ADINA sounds like an incredibly versatile tool, especially for firms dealing with complex nonlinear problems in engineering and analysis. Its range of capabilities, from linear to highly nonlinear simulations, offers flexibility to tackle a variety of challenges.

The inclusion of various material models and elements for different applications allows for comprehensive analyses across industries. Whether it’s structures, thermal effects, or fluid dynamics, ADINA seems equipped to handle it.

The interactive interface and CAD/CAE integration streamline the modeling process, making it easier for engineers to translate their designs into simulations. And the automatic mesh generation feature further simplifies the setup, reducing manual effort and potential errors.

The ADINA Parasolid Interface is particularly noteworthy, as it enables seamless integration with Parasolid-based CAD systems. This means engineers can work directly with their CAD models, preserving geometric accuracy and facilitating data transfer between design and analysis stages.

Overall, ADINA appears to offer a robust solution for firms looking to push the boundaries of nonlinear analysis in their engineering projects.

ADINA User Interface provides full capabilities for pre- and post-processing all the ADINA solution modules. Depending on what you are most familiar or comfortable with, the following interfaces can be used effectively with the following systems:

• Parasolid – The ADINA Modeler (ADINA-M) which is based on the Parasolid kernel provides a natural interface to all Parasolid-based CAD systems such as NX (Unigraphics), SolidWorks, and SolidEdge. (The Parasolid Interface is not included with ADINA, ADINA Advanced, or ADINA Ultimate. The ADINA Parasolid Interface is an add-on and requires a Parasolid Interface Virtuoso Subscription)
• IGES – The IGES interface is primarily used for geometry from CAD systems where a direct interface is currently not available (e.g., CATIA).
• Open Cascade – The ADINA Modeler (ADINA-M) which is based on the Open Cascade kernel provides a natural interface to all the CAD systems that support Open Cascade (e.g. FreeCAD, CAD Exchanger, and Datakit).
• STL – STL (stereolithography) files obtained from scanned 3-D images or CAD objects (e.g. from AutoCAD) can be imported into ADINA. ADINA creates the necessary points, body edges and faces that can be used to define finite element meshes and also loads and boundary conditions.
• STEP – STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data) files can be imported into ADINA with the ADINA Modeler for Open Cascade.
• Point Cloud – ADINA imports the point cloud data resulting from 3-D scanning and creates solid objects that can be saved in STL format for further processing.
• I-DEAS NX – I-DEAS finite element models are translated for analysis using the ADINA programs. The ADINA results are then translated back into the I-DEAS database for post-processing.
• Femap – Femap finite element models are translated for analysis using the ADINA Structures, CFD or FSI program. The analysis results can be viewed in the Femap neutral file format.
• NX (Simcenter 3D) – NX (Simcenter 3D) can be used as a pre- and post-processing environment for ADINA. Models generated in NX can be imported in Nastran format into ADINA and the results from ADINA can be imported into NX for post-processing in universal file format.
• Nastran – Nastran input files can be imported directly into the ADINA User Interface program. In addition to reading the regular Nastran input, additional NX Nastran commands, e.g., for 3-D contact definition, are also supported. Special features are available to make the application of additional loads and boundary conditions on the model easier. The ADINA results can be output in the Nastran op2 file format for post-processing by other systems.
• EnSight – From the ADINA User Interface, results obtained from ADINA structural or CFD analyses can be exported in EnSight Case format. The user can view these results in the EnSight post-processing environment by importing the Case files.

Processor: Intel Pentium or AMD processor 1.5 GHz or greater

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 7 and higher (*Linux kernel 2.6.32, glibc 2.12 coming soon)

Memory: 1 GB minimum

Disk Space: 2 GB

Graphics Card: Optional: OpenGL 3.3 compatible graphics card with at least 1 GB memory for fast graphics mode display

Other: Optional: Intel Visual Fortran14 — only needed for customization of user supplied subroutines