Patran comprises a suite of products written and maintained by MSC.Software Corporation. The core of the product suite is a finite element analysis pre and postprocessor. The Patran system also includes several optional products such as advanced postprocessing programs, tightly coupled solvers, and interfaces to third party solvers. This document describes one of these interfaces. See the Patran User Manual for more information.

The Patran ABAQUS Application Preference Guide provides a communication link between Patran and ABAQUS. It also provides customization of certain features that can be activated simply by selecting ABAQUS as the analysis code preference in Patran.

Patran ABAQUS is integrated into Patran. The casual user will never need to be aware that separate programs are being used. For the expert user, there are three main components of Patran ABAQUS: several PCL files to provide the customization of Patran for ABAQUS, PAT3ABA to convert model data from the Patran database into the analysis code input file, and ABAPAT3 to translate results and⁄or model data from the analysis code results file into the Patran database.

Selecting ABAQUS as the analysis code under the “Analysis Preference” menu customizes Patran in five main areas:

PAT3ABA translates model data directly from the .Patran database into the analysis code-specific input file format. This translation must have direct access to the originating Patran database. The program name indicates the direction of translation: from Patran to ABAQUS.

ABAPAT3 translates results and⁄or model data from the analysis code-specific results file into the Patran database. This program can be run such that the data is loaded directly into the Patran database, or if incompatible computer platforms are being used, an intermediate file can be created. The program name indicates the direction of translation: from ABAQUS to Patran.