Hi
A few thoughts on the subject.
If I had to work with several different solvers I would use a pre/post solution designed to do that. I rarely encounter the problem but in my experience, the bulk data files usually works. It is often a huge amount of data, but fairly simple data like node coordinates and element connections.
I think the problem comes from load or constraints associated to geometry. Simply because different software have different approaches internally. A concentrated load on a node, simple. A pressure on a plate element, also simple. A pressure on a surface associated to several plates, how do you describe that to fit the requirements of "everybody".
I think it would be an interesting project but, on the other hand, I can't see any big driving force in the industry.
But going back to the original statement. Universal formats in the CAD world.
I read an article recently where this was tested. Model the plate on one software, the bolts in another and the washers in a third and so on. Didn't work out.
Sure, you could see a figure of a solid that looked like a bolt but the intelligence was not there. The bolt was a "dead" and not a bolt so the material lists and specifications functionality was useless.
I have colleagues who work with this on a daily basis. Playing with formats like ifc, step, iges, etc etc. It works but I would not say that the geometry universal format is solved. You can "see" the object and do a collision test. But nobody has a complete model with all the information for a structure and the equipment.
I don't want to be discouraging, but be realistic. In a FEM format you need the geometry and the object "intelligence".
But I wish you luck. You may not solve it entirely but a partial solution can also be valuable.
To use an old cliche. Rome was not built in a day either
.
Thomas
