Dassault Systèmes (DS), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, has announced that, as an extension to the recent new five-year partnership with Dassault Systèmes, BMW Group has renewed their commitment to use Abaqus Unified FEA (finite element analysis) software for the engineering of passive safety in the automaker’s virtual design process.
Ongoing optimization of vehicle development processes at BMW for passive safety requires continuous advances in the ability to accurately predict real-world behaviour. The renewed partnership with SIMULIA follows extensive evaluations carried out by BMW over several months, ranging from component-level to full-vehicle simulations and involving key applications in car body technology as well as occupant restraint systems. Their evaluation results showed that Abaqus FEA consistently delivered a higher level of predictive-ness and repeatability against physical tests than other simulation software that they evaluated. This robustness and reliability is critical as BMW moves toward a more efficient and cost-effective virtual vehicle development process that depends less and less on physical prototyping and testing.
“This announcement represents an endorsement of our continuous investment in R&D and focus on providing the most reliably predictive finite element technology available today,” stated Ken Short, VP, Strategy and Marketing, SIMULIA, Dassault Systèmes. “The automotive industry is emerging from a challenging economic situation, and those companies with significant competitive advantages will be positioned well to come back faster and stronger than before. We believe that Abaqus Unified FEA can help our customers reduce time and cost in meeting increasingly rigorous standards for crashworthiness and occupant safety.”
BMW first began employing Abaqus as its exclusive tool for crash simulation in 2004, when vehicle development projects were largely supported by hardware testing and the focus of simulation was on global vehicle behavior. More recently, BMW has begun a strategic shift toward a more complete virtual development process. This strategy involves a greater reliance on the accuracy of highly detailed simulations including material rupture and failure of spot weld connections, but integrated within the scope of large, complex full-vehicle simulations. The strong correlation between physical test and simulation results obtained with Abaqus is enabling BMW to achieve its aggressive process improvement goals, resulting in substantial cost and time savings for each vehicle project, while meeting stringent safety requirements.
About SIMULIA
SIMULIA is the Dassault Systèmes brand that delivers a scalable portfolio of Realistic Simulation solutions including the Abaqus product suite for Unified Finite Element Analysis, multiphysics solutions for insight into challenging engineering problems, and SIMULIA SLM for managing simulation data, processes, and intellectual property. By building on established technology, respected quality, and superior customer service, SIMULIA makes realistic simulation an integral business practice that improves product performance, reduces physical prototypes, and drives innovation. Headquartered in Providence, RI, USA, SIMULIA provides sales, services, and support through a global network of regional offices and distributors. For more information, visit www.simulia.com.
About Dassault Systèmes
As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systèmes brings value to more than 115,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes applications provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance to recycling. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3D VIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.