Altair SimSolid
Simulation & CAE software
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What is Altair SimSolid
Altair SimSolid is a structural simulation (CAE) application designed to run analysis directly on CAD assemblies without traditional geometry cleanup and meshing workflows. It targets mechanical designers and analysts who need fast iteration on large, complex assemblies for linear static, modal, and related studies. The product emphasizes simplified setup and rapid design comparison using a meshless/mesh-independent approach and tight CAD interoperability. It is typically used for early-to-mid stage design validation where turnaround time and ease of use are priorities.
No-mesh analysis workflow
SimSolid is built around a meshless/mesh-independent approach that avoids manual meshing and many geometry defeaturing steps common in conventional FEA. This can reduce time spent preparing CAD models, especially for assemblies with many parts and contacts. It supports iterative design changes without requiring a full remesh cycle each time. This makes it practical for frequent what-if comparisons during design.
Handles large CAD assemblies
The product is commonly used on complex assemblies where traditional preprocessing can become a bottleneck. It provides tools to define connections, contacts, and boundary conditions at the assembly level. Users can evaluate load paths and stiffness behavior across many components without splitting the model into smaller analyses. This aligns with workflows where CAD assembly fidelity is important.
CAD-centric user experience
SimSolid is oriented toward engineers working directly with CAD data rather than building idealized analysis models from scratch. It supports importing common CAD formats and working with parts/assemblies as-is, which helps maintain traceability to the design. The interface and setup steps are generally streamlined compared with traditional solver-plus-preprocessor stacks. This can lower the barrier for design engineers who need simulation results without deep FEA specialization.
Not a full FEA replacement
SimSolid focuses on fast structural analysis and does not cover the full breadth of multiphysics and highly specialized solver capabilities found in broader CAE suites. For advanced nonlinearities, highly specialized material models, or niche physics domains, teams may still need other tools. Some validation workflows require solver features or controls that are more exposed in traditional FEA environments. As a result, it often complements rather than replaces established CAE toolchains.
Accuracy depends on setup
While it reduces meshing effort, result quality still depends on correct boundary conditions, connection definitions, and appropriate modeling assumptions. Assembly connection modeling (bolts, welds, contacts) can materially affect stress and displacement predictions. Users may need internal guidelines and correlation against test or legacy FEA to build confidence for critical decisions. This is particularly important when using results for compliance or safety-critical sign-off.
Limited downstream customization
Compared with script-heavy numerical computing environments and some traditional CAE platforms, SimSolid offers fewer low-level controls for custom element/mesh strategies and solver tuning because it abstracts those details. This can be a constraint for expert analysts who want granular control over discretization and convergence behavior. Automation and integration options may not match organizations that rely on extensive custom scripting across their simulation stack. Teams may need to adapt processes to the product’s higher-level workflow.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| SimSolid Standard | 50 Altair Units (AUs) draw (license units) | Named-user license option; listed as SimSolid Standard in Altair release notes; uses Altair Units licensing model. |
| SimSolid Advanced | 75 Altair Units (AUs) draw (license units) | Higher-tier edition drawing more Altair Units; listed in Altair release notes. |
| SimSolid Basic | Not supported (deprecated) | Release notes indicate SimSolid Basic is no longer supported. |
Notes: Altair sells SimSolid via Altair Units (AUs) and annual subscriptions; Altair does not publish public currency list prices for SimSolid on its website — purchases/quotes are provided through Altair Sales or the Altair Marketplace (pricing visibility may require an Altair account and region mapping).
Seller details
Altair Engineering Inc.
Troy, Michigan, USA
1985
Public
https://www.altair.com/
https://x.com/altair
https://www.linkedin.com/company/altair-engineering/
