FEA / ASSEMBLIES
Engineers often face a choice of setting up the analysis in component level or assembly level.
The FE models of components are generally smaller and can have quick feedback from analysis. However, it can be tricky in determining the boundary conditions of a component if its connections to the adjacent components are complicated.
Assembly FE models are generally larger but they enable components to be analysed as part of the system in which they are intended to function. This has a number of benefits such as:
- More realistic representation of a real machine.
- The Component interaction can be explored.
- Improved accuracy relative to individual component analysis.
The analysis of a assembly will give an overall evaluation of the system and can identify the weak components in the design. The design adjustment can be made at early stage and the overall design/development time can be reduced.
At TriVista we use ANSYS®, which is a world leader in modelling surface-to-surface contact between adjacent parts. The options in defining contacts in ANSYS give engineers choices to model the contacts between adjacent components as close as possible to the real world situation.
Assembly analysis can be used to model a range of physics including stress, heat transfer and dynamic response.
Coupled field analysis enable complex loads to be modelled. A common example is thermal/structural analysis in which the temperature field from a thermal solution is fed directly into the structural model as the load. Another example is stress stiffening, which can be used to investigate the effect of structural loads on dynamic response.
Using coupled field analysis, we are able to rapidly provide realistic solutions and the approach can be applied equally well to single components or assemblies.
FEA models of assemblies and coupled fields introduce complexity and demanding on computing resources. With the progress in computing hardware and high performance computing (HPC), these types of analyses are routinely carried out in TriVista.
TriVista Engineering offers a range of analysis options. If you would like to know more please feel free to call or email (contact details below). Our friendly and experienced engineers will be happy to advise you, without obligation. Alternatively, you may prefer to use our simple enquiry form.