The software starts with a CAD package that allows the creation and management of three-dimensional geometries. The software is separated into various modules that seamlessly integrate. SOLIDWORKS is a widely used suite of 3D CAD/CAE products typically used in the design of products. In parallel with the development of computer modeling tools specific to fire investigation or fire engineering, many developments have occurred in the much larger world of 3D computer aided design and engineering tools (CAD/CAE). Third party software, such as PyroSim have been developed that eases the user interaction with the core FDS code. Today, software such as NIST supported Fire Dynamics Simulator is used with some frequency for analytic testing of fire origin and cause hypotheses. Computer models have been used to model fire behavior since at least the mid 1970's. The use of computer simulations in fire investigation is not a new concept. It is these cases, and others, where analytic testing using computer simulations may be helpful to the fire investigator.

However, in many cases creating a physical test may be difficult or even practically impossible. In some cases, a physical test may be conducted to confirm or falsify some aspect of the hypothesis. The final step of this process, testing the hypothesis, can be done either physically or analytically. The scientific method includes the steps of collecting data, analyzing that data, developing a hypothesis, and then testing that hypothesis. NFPA 921 advises the use of a systematic approach to fire investigation that is best embodied by the scientific method.

What is solidworks flow simulation