Simulation speeds engine development

Improved up-front engineering using intelligent design and integrated simulation tools, as well as knowledge-based expert systems, are helping manufacturers develop better engines more quickly.

For many years, engine manufacturers, including the automotive OEMs, developed their own CAE (computer-aided engineering) tools to help them improve performance. They found that it becomes increasingly difficult and expensive to develop and maintain proprietary software under financial and time pressure to deliver engine improvements.

Now there is evidence of a trend towards using commercial software to do the analysis work, and manufacturers working more on their internal processes for a competitive advantage. A variety of specialist tools and knowledge-base software are becoming available to support this shift in thinking.