Case Study: French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission achieves faster, scalable high‑performance nuclear simulations with Dassault Systèmes' Abaqus (SIMULIA)

Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission - Customer Case Study

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission faced the challenge of ensuring the long-term reliability and safety of France’s nuclear deterrent after the 1996 test ban by moving from physical tests to high‑fidelity simulation. To meet demanding thermo‑mechanical multiphysics and safety/security requirements, CEA/DAM adopted Abaqus FEA (SIMULIA) from Dassault Systemes as a core commercial solver alongside its proprietary codes.

Dassault Systemes collaborated with CEA to tune Abaqus for the TERA 100 supercomputer, enabling regular parallel computing on hundreds of cores (optimized typically between 128–256 cores with scalability demonstrated to 512), integrating with CEA’s own software, and supporting larger full 3D and multiscale models. The work delivered measurable gains: significant runtime reductions, more widespread use of 3D simulations, and shortened design cycles—helping CEA safeguard product robustness across the entire lifecycle.

French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission

Max-André Darizcuren

Deputy Head of the CEA Sciences of Simulation and Information Department (DSSI)