Integration of Physical “Phenomena” into CAD

Abstract

The importance of integrating physical behavior into the design process (i.e optimal design) will be a central issue in the next generation CAD systems.

Analysis methods such as the Finite Elements one (FEM) or the Boundary Element one (BEM) will have to be an integral part of the CAD system. Today there is a wide gap between CAD and analysis whatever the claims of software vendors.

We shall study the data structures and algorithmic tools that must be included in a CAD system in order to integrate the FEM as a design tool, and the FEM algorithms that would make this integration possible for non specialists to use. Examples which demonstrate the integration of CAD and analysis will be given including an hexahdric mesh generator based on solid modeling concepts; a FEM solver that generates the mesh while solving the problem and a flexible tube positioning application.