CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE

Geometry Translator User’s Guide

 CATIA V5 TO

ABAQUS/CAE

GEOMETRY TRANSLATOR

USER’S GUIDE

LAST UPDATED MARCH 2006

ABAQUS ID:tra-catia
Printed on: Wed March 1 -- 10:49:49 2006
 Legal Notices
This User’s Guide was prepared by ABAQUS, Inc., and is intended to provide additional assistance to the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE Geometry Translator
which is a product of Elysium, Inc., 2150 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 770 , Torrance, California 90503.
CAUTIONARY NOTICE TO USERS:
This manual is intended for qualified users who will exercise sound engineering judgment and expertise in the use of the ABAQUS Software. The ABAQUS
Software is inherently complex, and the examples and procedures in this manual are not intended to be exhaustive or to apply to any particular situation.
Users are cautioned to satisfy themselves as to the accuracy and results of their analyses.
ABAQUS, Inc. will not be responsible for the accuracy or usefulness of any analysis performed using the ABAQUS Software or the procedures, examples,
or explanations in this manual. ABAQUS, Inc. shall not be responsible for the consequences of any errors or omissions that may appear in this manual.
ABAQUS, INC. DISCLAIMS ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS MANUAL.
IN NO EVENT SHALL ABAQUS, INC. OR ITS THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE,
SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS,
BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION) EVEN IF ABAQUS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY
OF SUCH DAMAGES.
The ABAQUS Software described in this manual is available only under license from ABAQUS, Inc. and may be used or reproduced only in accordance
with the terms of such license.
This manual and the software described in this manual are subject to change without prior notice.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or distributed in any form without prior written permission of ABAQUS, Inc.
© 2006 ABAQUS, Inc. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America.
U.S. GOVERNMENT USERS: The ABAQUS Software and its documentation are “commercial items,” specifically “commercial computer software” and
“commercial computer software documentation” and, consistent with FAR 12.212 and DFARS 227.7202, as applicable, are provided with restricted rights
in accordance with license terms.
TRADEMARKS
The trademarks and service marks (“trademarks”) in this manual are the property of ABAQUS, Inc. or third parties. You are not permitted to use these
trademarks without the prior written consent of ABAQUS, Inc. or such third parties.
The following are trademarks or registered trademarks of ABAQUS, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries:
ABAQUS, ABAQUS/Standard, ABAQUS/Explicit, ABAQUS/CAE, ABAQUS/Viewer, ABAQUS/Aqua, ABAQUS/Design, ABAQUS/Foundation,
ABAQUS/AMS, ABAQUS for CATIA V5, VCCT for ABAQUS, DDAM for ABAQUS, Unified FEA, and the ABAQUS Logo. The 3DS logo and
SIMULIA are trademarks of Dassault Systèmes.
Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. For additional information concerning
trademarks, copyrights, and licenses, see the Legal Notices in the Release Notes for the version of ABAQUS that you are using and see the notices at
http://www.abaqus.com/products/products_legal.html.

Cover image: bolted joint in an aircraft brake courtesy Honeywell Landing Systems.

ABAQUS ID:tra-catia
Printed on: Mon March 6 -- 14:29:50 2006
 ABOUT THE CATIA V5 TO ABAQUS/CAE GEOMETRY TRANSLATOR

1. CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE Geometry Translator User’s

Guide

1.1 About this manual

This manual provides information for systems administrators on how to install and configure the CATIA
V5 to ABAQUS/CAE geometry translator as provided by Elysium, Inc. The installation instructions
require some familiarity with basic Windows or UNIX systems administration. The manual also provides
information for end-users on how to create an ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File from CATIA V5 and how
to import that file into ABAQUS/CAE.

1.2 About the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE Geometry Translator

The CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE geometry translator allows you to transfer the geometry of a CATIA
V5 model to ABAQUS/CAE. The translator consists of the following two components, as shown in
Figure 1.2–1:
• The CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer. The CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium
Neutral File writer is a CATIA plug-in that creates an ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File (.enf_abq).
The plug-in is available at no cost from the Elysium, Inc. web site. You must have CATIA V5
installed and licensed to run the plug-in.
• The ABAQUS/CAE reader. The ABAQUS/CAE reader imports an Elysium Neutral File generated
by the CATIA plug-in. The reader can be purchased from Elysium, Inc. through your local
ABAQUS sales office.

Figure 1.2–1 The CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE geometry translator.

1.2–1

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 SUPPORT FOR THE ABAQUS/CAE READER

2. Getting started with the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE

geometry writer

2.1 CATIA V5 support

The CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer plug-in works with the following versions of
CATIA V5:
• Windows XP and 2000 (Release 14–16)
• IBM/AIX (Release 12–13)
More recent versions of CATIA and additional platforms may be supported. See the ABAQUS web site
(www.abaqus.com) for the latest information about which versions of CATIA V5 are supported by the
CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer.

2.2 Support for the ABAQUS/CAE reader

The Elysium Neutral File reader is supported on ABAQUS/CAE on the following platforms:
• Windows XP (ABAQUS Version 6.4 and 6.5)
• Windows 2000 (ABAQUS Version 6.4)
• HP-RISC/HP-UX (ABAQUS Version 6.4)
• SGI/Irix (ABAQUS Version 6.4)
• Linux (ABAQUS Version 6.4 and 6.5)

2.2–1

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 UNITS

3. Units
The CATIA V5 to ABAQUS/CAE geometry writer uses millimeters (mm) as the default units.

3–1

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 INSTALLING THE CATIA V5 TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE
WRITER ON WINDOWS SYSTEMS

4. Installing the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File

writer

4.1 Installing the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer on

Windows systems
The following procedure describes how you install the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File
writer on Windows systems. You need administrator privileges to install the writer plug-in.
1. Copy the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer ZIP file to a new directory.
2. Make the new directory the current directory, and uncompress the ZIP file.
3. Change the current directory to the win (R15) or catiav5 (R16) directory.
4. Enter setup to execute the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File setup program. By default, the
install script copies files and subdirectories into the current directory; however, you can specify an
alternative destination directory.
During the installation, you will be asked to supply the following information:
– If the setup program detects any CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writers on your
system, it prompts you to remove them. Click Finish to complete the maintenance operations
and enter setup again to restart the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File setup program.
– If the setup program detects more than one version of CATIA V5, it asks you to choose the
version with which you will install the writer.
– The install directory, as shown in Figure 4.1–1. This is the directory on your computer in which
the version of CATIA V5 that will use the Elysium, Inc. plug-in is installed.
– Your user and company name.
– A destination folder.
You can install the writer anywhere on your hard drive; it does not have to be associated with
the CATIA directory tree.
– The components to install.
Click CATIAV5 to/from ABAQUS, as shown in Figure 4.1–2.
– A program folder, as shown in Figure 4.1–3.
This is the item that will appear in the Windows Start→Programs menu. You use this menu
item to start the version of CATIA with the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer installed.
5. The setup program copies files to the destination folder. You can execute two versions of CATIA
on your system:
• The original version.
• The version with the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer installed.

4.1–1

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INSTALLING THE CATIA V5 TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE
WRITER ON WINDOWS SYSTEMS

Figure 4.1–1 The Windows installation procedure asks you to enter the install directory.

Figure 4.1–2 The Windows installation procedure asks you to select the components to install.

4.1–2

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 INSTALLING THE CATIA V5 TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE
WRITER ON IBM/AIX SYSTEMS

Figure 4.1–3 The Windows installation procedure asks you to enter the program folder.

4.2 Installing the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer on

IBM/AIX systems
The following procedure describes how you install the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File
writer on IBM/AIX systems. You need super-user privileges to install the writer.
1. Create a new directory and make it the current directory.
The installation procedure creates subdirectories and files under the current directory.
2. Copy the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer ZIP file to the new directory.
3. Uncompress the contents of the ZIP file using gunzip.
gunzip CATIAV5_ABAQUS_AIX_R12.tar.Z
or
gunzip CATIAV5_ABAQUS_AIX_R13.tar.Z
You must uncompress the file on a Unix system.

4.2–3

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INSTALLING THE CATIA V5 TO ABAQUS ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE
WRITER ON IBM/AIX SYSTEMS

4. Extract the contents of the resulting tar file.

tar -xvf CATIAV5_ABAQUS_AIX_R12.tar

or

tar -xvf CATIAV5_ABAQUS_AIX_R13.tar

5. Enter ./install to start the installation script.
6. While the installation script is running, do the following:
– Enter c to confirm that you want to continue installation under the current directory.
The installation script indicates that the current directory is the Resource directory.
– Enter the CATIA V5 Release Number. This is the version of CATIA V5 on your system.
– Enter the CATIA V5 Install Directory. This is where CATIA V5 is installed on your system.
– Enter the CATIA V5 Environment Directory. This is where the install procedure will create
the environment file for the Elysium, Inc. writer. This directory can be different from the
directory in which CATIA is installed. If the directory does not exist, the install procedure will
create the directory.
– Enter the CATIA V5 Environment Mode. Enter 1 (global) if any user can use the writer.
(You must have root authority to select global.) Enter 2 (user) if only the user performing the
installation can use the writer.
The installation procedure displays the configuration that it will create and asks you to confirm
that you wish to continue. The CATIA V5 start shell shown in the configuration is the shell
script that you will use to start a version of CATIA V5 that includes the writer plug-in; for
example, CATIAV5_B15_with_ABAQUS_Translator.sh. You may want to provide
your CATIA users with an alias to this shell script.
7. Enter y to continue.
The installation procedure completes.

4.2–4

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 IMPORTING THE CATIA V5 ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE INTO ABAQUS/CAE

5. Exporting a part from CATIA to ABAQUS/CAE

5.1 Running the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer from CATIA V5
Follow the instructions given below to run the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer.

1. Start the version of CATIA V5 that has the ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer installed, and
load the part to be exported.
Windows
Select Start→Programs→program folder from the Windows Start menu or click the
CATIA icon on the desktop.

IBM AIX
Run the shell script that was created by the installation procedure. For example,
CATIAV5_B11_with_ABAQUS_Translator.sh.

By default, when CATIA V5 executes, it displays the Export to ABAQUS icon in the toolbar on the
right side of the screen, as shown in Figure 5.1–1. If the icon is not visible, select View→Toolbars
and toggle on Elysium CATIA V5 to/from ABAQUS translator.
2. Load the part that you wish to export, and click on the Export to ABAQUS icon.
CATIA V5 displays the Export to ABAQUS dialog box, as shown in Figure 5.1–2.
3. Enter the name of the file that will contain the exported part.
CATIA V5 creates a file called partname.enf_abq in the current directory.
4. Enter Y when CATIA V5 asks if you wish to create a new file called partname.enf_abq or to
overwite an existing file called partname.enf_abq.
5. Enter Y when CATIA V5 asks if you wish to continue.
When CATIA V5 finishes exporting the part, it displays a summary in the Information Window
dialog box. The summary lists the entities converted along with the total processing time.

5.3 Importing the CATIA V5 ELYSIUM Neutral File into ABAQUS/CAE

1. Start ABAQUS/CAE.
2. From the main menu bar, select File→Import→part.
The Import Part dialog box appears.
3. From the File Type menu, select CATIA V5 Elysium Neutral (*.enf*).

5.3–1

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IMPORTING THE CATIA V5 ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE INTO ABAQUS/CAE

Figure 5.1–1 The Export to ABAQUS icon.

Figure 5.1–2 The Export to ABAQUS dialog box.

4. Select the file to import, and click OK. For more information, see the ABAQUS/CAE User’s
Manual.

5.3–2

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 IMPORTING THE CATIA V5 ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE INTO ABAQUS/CAE

Figure 5.3–3 The Import Part dialog box.

5.3–3

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IMPORTING A CATIA V5 ELYSIUM NEUTRAL FILE FROM A NEW RELEASE OF CATIA V5

5.3 Importing a CATIA V5 ELYSIUM Neutral File from a new release of

CATIA V5
ABAQUS releases a new version of the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer soon after
each new release of CATIA V5. However, if you are using a new release of CATIA V5 that is not
supported by the latest version of the CATIA V5 to ABAQUS Elysium Neutral File writer, you can still
import the part into ABAQUS/CAE by downgrading the CATIA V5 part to a version that is supported.
You can use the CATDownwardCompatibility utility to downgrade a part using one of the following:
The batch monitor interface
1. Select Tools→Utility from the CATIA V5 menu.
2. Double-click DownwardCompatibility in the Batch Monitor dialog box that appears.
3. For detailed information about running the Version 5 Downward Compatibility Batch interface,
see the CATIA Infrastructure User Guide.

Command line
1. Change to the default CATIA V5 directory.
• On Windows systems, the default directory is typically set to C:\Program
Files\Dassault Systemes\Bn\intel_a\code\bin , where n is the CATIA
V5 release number.
• On UNIX systems, the default directory is typically set to
/usr/DassaultSystemes/Bn/OS_a/code/command, where n is
the CATIA V5 release number.
2. From the system prompt, enter the following command (where n is the CATIA V5 release
number):

CATDownwardCompatibility -id input directory

-il CATPart file
-action Convert
-version CATIAV5Rn
-od output directory
-report report name.txt

5.3–4

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 USING THE ELYSIUM, INC. WRITER WITH ANOTHER THIRD-PARTY PRODUCT

6. Troubleshooting
Modifying the model in CATIA V5 prior to exporting
Problem:
ABAQUS/CAE detects invalid entities.

Solution:
Invalid data (faces, volumes) in CATIA V5 can often be fixed using the following CATIA V5
functions:
– Feature/Redefine/Heal Geometry/Manual/Fix Bndries/Zip Gaps
– Feature/Redefine/Heal Geometry/Manual/Fix Bndries/Edit Bndry
– Feature/Redefine/Attribute

Using the Elysium, Inc. writer with another third-party product

Problem:
Cannot run both the Elysium, Inc. writer and a third-party product.

Solution:
After you install the Elysium, Inc. writer, modify the shell script that starts the writer and modify the
environment file for the third-party product by adding the following line to the writer shell script:

SET ENVNAME=<third-party product environment file>

5.3–1

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About ABAQUS, Inc.
Founded in 1978, ABAQUS, Inc. is the world's leading provider of advanced Finite Element Analysis software and
services that are used to solve real-world engineering problems. The ABAQUS software suite has an unsurpassed
reputation for technology, quality, and reliability and provides a powerful and complete solution for both routine and
sophisticated linear and nonlinear engineering problems. ABAQUS delivers a unified FEA environment that is a
compelling alternative to implementations involving multiple products and vendors. In October 2005 ABAQUS
became a wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes, the world leader in 3-D and Product Lifecycle Management
(PLM) solutions. ABAQUS, Inc. is headquartered in Providence, RI, USA, with worldwide R&D centers, offices, and
distributors for development, technical support, sales, and services. For more information, visit www.abaqus.com.

About SIMULIA
In 2005 Dassault Systèmes announced SIMULIA, the brand that encompasses DS simulation solutions, including
ABAQUS and CATIA analysis applications. SIMULIA is the open platform for multi-physics simulation that can be
used not only by automotive, aerospace, consumer products, and general machinery customers to explore their
products’ performance, but also by biomedical, molecular sciences, geophysics, pharmaceuticals, and electronics
businesses to solve complex problems. By building on established technology, respected quality, and superior
customer service, SIMULIA makes realistic simulation an integral business practice that enables engineers and
scientists to improve product performance, reduce the number of physical prototypes, and drive innovation.
For more information, visit www.simulia.com.

ABAQUS and the ABAQUS logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of ABAQUS, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault Systèmes.
The 3DS logo and SIMULIA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes. © 2006 ABAQUS, Inc.