Projections show that the global computer-aided engineering market will reach a value of $16.2 billion by 2028.
Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) is a term that involves the entire engineering process of a product with the use of computers. This goes from the planning stage to the final product and is used across many industries.
Check out this computer-aided engineering guide for a rundown of what it is.
Computer-Aided Engineering Explained
CAE involves the use of software to design and develop products. Such software is also used throughout the engineering process for testing and simulation. This way companies can analyze the physical properties of a product without the need to build and test a physical prototype.
Understanding Computer-Aided Engineering can be quite complicated as it has many aspects. It can be split down into several smaller processes including:
- FEA (finite element analysis)
- CFD (computational fluid dynamics)
- MBD (multibody dynamics)
- Thermal analysis
- Optimization
Many industries use CAE to create engineering solutions. Companies like GGS provide computer-aided engineering and various other technologies to companies that need them.
CAE falls under the umbrella of CAx (computer-aided technology). This also includes processes such as CAD, with which CAE is often confused.
What is CAD?
CAD (computer-aided design) is a way of using software to produce a visual representation of a product. CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) is another process that uses software to automate manufacturing. CAE focuses on the analysis of a given design.
After the designing and testing of a product CAM software takes the CAD model and creates the physical piece.
While they are separate processes, they often go together. Most parts that are designed using CAD are then tested using CAE and manufactured with CAM.
Benefits and Uses of Computer-Aided Engineering
There are several advantages to CAE that make it incredibly useful. Some of these include:
- Designing and testing products without physical prototypes
- Provide insights early on in the development process
- Make changes earlier, saving time and money
- Make decisions based on how performance is affected
- Leverage performance insights to a wider community
- Manage risks and better understand design issues
- Quickly and easily resolve problems, extending the product lifespan
FEA is used to analyze stress and dynamics. CFD provides thermal and fluid analysis. Multibody dynamics analyses the kinematics and dynamics of mechanisms.
CAE allows manufacturers to test various other elements of their products such as control systems, manufacturing processes, and acoustics. The many benefits of CAE have led to its use in a range of industries including automotive, aviation, energy, and military.
Do You Need Computer-Aided Engineering?
Computer-Aided Engineering can make the entire process of creating a product significantly easier and more efficient. If you are manufacturing a new product the use of CAE will provide the benefits above and more. Overall you will be able to produce a higher quality product in a short time frame while also keeping the costs down.