An Evaluation of the Pro/ENGINEER Associative Interface for Abaqus/CAE

As design cycle times are shortened, engineers continue to find ways to be more productive. Generally, one tries to leverage software tools to get solutions faster. This productivity improvement is possible through continued software advancements, such as the Pro/ENGINEER to Abaqus/CAE Associative Import, via an Elysium Neutral (Assembly) File. Engineers can iterate from CAD to FEA while retaining applied loads and boundary conditions. This paper will discuss use of the associative import features with design changes (such as thickness change, split surfaces, or holes). The pros and cons in using the tool will be tabulated. The reader will see that using the associative import can reduce design iterations from weeks to days.