What is CAE?

CAE refers to Computer Aided Engineering, i.e. the utilization of computer software to assist in analyzing tasks. CAE is the next step in not only designing a product but also supporting the engineering process, as it allows to perform tests and simulations of the product’s physical properties without needing a physical prototype. CAE includes the following:

  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Multibody Dynamics
  • Durability
  • Optimization
Why CAE?

Previously majority of design verification and analysis during product development came from physical prototype testing. This was carried out using well understood and time-proven materials. The process would be to make a prototype, test it and make changes as per the test results. This process proved to be time taking and also over the time the designs and materials have become complex. A more reliable and accurate method was required to carry out the testing during product development. With initiation of CAE in the industry:

  • Accuracy in these processes has increased.
  • Development cost is reduced.
  • Time to market is reduced.

With the employment of CAE in the industry, the timing of the PD phase has been shrinking continuously. CAE has become a dependable tool for engineering decision-making for all major attributes be it noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH); safety (crashworthiness); vehicle dynamics; durability; thermal effects; aerodynamic systems; or electrical/electronics applications.

Why ELEATION for CAE:

CAE is widely favored in the industry, it has gained popularity amongst students also. ELEATION, because of its uniquely designed course content, stands out in imparting the knowledge. Apart from the regular topics like static structure, modal analysis, axi-symmetric, transient structure, and thermal analysis, ELEATION also focusses on Harmonic Response or Frequency Response Analysis, Random Response Analysis, Composite Analysis, and Dynamic Analysis.

Harmonic Response or Frequency Response Analysis:

Frequency response analysis is used to calculate the response of a structure to steady state oscillatory excitation. Typical applications are noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) analysis of vehicles, rotating machinery, transmissions, and powertrain systems. Frequency response analysis is used to compute the response of the structure, which is actually transient, in a static frequency domain. The loading is sinusoidal. A simple case is a load of given amplitude at a specified frequency. The response occurs at the same frequency, and damping would lead to a phase shift.

Random Response Analysis:

Random response analysis is used when a structure is subjected to a nondeterministic, continuous excitation. Cases likely to involve non-deterministic loads are those linked to conditions such as turbulence on an airplane structure, vibrations from the road surface on a vehicle, noise loads on a given structure, etc.

Composite Analysis:

The term composite relates to the analysis of components formed using multiple layers of material in the form of sheets or plies bonded together to form a cohesive structure.

Typically, the plies are made of unidirectional fibers or of woven fabrics and are joined together by a bonding medium. Typical examples of Composite include Carbon fiber used in Automobiles for shafts, Casing, etc.; Glass fibers used in Marine and Aerospace applications.

Dynamic Analysis:

The term dynamic FEA relates to a range of powerful simulation techniques that can be applied to even complex engineering systems. Dynamic analysis is used to evaluate the impact of transient loads or to design out potential noise and vibration problems. Dynamic Analysis is used to simulate solid body to solid body impact. Crash Analysis, Drop test are a few examples of Dynamic Analysis.