The integrated CAD/CAE system based on the common standard in information exchange and the common model in geometric representation

Abstract

The integration of computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided engineering (CAE) often requires the collaboration of diverse teams at separated sites; fast information exchange is necessary. Traditionally CAD and CAE often use different models and geometric representations. Continuous parametric models such as non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) are often used in CAD; discrete models such as mesh are used in CAE. The transition from CAD to CAE is tedious work and leads to accuracy loss in CAE. In this paper, a framework for the CAD/CAE integration was created based on the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and the internet for various work teams at geographically separated sites. Two CAD/CAE integration methods in the common model in geometric representation were discussed. They are: a single master model, the isogeometric method, and the subdivision method. This paper studied the method of the CAD/CAE integration based on the subdivision method, including the integration through subdivision and finite element analysis (FEA) for sheet metal structures and the integration through subdivision and boundary element analysis (BEA).