CAD Simulation

CAD Simulation is the logical capability of running structural, thermal, modal, or basic flow analyses directly inside the CAD authoring environment, on the live design model, by the designer. It complements (rather than replaces) specialist CAE by giving engineers fast, geometry-associative checks that catch issues before formal analysis hand-off.

What it covers

• Static and modal analysis of parts and small assemblies.
• Thermal and basic CFD on simplified geometry.
• Topology optimization and generative design exploration.
• Geometry-associative meshing that updates with parametric changes.

Relationships (see sidebar)

• Supports the CAE Analysis process at the designer-simulation tier.
• Implemented by systems like Dassault CATIA and PTC Creo.
• Closely related to Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).