Tag - simulation

27
Jun

Rigorous, Transient 3D CFD Models of Unusually Complicated Fluid Networks/Circuits

The role of fluid dynamics simulation in the design and development of various products has recently undergone what is arguably a paradigm shift due to the ability to simulate unusually complicated, multi-component, hydraulics flow circuits using three dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models.  The example shows a lubrication system model (developed using the Simerics-Sys / PumpLinx CFD software) for a 16 cylinder reciprocating internal combustion engine.  This represents an advance in system-level modeling of hydraulic fluid networks over the current state of the art which is a blend of zero and one-dimensional models.  This also represents continued progress in the role of CFD from the traditional component level modeling to system level modeling.  System level modeling provides insight into interactions between components.  Finally, it is equally important that model setup and run times are reasonable relative to development time scales.

23
Jun

Use of FEA in Elevator Design and Test

Schindler Elevator’s offerings range from passenger elevators suitable for small blocks of apartments to sophisticated transport solutions for skyscrapers. Service elevators ensure the stress-free movement of goods and people in shopping centers, office buildings and railway stations. Bed elevators provide for the smooth and vibration-free movement of patients and equipment in hospitals. In industrial buildings, many of the hoists and small good elevators in use are supplied by Schindler, while glass cabin elevators in tall buildings offer both a novel experience and a feeling of safety. It is hard to imagine public transport without elevators, which are often heavily used and must therefore meet demanding requirements in availability and serviceability.

The company’s research and development facility in Switzerland devises complete elevator systems as well as components for all applications. Here, CAE is used to find reliable and energy-efficient solutions which make the most efficient use of materials. The programs SimXpert and MSC Nastran from MSC Software are used for structural calculations using the finite element method (FE). These are used, for example, to simulate the wall fixings of elevators and determine whether deformations and loadings remain within the permissible range. The resulting design and its verification encompass the guiding system and the cabin, counterweight and drive components. In addition to static (strength) calculations, dynamic and vibration analyses are also carried out with the aid of FE methods. The field of nonlinear FE calculations is also of central significance.

22
Jun

Finite Element Analysis of a UAV Wing

AeroVironment’s Global Observer is an unmanned aircraft with the wingspan of a Boeing 767 but less than 10% of the weight designed to provide communications and sensing for flights lasting up to one week at up to 65,000 feet. With a maximum wing loading of only 3.5 pounds per square feet, the wingtip deflects greater than 22 feet at its design limit load.

MSC Nastran was utilized to develop nonlinear stress, structural dynamic and aeroelastic finite element models. The structural dynamics model was correlated to a ground vibration test, both of which had to accommodate the apparent mass of the air, which is atypical. The ultimate test of the nonlinear stress model was correlation with the static wing load test.

20
Jun

Get Your Hands Dirty! – How to Run An Adams-EDEM Co-Simulation

In my previous blog post I introduced the Adams-EDEM coupling that allows engineers to realistically simulate how bulk materials interact with their systems dynamics. In this post I want to give some insight on the workflow needed to use the coupling.

10
Jun

Reducing the Product Development Time of a Rotary Cutter System Through Simulation

In the agricultural and heavy machinery industries, durability and strength are some of the most important indicators of quality. Maintaining high levels in these areas requires the application of many different tests and assessments to the end product. However, one of the most time-consuming parts of the production is the lengthy process of building physical prototypes, testing them for durability, then redesigning several parts and starting all over again. This process can significantly extend the time it takes to get a product to market. This was the case for John Deere Welland Works while developing a 20-foot rotary cutter system.

3
Jun

Optimizing Machine Quailifications with Simulation

Companies producing machinery are often asked to develop their products to accommodate faster operation times while increasing the reliability of the machine. However, a small design change can lead to issues in other areas. For example, when speed increases it often causes inertial loads and vibration, leading to earlier breakdowns. In the past at Kosme, a producer of a full range of turnkey filling, labeling, capping, packaging and conveying solutions for beverage products, engineers used hand calculations to estimate the performance of components and built physical prototypes to evaluate system performance. Problems were frequently discovered during the prototype stage. These problems often required many iterations of revisiting the design and modifying and re-testing the prototype.

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