Abaqus

Abaqus
Name	Abaqus
Developer	Dassault Systèmes
Released	1978
Latest release	2024
Programming languages	Fortran, C++
Operating system	Windows, Linux, macOS
License	Commercial proprietary

Abaqus is a commercial finite element analysis and computer-aided engineering suite used for modeling, simulation, and analysis of mechanical components and assemblies. Developed for nonlinear and linear structural analysis, multiphysics coupling, and advanced material modeling, it is deployed across aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, and biomedical industries. The suite integrates with product lifecycle and computer-aided design platforms to support design verification, virtual prototyping, and regulatory compliance processes.

Overview

Abaqus provides users with capabilities for static and dynamic structural analysis, thermal analysis, and coupled field simulations within an integrated environment. Engineers and researchers employ Abaqus alongside platforms such as CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, PTC Creo, and Autodesk Inventor to perform design validation, crashworthiness, and fatigue studies. The software interoperates with numerical libraries and solvers used by groups like NASA, Airbus, Boeing, General Motors, and Ford Motor Company for high-fidelity simulations. Its role in standards and certification workflows links it to institutions such as SAE International, ASTM International, European Space Agency, and Federal Aviation Administration.

History and Development

Abaqus originated from research in computational mechanics in the late 1970s and commercialized through companies and acquisitions that influenced its roadmap. Early adopters included academic groups at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Imperial College London, and École Polytechnique that advanced finite element methods and contact algorithms. Corporate adoption accelerated when engineering consultancies and OEMs such as McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Daimler, and Toyota applied it to product development. Over time, mergers and acquisitions connected the product to larger enterprise software ecosystems, culminating in stewardship by Dassault Systèmes, which integrated the suite into the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and linked it with brands like SIMULIA and ENOVIA.

Features and Capabilities

Abaqus offers advanced element libraries, nonlinear material models, and contact formulations for complex assemblies. It supports constitutive models used in studies by MIT, Stanford, Imperial College London, and industry labs at Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Multiphysics coupling enables interactions pertinent to European Space Agency thermal–structural problems, NASA aeroelastic analyses, and biomedical simulations used by institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and Cleveland Clinic. Integration with high-performance computing centers like Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, and National Center for Supercomputing Applications facilitates large-scale simulations. Postprocessing and visualization connect with tools from Dassault Systèmes, Siemens PLM Software, and third-party packages used by users at General Electric, Siemens AG, and ABB.

Applications and Industry Use

Abaqus is used in crashworthiness and safety studies by automotive firms including Volvo, Honda, Nissan, Renault, and Tesla, Inc., and in structural integrity assessments for aerospace companies such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Safran. Civil and infrastructure projects reference work from organizations like Bechtel, Skanska, and Arup for seismic and wind loading simulations. In energy sectors, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Siemens Energy utilize it for fatigue and thermal cycling analyses. Biomedical device developers at Medtronic, Stryker, and academic hospitals use it for implant mechanics and soft tissue modeling. Research collaborations with entities such as CERN, Max Planck Society, CNRS, and Fraunhofer Society broaden the scientific applications.

Software Architecture and Modules

The suite comprises preprocessing, solver, and postprocessing components with distinct modules for specialized physics. Core solvers include implicit and explicit integrators used for quasistatic and transient dynamics, influenced by numerical research from Courant Institute, ETH Zurich, and Caltech. Modules address composite layups, fracture mechanics, and multiphase flow interactions, interoperating with CAD/PDM systems like 3DEXPERIENCE, ENOVIA, and SolidWorks PDM. Scripting and automation rely on languages and ecosystems such as Python (programming language), MPI, OpenMP, and numerical libraries pioneered at Los Alamos National Laboratory and CERN. The architecture supports cluster deployment on infrastructures from IBM, Dell Technologies, and cloud providers like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform for scalable computation.

Licensing and Versions

Abaqus is distributed commercially with license models that include node-locked, floating, and enterprise agreements used by corporations like Airbus, Boeing, General Motors, and Bosch. Major releases incorporate features coordinated by Dassault Systèmes and marketed under the SIMULIA brand, with version tracks aligning to enterprise PLM integration. Academic licenses and research partnerships are offered to universities including MIT, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, and University of Tokyo to support teaching and investigation. Regulatory and procurement teams at agencies such as FAA, EASA, and NIST reference versioning and validation practices when accepting simulation evidence.

Category:Finite element software Category:Scientific simulation software