Isogeometric analysis is a recently developed computational approach that offers the possibility of integrating finite element analysis (FEA) into conventional NURBS-based CAD design tools. Currently, it is necessary to convert data between CAD and FEA packages to analyse new designs during development, a difficult task since the computational geometric approach for each is different. Isogeometric analysis employs complex NURBS geometry (the basis of most CAD packages) in the FEA application directly. This allows models to be designed, tested and adjusted in one go, using a common data set.

The pioneers of this technique are Tom Hughes

Thomas J.R. Hughes

Thomas J.R. Hughes is a Professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics and holds the Computational and Applied Mathematics Chair III in the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin...

 and his group at the University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

. A reference free software

Free software

Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...

 implementation of some isogeometric analysis methods is GeoPDEs .

External links

• SES 2007 Plenary Lecturer: Thomas Hughes
• U.S. Patent: Method and System for Performing T-Spline Based Isogeometric Analysis
• http://geopdes.sourceforge.netGeoPDEs: a free software tool for Isogeometric Analysis based on Octave
  Octave
  In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
  
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