CAEAnalysen

CAEAnalysen refers to the practice of using computer-aided engineering analyses to predict how products and components will perform under real-world conditions. The term encompasses a range of numerical simulation methods that work with CAD data, material properties, and boundary conditions to assess structural, thermal, fluid, and coupled behaviors. In German-speaking contexts, CAE-Analysen is a commonly used term for this discipline.

The main techniques involved include finite element analysis (FEA) for structural response, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for flow and heat transfer, and multi-body dynamics (MBD) for articulated systems, often combined in multiphysics simulations. Other methods cover thermal analysis, vibration and acoustic analyses, fatigue and fracture mechanics, optimization, and reliability assessments. Modern CAE tools are integrated within broader product lifecycle management (PLM) systems and support CAD data exchange, material modeling, and post-processing.

Typical workflow starts with problem definition and geometry preparation, followed by material property assignment, meshing, and boundary conditions. The solution phase yields results that are interpreted in post-processing, with verification and validation against experiments. Sensitivity analyses and uncertainty quantification may be conducted to understand risk and robustness, guiding design decisions and iterations.

Applications span automotive, aerospace, energy, electronics, consumer goods, and civil engineering. Benefits include reduced physical prototyping, shorter development cycles, improved performance and safety, weight optimization, and cost savings. Ongoing challenges involve model accuracy, data management, and the integration of CAE analyses with organizational processes, while trends point to digital twins, cloud-based simulations, and AI-assisted surrogate modeling.