A review of CAD to CAE integration with a hierarchical data format (HDF)-based solution

Abstract

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) are two of the essential tools to design and develop new products. CAD systems help to design a new product efficiently, whereas CAE systems are used to predict and assess the future functionalities (durability, structural strength, etc.) of a product. Usually, these two systems work independently; however, their mutual dependency is a topic of interest for the researchers. This paper discusses the contemporary research efforts in the domain of CAD to CAE integration and later find the research gap. Based on the research gap this paper develop a methodology to integrate a CAD to CAE systems where scientific data format HDF (Hierarchical Data Format) acts as a bridge to link the gap between a CAD and CAE system. The virtual prototype of a product is getting accurate with the advancement of CAD systems; hence, the transferability of those models to a CAE system has become more sophisticated using traditional (e.g., .step, .iges files) methodologies. Since HDF is often used to handle massive and complex datasets for various research domains; hence, in this research effort HDF acts as a data repository neutral system to interact with the CAD and CAE systems. Based on the comprehensive literature review, this research effort aims to develop an uninterrupted integrated platform to handle complex design and analysis models using a big open-source data handling platform HDF (Hierarchical Data Format). MATLAB is used to bridge from the CAD system to HDF primarily and later from the HDF to CAE. A simple case study of analyzing a classic fluid mixing elbow demonstrates the preliminary implementation effort towards the proposed HDF-based integrated platform.