Computer-aided engineering

Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE)

Definition and Purpose

  • Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) is the usage of computer software to simulate, validate and optimise products and manufacturing tools.
  • It’s utilised to enhance the precision and efficiency of all product development stages, from concept to final product testing.

Types of Computer-Aided Engineering Tools

Simulation software

  • Simulation software provides virtual scenario testing of products and components. It’s commonly used for structural, thermal, fluid-flow and multi-body dynamic analysis.
  • Examples include Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for failure prediction and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for fluid flow analysis.

Optimisation software

  • Optimisation software maximises product performance and minimises manufacturing costs by calculating the best design parameters.

Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)

  • CAM automates and optimises manufacturing process planning, reducing production time and material wastages.

Benefits of Using Computer-Aided Engineering

  • Facilitates Rapid Prototyping, saving time in physical model production and testing.
  • Enhances product performance by providing detailed feedback on design suitability and potentially revealing performance issues before manufacture.
  • Reduces product development costs by discovering and addressing potential design flaws early, preventing expensive changes later in the process.
  • Assists in attaining compliance with relevant regulatory standards.

Drawbacks of Using Computer-Aided Engineering

  • Requires high initial investment in software, hardware, and training.
  • Not a substitute for real-world testing and experimentation, but supplements these processes.

Key Factors to Consider

  • Understanding the limitations of CAE models is essential as they simplify real-world scenarios and may miss certain physical phenomena.
  • Interpreting simulation results requires adequate knowledge and understanding of the physics behind the process.
  • Reliability of the CAE predictions largely depends on the input data quality; “garbage in, garbage out”.

Case Study: 3D Printing

  • Insights from CAE software can be used in 3D printing to test different iterations of a product quickly and affordably. It helps detect potential issues early in the design phase thereby improving the speed and efficiency of the design process.
  • CAE and 3D Printing together foster rapid prototyping, making it a handy tool in the hands of designers and engineers.