Part 1: CAD-Embedded CFD Solution
An honest review of CAD-embedded CFD tools — SolidWorks Flow Simulation, Autodesk CFD, and ANSYS Discovery — including where they excel and where they fall short, from engineers who use them.
The Core Philosophy: "Utility Over Accuracy"
This article explores CAD-Embedded CFD, a category of simulation software built directly into 3D modeling environments. It is designed for product designers who need quick, iterative feedback rather than "expert-level" depth.
While CAD-integrated tools don't solve the fundamental "hard problems" of CFD (like geometry cleanup or mesh quality), they provide high value for modest budgets. They are best suited for:
Designers: Rather than simulation specialists.
Simple Physics: Steady-state, single-phase, non-reacting flows.
Parametric Studies: Comparing design iterations ("What happens if I move this baffle?").
Pros & Cons of CAD-Embedded CFD
Pros:
Associativity: Geometry changes in CAD automatically update the simulation.
Ease of Use: Wizards guide non-experts through the setup.
Cost: Generally cheaper than "comprehensive" packages like Ansys Fluent or STAR-CCM+.
Cons:
Simplified Physics: Not suited for chemical reactions, complex multiphase flow, or high-speed aerodynamics.
Solver Limitations: Often lacks advanced turbulence models and fine-tuned solver controls.
Hardware Scaling: Most of these tools do not scale linearly across many CPU cores, making them slower for large, complex models.
Final Takeaway
CAD-embedded CFD is not a utopia; it doesn't eliminate the need for engineering judgment. However, for companies that need to front-load simulation to catch design errors early, these tools offer a "good enough" solution that is far better than no simulation at all.
| Software | Best For... | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation | True CAD-Integration | The most "embedded" experience. It’s a "concurrent CFD" tool that stays entirely within SOLIDWORKS. Great for industrial and electronic equipment. |
| Autodesk CFD | AEC and Electronics | Not technically embedded (launches a separate window), but highly associative. Uses a Finite Element (FEM) solver, which is generally slower and less accurate for fluids than industry-standard Finite Volume methods. |
| Ansys Discovery | Concept Exploration | A "disruptive" tool using GPU acceleration for real-time results. Focused on "utility over accuracy"—ideal for seeing instant trends during the early design phase. |
| Simcenter FLOEFD | "Dirty" CAD Assemblies | Unique for its SmartCell technology, which handles messy or non-watertight CAD geometry that would crash other solvers. Highly effective for HVAC and electronics cooling. |
When Does CAD-Embedded CFD Actually Deliver Value?
While pushing simulation forward in the design cycle is a noble concept that has the potential to reduce costly engineering change orders, getting there is not as simple as making CFD analysis available to designers within the 3D CAD interfaces they are familiar with. From our vantage point, a direct CAD interface with CFD in and of itself does not provide any new or improved solutions to the biggest challenges of CFD simulation, i.e., geometry simplification and cleanup, extracting the fluid region from what is typically a 3D model of the solids involved, ensuring simulation accuracy through high-quality meshing, and CFD process quality controls. Claims that CAD integration provides a significant advantage to any of these well-known challenges are mostly false.
Never-minding that CAD integration is not the utopia that software marketeers make it out to be, these tools have been adopted by thousands of users and are popular with companies developing fluid-related products on modest budgets. One particularly beneficial aspect of CAD embedded or CAD-linked CFD that should be noted is its potential for enabling and streamlining parametric studies. As of 2026, the integration of AI-driven design agents has further enhanced this by automating the setup of these studies based on natural language "design goals."
For complex geometries requiring specialist handling, see how we approach this on client projects via CFD Consulting.
Never-minding that CAD integration is not the utopia that software marketers make it out to be, these tools have been adopted by thousands of users and are popular with companies developing fluid-related products on modest budgets.
We’ll be looking in detail at the two leaders in this market segment, SolidWorks / Flow Simulation from Dassault Systèmes and Inventor / Autodesk CFD from Autodesk, as well as Ansys Discovery Live. We will also touch on Simcenter FLOEFD. Other CAD programs have partially integrated the capabilities of standalone software using plugins. The online CAD platform Onshape promotes export of native files to the SimScale “cloud CFD” platform. Autodesk Fusion now communicates natively with the cloud-based Autodesk Simulation ecosystem, effectively replacing the limited 2019-era direct links. The once newcomer to the category is ANSYS with its Discovery Live and AIM products integrated with its SpaceClaim 3D modeling platform. When first introduced, Discovery Live created quite a stir in the CFD community and we spent a bit of time on it separating fact from fiction. Since our initial review Discovery has transitioned from a "live" preview tool to a comprehensive upfront simulation suite.
Other CAD-linked or CAD-integrated options not discussed here include Rhino CFD, Orca3D Marine CFD, any of the various Simcenter FloEFD CAD plugins for NX, Creo, and Solid Edge. Once part of Mentor Graphics, FLOEFD is now a Siemens product.
| Feature | SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation | Autodesk CFD | Ansys Discovery | Simcenter FLOEFD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Integration | Fully Embedded (SOLIDWORKS) | Linked / Design Study Env. | Native / Direct Bridge | Embedded (NX, Edge, Creo, CATIA) |
| 2026 Core Solver | Finite Volume (FVM) | Finite Element (FEM) | Lattice-Boltzmann (GPU) / Fluent | Cartesian FVM (SmartCells) |
| Key 2026 Innovation | Fill Thin Slot / AI Design Agent | Autodesk AI Assistant | Discovery Validation AI Agent | Simcenter Physics AI (Deep Learning) |
| Best Use Case | Industrial equipment & basic electronics | AEC, MEP, and steady thermal | Iterative "Upfront" Concepting | Complex assemblies & high-end thermal |
| Solver Scaling | Limited Multi-core | Poor Scaling (FEM bottleneck) | Excellent (Massive GPU Parallelism) | Good CPU Scaling / Cloud Bursting |
| Approx. 2026 Cost | $14k (Perp) / $4k (Maint) | ~$10.5k (Annual Sub) | ~$3.5k - $5k (Annual Sub) | $12k - $16k (Annual Sub/Tokens) |
Keep in mind that information on pricing is so variable and customizable, that this is often a best guess at an average setup based on information publicly available online.
Example #1: SolidWorks Flow Simulation: The Most Embedded Experience — But Is It the Best?
SolidWorks Flow Simulation may be considered the most “CAD embedded” CFD program in this class. Defining a CFD simulation from within the SolidWorks interface creates additional menu items but does not launch a stand-alone application. Fluid volumes extracted for CFD analysis and boundary conditions needed for CFD simulation are linked directly to the native 3D CAD geometry surfaces eliminating the necessity of redefining model setups when experimenting with simple CAD geometry changes. SolidWorks seems focused on marketing this as a solution to “designers” working in industrial equipment and electronics, i.e., those without credentials or prior experience in fluid dynamics, numerical analysis or CFD.
Flow Streamlines Colored by Temperature alongside a 3D Geometry, Rendered in SolidWorks Flow Simulation (Image Courtesy of MyoPro from Myomo, Inc.)
Basic Interface & Workflow
Once the Flow Simulation add-in is enabled within SolidWorks, an additional “Flow Simulation” tab is available in the SolidWorks Part Tree. Making that tab active uncovers a “Wizard” button at the top of the toolbar that guides the user through selection of physics to be modeled, for example, choosing between an incompressible or compressible fluid simulation. If an “external” flow is selected, a subsequent step will advise the user to select the size of the external flow domain. Once the wizard is complete, additional setup including boundary condition specification, meshing, simulation and post-processing are completed from within the main graphical user interface and workflow is generally from top-to-bottom in the panel on the left. You can see an example of the Basic Interface & Workflow on the SolidWorks website. In the 2026 version, this workflow is further streamlined by the updated Component Explorer, which provides a centralized table for managing thermal properties and sources across large assemblies.
Physics Modeling Capabilities
SolidWorks Flow has grown in capabilities over the last decade and now claims many of the same capabilities as the industry leading stand-alone CFD programs. The software does a good job of covering the basics including the ability to model multi-component fluids or gases, steady or unsteady flows, providing a built-in material database, and decent pre-and post-processing tools. The software also provides a few advanced features including Lagrangian particle tracking within a dispersed phase, moving reference frame physics, radiation, Volume of Fluid (VOF) free surface models (as of 2018), porous media physics, compressible flow physics, and Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) with solids. New for 2026, CHT capabilities have been enhanced with the "Fill Thin Slot" feature, which automatically models thermal material in thin gaps without requiring CAD geometry. Some advanced features that SolidWorks Flow lacks include scalar quantity transport physics, Eulerian multiphase flows, reacting flow physics, turbulence model choices, dynamic fluid-body interactions (DFBI), phase change physics, two-way coupling of Lagrangian phase with dispersed phase, spray and droplet models, and advanced solver settings and controls. See the technical documentation for detail on the validation of some of these capabilities.
CAD Cleanup & Meshing
Overall, the process of 3D CAD model cleanup and preparation with SolidWorks Flow is very similar to that which you would use if you were exporting to a neutral file format for import into a stand-alone CFD package. Complicated, production-ready CAD models will need to be simplified by suppressing details unnecessary to fluid flow analysis and combining common solids to eliminate unnecessary surface-to-surface interfaces. The fluid region is then extracted, whether internal or external to the original solid model by identifying a water-tight set of surfaces that define the fluid volume. Often non-manifold geometries will prevent the identification of this volume and will need to be corrected. Small volumes and features may need to be identified and eliminated prior to meshing to prevent unnecessarily large computational mesh requirements. The “check model” tool and the “CAD cleanup” tool are useful and can sometime catch and repair simple issues, but most often a significant amount of user intervention is needed to troubleshoot problematic geometries and then repair them in the native 3D CAD environment. The 2026 version assists this process with improved automatic detection of problematic sliver faces and unsuppressed fasteners.
Given a watertight volume, meshing operations can then be performed. The meshing tools in Flow Simulation attempt to simplify the process of meshing for the user by limiting the amount of input he or she needs to have on the process. Only trimmed hexahedral meshes are allowed with no prismatic boundary layer options. Default mesh density is assigned through a numeric scale slider bar via the Wizard. A basic level of custom mesh refinement is allowed by defining refinement settings for all fluid/solid interfaces, for openings between adjacent surfaces of a threshold size, or for user-defined spatial volumes. An adaptive refinement tool allows for the software to adjust the mesh refinement periodically during simulation as it sees fit based on solution variable gradients. Combining the best of these methods, meshes tend to be of average to poor quality, requiring a higher number of cells to achieve the same accuracy as lower cell-count, higher quality meshes produced with some of the other tools described here. Unfortunately it seems, meshing cannot take much advantage of multi core computer architectures. While 2026 performance upgrades have been applied across the SOLIDWORKS ecosystem, meshing in Flow Simulation still lacks the massive multi-core scaling found in flagship CFD solvers.
Simulating
SolidWorks Flow utilizes a finite volume solver which we’ve found to be rather inefficient. Finite volume (FV) based solution of the relevant mass and energy conservation equations has long been the industry standard. We’ll be contrasting FV with other solution methods, such as Finite Element (FEM) and Lattice Boltzmann (LB) methods when discussing software using those methods in later chapters. Distributing solver calculations across cores is allowed but is inefficient compared to the parallelization of some of the other software packages reviewed here, leading to less a than linear reduction in compute times with additional cores. In one example, SolidWorks simulations required 4 to 100 times longer than the comparable simulations performed in ANSYS Fluent while returning less accurate results for the quantities of interest (lift and drag).
One particularly nice feature of Flow Simulation is the built-in multi-parameter optimization capability. This tool allows you to select 3D model geometry or simulation parameters as input variables, define the ranges of variable variation, and the target quantities of interest for optimization. The user can then utilize a Design of Experiments to create a response surface and gradient methods to home in on a local optimum. Check out an example of this capability used in maximizing the lift-to-drag ratio of a 2D airfoil. In the 2026 R1 release, these parametric studies now feature an interactive Bubble Chart visualization to better identify correlations between design variables.
Post-Processing
SolidWorks Flow post-processing, while not spectacular or quite up to the level of that provided by a few of the leading stand-alone CFD or post-processing software packages, does benefit from being embedded in Solidworks with its refined visual approach to presenting 3D information. The typical vector, contour, streamline and isosurface plots are available, as well as export of data in Excel format. CFD related outputs can be rendered right alongside native 3D solid models which makes producing high-quality graphics less painstaking than trying to piece together images in 3rd party tools such as Adobe Photoshop. An example is shown below. New for 2026 is the ability to report exact X, Y, Z coordinate locations for goal maximums and minimums directly within the post-processor.
Licensing & Cost
As of 2026, a node-locked, perpetual Flow Simulation license typically retails for approximately $10,000–$14,000, depending on bundled promotions. To maintain this license with support and the latest updates, the mandatory annual maintenance (Annual Service Charge) is roughly $3,000–$4,000. In addition, users will also need to lease or own SOLIDWORKS, with 2026 subscription-based "3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS" roles now offering a more common alternative to the traditional perpetual model. Simulations can be performed on as many cores as you have access to, but as we have mentioned before, performance improvements are limited.
Example #2: Autodesk CFD: Adequate for HVAC and Electronics, But the FEM Solver Is a Real Limitation
Autodesk Surface Wrap by Autodesk - External Flow Geometry Mesh Tool. Image License
Autodesk acquired Blue Ridge Numerics in 2011 and shortly thereafter the software formerly known as CFdesign was renamed Autodesk CFD. Autodesk CFD, which we’ll refer to hereafter as “CFD” for brevity, is not technically CAD embedded as it requires a separate application to open when CFD is launched from within the Inventor or Fusion 360 workspaces. Practically, though it still qualifies in this category because connectivity between simulation files and the original 3D CAD model can be maintained by following the correct procedures. Judging from Autodesk’s marketing literature, it is safe to say they are focused most heavily on serving the electronics and architecture industries, which makes sense given their entrenched involvement in those industries via other Autodesk products. In 2026, this focus has sharpened with the integration of Autodesk AI (Autodesk Assistant) and a new Python 3-based API designed specifically to automate standard thermal and HVAC workflows.
Basic Interface & Workflow
CFD can be launched from within Inventor or other 3D solid modeling software packages or launched independently. If launched from within a CAD package, the 3D model is pushed directly into CFD. This way, as you introduce design variations in CAD and relaunch the CFD, the software automatically assigns the settings from the original simulation model to the new one. This associativity ensures consistency between your simulations and reduces the amount of setup time needed for subsequent design iterations. We have found, though, that this process is not as genuinely automated as it sounds and runs into frequent difficulties. Unsurprisingly, this is especially true when launching from non-Autodesk CAD packages.
Conversely, one can import CAD file geometries directly into CFD (.x_t, .sldprt, .sldasm, .step, .iges, and .3dm, e.g.). A model assessment toolkit can be activated during the import which initiates a series of 3D model health analyses looking for common CAD problems such as slivers, gaps and interferences. The 2026 release has introduced a "One Touch Fix" for mesh repair within the Fusion ecosystem, though the standalone CFD toolkit only identifies these errors, meaning that you’ll have to go back to the original CAD model to perform the required fixes and then run the assessment once again. This makes for a bit of a broken-up workflow.
Otherwise, the workflow in Autodesk is, in general, much the same as in SolidWorks. Boundary conditions, physics continua, and other model setup conditions are displayed in the “Design Study Bar” at the left. However, the 2026 version now includes the Autodesk Assistant—a conversational AI agent that allows users to describe setup tasks in natural language, which can help bypass some of the annoying details that make the workflow a bit “clunkier.” For example, one must often switch back-and-forth between the “surface” selection tool and the “volume” selection tool when assigning geometry features to simulation features. Another example is that one must assign separately multiple boundary conditions on a single surface, for example temperature and velocity, instead of as a combined boundary condition.
Physics Modeling Capabilities
Autodesk CFD has expanded its capabilities since the acquisition of Blue Ridge Numerics. The software does an adequate job of covering most of the basics including the ability to model multi-component fluids or gases, steady or unsteady flows, a built-in material database, and decent pre-and post-processing tools. This list of features available to the higher-end “CFD Ultimate” package is almost identical to those provided by Solidworks Flow, with the exception of a few additional features such as a wider range of turbulence models. The 2026 release has significantly modernized its scripting capabilities, moving to a full Python 3 API that allows for more complex custom result quantities and automation. Many of these capabilities have been validated by Autodesk as well.
CAD Cleanup & Meshing
Since Autodesk CFD is finite element based, surface meshes are triangular and volume elements are by default tetrahedral. The standard meshing tools allows for slider bar mesh density assignment, much the same as with SolidWorks, and attempting to refine individual surfaces or regions is messy though possible. An “Autosize” tool is available if you are feeling lucky. Prismatic layers in the boundary layer of solid surfaces can be achieved with the “wall layer” option activated. Always remember, though, to match your prismatic layer thickness to your turbulence model selection.
The Autodesk CFD software does an adequate job of covering most of the basics including the ability to model fluids or gases, steady or unsteady flows, a built-in material database, and decent pre-and post-processing tools.
One nice mesh-related feature available is a surface wrapping tool that can be used to define the domain for external flow simulations, i.e., wind tunnel tests. A screen shot of the surface wrap tool in action is shown below. We’ve found that it works pretty well.
Simulating
Autodesk CFD is somewhat of an outlier in the CFD community as it employs a finite element solver. A text book criticism of applying the FE method to the Navier-Stokes equations is that it can be less accurate and less efficient than the finite volume method. Our trials have confirmed that Autodesk CFD is much slower than the best-in-class FV solvers and marginally slower than SolidWorks Flow Simulation, when run on comparable computational meshes. While the 2026 release of Fusion has introduced GPU-accelerated IPS calculations for certain workflows, the standalone Autodesk CFD solver still struggles to compete with the raw speed of modern GPU-native finite volume codes.
Post-Processing
Autodesk CFD post-processing leaves a lot to be desired, although it is getting better with each new release. It is a little like being transported back in time about 10 years compared to the best-in-class tools. The 2026 update has attempted to bridge this gap by introducing improved legends, a redesigned animation bar, and a unified cutting plane dialog within the modernized results experience. Given that it was developed completely independently from other Autodesk tools and is still a stand-alone software, it isn’t surprising that it shares little in common with the well-developed visualization and rendering tools available in Inventor and Fusion 360. Dedicated users can only hope that Autodesk CFD will eventually be fully consumed by one or both of those platforms and will necessarily benefit from improved optics. The 2026 inclusion of an FBX exporter now allows for a direct path into high-end rendering tools like VRED, which provides a workaround for the software's internal visual limitations. Look around the Autodesk Simulation Blog for a few minutes and you’ll catch our drift.
Licensing & Cost
Currently, Autodesk CFD Ultimate is available as an annual subscription for around $10,500. Annual renewals are then needed to maintain this license and cost $6,600 or $8,100, respectively. With this subscription, you will also get access to Fusion, Autodesk’s cloud-integrated 3D solid modeling software. Alternatively, one can purchase a subscription of Autodesk Inventor if you prefer a more traditional 3D modeling software. Simulations can be performed on as many physical cores as you have access to but there is a major caveat. Typically, finite element calculations do not scale linearly with number of processes and struggle more so with RAM limitations. By Autodesk’s own admission, users can only expect limited speedup going beyond 8 or 16 cores. This makes it a real head-scratcher as to why anyone would be using the Autodesk Flex service (which replaced the legacy CFD Flex service), where simulations are submitted to Autodesk hosted cloud resources for additional per run costs. Such a situation claims all the drawbacks of cloud simulation (additional costs, file transfer times, etc.) with none of the benefits (fast simulations on many tens or hundreds of processors) compared with local solving. In 2026, Flex tokens cost roughly $3 per token, with a CFD solve typically consuming 5–15 tokens per run. If you are evaluating cloud CFD workflows and want guidance on what actually delivers value, see our CFD Consulting page.
Example #3: ANSYS Discovery Live (with Video Demonstration): Real-Time GPU Results — From Marketing Gimmick to Industry-Standard Upfront Tool
I have to admit, I was shocked when I first saw a Discovery demo, but not for the same reasons as most. I was already familiar with the so-called mesh-less technology of Lattice Boltzman solvers and aware that with GPU acceleration coarse-lattice simulations could be run very quickly. Indeed, that is how Hollywood graphics studios have produced some amazingly life-like fluid effects on gigantic scales for years. Honestly, so can finite volume CFD if you throw enough processors at it. What shocked me was how out of character the product and the roll-out was for ANSYS. Mind you, this is the same company whose typical call-to-action is “to get serious CFD results, you need serious software.” I had been transported into an alternate universe where ANSYS was unabashedly hyping and releasing an unvalidated software with the new call-to-action “utility over accuracy”. Simulation was to be fun again. No more waiting around for accurate results; one can now see the approximated impacts of design changes with each mouse click and each pretty blue-green puff of smoke-like stuff. ANSYS was suddenly the Cool Dad, realizing that after all these years he needed to loosen up and stop being so serious all the time. By 2026, however, Ansys has consolidated the "Live" technology into a unified Ansys Discovery platform that now serves as a high-fidelity bridge to their flagship solvers, essentially validating the "Cool Dad" strategy as a permanent part of the Ansys ecosystem.
Since this technology is so new, it isn’t fair to burden it with comparisons to more battled-tested solutions, but realistically at this point it is a tool for tinkerers and inventors on shoestring budgets.
I do get it though. There are two aspects that attract me. First, all Lattice-Boltzmann simulations are inherently time-dependent and thus, quite naturally, result in the much more appealing flow visualizations showing unsteady behavior. Such visualizations speak to our intuitive and primal understanding of how fluids behave much more than the static, infinitely-time-averaged CFD results that most of us are used to seeing.
The second thing that grabs me is the ease with which a modification to a geometry can be introduced into the simulation. Again, having performed countless unsteady flow simulations with moving boundaries and meshes over the years, I was already aware that a fluid simulation can respond to moving geometry with relative ease. But those types of movements typically require a special hierarchy and ordering of the computational domain that is planned and executed in advance. What is happening with Ansys Discovery is a completely different animal in which the computational domain can seemingly reorder itself on the fly.
This capability is, at its worst, a novel and beautiful use of direct 3D modeling technology and, at its best, a disruptive breakthrough that will be a model for all future CFD programs. The latter has largely proven to be true as of 2026; Ansys has not only refined the GPU-based "Explore" stage but has also introduced the Discovery Validation Agent—an agentic AI that uses contextual intelligence to proactively catch setup errors. The technology now effectively bridges the gap between real-time exploration and flagship accuracy by allowing a one-click transfer of these models into Ansys Fluent or Icepak. (For a full review of Ansys Fluent as a comprehensive solver, see Part 4 of this series.) Well, if the technology can produce a coarse lattice in real time now, one can reasonably expect that with continued GPU hardware improvements, fine lattices will be possible in the future. And, Lattice-Boltzmann methods, though not as sound theoretically as finite volume methods, now frequently serve as a reliable "first-pass" for complex transient analysis. If you combine those two traits and you would have something.
Ansys claims that By 2026, this technology is no longer just for tinkerers; it is an industry-standard "upfront" simulation tool. We’re not going to do the full workflow analysis here, but it is worth noting that the environment now includes high-fidelity "Refine" modes for those seeking more than a "pretty puff of smoke." For those of you looking to subscribe in 2026, Ansys Discovery typically starts at an annual subscription of approximately $3,500 to $5,000, and while you still need a high-end NVIDIA RTX or data-center GPU (like the H100 or L40S) to unlock its full potential, the barriers to entry for this "real-time" dream are lower than when Discovery Live was first introduced.
Example #4: Simcenter FLOEFD: The Best Option for Messy CAD Assemblies?
Simcenter FLOEFD remains a unique entry in the CAD-embedded class due to its "SmartCell" technology, which allows it to handle "dirty" CAD geometry that would typically crash other solvers. By 2026, Siemens has updated the software to utilize Mesh Boolean geometry recognition as the default, further improving its ability to handle complex assemblies without manual cleanup. As of 2026,Siemens has also significantly expanded its automation and AI capabilities, positioning FLOEFD as a high-performance bridge between design and specialist-level analysis. Simcenter FLOEFD is a CAD-embedded CFD tool that runs within mainstream CAD platforms like NX, Solid Edge, CATIA V5, and PTC Creo. Its core value lies in allowing users to run fluid flow and heat transfer simulations directly on their CAD models without needing to export geometry to a separate simulation environment. In 2026, Siemens has further integrated its "Frontloading" strategy by introducing Simcenter PhysicsAI, a tool that uses historical simulation data to provide instantaneous flow and thermal predictions directly within the CAD interface, even before the solver is launched. This release also marks a major milestone in multiphysics integration, allowing users to run coupled fluid-thermal-structural simulations, including transient thermo-mechanical stress, within a single project environment. Resolved Analytics uses Siemens Simcenter technology as our primary simulation platform — see our CFD Software page for more on the broader Simcenter portfolio.
Basic Interface & Workflow
The interface is built into the CAD platform, so users don’t need to leave their design environment to set up or manage simulations. The workflow is relatively straightforward: define the computational domain, assign physics and boundary conditions, mesh, solve, and review results. Because the geometry stays in its native CAD form, changes to the model automatically propagate through to the simulation setup, which helps reduce error and rework. In 2026, this "synchronous" workflow has been enhanced by the Simcenter Design Copilot, an AI assistant that monitors CAD changes in real-time and suggests optimized mesh refinements or boundary condition updates before the user even initiates a new solve.
One of the most significant updates for the 2026 release is the inclusion of "Value-Based Licensing" (Tokens). This allows users to "check out" advanced modules—such as Power Electrics, LED Thermal, or the new Structural coupling—on an as-needed basis, rather than purchasing them as permanent add-ons. This significantly lowers the entry barrier for small firms needing specialized physics for a single project.
FLOEFD uses an automatic meshing approach based on SmartCells, which is designed to accommodate complex geometry without requiring extensive cleanup. Simulation setup is relatively fast and repeatable, especially for engineers working on routine applications such as electronics cooling, HVAC components, or internal flow systems. The tool is intended to support early-phase design work, where turnaround speed is often more important than detailed physics.
Simulating
FLOEFD uses an automatic meshing approach based on SmartCells, which is designed to accommodate complex geometry without requiring extensive cleanup. In 2026, this technology has been further refined with Mesh Boolean geometry recognition, enhancing its ability to handle interfering parts and non-manifold geometry that once required manual intervention. Simulation setup is relatively fast and repeatable, especially for engineers working on routine applications such as electronics cooling, HVAC components, or internal flow systems. The 2026 update includes expanded "Smart PCB" capabilities, which can now resolve copper trace distributions with significantly less computational overhead by using an advanced homogenized thermal conductivity approach. The tool is intended to support early-phase design work, where turnaround speed is often more important than detailed physics. However, with the introduction of Simcenter Physics AI in the 2026 release, turnaround speed has reached a new frontier; users can now use pre-trained geometric deep learning models to predict flow and thermal results in seconds, effectively frontloading the simulation even before the traditional Cartesian solver is engaged.
Post-Processing
Post-processing happens inside the CAD interface. Users can access contour plots, animations, and cut planes, and compare different design iterations side by side. By 2026, the introduction of the "Study Plot" in the Designcenter has made comparing results from multi-parameter studies much more efficient, allowing users to view design point data across hundreds of iterations without leaving the active window. While the tool doesn’t offer the advanced post-processing features seen in standalone solvers, it provides sufficient output for assessing design trends and making basic engineering decisions. Recent updates have added the "Component Explorer" results view, which allows thermal engineers to view tabular results—such as a "maximum temperature" column—directly alongside 3D visuals, significantly speeding up report generation for high-component-count electronics.
Physics Modeling Capabilities
Simcenter FLOEFD Simcenter FLOEFD supports single-phase fluid flow, heat transfer (including conduction and radiation), and several turbulence models. It also includes optional modules for electronics cooling, LED thermal analysis, and HVAC. In 2026, the "Advanced CFD" module has been expanded to include hypersonic flow capabilities up to Mach 30 and on-orbit radiation environments for aerospace applications. The range of physics is adequate for most common thermal-fluid applications in mechanical design but has historically been limited for advanced multiphase or reacting flow problems. However, the 2026 release significantly addresses these gaps by introducing a new "Multi-Component Combustion" model and a robust "Free Surface" solver capable of handling phase transitions (evaporation and condensation) more accurately within the CAD-embedded environment. Additionally, the 2026 version has introduced "Structural-Thermal Coupling" directly within the interface, allowing users to calculate thermal-induced stresses and deformations without needing to export data to a separate FEA tool. This makes it a much more formidable tool for engineers working on high-power electronics or exhaust systems where thermal expansion is a critical failure mode.
Licensing & Cost
Simcenter FLOEFD has transitioned toward the more flexible licensing models seen across the Siemens Simcenter portfolio. As of 2026, users can choose between traditional software seats and a newer, more agile "token" system. For users needing to burst their simulations to the cloud, Siemens now offers Simcenter Cloud HPC credits. Unlike tokens, which unlock features on your own hardware, credits are consumed to rent high-performance computing power from Siemens’ own servers. Not sure whether FLOEFD or a standalone comprehensive solver is the right fit for your project? We can help — see our page on CFD Consulting.
