Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is playing an increasingly important role in today’s accelerated product development / product validation process. However, some companies may struggle with the validation process because they may not have the experience base or formalized processes needed to reap the benefits others are achieving. Here are a few common challenges that many companies face when it comes to performing Finite Element Analysis. Let’s examine them one at a time…
Challenge: Overly Reliant on Technology
As design and simulation tools become increasingly sophisticated, the manner and speed in which products are introduced to market will continue to accelerate. At the same time one might be tempted to believe that the role of the engineer or analyst is diminished. As an example, auto-meshing (a feature standard in most design applications) allows finite element models to be generated directly from the CAD models. On the surface this might appear to all but eliminate any need for the engineering analyst. To the contrary, simulation expertise continues to be required to account for a number of variables such as correlating the model to the environment in which it will operate in the real-world. Today, and into the foreseeable future, engineering experience and judgement will continue to be a key ingredient toward ensuring product quality, manufacturability and durability.
Go here to read more.