Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

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What is finite element analysis?

Finite element analysis (FEA) is used to predict how a model will react to forces in the real world. This analysis is a part of the product design cycle and examines the effects of forces such as heat, vibration and much more. FEA is carried out to optimize designs and understand their points of failure.

FEA and FEM

Finite element analysis (FEA) uses the practical application of a mathematical method called finite element method (FEM). It is used to model complex geometrical and irregular shapes. FEM is a way of subdividing complex geometry with unknown structural behavior into a finite number of simple geometric elements with known structural behavior, known as a FEM mesh. At the element boundaries, the displacements are equated with the neighboring elements and a matrix equation is developed. The equation is numerically solved, and you can see the results graphically using a post-processor. The results displayed show you the computed stresses, strains, and displacement that occur in your model when forces are applied.

Benefits of finite element analysis

Digital prototyping

Creating a physical prototype to see how an object might react under real world stresses gets expensive. FEA allows you to digitally examine the stresses on the object and can let you run analysis on the digital prototype.

Creating a physical prototype to see how an object might react under real world stresses gets expensive. FEA allows you to digitally examine the stresses on the object and can let you run analysis on the digital prototype.

Visualization

When the interiors and exteriors of an object are modeled engineers can easily spot points of vulnerability and run studies on the model to visualize stresses and course correct design flaws as they see them.

When the interiors and exteriors of an object are modeled engineers can easily spot points of vulnerability and run studies on the model to visualize stresses and course correct design flaws as they see them.

Boundary Conditions

Boundary conditions such as point forces, distributed forces, thermal effects (such as temperature changes or applied heat energy), and positional constraints can be used as inputs in studies to see how the digital prototype responds to these conditions.

Boundary conditions such as point forces, distributed forces, thermal effects (such as temperature changes or applied heat energy), and positional constraints can be used as inputs in studies to see how the digital prototype responds to these conditions.

Accuracy

Calculations done by hand using a physical model could never match the accuracy of using software to model stresses; especially if the model is complex.

Calculations done by hand using a physical model could never match the accuracy of using software to model stresses; especially if the model is complex.

Applications and use cases

Structural Analysis

Modal Analysis

Thermal Analysis

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Simulation solutions for finite element analysis

Whether you are a design engineer or an analyst, PTC has solutions that fit your needs.

Simulation and analysis are critical to the product development process and PTC’s best in class solutions use computer power to help you ascertain how a designed component might behave in the real world.

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