| name | abaqus-odb |
| description | Read analysis results. Use when user asks about maximum stress, extracting displacements, reaction forces, or exporting results. Post-processes ODB files. |
| allowed-tools | ["Read","Write","Edit","Glob","Grep","Bash(abaqus:*)","Bash(python:*)"] |
Abaqus ODB Skill
This skill reads and extracts analysis results from Abaqus ODB files.
When to Use This Skill
Route here when user mentions:
- "What is the maximum stress?", "extract displacement"
- "Get reaction forces", "post-process the ODB"
- "Export results to CSV", "what are the eigenfrequencies?"
Route elsewhere:
- Running the analysis →
/abaqus-job
- Configuring what output to save →
/abaqus-output
- Exporting geometry (STL, STEP) →
/abaqus-export
Key Decisions
1. What Result is Needed?
| Need | Field | Notes |
|---|
| Displacement | U | Use .magnitude for total |
| Stress | S | Use .mises for von Mises |
| Reaction force | RF | Sum components for total |
| Strain | E | Similar structure to stress |
| Temperature | NT | Thermal analysis results |
| Eigenfrequency | Frame description | Parse from frame metadata |
2. Which Step/Frame?
| Scenario | Frame Selection |
|---|
| Final results | step.frames[-1] |
| All time history | Loop all frames |
| Specific time | Find by frameValue |
| Modal analysis | Each frame = mode |
3. Location: Global Max or Specific?
| Need | Approach |
|---|
| Overall maximum | Loop all values, find max |
| Specific node | Filter by nodeLabel |
| Subset/region | Use getSubset(region=...) |
4. Export Format?
| Format | Use Case |
|---|
| Print to console | Quick check |
| CSV file | Spreadsheet analysis |
| Text report | Documentation |
What to Ask User
If unclear, ask:
- What result? Stress, displacement, reaction force, frequency?
- Which step/frame? Final, specific time, or all?
- Location? Maximum anywhere, or specific node/region?
- Output format? Print, CSV, or report?
Workflow
- Open ODB - Use
readOnly=True for extraction
- Navigate to step/frame - List steps with
odb.steps.keys()
- Get field output - Access via
frame.fieldOutputs['U']
- Extract values - Loop
field.values, use .magnitude, .mises
- Close ODB - Always close when done
Common Tasks
| Task | Approach |
|---|
| Max displacement | Loop U values, find max magnitude |
| Max von Mises stress | Loop S values, find max mises |
| Total reaction force | Sum RF components across all nodes |
| Displacement at node | Filter by nodeLabel |
| Results in region | Use getSubset with node/element set |
| Eigenfrequencies | Parse frame.description in frequency step |
| Time history | Use historyRegions and historyOutputs |
| Export to CSV | Write values with csv module |
Troubleshooting
| Error | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| "ODB locked" | Another process has it | Delete .lck file |
| "Key not found" | Wrong variable name | List available keys first |
| "No values" | Output not requested | Check FieldOutputRequest in model |
| "AttributeError: mises" | Element has no mises | Check element formulation |
Code Patterns
For API syntax and code examples, see:
