Fea Using 3d Elements for Design Optimization

Computer Aided Engineering

Finite Element Analysis Lab Report

Title: FEA Using 3D Elements for Design Optimization

Objective

The max Von Mises stress will be found and record its mass. The dimensions of the bracket need to modify. So that it’s mass is reduced to minimum while the max Von Mises stress does not exceed yield strength of the material.

Procedure

During the experiment, a wall-mounted aluminum bracket is applied a load of 10,000 N at its far edge. The mesh with the element type of Tetra10, the overall element size of 20 using the material of Aluminum-Alloy. The maximum Von Mises stress and its mass are found and recorded. The dimension of the bracket is modified so that its mass is reduced to minimum while the max Von Mises stress does not exceed yield strength of the material. The distance from the wall to the far edge where the load applies should be always 100mm.

Result

Stress plot is displayed as shown below, the dimensions of the bracket is as follow:

Ceiling thickness = 20mm Wall thickness = 20mm Bracket width = 80mm Rib width = 20mm Rib thickness = 10mm Weight: 787g Max. Stress: 116 N/mm2

After re-designing the bracket by changing its dimensions: Ceiling thickness = 16.3mm Wall thickness = 0.03mm Bracket width = 20.5mm Rib width = 19.9mm Rib thickness = 20.2mm Weight: 144.077g Max. Stress: 198.1N/mm2

Discussion

Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computerized method for predicting how a component/assembly will react to environmental factors such as forces, heat, and vibration. Though it is called "analysis," in the product design cycle, it is used as a virtual prototyping tool to predict what is going to happen when the product is used. FEA, as related to the mechanics of solids, is the solution of a finite set of algebraic matrix equations that approximate the relationships between load and deflection in static analysis and velocity, acceleration, and time in dynamic analysis. The finite element method works by breaking...