In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in IsoGeometric Analysis as a branch of the Finite Element Methods for the numerical solution of Boundary-Value Problems. The basic idea is to merge modeling and analysis into one model, by using a unified geometric representation. Although the initial intention of combining Computer-Aid Design (CAD) and analysis was undoubtedly to avoid the time consuming mesh generation, by using the CAD geometrical description directly for the simulation, it soon became clear that this approach had more to offer. The current technology used by CAD software to describe geometry, also happened to offer exactness of the geometric model, and highly accurate results in approximating unknown fields. Focusing on this direction, a plug-in for a CAD package is developed to establish a tighter communication between the two fields. In this regard, the description of NURBS based geometrical objects, together with the necessary attributes and conditions of the problem, can be exported from the software in an analysis oriented form. The generated file is structured in a JSON format, in such a way that the solver can easily interpret the data of the problem. With the help of this tool, it is possible to use the GiD software as preprocessor for IsoGeometric analysis in any IsoGeometric Analysis solver. Furthermore, an already implemented NURBS formulation was tested and developed further in the frame of an application of the standard FEM environment of Kratos Multiphysics. The implementation was made with respect to the current object oriented data structure, in order to use the Kratos modularity, extensibility and parallel computing capabilities. The implementation of the formulation also extended from two, to three dimensions. Finally, a multi-patch coupling was achieved by using the penalty approach as a domain decomposition method. The application was tested successfully for thermal conductivity problems but it is easily extended to other applications, such as to the shell structures. Various examples and a step-by-step tutorial, confirm the efficiency and robustness of the smooth design-through-analysis IsoGeometric workflow.     «

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in IsoGeometric Analysis as a branch of the Finite Element Methods for the numerical solution of Boundary-Value Problems. The basic idea is to merge modeling and analysis into one model, by using a unified geometric representation. Although the initial intention of combining Computer-Aid Design (CAD) and analysis was undoubtedly to avoid the time consuming mesh generation, by using the CAD geometrical description directly for the simulation,...     »