We've had very limited success in extracting neutral files for use in CAESAR. Usually the neutral file can be created and imported but we have issues with the CAESAR model not looking anything like its PDMS counterpart or even if it does look the same, the node numbering is not "in sequence" (node starts at the "middle" of the system, goes to the "end", returns to the "beginning" before closing back where it started). Are there any white papers that describe what exactly has to be done to make this happen (Build versions, modelling techniques, etc.)

AVEVA developed the routine that generates the neutral file, that you then import into CAESAR II. If the resulting CAESAR II model doesn't look like the PDMS model, then the geometry in the neutral file isn't correct.

Node numbering is also something generated by PDMS for the neutral file.

The neutral file is a flat text file, you can open and view its content in NotePad. You'll be able to see the element ordering and the node numbers. This is what CAESAR II processes.

Thanks Richard

Try www.nbwsys.com , they have an online service for this.