SIMULIA

SIMULIA
Name	SIMULIA
Developer	Dassault Systèmes
Released	0 1978
Genre	Computer-aided engineering, Finite element analysis, Computational fluid dynamics, Multibody dynamics simulation
License	Proprietary software
Website	https://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/

SIMULIA. It is a brand of Dassault Systèmes focused on realistic simulation software, enabling engineers and researchers to perform advanced virtual testing and analysis. The portfolio provides tools for simulating the real-world physical behavior of products, materials, and natural systems, reducing the need for costly physical prototyping. Its technologies are integral to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, forming a core component of the digital product lifecycle.

Overview

The brand is centered on delivering a unified suite for multiphysics simulation, integrating disciplines like structural analysis, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetic simulation. It leverages technologies such as the Abaqus FEA solver, which has become an industry standard in sectors like automotive engineering and aerospace manufacturing. By providing a scalable environment, it supports everything from component-level analysis to complex system-level simulation within a collaborative framework. This approach allows organizations like NASA and Toyota to validate product performance under realistic operating conditions before manufacturing.

Product Portfolio

The primary applications include Abaqus Unified FEA, a powerful suite for finite element analysis and multiphysics simulation. For computational fluid dynamics, the portfolio offers XFlow CFD, a particle-based solver for complex fluid-structure interaction problems. The CST Studio Suite provides specialized tools for electromagnetic field simulation, used extensively in designing antenna systems and electronic components. Additional tools like fe-safe focus on durability analysis and fatigue prediction, while Simpack specializes in multibody dynamics for simulating mechanical systems like those found in rail transport and wind turbine designs.

Technology and Capabilities

Core technologies include advanced solver algorithms capable of handling nonlinear mechanics, composite material behavior, and geometric nonlinearity. The software employs smoothed-particle hydrodynamics methods within its CFD solutions for simulating free-surface flows and fluid-structure interaction. For electromagnetics, it utilizes finite element method and method of moments solvers to model devices from low-frequency to optical frequencies. Integration with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform enables model-based systems engineering and seamless data exchange with CATIA and SOLIDWORKS for a connected digital thread.

Applications and Industries

Major applications span the automotive industry, where it is used for crashworthiness simulation, noise, vibration, and harshness analysis, and powertrain durability. In the aerospace sector, companies like Airbus and Boeing employ it for composite structure analysis and jet engine component simulation. The life sciences industry uses it for biomechanics research, simulating stent deployments and bone implant performance. Other critical applications include oil and gas equipment design, consumer electronics drop testing, and renewable energy system analysis for offshore wind farm structures.

History and Development

The technology originated with the development of the Abaqus finite element analysis software by David Hibbitt, Bengt Karlsson, and Paul Sorensen in Providence, forming Hibbitt, Karlsson & Sorensen, Inc. (HKS). The company was acquired by Dassault Systèmes in 2005, and the SIMULIA brand was formally established to encompass a broader simulation portfolio. Subsequent strategic acquisitions integrated key technologies, including the purchase of Engineous Software for process integration and design optimization, and the addition of CST – Computer Simulation Technology AG in 2016 to bolster electromagnetic simulation capabilities.

Integration and Ecosystem

The software is deeply integrated into the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, enabling collaboration across disciplines and connecting simulation data with product lifecycle management processes. This ecosystem allows for interoperability with other Dassault Systèmes applications like CATIA for generative design and DELMIA for digital manufacturing simulation. Partnerships with hardware vendors like NVIDIA optimize performance for GPU acceleration and high-performance computing clusters. The brand also supports an extensive third-party developer network and academic partnerships with institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to advance computational mechanics research.

Category:Dassault Systèmes Category:Computer-aided engineering software Category:Finite element software Category:Simulation software