Best CAE Software in 2024

What are CAE software?

CAE stands for computer-aided engineering software that supports various engineering and analysis tasks. This tool is used by engineers and designers to simulate the real-world behavior of products and systems before they are physically built. CAE software includes:

• FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
• MD (Multibody Dynamics)
• CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics
• multiple optimization capabilities.

With CAE software, users can simulate and optimize different products and various other manufacturing procedures. It can model both discrete as well as continuous events.

How Do We Evaluate and Select the Best CAE Software? 

CAE Software helps engineers simulate product performance to improve product designs. You will find several types of CAE tools in the market based on use case, but which one should you invest in. Hence, to assist you in choosing the right software, we have made a comparison of top software based on certain metrics like features, pricing, usability, and so on.  

While comparing them, we have considered essential features like design analysis and optimization, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, thermal simulation, etc. These features will be offered by some vendors completely free while others will offer it with a paid subscription. 

A comparison of CAE programs has been made on metrics like free trial, free version, and paid plans. In the list, you will find multiple software options that also offer a free version for beginners.  

Best CAE Software Comparison 

Here is the comparison of top CAE tools based on their pricing, features, integrations supported, and the industries served.

Best CAE Software Comparison
Metrics	Pricing	Key Features	Integration	Industry
Fusion 360	Starts from INR 4669/month	3D modelling and designing Centralised data management 3-axis machining	JoinerCAD Bommer ProTech	Manufacturing and engineering
SOLIDWORKS	Price on request	Manufacturing designing 3D models simulation Texture mapping	ONGAA CAM MRPeasy Fishbowl	Architecture and construction industry
SimScale	Free plan available, paid plan details on request	Electromagnetics analysis Multiple fluid materials Thermal analysis	Solid Edge Autodesk Synera Siemens	Construction, mining, automotive, etc.
Ansys	Price on request	Geometry based reassociativity (GBA) Resource prediction Geometry preserving mesh adaptivity (GPAD)	Dassault ENOVIA DOORS GT Power	Aerospace, transportation, healthcare, etc.
AutoCAD	Starts from INR 15407/month	Workflow customization Real-time collaboration 3D models annotation	Text Apps Drawing Tree SPCAD	Architecture, Engineering, Construction, etc.

 

What Features Should I Look for in CAE software?

CAE analysis software supports a wide range of features like finite element analysis, thermal and fluid analysis, continuous modeling, fatigue analysis, dynamic modeling, etc. Additionally, it will also support computational fluid dynamics and structural analysis. Let's learn about some other important features that you will find in CAE software:  

1. Design Analysis and Optimization: CAE software aids in analyzing and optimizing designs for better performance and cost efficiency. 

2. Finite Element Analysis (FEA): With this, you can simulate and analyze physical phenomena like stress, heat transfer, and fluid flow over the designed product. 

3. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): CFD focuses on fluid behavior and flow analysis and how it interacts with the product’s surface. It can help in identifying incompressible and compressible fluids, and problems related to laminar and turbulent flows. 

4. Structural Analysis: CAE simulation software assists engineers in evaluating the structural integrity and performance of components of a product in response to external loads. 

5. Meshing: CAE tools come with a meshing feature that helps in creating a mesh for complex geometries of a product to facilitate analysis. 

6. Thermal Analysis: With this, you can examine heat distribution and thermal behavior in structures or systems. It can help simulate areas like electronic cooling, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, etc. 

How to Choose the Right CAE Software? 

It is important to consider your business requirements and software features before making the selection. Next, you should check its available integrations and whether it provides a demo to test the software. 

• Consider Your Requirements: Before selecting any CAE simulation software, you must consider your business requirements like industry specific features in that software.  
• Check for Features: The right software should offer essential features like Finite element analysis, Computational fluid dynamics, Thermal simulation, Continuous event modeling, Mechanical event simulation, etc.  
• Integration: CAE software should be able to integrate with Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Manufacturing Process Planning (MPP) software, etc. This will help keep all the product related data in one place.  
• Conduct demos: Consider the computer aided engineering software that also provides demos. This will help you find out whether the software is right for you or not.  
• Check Workflow Management: While comparing different software, check whether it offers a workflow management function to easily share and manage designing projects.

What are the Benefits of CAE Software?

CAE software helps in speeding up the prototyping procedure and tests objects to see how they will perform in real time. Moreover, it helps in optimizing the product’s quality and reliability. Here are some other benefits of leveraging CAE design software for your business.

1. Simulation and Analysis: CAE software helps engineers to simulate real-world conditions for products, predicting their performance and behavior without any physical prototypes. 
2. Cost Reduction: It reduces the need for extensive physical prototyping, saving material and production costs. 
3. Time Saving: CAE design software accelerates the product development cycle by providing quick feedback on design iterations and potential issues associated with it.  
4. Risk Mitigation: Enables the identification and mitigation of potential design flaws or weaknesses early in the development process, thereby reducing the risk of product failure. 
5. Real-Time Collaboration: It facilitates collaboration among different teams by providing a centralized platform for analysis and design work. 
6. Regulatory Compliance: CAE programs help in ensuring that products meet industry regulations by enabling engineers to assess and validate designs against criteria.

Which Industries Use CAE Software in India?

Computer aided engineering software is utilized in various industries for different use cases. For example, it is used for process optimization, material selection, and product quality control in manufacturing procedures. Here are some other industries that use CAE software to simulate and improve their products’ design.  

1. Automotive: CAE analysis software is used in the automotive industry for structural analysis, crash simulation, and thermal management during the designing of vehicles. 
2. Aerospace: It is used for aerodynamic analysis, structural integrity testing, and thermal simulations in aircraft and spacecraft designing. 
3. Electronics: In the electrical engineering field, computer aided engineering software is leveraged for thermal analysis, electromagnetic compatibility, and signal integrity testing in designs of electronic devices. 
4. Civil Engineering: This software is used in civil engineering for structural analysis, earthquake simulation, and fluid dynamics while creating designs of buildings, bridges, and infrastructure. 

Implementation of CAE software

To implement CAE software, you need to install and configure it. Next, set up all permissions and train your employees to use the software. Once done, you can start working on your design project. Learn more about all the steps you need to follow to implement your CAE design software 

• Step 1: Install, set up, and configure the CAE simulation software of your choice. 
• Step 2: Next, set up the user permissions and define the access levels  
• Step 3: After that, provide proper training to your designers and engineers to use the software via online tutorials, training courses, etc.  
• Step 4: Set up standardized workflows and protocols for using the CAE software effectively. 
• Step 5: Next, start working on your desired project with the features specific to your use case. 
• Step 6: Document your processes and maintain a record of your simulations for future reference and improvement. 

How Much Does CAE Software Cost? 

CAE software cost depends on its seller and the features and benefits it provides its customers. However, on average, it costs around INR 2,078.56/month. These software examples are available on a subscription basis. However, some of them are available with one-time license purchase. 

CAE analysis software price also depends on the functions it offers. For instance, software with basic features will be cheaper than the one that provides advanced features.

Additionally, software maintenance cost, customer support, and training materials will also be included in the overall cost. Hence, it is important to  look at the total CAE software cost breakdown before selecting any of them. 

Difference Between CAD, CAM and CAE

The key difference between CAD, CAM, and CAE is in terms of their features. CAD software is utilized to develop digital objects models. Whereas CAM software is used for controlling and automating manufacturing processes. However, CAE software is mainly used for simulating and analyzing objects' behavior under different physical conditions. However, these three software solutions can be used together to streamline the entire product development process from product ideation till its completion.

Here is the detailed enumeration of each of these software in detail below:  

1. CAD or Computer-Aided Design

CAD is used to design documents and products. It can be used in the manufacturing processes as well for producing diagrams of materials, processes, and dimensions of the product. Both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional diagrams can be produced with the help of CAD software.

2. CAM OR Computer-Aided Manufacturing

CAM is used to automate the processes of manufacturing. Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is the successor of computer-aided engineering, also known as CAE. CAM is usually used with CAD software.

Modern day CAM software also includes robotics and real-time controls. CAM software helps reduce wastage and saves energy for more advanced manufacturing processes. It helps increase efficiency by maintaining the process speed and consistency in the raw material.

3. CAE or Computer-Aided Engineering

CAE is used in designing and testing manufacturing plans. You can also use it to perform simulations and tests on physical properties of the product without the need of performing processes on the actual physical prototype.

The most common simulation processes include computational fluid dynamics, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, multibody dynamics, and thermal analysis. CAD, CAM, CAE, all three of these are essential components of the simulation.

CAE software is designing software for the manufacturing industry which helps to design parts before going to the manufacturing process and this software is majorly used in automotive and spare parts manufacturing companies.

Applications of a CAE software

• Analyzing different components on the basis of dynamics and stress using FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
• With CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), fluid and thermal analysis is done.
• Dynamic and kinematics analysis of multibody mechanisms can be executed.
• With BEM (boundary element method) or FEA, acoustics analysis is done.
• For designing a mechatronic system, mechatronic system simulation is performed.
• Another application is a mechanical event simulation or MES.
• Control systems analysis can also be done with CAE software.
• One can also perform the simulation of various manufacturing processes like molding, press forming and casting.
• Optimization of products and processes can be done with the help of CAE software.
• It is used to integrate hypermesh software as well.