Today, the editor will give you a popular science of finite element, finite element simulation, and finite element analysis. As the saying goes, interlacing is like a mountain. If you don’t try it in the industry, you really don’t know what finite element is? Come and follow the editor to find out!
What exactly is finite element?
Finite element analysis is just one of the many tools in the engineer’s toolkit to help solve problems and find answers. The applications of finite element analysis cover almost all aspects of interest in force, shock, shock, earthquake, temperature, noise, vibration, friction, durability, stiffness and weight.
Finite element analysis programs usually import computer-aided design geometry and create a grid that divides the volume or area into smaller volumes or areas called elements.
Imagine that each element is like a spring, and each spring is connected to each other to form a large spring. The advantage of this method is that before the prototype is made, the stress and deformation of any computer-aided design model of any shape or form can be checked. In other words, the finite element analysis is a virtual prototype.
Finite element analysis provides the ability to explore various prototype options and designs quickly and inexpensively. This makes finite element analysis an important tool to improve product performance, reduce costs, and shorten project lead times. If you build and test a prototype, you may find that the prototype suddenly breaks at 50% load. Then you will build another prototype, make the failed part thicker, and retest. Then, you may find that your prototype fails at 75% of the load in different places. Repeat the design and test cycle until it reaches 100% load without any failure or damage.
On the other hand, your prototype may pass the test for the first time without using finite element analysis, but you will not know what your reserve factor is, unless of course you conduct a destruction test. If you decide to test to destruction, you will need several prototype components for each design iteration. For example, if you have three design options with three similar materials and three load conditions, you need to test at least 27 prototypes to destroy.
You will never really know what your good design is, because the cost and lead time to make so many prototypes and test equipment is unacceptable.
One of the advantages of finite element analysis is that you can find stresses in any part of the computer-aided design model before making a prototype, so you can predict which areas may fail first, and which second and third areas may be higher Failure under load. With the proper application of finite element analysis, you can effectively perform design iterations on simulation models instead of physical prototypes.
Another advantage of finite element analysis is that you can see what you can’t see along the build and test route. For example, if you overload a gray cast iron casting, the deformation may not be noticeable before it suddenly cracks or breaks. Now, if you want to make it stiffer in a certain direction, it is difficult to measure such a small deflection on a test bench. Through finite element analysis, the deflection is easy to see, which helps you understand the load path and strengthen the structure in the most effective way.
It is very expensive to build and test prototypes for large components and structures. Imagine how much it would cost for a test stand to prove the reliability of seismic motion on a 20-meter-long, 50-ton overhead mobile crane. On the other hand, finite element analysis has no restrictions on size or weight.
Another thing to consider for plastic components is that your prototype may use different materials than the components you make. Injection molds for mass production are very expensive, so you may only have to use similar materials instead of production materials to manufacture and test your components. Similar plastics can have very different mechanical properties, especially when subjected to high or low temperatures and repeated load cycles. Finite element analysis will provide you with the opportunity to quickly explore different material options with minimal cost.
Finite element analysis is especially suitable for safety-focused components in highly regulated industries, such as pressure vessels. There are many design codes and standards that require accurate calculation of stress so that it can be checked against allowable stress. Some parts of the AS ME specification allow the stresses generated by finite element analysis to be used directly to check compliance with the required standards.
Finite element analysis is just a tool, just like any other tool, engineers with sufficient experience are required to understand how to use it correctly. The most important attribute of any financial analyst is not their ability to drive software packages, but their ability as engineers.
So what can finite element analysis specifically do?
Let us elaborate on the specific applications of finite element analysis as follows:
Finite element analysis is the most commonly used tool for stress and structural analysis. It can also receive input data from other tools such as kinematic analysis systems and computational fluid dynamics systems. Finite element analysis software can be used for: mechanical engineering design
Computer-aided drawing and engineering simulation services
Structural analysis
Modal analysis
Solid mechanics
Mold flow analysis
Fatigue and fracture mechanics
Thermal and electrical analysis
Sheet metal forming analysis
Finite Element Analysis Service: What to analyze?
Most finite element analysis software today is very accurate. It is not software that divides finite element analysis services, but the experience of the team. Some factors that affect the test results are accurate input of geometry, physics, material properties and loads. It is also important to remember that since most finite element analysis tests are performed under ideal conditions, what distinguishes good companies from good finite element analysis companies is the broad interpretation of the results, not the actual numbers. This is also the reason why companies providing finite element analysis services should have experience in different industries.
Finite Element Analysis Service
Many companies prefer to hire finite element analysis services in order to focus on their business. Although it is great to generate a product idea, whether it will work as expected is a question of correct application of scientific principles. The cost of purchasing finite element analysis software tools is very high; it makes sense to outsource finite element analysis services. There are many companies in India and abroad that specialize in this finite element analysis service to optimize product design.
