tools, Category, support, technology, safety, fluid

Computer-aided engineering analysis (often referred to as CAE) is the application of computer software in engineering to analyze the robustness and performance of components and assemblies. It encompasses simulation, validation and optimization of products and manufacturing tools.

Considering information technology that provides tools and techniques to help in design and manufacturing support, the tools used are considered CAE tools. In the future CAE systems will be major providers of information to help support design teams in decision making.

In regards to information networks, CAE systems are individually considered a single node on a total information network and each node may interact with other nodes on the network.

CAE systems can provide support to businesses, this is achieve by the use of reference architectures and their ability to place information views on the business process. Reference architecture is the basis from which information model, especially product and manufacturing models.

The term CAE has also been used by some in the past to describe the use of computer technology within engineering in a broader sense than just engineering analysis. It was in this context that the term was coined by Dr. Jason Lemon, founder of SDRC in the late 70's. This definition is however better known today by the terms CAx and PLM.

CAE areas covered include:
*Stress analysis on components and assemblies using FEA (Finite Element Analysis);
*Thermal and fluid flow analysis Computational fluid dynamics (CFD);
*Kinematics;
*Mechanical event simulation (MES).
*Behavioral Modeling (BMX)
*Analysis tools for process simulation for operations such as casting, molding, and die press forming.

In general, there are three phases in any computer-aided engineering task:
*Pre-processing – defining the model and environmental factors to be applied to it. (typically a finite element mesh model, but facet, voxel and thin sheet methods are also used)
*Analysis solver (usually performed on high powered computers)
*Post-processing of results (using visualization tools)

CAE in the auto industry

CAE tools are very widely used in auto industry. In fact, their use has enabled the automakers to reduce product development cost and time while improving safety, comfort, and durability of the vehicles they produce. The predictive capability of CAE tools has progressed to the point where much of the design verification is now done using computer simulations rather than physical prototype testing.

Software such as LSTC’s LSDYNA and ESI’s PAM-CRASH are used for Automotive crashworthiness and Occupant safety. Other tools like MSC’s Patran and ADAMS software, and UGS’s Scenario and Nastran packages are used in a variety of structural and dynamic analysis tasks.

CAE in the auto industry

See also