Unlike existing methods that rely on a manual procedure for setting conditions for performing computer-based simulations, embodiments automatically set conditions for a simulation of a real-world object represented by a computer aided design (CAD) model. In one such embodiment, the morphology of a CAD mode is analyzed to identify a function of an element of the CAD model. In turn, conditions for a simulation are defined based upon one or more rules corresponding to the identified function of the element of the CAD model, where said defining includes automatically setting conditions in a simulation of the real-world physical object.