Our key engineering staff
members have worked with complex stress analysis problems
dating back to 1981.
We have the breadth of training and real world
experience to determine which analysis technique is most
economical for what the Client wants to accomplish.
We can present technique options, costs, and
recommendations immediately after hearing about a particular
stress analysis problem needing work. (Incidentally, all estimates are free of charge.) Our
approach to solving a stress & strain problem can include
one or more of the techniques below:
Finite
Element Analysis (FEA)
Practically anyone with
a CAD program and a computer can operate the stress analysis
packages available today. But does the Client get an answer to be counted on?
Perhaps, or perhaps not.
It depends very directly on the operator who is
determining how the load is applied to the part, the mesh on
the part, the boundary conditions, element types,
symmetries, and attachment types.
Experience is required to make these judgments
correctly.
FEA is by far the most common
form of numerical stress analysis performed today.
We utilize ProEngineer’s Mechanica for complete
3-dimensional numerical computation of deflection, stress
and strain.
Classical
Derived Solutions
On most occasions, the more
simple problems do not need an over-blown approach to get to
a quality solution. The basic techniques of the field of solid mechanics work as
well today as they did 50 years ago.
They often produce results with errors that are less
than numerical computational methods.
98% accuracy is not uncommon at all.
This is often sufficient, and we stop there.
The problem gets solved quickly and inexpensively.
We have maintained our "edge" regarding the classical
methods approach over the years and enjoy applying these
when appropriate.
Experimental
Stress Analysis
For problems that are rather
complicated and have hardware available, we can often simply
instrument the actual part and subject it to all types of
loading right in the laboratory. This is a very direct, economical approach and always succeeds
in conveying the integrity of the new design to management
and others. We
can also create the physical model to test right in our
prototype machine shop, if needed.
Instrumentation options
include strain gages, deflection gages, and photoelasticity.
Each has its own strengths and each is inexpensive to
apply.
Strain gages are bonded on
resistive elements that are already calibrated to give
strain values after wiring up.
They give complete information on the strain field at a
specific location. We can also measure residual stress
and strain using strain gages.
Deflection gages are for
overall deflection data.
These can be individual dials or transducers wired
right into our data acquisition system.
Photoelasticity is
fascinating to observe and provides a “full-field”
solution, enabling the engineer to have a quantitative map
of the entire stress field for the part in question.
This is very powerful, especially for new parts, or
for old part being loaded in new ways.
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