Development of a CAD Model Simplification Framework for Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

Analyzing complex 3D models using nite element analysis software requires suppressing features/parts that are not likely to in uence the analysis results, but may signi cantly improve the computational performance both in terms of mesh size and mesh quality. The suppression step often depends on the context and application. Currently, most analysts perform this step manually. This step can take a long time to perform on a complex model and can be tedious in nature. The goal of this thesis was to generate a simpli cation framework for both part and assembly CAD models for nite element analysis model preparation. At the part level, a rule-based approach for suppressing holes, rounds, and chamfers is presented. Then a tool for suppressing multiple speci ed part models at once is described at the assembly level. Upon discussion of the frameworks, the tools are demonstrated on several di erent models to show the complete approach and the computational performances. The work presented in this thesis is expected to signi cantly reduce the manual time consuming activities within the model simpli cation stage. This is accomplished through multiple feature/part suppression compared to the industry standard of suppressing one feature/part at a time. A simpli ed model speeds up the overall analysis, reducing the meshing time and calculation of the analysis values while maintaining and on occassion inproving the quality of the analysis.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA605431

Entities

People

  • Brian H. Russ

Organizations

  • University of Maryland

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Assembly
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Computational Science
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Dimensionality Reduction
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Geometry
  • Materials
  • Modal Analysis
  • Robotics
  • Stress Analysis
  • Structural Analysis
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development