What CAE covers
Computer-aided engineering includes structural FEA, CFD, thermal analysis, multibody dynamics, fatigue, vibration and electromagnetic simulation. Each needs geometry from CAD and produces results that should influence design.
The typical disconnect
- Designers throw models "over the wall" to analysts.
- Analysts simplify geometry manually and lose track of revisions.
- Results arrive as PDFs and emails, long after the design has moved on.
- Nobody can tell which simulation belongs to which design version.
An integrated workflow
CAD revision
→ simulation-ready geometry (automatic simplification)
→ CAE templates per analysis type (FEA, CFD, thermal)
→ automated runs on workstation / cluster / cloud
→ results stored with link to CAD revision (SPDM)
→ key results written back to CAD / PLM properties
→ dashboards and design decisionsKey building blocks
| Building block | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Simulation templates | Standard setups for recurring analyses |
| Geometry automation | Defeaturing, mid-surfaces, named regions |
| Simulation data management (SPDM) | Traceable storage of inputs and results |
| Optimisation tools | Explore parameters automatically (DOE, optimisation algorithms) |
| Result write-back | Safety factors, pressure drops and masses visible in CAD and PLM |
Simulation for designers
Well-built templates let designers run validated standard analyses themselves, with analysts defining the methods and reviewing exceptions. This "simulation democratisation" brings feedback into the earliest design stages.
Simulation has the most value when it guides design decisions, not when it confirms them after the fact.
CAD–CAE integration with ENGIMANDI
Read about FEA and CFD integration, or see our CAD integration services.