Setup / Installation

There are two ways to use GUWlib:

• on the local computer

• on a cluster (for computationally intensive models).

Based on the needs, different dependencies need to be fullfilled. The setup process for local solving and additional installation steps for solving models on a cluster are described below.

Setup for use on local PC

1. ABAQUS:

   Ensure that ABAQUS (2019 or later version) is installed. For model generation only, the student version (Learning Edition) of ABAQUS is sufficient (solving in the Learning Edition is restricted to 1000 nodes).

2. Python Requirements:

   If batch processing scripts are to be used, Python (Version 3+) is necessary as well as the Python package NumPy. NumPy can be installed e.g. with pip:

   $ pip install numpy
   

3. Clone or Download Repository:

   Clone or download the GitLab repository into your working directory. The downloaded files have the following structure:

   GUW\
   ├───docs\
   │   └───...
   └───python\
       │   batch_local.py
       │   batch_remote.py
       │   preview_model.py
       │
       ├───guwlib\
       │   ├───data\
       │   ├───functions_batch\
       │   ├───functions_cae\
       │   ├───functions_cluster\
       │   ├───functions_odb\
       │   ├───functions_utility\
       │   └───guw_objects\
       ├───results\
       └───models\
           └───examples\
                   example_01.py
                   example_02.py
   

   The python folder contains the guwlib package, along with folders for models (models) and results (results). Additionally, three scripts (batch_local.py, batch_remote.py, preview_model.py) are provided for automating model creation, solving, and post-processing, as well as for quickly opening a model in ABAQUS.

5. Setting ABAQUS Working Directory:

   ABAQUS can access the guwlib package and execute model scripts only when the ABAQUS working directory is set to the .../guwlib/python/ directory or when ABAQUS is launched from this directory. To set the working directory:

   • Launch ABAQUS and navigate to File -> Set working directory…, then change it to the path where .../guwlib/python/ is located.

   • On Windows, the ABAQUS shortcut can also be modified: right-click on the ABAQUS/CAE shortcut -> Properties -> Start in and set it to the .../guwlib/python/ path.

Setup for use on TU BS Phoenix Cluster

1. Python Requirements:

   An installation of Python (Version 3.6+) on the local computer is necessary. Additionally, the Paramiko package for SSH communication needs to be available on the local computer and can be installed via pip:

   $ pip install paramiko
   

2. ABAQUS:

   ABAQUS is available on the Phoenix cluster by default (versions 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023). For working on the cluster only, no local installation of ABAQUS is necessary.

3. Clone or Download Repository:

   Clone or download the GitLab repository to both a local working directory as well as any working directory on the Phoenix BeeGFS filesystem, i.e. the /work/<username> directory. The latter can be done as follows, for example:

   • Connect to TU BS network via VPN (if not already connected).

   • Open a terminal and connect to Phoenix:

     $ ssh <username>@phoenix.hlr.rz.tu-bs.de
     

   • Navigate to the work directory:

     [<username>@login01 ~] cd /work/<username>
     

   • Clone the GitLab repository:

     [<username>@login01 /work/<username>] git clone https://git.rz.tu-bs.de/j.froboese/GUW.git
     

   The working directory of GUWlib on the Phoenix cluster would now be /work/<username>/GUW/python/.

   Another option is to use a GUI like FileZilla to copy the directory from the local PC to Phoenix.

   Information on how to use the batch processing functions with the cluster, read Batch processing (cluster).