What is the CAE? Computer aided engineering?

CAE or Computer Aided Engineering is a term used to describe the procedure of the entire product engineering process, from design and virtual testing with sophisticated analytical algorithms to manufacturing planning. Computer-aided engineering is standard in almost any industry that uses some type of design software to develop products. CAE is the next step not only in the design of a product, but also in supporting the engineering process, as it allows testing and simulation of the physical properties of the product without the need for a physical prototype. In the context of CAE, the most commonly used types of simulation analysis include finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, thermal analysis, multi-body dynamics and optimizations.

By taking advantage of engineering simulation, especially when combined with the power and speed of high-performance cloud computing, the cost and time of each design iteration cycle, as well as the overall development process , can be reduced considerably. The standard CAE workflow is to first generate an initial design and then simulate CAD geometry. The simulation results are evaluated and used to improve the design. This process is repeated until all product requirements are met and virtually confirmed. In case of weak points or areas where the performance of the digital prototype does not match expectations, engineers and designers can improve the CAD model and verify the effects of its change by testing the updated design in a new simulation.

This process supports faster product development since there is no need to build physical prototypes in the early stages of development. Simulating with CAE methods will only take a few hours maximum, compared to the days or probably weeks that would require building a physical prototype. Everyone who is familiar with the product development process knows that it is inevitable to build a physical prototype before starting the serial production of a product, but simulation can help reduce the amount of these prototypes. 

When planning to integrate simulation techniques in the product development process, it is important to know about the environment (forces, temperatures, etc.) to which the product will be exposed. Knowing these conditions is crucial to correctly set up a simulation. The predictive value of any simulation can only be the accuracy of the contour conditions performed. Until now, in addition to predicting environmental factors and conditions, engineering simulation was a complex and difficult effort in itself, reserved primarily for experienced engineers and simulation experts. The beginners had to fight with a steep learning curve. 

Modern CAE simulation tools, such as SimScale, attempt to break through these barriers, allowing even inexperienced users without in-depth knowledge of the physical processes and the special characteristics of the solver to produce insightful simulation results.

Simulating complex geometries is very difficult, even for modern computers. That is why it takes a lot of computing power to perform realistic simulation results. Large companies with sophisticated IT infrastructure can use their own servers to host and run simulations. The rise of HPC cloud computing now also provides smaller companies, which generally cannot afford to buy and maintain the necessary hardware, access to the same tools and simulation capabilities that were previously reserved for only a select few. This interruption in the simulation products market makes it possible for everyone to simulate the products they design.

Fields of application:

CAE can be used in almost any industry and company that designs a product exposed to different environments. Industries that use computer-aided engineering in their product development process include, among others: automotive, aerospace, plant engineering, electronics, energy, consumer goods and HVAC. Products that can be simulated range from extremely small parts of products to very large and complex structures, such as race cars, bridges or even power plants.

It is possible to test the structural integrity of a crane that carries a specific load to a roof, as well as to evaluate the acoustic design of a concert hall or the convective flow within a bulb; These are all examples of applications in which simulation can make a big difference, which can sometimes save lives.

As you can see, the field of applications of computer-aided engineering or engineering simulation is unlimited and can help engineers and designers of any industry develop products better and faster.