FEA - Finite Element Analysis

The Benefits of FEA

FEA has traditionally been associated with validating designs before committing to manufacture. However, it is now also commonly used early in a design process to try out new concepts and optimise before any physical prototypes are made and tested. Benefits include:

• Increased innovation, as FEA encourages you to think creatively at less risk
• Optimum rather than acceptable designs, resulting in better performance & reduced material costs, as FEA enables you to run multiple scenarios quickly and cheaply.
• Improved understanding & control of operating envelopes, leading to higher quality & robustness, as FEA provides detailed performance information difficult to obtain from physical tests.
• Reduced development cost & lead time, with pass/fail physical tests replaced by virtual design iterations, as FEA models are generally quicker to build than prototypes and test equipment.

Different types of physics can be incorporated within an FEA model to predict:

• Stresses, strains, displacements and temperatures in components, assemblies and foundations under structural and thermal loads
• Torque, inductance, capacitance and the behaviour of electromagnetic fields within electrical and electromechanical devices.
• Material deformation and properties, defects and tooling stresses during manufacturing processes, including forging, machining and plastic injection moulding.

Ultimately, these physics can be coupled together, including the use of CFD, for multiphysics simulations of the most complex engineering problems.

Our Value

Many FEA programs are available today and some are even offered within CAD systems and on the internet for free. However, inappropriate software and untrained users can be a dangerous combination and ultimately cost more than relying on experience, long-hand calculations and physical tests. We specialise in providing leading software with honest, professional advice. We will help you select the most appropriate solution from our comprehensive portfolio to match your technical requirements, budget, time scales and capabilities. This could be software, consulting or a combination of both – supported by our comprehensive training services.