Semantic Modeling and Interoperability in Product and Process Engineering by Yongsheng Ma

Author:Yongsheng Ma
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer London, London

6 CAD/CAE Integration

CAD systems are commonly used for modeling the geometry of a product with a variety of tools; CAD geometry is used as input for FEA in CAE. CAD and CAE data models are always different from one another, due to the nature of the operations they carry out. In order to decrease the length of the product development cycle, the integration of CAD and CAE is in high demand; numerous efforts have been made in recent decades. Ideally, the integration of CAD and CAE will efficiently decrease the design cycle time, reduce cost, and simplify the fine-tuning process for the product; Gabbert and Wehner did a feasibility study on CAD/FEA integration as early as 1993 [28], and many researchers continue to work toward a seamless integration of CAD and CAE systems, without yet to achieving a satisfactory result. Gordon [31] summarized CAD/CAE integration into three approaches: geometry conversion, CAD-centric geometric modeling, and CAE-centric geometric modeling.

In the geometry conversion approach, CAD geometry is used and then converted into simulation mesh geometry. In this approach, the same geometric source is used in both design and analysis. However, this type of integration can only be used with simple parts, such as pipelines.

The second approach uses a CAD-centric geometric model. In this type of integration, the CAD solid models contain too many details that are not suitable for the CAE-required abstracted models. There thus needs to be an idealization process that includes detail removal and dimensional reduction. Currently, the idealization process is a major obstacle for CAD/CAE practice. However, due to the ease of access to the modern 3D feature-based CAD technology, researchers tend to use this type of integration.

The third approach can be classified as a CAE-centric geometric model. The simulation model is built first, and is based on the design concept and analysis method. After analysis, verification, and modification of the simulation feature model, designers are to work out full details and manufacturing features to support downstream process planning. This type of integration is recommended by Gordon but requires analysts to know upfront about the product’s function details.

The subsections below are intended to introduce the key technologies and remaining problems related to integration. First, data interoperability issues between CAD and CAE are discussed, followed by an introduction to geometry transformation practice. Recent feature-based integration research is also reviewed in detail. The basic concepts of three specific methods—the multimodeling method, common data model method, and analysis feature method—are introduced along with the visual framework structures. The benefits, technological improvements, and limitations of these three methods are discussed as well. Though the feature-based product method for CAD/CAE integration is in development, there are still some gaps to be filled.

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