What I do
- Perform finite element analysis (FEA) for structural analysis
- Conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations
- Run thermal and heat transfer analyses
- Perform modal analysis and vibration studies
- Support optimization and topology optimization
When to use me
- When validating designs against physical loads
- When analyzing stress and deformation in structures
- When simulating fluid flow and heat transfer
- When optimizing designs for weight or performance
- When predicting product behavior before physical testing
Key Concepts
FEA Fundamentals
# Basic FEA workflow
class FEAAnalysis:
def __init__(self, geometry, mesh_params):
self.geometry = geometry
self.mesh_params = mesh_params
self.boundary_conditions = []
self.loads = []
def mesh(self):
"""Generate finite element mesh"""
return {
"nodes": self._generate_nodes(),
"elements": self._generate_elements(),
"element_type": self.mesh_params.get("type", "tetrahedral")
}
def apply_boundary_conditions(self, bcs):
"""Apply displacement constraints"""
self.boundary_conditions = bcs
def apply_loads(self, loads):
"""Apply forces, pressures, temperatures"""
self.loads = loads
def solve(self):
"""Solve system of equations"""
# K * u = F
stiffness_matrix = self._assemble_stiffness()
load_vector = self._assemble_loads()
displacement = self._solve(stiffness_matrix, load_vector)
return displacement
def postprocess(self, results):
"""Calculate stresses, strains"""
return {
"displacement": results,
"stress": self._compute_stress(results),
"strain": self._compute_strain(results)
}
Element Types
| Element |
DOFs |
Applications |
| Tetrahedron (3D) |
3/node |
Complex 3D solids |
| Hexahedron (3D) |
3/node |
Structured meshes |
| Triangle (2D) |
2/node |
2D plane stress/strain |
| Quadrilateral (2D) |
2/node |
2D with bending |
| Beam |
6/node |
Structural frames |
| Shell |
5-6/node |
Thin structures |
Analysis Types
# Static structural analysis
STATIC_ANALYSIS = {
"equation": "[K]{u} = {F}",
"assumptions": "Linear, time-independent",
"outputs": ["displacement", "stress", strain"]
}
# Modal analysis
MODAL_ANALYSIS = {
"equation": "[K]{phi} = omega^2 [M]{phi}",
"purpose": "Natural frequencies, mode shapes",
"outputs": ["frequencies", "mode_shapes"]
}
# Thermal analysis
THERMAL_ANALYSIS = {
"types": ["steady-state", "transient"],
"equation": "[K]{T} = {Q}",
"outputs": ["temperature", "heat_flux"]
}
Mesh Quality Metrics
| Metric |
Good |
Acceptable |
Poor |
| Aspect ratio |
< 3 |
< 5 |
> 10 |
| Jacobian |
> 0.5 |
> 0.3 |
< 0.1 |
| Skewness |
< 20° |
< 40° |
> 60° |
| Warpage |
< 5° |
< 15° |
> 30° |
Common CAE Software
| Software |
Analysis Types |
| ANSYS |
Structural, Thermal, CFD, Multi-physics |
| ABAQUS |
Structural, Nonlinear, Dynamic |
| COMSOL |
Multi-physics coupling |
| NASTRAN |
Structural, Aeroelasticity |
| STAR-CCM+ |
CFD, Multi-physics |
| Altair HyperWorks |
Optimization, Structural |
1---2name: cae3description: Performs finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, thermal analysis, modal analysis, and design optimization for validating designs against physical loads and predicting product behavior.4license: MIT5---67## What I do89- Perform finite element analysis (FEA) for structural analysis10- Conduct computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations11- Run thermal and heat transfer analyses12- Perform modal analysis and vibration studies13- Support optimization and topology optimization1415## When to use me1617- When validating designs against physical loads18- When analyzing stress and deformation in structures19- When simulating fluid flow and heat transfer20- When optimizing designs for weight or performance21- When predicting product behavior before physical testing2223## Key Concepts2425### FEA Fundamentals2627```python28# Basic FEA workflow29class FEAAnalysis:30 def __init__(self, geometry, mesh_params):31 self.geometry = geometry32 self.mesh_params = mesh_params33 self.boundary_conditions = []34 self.loads = []35 36 def mesh(self):37 """Generate finite element mesh"""38 return {39 "nodes": self._generate_nodes(),40 "elements": self._generate_elements(),41 "element_type": self.mesh_params.get("type", "tetrahedral")42 }43 44 def apply_boundary_conditions(self, bcs):45 """Apply displacement constraints"""46 self.boundary_conditions = bcs47 48 def apply_loads(self, loads):49 """Apply forces, pressures, temperatures"""50 self.loads = loads51 52 def solve(self):53 """Solve system of equations"""54 # K * u = F55 stiffness_matrix = self._assemble_stiffness()56 load_vector = self._assemble_loads()57 displacement = self._solve(stiffness_matrix, load_vector)58 return displacement59 60 def postprocess(self, results):61 """Calculate stresses, strains"""62 return {63 "displacement": results,64 "stress": self._compute_stress(results),65 "strain": self._compute_strain(results)66 }67```6869### Element Types7071| Element | DOFs | Applications |72|---------|------|--------------|73| Tetrahedron (3D) | 3/node | Complex 3D solids |74| Hexahedron (3D) | 3/node | Structured meshes |75| Triangle (2D) | 2/node | 2D plane stress/strain |76| Quadrilateral (2D) | 2/node | 2D with bending |77| Beam | 6/node | Structural frames |78| Shell | 5-6/node | Thin structures |7980### Analysis Types8182```python83# Static structural analysis84STATIC_ANALYSIS = {85 "equation": "[K]{u} = {F}",86 "assumptions": "Linear, time-independent",87 "outputs": ["displacement", "stress", strain"]88}8990# Modal analysis91MODAL_ANALYSIS = {92 "equation": "[K]{phi} = omega^2 [M]{phi}",93 "purpose": "Natural frequencies, mode shapes",94 "outputs": ["frequencies", "mode_shapes"]95}9697# Thermal analysis98THERMAL_ANALYSIS = {99 "types": ["steady-state", "transient"],100 "equation": "[K]{T} = {Q}",101 "outputs": ["temperature", "heat_flux"]102}103```104105### Mesh Quality Metrics106107| Metric | Good | Acceptable | Poor |108|--------|------|------------|------|109| Aspect ratio | < 3 | < 5 | > 10 |110| Jacobian | > 0.5 | > 0.3 | < 0.1 |111| Skewness | < 20° | < 40° | > 60° |112| Warpage | < 5° | < 15° | > 30° |113114### Common CAE Software115116| Software | Analysis Types |117|----------|----------------|118| ANSYS | Structural, Thermal, CFD, Multi-physics |119| ABAQUS | Structural, Nonlinear, Dynamic |120| COMSOL | Multi-physics coupling |121| NASTRAN | Structural, Aeroelasticity |122| STAR-CCM+ | CFD, Multi-physics |123| Altair HyperWorks | Optimization, Structural |