Design, modeling and simulation: A unified entity that needs differences

Design Model improvements versus validation for production and usage

Today, many people are involved in simulation, but they often pursue very different objectives. We may get the impression that the “democratization” of the discipline means that simulation is now being done by the design engineers instead of the simulation experts, but this would not accurately reflect reality.

It is indeed true that some complex simulation processes can be automated and thereby become accessible to people without specific CAE (computer aided engineering) skills. But if we use the correct term for the use of simulation in design environments, the essence of this use becomes clear: Simulation-driven design. The focus remains on design, while simulation is only a tool that serves to make the design model better.

The goal, therefore, is to provide simulation support for engineering decisions at an ever earlier stage – it’s not about validation. Simulation experts, on the other hand, don’t make engineering decisions: they validate designs. An entirely different objective! Engineers and simulation experts may use the same tools, but in simulation they don’t have the same goals.

MODSIM accelerates value adding processes – a pracitical example

Example: When engineers design a pressure tank, it’s very helpful if they can subject the vessel to a virtual pressure test, i.e. run a simulation assessment.

In simulation-driven design, we cannot expect quantitatively correct stress values – and how could we, because while engineering is still in progress, the exact pressures will remain unknown.   

But if the result is viewed as a qualitative test, and if that test indicates excessive stress values in certain areas, then the engineers can make changes to eliminate the problem. It should be apparent that this improves the design even though quantitatively correct pressure values are as yet unavailable.

The simulation experts would also have discovered the unwanted stress concentrations and would have asked the engineers to revise their design – but instead, they can now focus on problems that can’t be recognized quite so easily, ones where their specific expertise is needed to validate the product.  

The number of feedback loops between engineering and simulation goes down, the value-adding process is speeding up.

Your path to effective collaboration in simulation

An important aspect of simulation-driven design is close connectivity with CAD, letting the engineers launch simulations directly from their CAD tools, without media or data interruptions.

Both Catia V5 and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform by Dassault Systèmes offer simulation-driven design in a variety of expansion levels – from simple, linear-elastic single-component analysis to full Abaqus functionality.

Which level is the right one depends on the circumstances. At CENIT, we are proud that our consulting has opened up simulation driven design to many of our clients.

We begin with a close examination of their processes, followed by a consulting session and a joint target definition. We then determine what roles and responsibilities are needed to effectively drive simulation in the specific client business. On this basis, we can decide how digital collaboration should be implemented.

Simulation-driven design blurs the boundaries between engineering and simulation and lets all stakeholders participate seamlessly in what will be the future of value addition: Simulation as the core element of digitalization.