Publications to learn FEA best practices? 2

[marcrichard]

Hello,

Do you know some good books/publications to self-learn practical FEA? I already have some ressources but it is often more oriented toward theory than practice of FEA. I don't want to get too far in the mathematical aspects at the moment.

I want to learn the practical basics, following is an example of some questions:
- when can i use fixed constraints?
- how to correctly constrain a model and apply loads to avoid singularities and inaccurate stress distributions?
- When each modeling simplification is acceptable?
- When to use and not use inertia relief
- how to place constraints in a moving assembly context?

Thank you for your help,
Best Regards,
Marc Richard

 

[rickfischer51]

Building better products with FEA by Vince Adams

Rick Fischer
Principal Engineer
Argonne National Laboratory

 

[IceBreakerSours]

NAFEMS has several books you may find useful.

Are you new to this forum? If so, please read these FAQ:

http://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=376

http://www.eng-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=1083

 

[marcrichard]

Hello,

Thank you rickfischer51 and IceBreakerSours for your answers. I had already noticed "Building better products with FEA" and NAFEMS books. I am actually trying to trade-off the best book because my budget is very limited at the moment.

Rick do you own "Building better products with FEA"? If yes, how do you find the part explaining how to best constrain a model? Because I only find used versions of this book generally above 140 USD shipped from UK or USA (I live in France)...

Any more suggestion would be still appreciated.

Thanks,
Marc Richard

 

[rickfischer51]

I have a copy, which was a gift from the author. I briefly collaborated with him on a couple of topics, and he sent me a copy. Wow 140 bucks used. I think it was 60 when still in print.
What is your skill level? How much FEA experience do you have? Building Better Products with FEA is an entry level book. Another book that I have never seen is Finite Element Analysis for Design Engineers by Kurowski. It looks like it is also entry level. This is a newer book and there are not a lot of used copies available on the internet. I am not familiar with the current NAFEMS publications, but in the past I found them to be a little more advanced.



Rick Fischer
Principal Engineer
Argonne National Laboratory

 

[marcrichard]

Hello Rick,

I am a beginner with FEA. I am self-learning at the moment.

One of the author of "Building Better Products with Finite Element Analysis", Vince Adams , also wrote a NAFEMS publication: A Designer’s Guide to Simulation with Finite Element Analysis.
It is a bit less expensive but seems more succinct (comparing the table of contents).

I am actually waiting for a good offer on "Building Better Products with FEA" to buy it.

Thank you,
Best Regards,
Marc

 

[dwallace1971]

Finite Element Modeling for Stress Analysis by Robert D. Cook.

"On the human scale, the laws of Newtonian Physics are non-negotiable"

 

[msjoey]

Hi,

I had to coordinate FEA training for automotive design a few years ago and in addition to software specific tutorials, the distributor company that engaged me used this book as optional reference material : Practical Finite Element Analysis

http://books.google.ae/books/about/...ent_Analysis.html?id=yKTObdhQ66YC&redir_esc=y

I like this book a lot and still refer to it occasionally. This is definitely beginner level. Very practical and doesn't overwhelm you with obscure dense stuff that will just cause more confusion / anxiety. The course participants (fresh engineering graduates) gave mostly good feedback re the book's contents. As an (occasional + somewhat reluctant) FEA training instructor I like it too, because it helps me develop simple approaches to FEA to improve my own understanding.

Hope this helps,
Jo

 

[Rooster67]

Hi,

There are some excellent and legal resources available for learning practical FEA methods including the correct use of constraints available from the downloads page at the following link:-

http://www.roshaz.com/downloads.html

Regards,

Rooster

 

[Dave442]

Hi,

I would recommend this book for a beginner: "Practical Stress Analysis with Finite Elements" by Bryan MacDonald

Dave

 

[loki3000]

practical stress analysis or this:

http://www.amazon.com/Finite-Element-Simulations-ANSYS-Workbench/dp/1585037257

(it doesn't have much best practice material, it's a tutorial for ansys workbench)

 

[jagad5]

Vince Adams book is very good for the practical engineer but offers much less on the theory. If you want to know how shape functions work, its not the book for you. If you want to know what potholes to watch out for, it's a great book. Vince is an experienced practitioner and the book reflects that. A lot of the theory books are great if you want to bulid better code but worthless if you want to build better product.

Doug

 

[Tunalover]

I have "A Finite Element Primer", 1986 by NAFEMS, Dept of Trade and Industry, National Engineering Laboratory, Glasgow.

It provides a VERY understandable introduction to FEA and is short on the mathematical elegance so popular with academics.


Tunalover