EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Simplex Solutions, Inc. of our report dated October 19, 2001 relating to the consolidated financial statements which appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Simplex Solutions, Inc., for the year ended September 30, 2001. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP San Jose, California February 12, 2002