Altair SimLab Reviews & Product Details

I like the fact that it is a very diverse simulation environment, with lots of different software integrated. The ability to couple different solvers to run multiphysics simulations are valuable to us. I have mostly used SimLab for fluid-structure interactions, coupled thermal solutions and smoothed particle hydrodynamics, as well as some preprocessing meshing, and it has served me and my colleagues well so far. It is a software under continuous development, and new features are added upon each release, which is good to know.

The user interface is also neat and easy to use, and the support from Altair is great if you need additional help. The geometry preparation is also very helpful and quite extensive. Lots of stuff can be done directly within SimLab instead of going to a dedicated CAD software.

I have only used parts of its potential, but I see everything else it can do within electromagnetism, fluid, thermal and structural analysis. When we need to do more complex coupled simulations it is our go to software. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

As with all software there are some drawbacks. The example database could be bigger and more updated, particularly for the coupled analyses, and the documentation could be easier to navigate. There have also been instances where the software has freezed, but that is not often, and could be a hardware issue on my end as well. For some reason it is not possible to undo and redo actions within SimLab, which I don't understand why. It is quite annoying. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about SimLab is how seamlessly it integrates everything into one platform. Having used HyperMesh for years, I found SimLab’s user interface comfortably familiar, yet more intuitive. The meshing process is streamlined, and geometry handling is significantly easier. What really stands out is the ability to perform all types of analyses—implicit, explicit, and CFD—within the same environment. There's no need to switch between different software tools, which makes the workflow much more efficient and user-friendly. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One aspect I find challenging in Altair SimLab is the midplane extraction for injection-molded plastic parts. These components often have intricate geometries, and the automated midplane generation doesn’t always handle the complexity well. It requires a lot of manual intervention to get accurate results, which can be time-consuming. Having more control and flexibility over midplane meshing would significantly improve the experience for users working with detailed plastic geometries. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I typically use SimLab for structural and fluid simulations. I have also used the software to create topologically optimized shapes. The major advantage I see in this software is its multiphysics simulation capabilities. It is so simple and intuitive to use. There are a lot of tutorials that help me create my own simulations. Additionally, forums and support tickets complement the help process very well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Before starting a simulation, I used to read the theoretical documentation to make sure I knew what I was doing in the software. However, SimLab and its solvers do not have enough of this type of documentation. Moreover, the tutorials are almost always outdated, and sometimes something does not work properly in the current version of SimLab because a button could have been changed or a feature could have been removed. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Very powerful tetrahedral meshing algorithm that ensures high quality and minimizes pre-processing time. It can read meta data like solid body and surface naming made in CAD software. Naming and colors are transferred to SimLab in general parasolid format. Pre-processing can be automated by using Python interface. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The Python interface could be better. There is still XML format inside python functions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Easy installation and user-friendly operation. A wide range of different modules. Online help and tutorials. Community and support. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

In a new update, some functions are not adopted. For example, version 2025.1:

- automatic conversion of the decimal separator "," to "." no longer works;

- 3dConnexion mouse cannot be integrated. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The possibilities to connect. You can really reach the network you want. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Quickly "briefly" looking at a component is not possible. Analyses with NL contacts are EXTREMELY complicated (compared to Ansys Workbench). Support is very tedious. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Graphic user interface

Easy Settings

Faster & Time saving Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Simlab works similar like hypeworks nothing new . Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Excellent pre processing tool( hypermesh), having multiple options to improve meshing quality to achieve high degree of accuracy. User friendly & better GUI Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Improve Hyperview & post-processing animation with auto report generation capabilities. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Interface btwn pre and post processing in Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Interface betwn CAD and pre proceesing unit Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.