What is simulation?

What is FIVE?

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a common computational method used in simulation where a geometric area is divided into small elements and for each element the solution is approximated by functions. All elements are connected to a system of equations that are solved numerically. FEM is used in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to simulate material stresses, deformations, heat flow and temperature distribution in products. 

What are CFDs?

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a common computational method in fluid mechanics that solves the Navier-Stokes equations. The flow domain is divided into control volumes, and flow parameters are calculated in each cell. In simulation, CFD is used to optimise airflow, cooling, and pressure distribution.

Why is simulation important in the manufacturing industry?

Using simulation early in the product development process means you can:

• Identify design issues before physical prototypes are manufactured.
• Shorten development time by eliminating the need for repeated physical testing.
• Reduce costs by reducing the number of physical prototypes and tests.
• Optimise product design for durability and performance.
• Reduce the need for time-consuming simplification and meshing of large assemblies.

Different types of simulation in the manufacturing industry

• Structural Analysis (FEA): Used to analyse the strength, stiffness, and deformation of components and assemblies.
• Thermal analysis: Simulation of heat transfer and temperature distribution in materials and structures.
• Flow analysis (CFD): Optimises liquid and gas flows to reduce energy losses and improve performance.
• Multiphysics simulation: Integrates multiple physical phenomena, such as FSI (Fluid–Structure Interaction), where the interaction between a fluid and a structure is simulated. 

Simulation software

There are several powerful simulation tools on the market. Symetri offers, for example:

• Altair HyperWorks – An advanced suite of tools for FEA, CFD, optimisation, and multiphysics simulation.
• Altair SimLab – A process-oriented simulation environment for easily setting up physical analyses using automatic models.
• Altair Inspire – An intuitive tool for concept development, structural analysis and topology optimisation.
• Altair SimSolid – A revolutionary structural analysis tool that eliminates the need for meshing and allows simulation of complex assemblies without simplification.

Ready for the next step in simulation?

Simulation has become an indispensable part of the manufacturing industry. By using advanced manufacturing solutions in simulation, such as FEA and CFD, companies can reduce costs, improve product quality, and accelerate the development process.

Want to learn more about how your organisation can benefit from simulation? Contact us at Symetri for a customised solution.