Mechanical Engineering : Tools : AutoDesk

  

 

 

 

FEA

 

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a computational method that divides an object into series of differential elements and solves system of equations with set boundary conditions and characteristics (i.e. specifications) to represent the physical behaviour or reaction of an object due to forces, vibrations, heat, fluid flow, etc.

 

FEA is used commonly in engineering to optimize the products in development, such as elimination of critical stress points and reduce the likelihood of permanent failure (e.g. necking, bending, etc)

 

Engineers like to use FEA because it reduces the amount of laboratory experiments and the number of failed products before successful products during the phase of design optimization, saving a significant amount of both money and time

 

Solid Mechanics and Materials is the most common field of study within Mechanical Engineering that involves the application of FEA, where the computerized tool is used to perform stress-strain analysis to reduce critical stress points

 

 

 

How to use FEA in AutoDesk ?

 

 

 

< Basic FEA with Gravitational Force >

 

The example is based on Autodesk Nastran installed on Inventor. The Working model isA beam with fixed and pinned end

 

Step 1: Have the solid model available

 

 

 

Step 2: Click ‘Stress Analysis’

 

 

 

Step 3: Define the characteristics of the working model

Set the material, loading, mesh and constrain (e.g. ball joint, pin, fixed, etc) properties. The images below are shown after step 2

 

 

 

Step 4: Set the Mesh

 

Double-click ‘Mesh’ to see the mesh settings. The smaller the element size, the longer it will take to obtain the result. However, smaller element sizes will increase the accuracy of the result, as more spots within the working model are analyzed. If the element is too small, then the computer can crash!

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5: Assigning the material

 

Try aluminum, steel, or alloy, as they are some of the most common metals used in the design and manufacturing industries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE : The details on Material Definition

 

 

 

 

Step 6: Setting the Constraints  

 

Applying constraints mean defining the supports that provide reaction forces and/or moments

 

 

 

Step 7: Applying Forces 

 

 

 

Step 8 : Run Simulation

 

 

 

Step 9 : Check Result

 

 

 

 

< Basic FEA with Moment >

 

 

 

 

 

 

< Basic FEA with Moment at Multiple Points >

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference :

 

[1]