I am developing a custom shell element using VUEL in Abaqus/Explicit (2023). The element runs correctly, internal forces and energies are computed properly, and state variables are stored through:

svars(kblock,i) = ...

My input file includes:

*USER ELEMENT, TYPE=VU1, NODES=4, PROPERTIES=7, VARIABLES=16, COORDINATES=3

and field output requests:

*Output, field
*Element Output, elset=USERELS
SDV1, SDV2, ..., SDV16

I also confirmed that:

• nsvars = 16
• SVARS are updated inside the jIntForceAndDtStable operation block
• the model runs without errors
• USERELS are isolated in Visualization (no overlay conflict)

However, no SDV variables appear in Abaqus/Viewer. Only standard outputs from an S4R visualization overlay are available.

My questions are:

1. Does Abaqus/Explicit VUEL support contour visualization of SVARS/SDVs in the ODB?
2. Are there additional requirements beyond VARIABLES=n and *ELEMENT OUTPUT, SDV?