Book excerpt: In this book, the author has presented an introduction to the practical application of some of the essential technical topics related to computer-aided engineering (CAE). These topics include interactive computer graphics (ICG), computer-aided design (CAD), computer and computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). aided analysis (CAA) Unlike the few texts available, the present work attempts to bring all these seemingly specialised topics together and to demonstrate their integration in the design process through practical applications to real engineering problems and case studies. This book is the result of the author's research and teaching activities for several years of postgraduate and undergraduate courses in mechanical design of rotating machinery, computer-aided engineering, of finite elements, solid mechanics, engineering practical applications and properties of materials at Cranfield Institute of dynamics Technology, Oxford Engineering Science and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). It was soon realised that no books on the most powerful and versatile tools available to engineering designers existed. To satisfy this developing need, this book, on the use of computers to aid the design process and to integrate design, analysis and manufacture, was prepared.