Paris, France, and Providence, R.I., USA, December 3, 2008 - Dassault Systemes (DS) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the availability of CZone for Abaqus, from the DS SIMULIA brand, for simulating crushing of composite materials.

CZone for Abaqus, a new add-on product for Abaqus FEA software, enables engineers to accelerate the design and evaluation of energy-absorbing composite components and assemblies. Based on technology from UK-based Engenuity Ltd., the new product provides the ability to study the crushing behavior of composite structures in automobiles, helicopters, aircraft, trains, and other transport vehicles to protect occupants and cargo from shock or injury during severe impact. Energy-absorbing composite structures offer the possibility of increased safety at a lower cost of both initial manufacture and repair—for example, through modular, replaceable front and rear assemblies.

''Bentley Motors has plans to incorporate more composite structure materials into our premium automobiles,'' stated Antony Dodworth, principal research manager at Bentley Motors Limited. ''Before embarking on the development of costly vehicle prototypes, we need to have simulation technology that enables us to have confidence in predicting the crashworthiness of composite-intensive structures that is comparable to what we have today for evaluating steel structures. The combination of CZone and Abaqus will provide us this critical simulation tool.''

''CZone for Abaqus links the unique composite crushing technology developed by Engenuity with the industry-leading composites capabilities already available from SIMULIA in our Abaqus FEA software,'' notes Dale Berry, director of technical marketing for SIMULIA, Dassault Systèmes. ''Together, they offer a comprehensive insight into the crashworthiness performance of an entire structure, including both the crush front and the back-up structure.''

''This integrated solution will provide significant value to the automotive and aerospace industries by enabling them to accelerate the design cycle and lower the costs of including new composite materials in their vehicles,'' stated Graham Barnes, director of Engenuity. ''Additionally, the robust simulation solution will help them develop safer products capable of absorbing crash energy through composite crushing.''

Engenuity's CZone technology includes direct implementation of crush-based element force generation and failure for defined ''crush zones,'' which are typically located at the forward edges of a product. CZone for Abaqus determines the extent of composite material crushing as well as other modes of potential failure—such as composite delamination, fracture, and buckling.