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Thursday, 8.5.2010
Technology for
Design Engineering
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Editor’s note: This article has been adapted from an article that originally appeared in benchmark, a
NAFEMS publication. For more information, visit nafems.org.
8. Correlation with physical tests is very useful, if not imperative. Remember that test measurements are
approximate too.
9. Sadly, in some people's experience, the higher up an organization you go, the more they get into a
“simulation means we don’t have to test” mindset. It can mean less testing, however.
10. Analysis is not carried out for the sake of analysis. It can be required to assess and substantiate a
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with complimentary training.
FEA Outside the Design Process The online training series will be held every
11. FEA can also be useful in post-mortems/failure investigations. In such cases, data on the root Friday. Register once for access to view every
cause may be in short supply, emphasizing caution is needed and collaboration with other parties. training session and its replay.
12 What is designed is not what is made because of material variability dimensional tolerances
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05/08/2010 25 Things Managers Should Know ab…
12. What is designed is not what is made, because of material variability, dimensional tolerances,
surface finish even, etc.
14. Ten element models can provide more design information than 2 million tetrahedra. ‘The object of
computing is insight.’ Big tet models may have their place though ... if they cost little to create and
analyse, or you can't get the design information any other way.
16. Post processing often gives pictures of response smoothed over the mesh; this gives prettier
pictures, but unaveraged stresses (or whatever) are more informative.
17. Licences can be expensive ... or too cheap. Meaning cheap and nasty, or cheap and bug-ridden, or
cheap and undocumented, or cheap and unsupported, or cheap and people don’t take it seriously,
leading to the CAD add on “stress checker = spell checker” view.
18. Recognize that FEA can cost. Executing programs sometimes needs machine grunt and space.
Making do with a kit that is not up to the job is another WOMBAT (waste of money, brains and time).
20. Your competition has access to similar tools. It's how you use them that matters, which really means
that the people matter more than the program.
21. If you have a decent education and can use one of the "traditional" codes, you don't really need
expensive training in how to read a user's guide for the traditional other programs. This doesn't mean
that vendor training is not useful, just be careful where you spend this year's training budget.
22. Managers and analysts should understand the need for verification and validation.
23. Encourage analysts to work closely with those from other disciplines, such as materials, plant
engineering, non-destructive testing, and the customer, even, since this will minimize the risk of missing
something important.
24. Your people need to know and work within their limits and get advice if going outside—what Vince
Adams calls the “personal problem solving environment”—and learn to widen it.
25. Encourage analysts to go to user group meetings. Personal contact with other users can be useful.
Some say that going to user group meetings is essential. See also “personal problem solving
environment” above.
References
For more information on FEA, check out the following sources of information:
Adams V, “How to Manage Finite Element Analysis in the Design Process,” Glasgow; NAFEMS
2006.
Hamming R, “Numerical methods for Scientists and Engineers,” New York, NY; McGraw Hill 1973.
Pashley D G, “F.E. Software testing,” Benchmark Magazine, NAFEMS, April 2009.
Thacker B H, “Why Do – Probabilistic Finite Element Analysis,” Glasgow, NAFEMS, 2008.
Performance Test Code Committee 60, “Verification and Validation in Computational Solid
Mechanics,” ASME V&V 10-2006, www.asme.org.
Marks L, “Tips and Work Around for CAD generated models,” Glasgow, NAFEMS, Revised and
Republished — August 2008.
Derek Pashley is a member of NAFEMS Education and Training Working Group (ETWG). Now semi-
retired, he spent about 30 years doing methods development for Rolls-Royce in Derby, UK. This article
was produced with help from Laurence Marks, in particular, and the NAFEMS ETWG, specifically Adib
Becker, Trevor Hellen, Nawal Prinja. Andy Morris, and Mark Chillery. For more information, visit
nafems.org.
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