STRUCTURAL FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS AIDED BY COMPUTER GRAPHICS

The use of finite element structural analysis has grown rapidly as digital computer technology has improved. An increasing portion of the engineer's time is spent building and checking fininte element models and interpreting results of these models. The purpose of this paper is to propose a graphically oriented system to aid the stress analyst in his job of synthesizing finite element data. The analyst is required to decide on a solution procedure and divide the data into two basic parts. The first part is obtained by preprocessing the structural data into four basic sections. These sections are grid coordinates, element grid definitions, element section properties, and external loads. The second part is obtained by postprocessing the program internal loads output into margins of safety for ultimate strength, for fatigue life, and for structural joints. This paper discusses the solution procedure for axial member shear plate idealization and presents some typical graphic displays for the input and output data.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE meeting April 2-5, 1974.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers

  485 Lexington Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10017
• Authors:
  • Wallace, J A
• Publication Date: 1974-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 11 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Analysis; Computer graphics; Fatigue (Mechanics); Finite element method; Information processing; Structural parts
• Uncontrolled Terms: Computer aided analysis; Fatigue life
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00057797
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE #740389 Preprint
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 22 1974 12:00AM