Product category:
FEA and structural analysis software
News Release from: Algor | Subject: Tutorials
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 19 June 2000
Tutorials show how to use FEA in your
CAD system
Algor today announced the release of new keystroke tutorials that show engineers how to save time and effort by conducting FEA within the same CAD solid modeling program used to build the model.
Algor, Inc., a leading maker of software for mechanical engineers, today announced the release of new keystroke tutorials that show engineers how to save time and effort by conducting finite element analysis within the same CAD solid modeling program used to build the model Five tutorials that walk engineers through Algor's InCADPlus technology working within CADKEY, Mechanical Desktop, Pro/ENGINEER, Solid Edge and SolidWorks are available on Algor's Web site
Each tutorial comes with a compressed model file featuring a 3-D bearing assembly drawn in the particular CAD software.
This 3-D bearing assembly tutorial features a cast iron pillow block housing and steel bearing insert.
Using the Algor Mesh option in the CAD menu, engineers generate a surface mesh, perform surface mesh matching, generate a solid mesh and add boundary conditions and other finite element data to the model.
For the linear static stress analysis, engineers consider the problem of the housing being bolted down and a shaft through the insert that exerts pressure in a downward direction.
To complete the tutorial and sample the best value in desktop computer FEA, engineers only need the designated CAD software and Algor's InCADPlus software, which plugs directly into the CAD menu.
"These tutorials demonstrate the advantages of interoperability with CAD programs over the traditional FEA process," said Michael L.
Bussler, president of the Pittsburgh-based Algor.
"Upon completion of this tutorial, designers and engineers will realize the true value of conducting finite-element meshing and analysis within CAD rather than the time-consuming transfer of neutral files that leaves open the chance for data loss." Aside from the advantage of working within CAD, InCADPlus offers feature suppression and midplane meshing.
Feature suppression allows the engineer to remove unnecessary parts of a model that would slow down analysis.
Midplane meshing allows the engineer to convert thin, solid parts, such as a car body panel, into plate/shell elements using the midpoint of the surface elements.
This significantly reduces the number of elements in the model and allows engineers to take advantage of the faster processing speeds associated with plate/shell elements.
Algor offers a wide range of element types for FEA, including kinematic elements - rigid elements that move like regular, flexible finite elements.
Engineers can define one component at a time with regular elements and define the remaining components with kinematic elements, saving processing time by focusing on the part of interest.
Before performing any analysis on the model, engineers have the option to examine the model with Superview, Algor's multifaceted postprocessing tool.
Details regarding meshing and boundary conditions can be examined in Superview.
If any modifications are necessary, the engineer can return to Superdraw and alter the model before running the analysis.
After analysis, the engineer can use Superview to view results of displacement and stresses.
Other tutorials are available from Algor focusing on a wide variety of topics including Mechanical Event Simulation, nonlinear static stress analysis, heat transfer analysis, fluid flow analysis, electrostatic analysis, analysis involving beam/truss elements and how to use Superdraw III to perform finite element modeling.
At Algor's InCAD Web site, www.feaincad.com tutorials feature Algor's $975 InCAD DesignPak for the same CAD solid modelers as the InCADPlus tutorials.
Each tutorial can be downloaded as a full-color document from Algor's web site or, for customers purchasing Algor software, accessed from DocuTech, Algor's technical user documentation information resource on CD-ROM.
All of the tutorials can be read and printed as Adobe Acrobat files.
• Algor: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
