If your design goal is maximum flow rate, then I agree with specifying the pressure at both ends as boundary conditions. That way you can compare different valve design iterations under the same conditions. As part of the boundary conditions, you'll also want the high-pressure side to act as...
The answer to your question depends on the purpose of your CFD analysis and the specifications to which you are trying to demonstrate compliance. What are you seeking to demonstrate with your analysis?
One thing that may be missed by some folks is that with super-high-volume production environments, such as automotive, statistical process control becomes very important. In the automotive industry, it is mandated. That means that every dimension and specification on every part drawing has to...
They probably do see it as extra work, and it is indeed extra work for the Designer in making the drawings. The right question is, however: Does it result in more or less work overall for the organization and its suppliers and customers? I think in the end you'll find it is less work and more...
Shafty, don't use the rated load for the screws, but rather convert it from the installation torque that's been used. Use T = 0.2dF, where d is the nominal screw thread diameter. The 0.2 is friction dependent.
Call the screw supplier and ask for guidance. If you need one, Acument has been supplying in Automotive for a long time. Their Application Engineering can guide you through the process. They will have a good understanding and track record of which designs will satisfy the application. You'll...
Yes, or increasing the column diameter. I don't know your variations, so I don't know what the clearance tolerance stack-up looks like. If the control of the position tolerance of all the plate holes to each other is poor, then a tighter clearance could conceivably increase the risk of...
There are lots of resources available, as the others shared, but I don't think that there is a simple path to an answer for your question without rolling up your sleeves and doing some real Engineering work.
My first thought is to decrease the clearance between the column and the plates. The thicker plate will help. You'll want smooth surface finish and rounded corners on everything. I've got to ask: what is the function of the column?
J Taylor, I'm not aware of a standard. At my last direct employer, in Product Development Engineering we resolved this as your earlier employer did, by committing to enumerate each drawing specification on the Engineering Part Drawings. We used a simple sequential enumeration with no "coding"...