CAE programs

[doopie2you]

Could you tell me wichs programs are good CAE programs?

I want to learn how to make things on the computer.

[Jersey Tom]

Depends what you want to do. Mechanical design? Data analysis? CFD? Structural FEA?

[JGomezH]

Open Source CAE soft. (needs 64 bit processor)

http://caelinux.com

[doopie2you]

Depends what you want to do. Mechanical design? Data analysis? CFD? Structural FEA?

I would like to make Aerodynamic designs, of wings and bodywork. And then try to design bodyworks wichs have less drag everytime i make a new one.

[Jersey Tom]

Step 1 - Learn fluid mechanics.

[doopie2you]

Step 1 - Learn fluid mechanics.

Where can i learn that and with what program?

[Jersey Tom]

Step 1 - Learn fluid mechanics.

Where can i learn that and with what program?

University...

[doopie2you]

Step 1 - Learn fluid mechanics.

Where can i learn that and with what program?

University...

And there is no, program wichs allows me to make stuff in 3D like autoCAD but then the programma is for automotive parts? And i can try to understand the program myself?

[Jersey Tom]

There are a number of 3D parametric CAD packages out there... SolidWorks, Inventor, CATIA, PRO/E, I-DEAS, etc.

Full legal copies of that software range anywhere between $3000 - $30000 per copy (roughly). University students can generally pick up copies (with proof of enrollment) for maybe $100. You could do car parts and such with those... though bodywork and Class A surfacing in general isn't particularly easy to start with.

From there, if you wanted to do aerodynamic studies, you would need a CFD package. But unless you have any understanding at all of computational methods, meshing, boundary conditions, etc... you're just making fancy color plots that have no meaning. Even after 4 years of university, many new engineers don't have a good grasp of such things. So I guess my question would be.. what's the point?

[autogyro]

I agree Jersey Tom, it is better to do a University course.
However, in every other discipline I have had experience of, it is possible for those without a full education to find sufficient information and data so as to study the subject on their own. Of course, with something as complex as this it is unlikely for most people to grasp even the fundamentals but I am a little annoyed that CFD remains something dominated by an old boys network for the benefit of their own vested interest.
It should not be banded about like some alchemy secret in Witchcraft.
Bright Blessings to all.

[flynfrog]

I agree Jersey Tom, it is better to do a University course.
However, in every other discipline I have had experience of, it is possible for those without a full education to find sufficient information and data so as to study the subject on their own. Of course, with something as complex as this it is unlikely for most people to grasp even the fundamentals but I am a little annoyed that CFD remains something dominated by an old boys network for the benefit of their own vested interest.
It should not be banded about like some alchemy secret in Witchcraft.
Bright Blessings to all.

last time I checked it didn't take a secret handshake to take a class or buy software.

[Jersey Tom]

Really comes down to the question of.. what are you trying to achieve. If you want to make pretty colorful pictures.. might as well use MS Paint.

If you want to really learn about fluid flow and such.. a CFD software package by itself is kinda meaningless if you don't understand the science behind it, how to set up experiments, etc.

Garbage in = garbage out = garbage learned.