Hello everyone,
I realize that this question is more closely related to SIMULIA and structural simulation, and I am also checking this topic with the SIMULIA community.
However, since our use case is based on a CATIA–SIMULIA MODSIM workflow for a modular building structure, I thought there might be people in the Building & Infrastructure community who have encountered a similar workflow or have relevant experience. So I would also appreciate any insights from the CATIA Building & Infra perspective.
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I'm currently working on a MODSIM PoC for a modular building structure using CATIA and SIMULIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform .
For the structural analysis, our intention is to use a simplified wireframe (1D beam element) model rather than the full solid geometry, in order to perform an efficient linear static analysis of the overall modular structure.
In our current workflow, the CATIA team creates a skeleton/wireframe model representing the centerlines, positions, and orientations of the structural members. This skeleton is also used as a reference for generating the detailed CATIA geometry. We would then like to reuse this wireframe model for structural simulation in SIMULIA as part of the MODSIM workflow.
However, we have encountered an issue with the cross-sections of the structural members.
The actual members are cold-formed steel sections with a lipped C-channel cross-section. The profile is therefore more complex than the standard rectangular, L-shaped, or C-channel sections available in the predefined section library.
Our understanding so far is that although a wireframe-based structural analysis may still be possible, there may be limitations in the 3DEXPERIENCE environment regarding:
- Defining and assigning a custom/arbitrary cross-section such as a lipped C-channel to the existing CATIA wireframe geometry.
- Accurately accounting for the structural properties of this custom cross-section in the 1D structural analysis.
- Visualizing the simulation results using the actual cross-section shape, rather than displaying only the wireframe/line representation.
We understand that standalone Abaqus/CAE may provide more options for defining arbitrary beam sections, but our PoC is specifically focused on the 3DEXPERIENCE MODSIM workflow, so we would like to understand what is currently possible and recommended within the platform environment.
Our questions are:
- Is it possible to define a custom/arbitrary cross-section such as a lipped C-channel for an existing CATIA wireframe model within the 3DEXPERIENCE structural simulation workflow?
- If so, can the actual cross-section also be rendered when visualizing stress, displacement, and other simulation results?
- If the custom section can be used for calculation but cannot be rendered, is there another recommended method to visualize the results on the corresponding 3D member geometry?
- If this workflow is not supported, what would be the recommended MODSIM approach for this type of structure — for example, wireframe/1D elements, shell representation, or full solid geometry?
- From a CATIA–SIMULIA integration perspective, what is the recommended way to reuse a CATIA skeleton/wireframe model for structural analysis while maintaining associativity and avoiding unnecessary recreation of the structural model?
The objective of this PoC is not detailed nonlinear structural analysis, but to demonstrate an efficient Continuous Engineering / MODSIM workflow, where design changes in CATIA can be propagated to structural simulation with minimum remodeling or manual preparation.
I understand that this topic may be more simulation-oriented than typical CATIA Building & Infrastructure discussions, but if anyone has worked on a similar CATIA–SIMULIA workflow, particularly with non-standard structural profiles, I would greatly appreciate your experience or recommendations.
Thank you!
