AbaqusReader.jl

Parse ABAQUS input files in Julia with a clean, modern API.

AbaqusReader.jl provides two distinct approaches for working with ABAQUS .inp files:

• Mesh-only parsing for quick geometry extraction
• Complete model parsing for full simulation definitions

Design Philosophy: We provide topology (geometry and connectivity), not physics (formulations and behavior). Read our Philosophy to understand why we reject ABAQUS's element proliferation and embrace clean, topological types instead.

Two Approaches for Two Different Needs

1. Mesh-Only Parsing - abaqus_read_mesh()

Fast and lightweight - extracts only the geometry and topology (nodes, elements, sets).

Returns a simple Dict structure perfect for:

• 🎨 Visualizing geometry
• 🔄 Converting meshes to other formats
• 🔍 Quick mesh inspection
• 🛠️ Building custom FEM implementations

Use when: You need the mesh structure but not the physics.

2. Complete Model Parsing - abaqus_read_model()

Full simulation recipe - parses everything needed to reproduce the analysis.

Returns a structured Model object containing:

• 📐 Mesh (nodes, elements, sets, surfaces)
• 🧱 Materials and properties
• 📍 Boundary conditions and loads
• 📊 Analysis steps and outputs

Use when: You need to understand or reproduce the complete simulation setup.

Important Notes

• File Format: Both functions work best with "flat" ABAQUS input files. Structured formats (parts, assemblies) may have limited support.

• Keyword Coverage: abaqus_read_model() handles common ABAQUS keywords but doesn't cover every possible option. It's designed for typical simulation extraction use cases.

• Element Types: We use clean topological types (Tri3, Quad4, Tet4, Hex8) instead of ABAQUS's physics-specific nomenclature. Original names are preserved in metadata for traceability.