Finite Element Analysis: What's exactly Is It and How to Carry Out Processes Step Wise?

Finite Element Analysis, or FEA, is the simulation of a physical phenomenon using a numerical mathematic technique called the Finite Element Method, or FEM. This process is at the core of mechanical engineering, as well as a variety of other disciplines. It is also one of the key principles used in developing simulation software. Engineers can use these FEM to reduce the number of physical prototypes and run virtual experiments to optimize their designs. 


Finite element analysis uses complex mathematical equations, models, and simulations to understand how objects interact with physical forces. This aids engineers in understanding object durability and how to optimize it. 

How to carry out finite element analysis 

Finite element analysis is a method of structural analysis that uses mathematical processes. FEA requires you to break down a larger, more complicated object into more manageable sections. As you keep splitting the structure, you get a better idea of how the object will respond to stressors. This method of breaking down a structure for FEA is known as the finite element method (FEM). 

Step 1: Modelling of the object 

While modeling the object, you should omit the sophisticated geometrical features and see the basic structure of the object. Pay attention to what features are present for structural reasons versus aesthetic appeal. Understand why you're removing one geometrical aspect while maintaining another.

Step 2: Defining Material Properties 

As the name of the step suggests, material properties should be defined here. These depend on the type of analysis that is being carried out. Play around with different materials to check which one fits the needs required.

Step 3: Defining loads

Your structure cannot exist in a vacuum. This step helps you identify which external forces are acting on the structure. How does it affect one component versus another?

Step 4: Deciding Boundary conditions

As we've done in mathematical problems before, setting conditions for which the structure will exist is mainly done to reduce the complexity of the problem. If we know the conditions beforehand, it helps us save a lot of time when calculating. 

Step 5: Meshing the Structure by connecting computations

The geometry of your structure is divided into smaller shapes called as, drumroll please, finite elements. Meshing simply means connecting the computations from these finite elements to create a mesh structure. 

Step 6: Solving unknown variables by converting into algebraic equations 

Simply put, partial differential equations are converted into algebraic equations. This will help represent equations as matrices. The singular matrices are then assembled into one global matrice, which is then solved for unknown variables.

Conclusions

Following are the top software packages used in FEA:

COMSOL Multiphysics. COMSOL Multiphysics finite element analysis software is renowned for its connectivity with other software such as MATLAB, Java, and Autodesk Inventor

Open Foam

ABAQUS

Altair Hyper Works

Autodesk CFD

LS-DYNA”

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