Many CAD vendors are incorporating more analysis and simulation capabilities into their software in an effort to offer a one-stop shop for designers and analysts.

Hellmut Bowles, business director of Finite Element Analysis Services (FEAS) says: "The issue with simulation integrated into CAD is how that integrated product grows as the company's simulation needs grow. People are expecting to do really sophisticated reality-based simulations as part of their product development. But since the real world is non-linear, a linear FEA package cannot cope - they need a fully non-linear FEA solution like Abaqus.

"The Abaqus software suite has an unsurpassed reputation for technology, quality and reliability," Bowles continues. "Many major corporations have adopted Abaqus internationally across all engineering disciplines as an integral part of their design process."

New functionality with the user interface has made it even easier to use Abaqus for the simulation of complex events including shock, damage and advanced automatic contact.

Underwater Shock (UNDEX) capabilities within Abaqus are well supported. This was recently illustrated when the United States largest privately owned shipyard, Northrop Grumman Newport News, significantly expanded its adoption and commitment to Abaqus advanced finite element software. Northrop is the sole designer and builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the United States and one of only two companies capable of designing and building nuclear-powered submarines for the US Navy. In addition, the shipyard responsible for building South Africa's new submarines uses Abaqus for simulations including underwater explosions.

Abaqus's advanced automatic contact and damage modelling allow complex structural interactions to be performed. These simulations range from crack propagation through a dam wall during an earthquake to progressive failure and tearing of the metal chassis of a car during a crash simulation.

Consumer product development is another area of strength for Abaqus. Virtual drop testing of items such as plastic containers and cellphones significantly reduces costly try-outs and decreases time-to-market. Says Bowles, "Some of our customers have recently tackled large projects. These are projects they would never have considered without Abaqus due to risk. However, with Abaqus they have confidence that their product will work and behave as designed - even when abused."

The objective of analysis during the early design stage is to produce higher quality designs, reduce experimental cost and reliance on physical testing. Procter & Gamble use Abaqus to help with the design of such things as bottles, caps and even lipstick containers. Automated with a customised user interface, their Abaqus virtual packaging system has resulted in significant productivity gains while improving reliability of their products.

The Abaqus modelling interface is a user-friendly environment with a solid modeller that allows updating of the geometry at any time. In addition, most CAD formats can be imported, saving the user additional time. FEAS can customise Abaqus's user interface for vertical applications or can develop expert systems to enhance productivity. Repetitive tasks can be scripted including automatic reporting of results.

Abaqus also supports multiple processors and was recently used by the US Air Force to simulate 15 milliseconds of weapon response time after the event of a drop impact with the ground at its ASCI Blue Mountain facility in Los Alamos. Blue Mountain is one of the largest parallel computing facilities in the world and enabled the researchers to study thousands of 'what-if' scenarios to produce a response envelope for the weapon.

For more information contact Finite Element Analysis Services, 021 448 7608, feas@feas.co.za