Put Your CAE Knowledge to the Test

NX CAE fact or fiction? You decide. Put your knowledge to the test with these questions. You might even learn something new!

1. You need NX CAD to run NX CAE.
   
   Spoiler

   False. This idea stems from the fact that both NX CAD and NX CAE share a common architecture. However, this does not mean “dependent on.” NX CAE runs as a standalone application all on its own to perform analysis and simulation, including geometry creation and editing—no NX CAD required.  If your design team happens to also use NX CAD, then you gain additional benefits through associativity and seamless exchange of models and data.

   False. This idea stems from the fact that both NX CAD and NX CAE share a common architecture. However, this does not mean “dependent on.” NX CAE runs as a standalone application all on its own to perform analysis and simulation, including geometry creation and editing—no NX CAD required.  If your design team happens to also use NX CAD, then you gain additional benefits through associativity and seamless exchange of models and data.



2. You can perform more than 5 kinds of simulation with NX CAE.
   
   Spoiler

   True. NX CAE is capable of structural, thermal, flow, motion, and multiphysics simulation. You can also perform analysis modeling and simulation-driven design, and even manage your simulation data. For more info, check out the documentation.

   True. NX CAE is capable of structural, thermal, flow, motion, and multiphysics simulation. You can also perform analysis modeling and simulation-driven design, and even manage your simulation data. For more info, check out the documentation.



3. NX CAE is a low-end tool for designers, not real CAE analysts.
   
   Spoiler

   False. This myth stems from the fact that NX CAE is scalable, so it’s simple enough for designers to use to perform basic simulations. You must remember, though, the opposite is true as well. NX CAE is capable of performing highly complex simulations, and with each release, the software expands its abilities in this realm. Need further proof? CIMData reports that the capabilities of NX CAE are comparable to best-of-breed standalone tools.

   False. This myth stems from the fact that NX CAE is scalable, so it’s simple enough for designers to use to perform basic simulations. You must remember, though, the opposite is true as well. NX CAE is capable of performing highly complex simulations, and with each release, the software expands its abilities in this realm. Need further proof? CIMData reports that the capabilities of NX CAE are comparable to best-of-breed standalone tools.



4. NX CAE has a CFD solution.
   
   Spoiler

   True. Just read one of my latest blog posts for more info on the CFD solution in NX CAE. What’s more, we’ve added capabilities in NX CAE 10 that extend beyond computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to give you an integrated vibro-acoustics workflow.

   True. Just read one of my latest blog posts for more info on the CFD solution in NX CAE. What’s more, we’ve added capabilities in NX CAE 10 that extend beyond computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to give you an integrated vibro-acoustics workflow.



5. You can’t use Synchronous Technology in NX CAE without NX CAD. 
   
   Spoiler

   False. You can run Synchronous Technology in NX CAE all on its own. Synchronous Technology is a tool that lets you change native CAD geometry without understanding the model’s history (how the geometry was originally created), so it’s fast and easy to make design changes on the fly.

   False. You can run Synchronous Technology in NX CAE all on its own. Synchronous Technology is a tool that lets you change native CAD geometry without understanding the model’s history (how the geometry was originally created), so it’s fast and easy to make design changes on the fly.



6. NX CAE has adaptive meshing.
   
   Spoiler

   True. Starting in NX CAE 10, you can use adaptive meshing to refine meshes based on stress, strain, and temperature errors. You won’t have to run multiple finite element analyses to test different mesh densities, so you’ll save time. Your models will be more accurate too.

   True. Starting in NX CAE 10, you can use adaptive meshing to refine meshes based on stress, strain, and temperature errors. You won’t have to run multiple finite element analyses to test different mesh densities, so you’ll save time. Your models will be more accurate too.



7. You can perform two-way coupled analyses with NX CAE.
   
   Spoiler

   True. This is now possible in NX CAE 10 for thermo-structural simulations in the new multiphysics environment. You get results faster because the simulations run simultaneously, and since they use the same mesh, you don’t have to recreate the mesh, elements, properties, and boundary conditions.

   True. This is now possible in NX CAE 10 for thermo-structural simulations in the new multiphysics environment. You get results faster because the simulations run simultaneously, and since they use the same mesh, you don’t have to recreate the mesh, elements, properties, and boundary conditions.



8. NX CAE is only good if you want to build large solid models.
   
   Spoiler

   False. NX CAE has extensive meshing capability for solids, yes, but also for shells and beams. You can create a representative model with fewer nodes without compromising your model’s accuracy. NX CAE also boasts powerful midsurfacing capabilities that make it painless and intuitive to get accurate results at a fraction of the cost of a 3D model.

   False. NX CAE has extensive meshing capability for solids, yes, but also for shells and beams. You can create a representative model with fewer nodes without compromising your model’s accuracy. NX CAE also boasts powerful midsurfacing capabilities that make it painless and intuitive to get accurate results at a fraction of the cost of a 3D model.



9. The only solver NX CAE supports is NX Nastran.
   
   Spoiler

   False. NX CAE has out of the box support for a variety of solvers: MSC Nastran, ANSYS, Abaqus, Samcef, and LS-DYNA. There is also the means to support in-house or proprietary solvers if you want. This means you can use NX CAE as your pre- and post-processing solution with the solver of your choice.

   False. NX CAE has out of the box support for a variety of solvers: MSC Nastran, ANSYS, Abaqus, Samcef, and LS-DYNA. There is also the means to support in-house or proprietary solvers if you want. This means you can use NX CAE as your pre- and post-processing solution with the solver of your choice.



10. NX Nastran is available on the cloud.
    
    Spoiler

    True. You can now get NX Nastran on an on-demand scalable cloud environment through Rescale. The Rescale cloud gives you the power to customize compute capacity based on your individual simulation requirements. Running many instances of simulations is more accessible and affordable than ever before. 

    True. You can now get NX Nastran on an on-demand scalable cloud environment through Rescale. The Rescale cloud gives you the power to customize compute capacity based on your individual simulation requirements. Running many instances of simulations is more accessible and affordable than ever before. 

How did you do? Did any of these answers surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!