Importance of Analysis & Simulation

As CAD programs continue to improve, users expect more capabilities in their core packages, including analysis and simulation. But how important is integrated analysis and simulation to the CAD user? Do they expect a certain level of analysis in their CAD software? “We believe analysis and simulation are becoming core aspects of CAD,” said Milliken. “While CAE has become somewhat of a standard offering in most production CAD systems, I believe it’s a long way from mainstream. Even vanilla 3D CAD has a significant way to go before ‘everyone’ has it, and unfortunately, no CAE vendor is really thinking outside the box. Most CAD vendors bundle the technology as a checkbox feature to say they have it, rather than really trying to change things,” he said.

Bosley agrees that integrated analysis and simulation have become increasingly important, and that basic finite-element analysis is well-understood and widely used. “More advanced forms of analysis are being conducted more often, although perhaps not yet mainstream in our market,” Bosley said. “People are under increasing pressure to understand the behavior and performance of their designs at an early stage and eliminate problems before manufacturing. That is driving adoption of advanced simulation and analysis tools,” he added.

With integrated analysis and simulation in the CAD program, “CAD users can increase their productivity and get their products to market faster by utilizing simulation and other analysis earlier in their design process,” according to Joung. “Users expect basic model analysis capabilities in a CAD product, as well as the ability to quickly analyze designs with add-on simulation modules or other products that are integrated seamlessly into the CAD application.”

The importance of integrated analysis and simulation has increased in the past five years, according to Kasprzak. “The scope of engineering is expanding more into analysis,” he said. And while most CAD users don’t expect built-in analysis, “they find it refreshing to see areas like static and modal analysis being delivered as part of the core CAD offering. Model associativity between CAD and analysis ensures that updates ripple through the process,” Kasprzak added.

“If CAD users don’t expect a certain level of analysis capability yet, they certainly will as this becomes the more accepted way to design,” stated Ray. “Market forces are pressuring them to do that because they have to reduce the time to market, reduce the number of prototypes, engineer higher quality and reliability into the product, and find ways to substitute materials that are less costly without sacrificing the ultimate user experience intended for the product,” he said.