This basic sample illustrates how FEA is used to validate a flange design that cannot be calculated with standard VIII-1 Appendix 2 code rules due to the shape of its hub. Standard Appendix 2 loads are applied and assessed against the rules of ASME VIII-2 for full code compliance.
These stacked exchangers are analyzed using FEA and building code rules. FEA is used to determine the vibration frequency, which is put into building code rules to determine the base shear.
Heat exchangers are often very large models. In order to simplify them for FEA we usually remove all of the tubes and replace them with simulated springs. This significantly reduces the complexity of the mesh.
FEA can calculate temperature profiles in single and multi-part models. From this, displacements and stresses are obtained. Here FEA is used to determine heat time and required power for an injection mold.
Splitting a complex component into multiple smaller components can reduce the mesh time.
When meshing shells using SolidWorks Simulation, the mesh gets up to 99% and then hangs for a very long time, sometimes for hours depending on the mesh size...
Setting the standard mesh tolerance incorrectly can make some external features disappear. Meshing can fail on internal features.
Sometimes a multibody model refuses to mesh with the standard mesher. Regardless of the element size and tolerances used, some parts refuse to bond.
Surfaces can be challenging to create, but solids are easy to convert into surfaces. Surfaces originally created as solids do not have the problem of nodes not joining at edges
Surface models can be challenging to mesh. Parts that touch might not share nodes, preventing the correct transfer of loads. The resulting calculated stresses and displacements can be wrong.
