1.

0 INTRODUCTION
Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) is a broad scope
encompassing all the disciplines of engineering that make use of
computers for analyzing and synthesising the validity of design.
Popular applications of CAE lies in the fjelds of mechanical and
civil engineering. Of late, all the specialized areas of mechanical
engineering viz., thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics,
structural analysis and even Too! Engineering (plastic molding,
die casting and press working) employ CAE as a tool to
effectively perforrn all the necessary analysis and predict before
hand the saotisfactory functioning of the product.
The thrust for making CAE more popular and effective lies in the
advancements in. digital computers and the developments in
Finite Element Methods. Without these two, it would not have
been possible fr engineers to make complex three dimensional
engineering analysis which many a times is beyond the scope of
dassic analysis approach, both in terms of time and cost. CAE
involves the practical application cf the
Finite Element
Procedures that are coded as an application software to
engineering analysis.

It is emphasized there that a sound knowledge in the fundamentals of

engineering discipline and that of Finite Element Procedures is the key in
carrying out a successful analysis and for better judgmeQt of the results of
analysis.
Using CAE as a tool, the engineer aims at predicting the causes of failure
of a product I component during its service life or during its production
in a more quantitative way. Engineering judgment and experience can
then be employed to tackle and overcome the problem much before the
product or component is produced and thereby eliminating accidents,
rework and costly trial and error, which otherwise delays the launch of a
product to the market or the product has to be withdrawn from market
once failures are reported. In today's highly competitive market, there
shouldn't be any scope for this. Another use of CAE as tool is to optimize
a product design in terms of its geometry and material economics within
the constraints of the design, thereby producing a best quality product at
the lowest cost. Various new and less costly materials can be tried out
which do not hinder the satisfactory functioning of the part, there by
reducing costs and enhancing profits.
The course has been designed to introduce the basics of engineering
analysis in a systematic approach with hands on experience using
commercial CAE Software.

Automated CAE tools can save time and costs in virtually every
phaseof the plastic products development process. For
example:
Product designers can examine a wide range of alternatives to
determine the ideal mechanicaI properties and configuration
Raw material suppliers can optimize the design for the material
properties and develop ways to more effectively use their
products
MoId designers can improve their maId designs and lower their
design costs
Mold producers can reduce the manpower required to generate
NC data, yet respond faster to customer demands fr new
molds
Molders can improve productivity and quality whiIe reducing
cast.
A benefit orten cited as an incentive fr investment in CAE
systems is improvement in product q~ality, as measured by
the number of engineering prototypes rcquircd to gct a new
design concept into production.