Cracking Maruti’s CAE Interviews | Engineer’s Interview Blueprint

It takes a lot of dedicated work, self-study and upskilling to be an engineer employed in a core job role. 

However, along with hard work, it also takes a significant amount of smart work. 

With the intense competition in the job market today, it can be very challenging to get the attention of any relevant recruiter, forget the top ones.  

Imagine that you are applying for the role of a CAE Engineer in a company like Maruti. What if you could walk into that interview room fully prepared, knowing exactly what kinds of questions you are going to be asked?  

This blog is here to help you do just that.  

Having partnered with hundreds of corporate firms for their hiring needs, Skill-Lync's experts have collated a database of frequently asked interview questions for various job roles in top companies!  

These are not just theoretical questions but the actual challenges you'll face, giving you a chance to hone your knowledge and walk into your interview with confidence. 

Let's dive into the questions that can make or break your interview. 

1. What is mass scaling and why is it needed? 

Mass scaling is a technique used in simulations to artificially increase the mass of elements to maintain computational stability, especially in explicit analysis. It helps reduce the simulation time but should be used cautiously to avoid skewing results. 

2. What’s the significance of negative dt2ms in Ls-Dyna? 

dt2ms refers to the time step size. A negative value typically indicates an error or instability in the model, leading to an unrealistic or failed simulation. Addressing this often involves checking element quality or adjusting mass scaling. 

3. Can you explain the difference between general and automatic contacts in Ls-Dyna? 

General contacts allow for more flexibility and can handle complex interactions, but they require more manual setup. Automatic contacts, on the other hand, are simpler and easier to use, automatically detecting and managing contact between parts. 

4. Why is it important to check part thickness with parent geometry? 

Checking part thickness ensures that the simulation accurately reflects the real-world component. Discrepancies between the modeled thickness and the actual geometry can lead to incorrect stress distribution, failure predictions, or stiffness results. 

5. Why should the normals of elements be aligned in the same direction? 

Element normals represent the orientation of elements. If the normals aren’t aligned, especially in connected plates, it can cause inaccuracies in the simulation, such as improper load transfer or stress calculation errors, leading to misleading results. 

6. What’s the difference between implicit and explicit analysis? 

Implicit analysis is typically used for static or slow-dynamic simulations, where time steps can be larger, making it computationally efficient for linear problems. Explicit analysis is used for fast-dynamic events like crashes, where small time steps are needed for accuracy. 

7. What is the significance of tssfac in time step control? 

Tssfac in Ls-Dyna controls the tim step scale factor. It’s a parameter that adjusts the time step size to improve the stability of a simulation without affecting the accuracy significantly. 

8. What procedures should be followed before and after meshing a component? 

Before meshing, ensure that the geometry is clean—this involves removing unnecessary features and simplifying the model. After meshing, check for element quality, such as aspect ratio and skewness, and ensure the mesh density is appropriate for the simulation. 

9. What are linear and nonlinear materials in simulations? 

Linear materials have a constant relationship between stress and strain, meaning they deform predictably. Nonlinear materials, like rubber, change their stress-strain relationship based on factors like load or deformation, requiring more complex modeling. 

10. What is SPH in Ls-Dyna? 

SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics) is a mesh-free method used to simulate fluid flow or highly deformable solids. It’s especially useful in cases like crash simulations or where the material is expected to break apart. 

11. What is transient analysis? 

Transient analysis examines how a system evolves over time. It’s used when loads, boundary conditions, or the state of the system change with time, making it essential for dynamic events like impacts or oscillations. 

12. What are hyperelastic and viscoelastic materials? 

Hyperelastic materials, like rubber, can undergo large deformations and return to their original shape. Viscoelastic materials, on the other hand, exhibit both elastic and viscous behavior, meaning they deform over time under a constant load. 

13. What’s the difference between static and dynamic analysis? 

Static analysis looks at systems where loads are applied slowly, so inertia effects can be ignored. Dynamic analysis, however, deals with systems where loads change rapidly, requiring consideration of inertia and damping effects. 

14. What are the quality criteria in ANSA? 

In ANSA, quality criteria are standards for meshing, such as element aspect ratio, skewness, and warpage. Meeting these criteria ensures accurate and stable simulation results. 

15. How can you save time when working with similar ribs in meshing? 

Using symmetry or copy-paste tools in meshing software can save time when dealing with repetitive features like ribs. Automating this process reduces manual effort and ensures uniformity. 

You've invested so much in your career to reach this point—don’t let the interview be the stumbling block.  

With targeted preparation and insight into the exact questions being asked, you can transform interview anxiety into a powerful opportunity.  

With Skill-Lync's Post Graduate Programs, you'll build a rock-solid foundation in all these critical concepts, making you interview-ready in no time. Plus, our Career Experts offer hands-on support through mock interviews, resume workshops, LinkedIn profile optimization, and much more! cha

Sign up for a FREE course demo today, and let’s start your journey toward landing that dream job!