Link Between CAD Systems and Analysis Programs as a Step of an Integrated Approach of the Building Process

The link between CAD-systems and FE-programs seems to be very promising because they use in some sense the same data: geometry as well as some information about mechanical properties are normally contained in the CAD-system. The inclusion of FE entities in the Initial Graphics Exchange Standard (IGES) may be an illustration of this statement. Experience will be reported in linking CAD-systems and FE-programs on mainframe as well as on microcomputers. Access to the database and programming facilities offered by the CAD-system are crucial. We believe that our experience concerning interface possibilities is also valuable for other situations (e.g. planning of the building process).