***parameter

Description

This command controls the translation of ABAQUS field variables to Z-mat external parameters which can be used in coefficient dependancies. Remember that the temperature parameter is always active in Z-mat.

Syntax

***parameter \(~\,\) [ **ambient_temperature val ] \(~\,\) [ **field_variable var-name  location ] \(~\,\) [ **initial_value val ]

**ambient_temperature

sets the ambient temperature used as \(T_0\). This is important for thermal strain calculations. In the event that this command is not used, an additional state variable is added with fixed value of the temperature at the beginning of the problem (if there are dependancies on temperature in the behavior that is). It is probably desirable to use this command therefore if the initial temperature field is constant.

**field_variable

add a new field variable to the problem, with index location in the list of fields defined within the ABAQUS problem. This index starts with 1.

**initial_value

optional command with a similar meaning as **ambient_temperature has for temperature.

Example

The following example illustrates the use of parameter keyword. It is an excerpt of file ts1 located in test database in Z-mat/umat_v61.

***parameter
  **ambient_temperature 125.0
  **field_variable humidity 2
  **initial_value 0.25