ABAQUS for CATIA V5 Extends Leadership in Integrated Nonlinear Simulation for CATIA Users. New Version Broadens Support for Sophisticated ABAQUS Capabilities in Materials and Assembly Connections.

PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 23, 2005 – ABAQUS, Inc., a leading provider of advanced finite element analysis (FEA) software, technology and services, announced today the release of ABAQUS for CATIA V5, Version 2.1. The software offers users of CATIA V5 new simulation capabilities including added functionality for advanced materials and structural assembly techniques in ABAQUS. Completely integrated with the CATIA V5 Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution from Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the new ABAQUS software supports important engineering workflows in ground vehicle and aerospace applications, as well as proximal workflows in a wide range of industries.

Accurate structural modeling of assemblies remains a daunting challenge in product design. Sophisticated technology is required to model spot welds and other joining techniques, to ensure high-fidelity prediction of product performance, and to realistically estimate product life. To address these challenges, Version 2.1 of ABAQUS for CATIA V5 takes advantage of the latest advances in ABAQUS technology. This release of ABAQUS for CATIA V5 continues to deepen the provision for nonlinear analysis by supporting more material models, such as enhanced metal plasticity models, hyperelasticity, and user-defined materials.

"The continued advance of ABAQUS for CATIA V5 demonstrates a commitment between ABAQUS and Dassault Systèmes to produce an effective solution to a challenging part of the design process," said Severin Lanfranchi, Director of Research and Development, CATIA Simulation, Dassault Systèmes.

"With each release, ABAQUS for CATIA V5 continues to deliver significant new capabilities for advanced FEA within the CATIA V5 user environment," said Ken Short, vice president of marketing for ABAQUS. "From powertrain and chassis durability to composite aircraft stringer panel analysis, ABAQUS for CATIA V5 offers a compelling PLM-integrated solution for sophisticated, real-world simulation."

About ABAQUS, Inc. Founded in 1978, ABAQUS, Inc., is the world's leading provider of software and services for advanced finite element analysis. The ABAQUS® software suite has an unsurpassed reputation for technology, quality and reliability. It has been adopted by major corporations across all engineering disciplines as an integral part of their design process. ABAQUS offers a powerful and complete solution for simple to complex linear and nonlinear engineering problems, using the finite element method. A wide range of structural, thermal, and coupled analyses is supported. The software delivers a unified finite element analysis environment without equal, presenting a compelling alternative to implementations involving multiple products and vendors. ABAQUS employs over 400 people worldwide, with 27 direct offices for technical support, sales and services, plus a network of technically advanced distributors in emerging markets.