SIMULIA Structural
Leverage industry-leading Abaqus technology for advanced real-world structural simulations in a user-friendly interface integrated with SOLIDWORKS.
SIMULIA Structural Overview
SIMULIA Structural simulation, powered by industry-leading Abaqus technology, brings advanced simulation capabilities to your product development process. This solution allows both novices and experts to perform complex linear and non-linear analyses, validate product designs, and make better, faster design decisions.
SIMULIA Structural Use Cases
Common use cases and integration points into your engineering workflow include:
Complex Structural Analysis
of downhole tools, valves, umbilicals, and risers.
Durability and Fatigue
under various loading conditions, including low and high cycle, and dynamic events.
Advanced Material Modeling
of composites, plastics, and rubber under extreme conditions.
Manufacturing Process Simulation
including forming, welding, deep draw, forging, and riveting.
Vibration
from drive motors, pumps, electronic enclosures, PCB’s, and transportation.
Factor of Safety
on brackets, fasteners, booms, excavators, and heat exchangers.
Thermal Stress Performance
of batteries, optics, heat sinks, chipsets, and latches.
Compression Load Performance
of gaskets, seals, and o-rings.
Buckling/Collapse/Crush
of needles, stents, and slender columns.
Drop/Impact Test
of handhelds, wearables, and medical devices.
SIMULIA Structural Features & Benefits
SIMULIA Structural provides a powerful, scalable simulation environment that helps engineers and designers validate product performance, optimize designs, and accelerate innovation. Leveraging powerful Abaqus technology, users can predict complex structural performance and durability of products operating in linear, nonlinear and dynamic environments. SIMULIA Structural on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform streamlines workflows and enables real-time data sharing and collaboration across teams.
SIMULIA Structural Key Features
Solve complex structural simulations with local hardware or with cloud compute, choosing the most appropriate computing environment based on simulation size, complexity, and available resources.
Leverage industry-leading finite element analysis (FEA) technology for accurate and robust simulation results.
Choose from a range of simulation packages that scale with your project needs, from basic structural analysis to advanced simulations.
Maintain seamless data flow between SOLIDWORKS CAD and SIMULIA Structural simulation tools.
SIMULIA Structural Licensing & Packages
SIMULIA Structural offers flexible and scalable options of simulation packages, allowing you to choose the capabilities that best fit your needs. These packages provide access to industry-leading Abaqus technology for various simulation disciplines:
Simulation Designer
Accelerate product innovation by empowering designers with linear structural and linear dynamic simulation capabilities. Includes cloud-enabled high-performance computing.
Simulation Engineer
Predict complex structural performance of products operating in linear and nonlinear static environments. Also includes implicit dynamics, linear buckling, frequency & thermal, modal dynamic & harmonic response, and cloud-enabled high-performance computing.
Simulation Analyst
Predict complex structural performance and durability of products operating in highly nonlinear and dynamic environments. Includes static, frequency, thermal, buckling, implicit/explicit dynamics, linear dynamics, fatigue simulation, and cloud-enabled high-performance computing.
SIMULIA Structural Package Comparison
Quickly compare the various SIMULIA Structural packages to find the best fit for your team’s needs:
Comparison Matrix
Capability
Simulation Designer
Simulation Engineer
Simulation Analyst
Linear Static
Frequency
Harmonic Response
Thermal
Buckling
Advanced Meshing
Model Dynamic
Built-in Cloud Compute
(4 Cores)
(8 Cores)
(8 Cores)
Upscale Cloud
Compute up to 192 Cores and 2.8 TB RAM
(With Purchased Credits)
(With Purchased Credits)
(With Purchased Credits)
SOLIDWORKS Connection
Nonlinear Static
Nonlinear Dynamic (Implicit)
Multi-Step
Advanced Connectors
Advanced Contact
General Contact
Advanced Material Definitions
Thermal-Structural
Nonlinear Dynamic Explicit
Quasi-Static Explicit
Complex Frequency
Random Vibration
Geometric Preparation
Material Camibration
Restart & Submodeling
Fatigue (fe-safe)
SIMULIA Structural FAQs
What is SIMULIA?
SIMULIA, a brand by Dassault Systèmes, provides advanced simulation software, including powerful FEA (Finite Element Analysis) applications like Abaqus. These tools enable engineers and designers to virtually test and analyze the real-world behavior of products, materials, and systems. By using SIMULIA applications, you can accelerate product development, evaluate performance, reliability, and safety, and reduce the need for expensive physical prototypes.
What is SIMULIA on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform?
When SIMULIA Structural is integrated with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, users can access simulation tools alongside design, manufacturing, and other relevant applications within a unified environment.
What FEA Solver powers SIMULIA Structural?
SIMULIA Structural uses the Abaqus solver, which is different from the solver behind SOLIDWORKS Simulation. Abaqus has been around since 1978 and is trusted by industries like aerospace, automotive, and high-tech for handling complex, non-linear simulations. It’s a go-to solution for advanced virtual testing beyond what SOLIDWORKS Simulation offers.
Where is SIMULIA data stored and how is my data protected?
Simulation data, including models, materials, and results, are securely stored on your dedicated 3DEXPERIENCE tenant in the cloud. The highest industry standards and certifications are used to protect your data. For more information view: Trust Center | Dassault Systèmes.
How can I communicate my simulation results with others?
With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, you can easily share your simulation findings and collaborate with others through communities on the platform. Additionally, you can visualize the 3D simulation results directly from a simple web browser, making it easy to share insights both internally and externally.
What is the difference between SIMULIA Structural and Desktop Abaqus/Abaqus CAE?
Desktop Abaqus/Abaqus CAE is the legacy version of the Abaqus Solver that has been around since 1978. Today SIMULIA Structural runs on the same proven Abaqus solver behind the scenes but adds a significantly updated user interface/workflow, cloud solving capabilities, and built-in parametric connection to SOLIDWORKS.
Is There Any Training to Help My Company Succeed Using the Software?
Yes, a big part of MLC CAD Systems is being a solution provider, and software is just a piece of that. Training is Critical to success with SIMULIA Structural. We offer training specific to your organization and Consulting Services to dive deep into your simulations and develop workflows to help with your success.
Related Resources
Webinars & Videos
Unlock the power of SIMULIA within the 3DEXPERIENCE platform—enable advanced nonlinear, durability, and crash‑test simulations on your SOLIDWORKS geometry. Collaborate in real time on the cloud, accelerate solve time with Abaqus technology, and simulate complex materials and contacts with ease.
Elevate your SOLIDWORKS workflows with the latest 3DEXPERIENCE simulation tools introduced in 2024. Harness powerful Abaqus‑based solvers in the cloud to tackle complex studies like random vibration, cyclic fatigue, explicit dynamics, and signal integrity analysis with CST integration—no PhD required. Seamlessly sync design changes, scale up compute power to 144 CPU cores, and collaborate globally via the cloud.
Choose the solver that fits your simulation:
Use implicit Solvers for static, slow-loading, or long-duration analyses—efficient with larger time steps and stable convergence via matrix inversion. Ideal for cases where contact and nonlinearity are moderate.
Opt for explicit Solvers when analyzing high-speed dynamic events—drop tests, impact, crash, or complex contact interactions—no iteration needed and better handling of severe non-linear behavior.