributed surfaces loads (*DLSOAD) applied on faces of shell or solid elements into pressure loads (PLOAD4).
HM configuration | Abaqus type | Nastran type |
---|---|---|
temperature | TEMPERATURE | TEMP |
pressure | DLOAD | PLOAD,PLOAD2,PLOAD4 |
Constraint | ACCELERATION | SPCD |
VELOCITY | SPCD | |
BOUNDARY | SPC,SUPORT | |
moment | CLOAD | MOMENT |
force | CLOAD | FORCE |
equation | EQUATION | MPC |
Sets
Abaqus type | Nastran type |
---|---|
*NSET | SET |
*ELSET | SET |
Systems
Abaqus type | Nastran type |
---|---|
*ORIENTATION | CORD2C,CORD2R,CORD2S |
*SYSTEM | CORD2C,CORD2R,CORD2S |
*TRANSFORM | CORD2C,CORD2R,CORD2S |
*TRANSFORM- USER DEFINED NSET | CORD2C,CORD2R,CORD2S |
Load Steps and Analysis Type
The conversion tool maps between Abaqus steps and Nastran subcases. It does not convert Abaqus analysis type to the solution type. You must define it manually using the Load Step Browser.
The converter converts *STEP into SUBCASE. Load collector references are maintained upon conversion. If multiple load collectors of a particular step contain constraints, a SPCADD card is created automatically. The same happens in case of loads in separate load collectors; a new LOAD card is created on conversion.