CAE – Computer Aided Engineering

Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), sometimes thought of as a Virtual Test bed, when correctly applied leads to reduced engineering programme costs and time-scales and reduced risk. Design and development ideas can be tested and proven prior to any hardware procurement.

Perkins has a long and proven track record of applying these techniques having established a predictive analysis department in the early 1970s. Today, using a combination of commercial and proprietary, bespoke engine software - written and developed internally at Perkins, and latterly in conjunction with its parent company Caterpillar - the role of CAE has become integral to the design process. It is now a key enabler in developing the next engine ranges with their increased complexity in ever-shorter time-scales. Continuous investment in simulation processes and hardware means that multi-variable problems can be optimised in hours through CAE techniques that once took weeks on a test-bed.

Today the team of over 30 CAE engineers is split into 4 main groups:

• Structural and NVH (FEA)
• Thermofluids (CFD)
• Systems engineering and software development– with the engineers involved on new product introduction programmes
• Development of new CAE processes