COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING

Computer Aided Engineering is the broad uses of computer software to aid in engineering
analysis. Computer-aided engineering (CAE) is the use of computer software to simulate
performance in order to improve product designs or assist in the resolution of engineering
problems for a wide range of industries. This includes simulation, validation and optimization
of products, processes, and manufacturing tools.
CAE refers to the techniques of using computers and information technologies (ITs) in the
design analysis and synthesis. CAE tools are expected to empower designers to solve more
challenging open-ended and/or integrated real-life design problems. CAE is a kind of artificial
intelligence for the automation of intelligent behaviors. However, creative thinking is for
human designers, that is, beyond the scope of design automation.
Applications of Computer Aided Engineering:
CAE applications support a wide range of engineering disciplines or phenomena.
1. Stress and dynamics analysis on components and assemblies using finite element analysis
(FEA)
2. Thermal and fluid analysis using computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
3. Kinematics and dynamic analysis of mechanisms (multibody dynamics)
4. Acoustics analysis using FEA or a boundary element method (BEM)
5. 1D CAE, or mechatronic system simulation, for multi-domain mechatronics system design
6. Mechanical event simulation (MES)
7. Control systems analysis
8. Simulation of manufacturing processes like casting, moulding and die press forming
9. Optimization of the product or process
Advantages or Benefits of Computer Aided Engineering:
The benefits of CAE include reduced product development cost and time, with improved
product quality and durability.
• Design candidates can be evaluated and refined using computer simulation rather than
physical prototyping to save money and time.
• CAE can provide performance insights in an earlier development process when design
changes are less expensive to make.
• CAE helps engineering teams manage risk and understand the performance implications of
designs.
• Integrated CAE data and process management extend the ability to effectively leverage
performance insights and improve designs to a broader community.
• Warranty exposure is reduced by identifying and eliminating potential problems. When
properly integrated into product and manufacturing development, CAE can enable earlier
problem resolutions, which can dramatically reduce the costs associated with the product
life cycle.

List of Computer Aided Analysis Software:

• ANSYS
• I-DEAS
• NASTRAN
• ABAQUS
• COSMOS
• ALGOR
• PATRAN
• HyperMesh
• Dyna-3D
• COMSOL Multiphysics
• Fusion 360
• Free-CAD
• FreeFEM
• SimScale™
Element and Node
Element is an entity into which the system under study is divided. An element shape is
specified by nodes. The shape (area, length, and volume) of an element depends on the nodes
with which it is made. An element (triangular shaped) is shown in Figure.

Figure: Element and Node

Element Shapes
There are many types of element shapes that are further divided into various classes, depending
on their uses. The following are some basic element shapes:
Line Element (1D Element)
A line element has the shape of a line or a curve. Therefore, a minimum of two nodes are
required to define it. There can be higher order elements that have additional nodes (at the
middle of the edge of an element). An element that does not have a node in between its edges
is called a linear element. The elements that have nodes in between edges are called quadratic
or second order elements. Figure shows some line elements.

Figure: Line elements

Area Element (2D Element)
An area element has the shape of a triangle or a quadrilateral; therefore, it requires a
minimum of three or four nodes to define it. Some area elements are shown in Figure.

Figure: The area elements

Volume Element (3D Element)
A volume element has the shape of a hexahedron (8 nodes), wedge (6 nodes), tetrahedron (4
nodes), or a pyramid (5 nodes). Some of the volume elements are shown in Figure.

Figure: The volume elements

General Procedure to Conduct Finite Element Analysis
To conduct the finite element analysis, you need to follow certain steps that are given next.
1. Set the type of analysis to be used.
2. Create model.
3. Define the element type.
4. Divide the given geometry into nodes and elements (mesh the model).
5. Apply material properties and boundary conditions.
6. Derive element matrices and equations.
7. Assemble element equations.
8. Solve the unknown parameters at nodes.
9. Interpret the results.
The general process of FEA by using software is divided into three main phases:
preprocessing, solution, and postprocessing, refer to Figure.
Preprocessor
The preprocessor is a phase that processes input data to produce output, which is used as input
in the subsequent phase (solution).
Following are the input data that need to be given to the preprocessor:
1. Type of analysis (structural or thermal, static or dynamic, and linear or nonlinear)
2. Element type
3. Real constants for elements (Cross-sectional area, Moment of Inertia, Shell thickness, and
so on)
4. Material properties (Young’s Modulus, Poisson’s ratio, Spring Constant, Thermal
Conductivity, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion, and so on)
5. Geometric model (either created in the FEA software or imported from other CAD
packages)
6. FEA model (discretizing the geometric model into small elements)
7. Loading and boundary conditions (defining loads, pressures, moments, temperature,
conductivity, convection, constraints (fixed, pinned, or frictionless/symmetrical), and so on.
The input data are preprocessed for the output data and the preprocessor generates the data
files automatically with the help of users. These data files are used in the subsequent phase
(solution), refer to Figure.

Solution or Processing
The solution phase is completely automatic. The FEA software generates element matrices,
computes nodal values and derivatives, and stores the result data in files. These files are further
used in the subsequent phase (postprocessor) to review and analyze the results through the
graphic display and tabular listings, refer to Figure.

Postprocessor
The output from the solution phase (result data files) is in the numerical form and consists of
nodal values of the field variable and its derivatives. For example, in structural analysis, the
output of the postprocessor is nodal displacement and stress in elements. The postprocessor
processes the result data and displays them in graphical form to check or analyze the result.
The graphical output gives the detailed information about the required result data. The
postprocessor phase is automatic and generates graphical output in the specified form, refer to
Figure.

General Steps of Finite Element Analysis

The finite element analysis involves the following steps.
1. Discretization of the structure
2. Selection of Displacement function
3. Formation of the element stiffness matrix and load vector
4. Formation of Global stiffness matrix and load vector
5. Incorporation of Boundary conditions
6. Solution of Simultaneous equations
7. Calculation of element strains and stresses
8. Interpretation of the result obtained
Advantages of the finite element method over other numerical methods are as follows:
• The method can be used for any irregular-shaped domain and all types of boundary
conditions.
• Domains consisting of more than one material can be easily analyzed.
• Accuracy of the solution can be improved either by proper refinement of the mesh or by
choosing approximation of higher degree polynomials.
• The algebraic equations can be easily generated and solved on a computer. In fact, a
general-purpose code can be developed for the analysis of a large class of problems.