Hibbitt

Hibbitt is a surname that is also associated with a notable software company and its product line. In technology and engineering contexts, the name most often refers to Hibbitt, Karlsson & Sorensen (HKS), the company that developed the ABAQUS finite element analysis software.

HKS was founded in the 1970s by Karl Hibbitt, Bengt Karlsson, and Per Sorensen. The company produced ABAQUS, a general‑purpose finite element analysis package first released in 1978, designed to solve linear and nonlinear static and dynamic problems with complex material models and contact mechanics. ABAQUS became widely used across multiple engineering disciplines for its capabilities in modeling nonlinear behavior, large deformations, and multifield problems.

Over time, ABAQUS grew into a leading tool in automotive, aerospace, civil engineering, energy, and research settings. The software's continued development emphasized nonlinear materials, advanced contact, multiphysics, parallel computing, and scripting interfaces to support automation and customization.

In 2005, Dassault Systèmes acquired ABAQUS and the HKS business, integrating the software into its SIMULIA brand. Since then, ABAQUS has remained a core product within SIMULIA, evolving alongside other Dassault Systèmes simulation tools and continuing to influence practices in engineering simulation and design.