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Customizing the Abaqus Legend Values

  • Aug 8
  • 2 min read
Stress distribution visualization in Abaqus showing von Mises stress on a rubber boot geometry with a detailed contour legend in Pascals.

Clear visualization of simulation results is key to understanding and communicating insights. In Abaqus, the legend is a vital part of the postprocessing display, showing stress or other field quantities. Precise legend scaling isn’t just cosmetic—it helps maintain numerical clarity during postprocessing.


Abaqus simulation showing von Mises stress distribution on a complex 3D part with default legend values in Pascals.
Default stress legend in Abaqus displaying von Mises stress values in Pascals.


The Challenge: Customizing Legend Values in Abaqus

By default, Abaqus displays stress values in units like Pascals (Pa). However, depending on the nature of your analysis, you may prefer to show results in other units, such as MegaPascals (MPa), or in normalized form. But how can you adjust the legend to reflect these variations?

Let’s look at two common cases:


Create Field Output window in Abaqus for defining a custom stress field by applying a mathematical expression.
Custom field output dialog where stress values can be modified or normalized.

  1. Displaying stress values in MPa

    1. When running a stress analysis, results are typically shown in Pascals. For clarity, especially when dealing with large values, it may be more practical to display stress in MegaPascals.

    2. To do this, divide the stress values by 1e6 (since 1 MPa = 1,000,000 Pa).

    3. This produces a cleaner, more readable legend with smaller and more manageable numbers.

      Updated Abaqus contour plot visualizing stress in a normalized or unit-adjusted format without default scale.
      Contour plot with modified stress field for improved clarity using unit conversion.

  2. Displaying normalized stress values

    1. In some analyses, it's more insightful to visualize stress relative to the maximum value in the model.

    2. Normalized stress = σ / σ<sub>max</sub>, resulting in a dimensionless field.

    3. This can help identify critical areas or stress trends more effectively, especially when comparing across frames or steps.

      Postprocessed Abaqus model with custom legend scale applied to highlight critical stress regions.
      Visualization of stress results using a customized field in the Abaqus Viewer.

 

The Solution: Visualizing Abaqus Legends with Custom Scales

Abaqus offers flexibility in how results are displayed, but customizing the legend for unit conversion or normalization requires a few simple steps:


  1. Open your simulation model in the Visualization module.

  2. Create a new field output

    1. Go to Result → Field Output → Create

    2. Select Derived Field Output from Fields

    3. Apply your formula (e.g., divide by 1e6 or normalize by the max stress).


  3. Select Step/Frame

    1. Go to Result → Step/Frame…

    2. Choose the appropriate session step and frame.


  4. Assign the custom field

    1. In the contour display, select your newly created field.

    2. Adjust the legend format or value range as needed.

     

Step/Frame selection window in Abaqus showing session step configuration for custom field output.
Step and frame selection window to assign the correct session frame for your custom output field.

Whether you're sharing results with a technical stakeholder or presenting to non-experts, customizing the legend ensures your simulations are easy to understand. Normalized plots help emphasize trends and distribution, while adjusted units avoid unnecessary complexity from large numerical values.


Need Help Customizing Your Abaqus Legend?

Whether you want cleaner units or normalized results, customizing the legend in Abaqus improves your postprocessing workflow. If you need support with setup or unit conversions, fill out our contact form or email us at sales@4realsim.com. We will help you fine-tune your visualization for clarity and impact.



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