CAD/CAE integration framework with layered software architecture

By introducing an open-sourced CAD abstraction component common geometry module (CGM) as the integration middleware, a three-layer scheme is implemented to integrate our CAE software high end digital prototyping (HEDP) with mainstream CAD software. The major advantages of a layered software design are two-folded for CAE software developers. One is to provide unified interfaces with the differences of currently available CAD products hided. The other is to encapsulate common services relevant to geometry in the integration middleware. Both advantages could help alleviate development burdens greatly. Moreover, this paper will introduce three important functionalities for CAE systems built on the integration middleware, i.e. data transfer, defeaturing and virtual geometry operations with some practical examples. The above work consists of our preliminary efforts for the research of a third-party CAD/CAE integration middleware neutral for any CAD and CAE products.