According to the Abaqus documentation, a material definition block is treated as a special type of table collection, which allows users to define parameter tables and property tables within the material definition itself. The documentation explicitly states:

"A material definition block is a special case of a table collection. Therefore, you can define parameter and property tables within a material definition. Abaqus creates an internal table collection associated with this material name, and the tables are available automatically in all user subroutines invoked with this material."

For example, the documentation provides usage such as:

*MATERIAL, NAME=material_name
*PARAMETER TABLE, TYPE=parameter_table_type
*PROPERTY TABLE, TYPE=property_table_type

My main question is whether there is a way to directly access parameters (such as density) defined explicitly in CAE or input files within user subroutines, without needing redundant definitions in parameter tables.

I appreciate any detailed explanations or advice on best practices regarding this functionality.

I tried to follow this guideline to define density for a thermal user material as follows which did not work

*Parameter Table Type, name=general_1, parameters=1
float
*Material, name=Material-1
*Parameter Table, type=general_1
*density
 1e-09

or

*Parameter Table Type, name=general_1, parameters=1
float
*Material, name=Material-1
*Density
*Parameter Table, type=general_1
 1e-09

or

*Material, name=Material-1
*Parameter Table, type=density
 1e-09

AbaqusAbaqus CAEtable collectionuser-defined subroutine 

I appreciate any detailed explanations or advice on best practices regarding this functionality.