FEA software

as a service provider in FEA outsourcing we'd suggested to opt for ANSYS as this has a host of nonlinear materials options..and we use it exclusively besides this code and COSMOS there are codes historically noted for their nonlinear capabilities in structural mechanics as ABAQUS, MARC, which provide similar scope in modeling material behaviour as ANSYS

Ask for prices (lease/payed up/maintenance) of unlimited model size version and evaluate a test drive license, to see if you like the look and feel, help style. ANSYS has the advantage to have a broad user base, has multiphysics capabilities on demand (CFD and electromagnetics, coupling to mechanics, heattransfer, acoustics etc) and generally good hotline(check if and were other codes have this) and acceptable documentation

Cheers, Frank
IFE Bonn Germany

Dear Grill,
I am also is working in Rotation molding field and looking for FEA software. Why you have been advised for non-linear analysis software and what you finally decided to get?

Thanks, Olga

Hi Grill,

you need this for mechanical aspects as far as I gather? What about heattransfer aspects? If it were for CFD fluido(thermo)mechanics there are also some nice options which
are geared to SolidWorks.

Contact me off list if you mind a hint, I am not into
selling that product, so nothing bothering to fear for
ife-id@libero.it ;-)


Cheers, Frank
IFE Ingenieurbuero Frank Exius
Bonn Germany

Dear Frank,

First thank you for your reply. You are right; I need the FEA software just for mechanical purposes. We produce rotation molded plastic pallets and would be good to know what they may hold under different load in static and dynamic. For solid modeling I am using Mechanical desktop 4 and I don’t see big reason to change it (probably just one associated with Cosmos Design- I don’t know how to open my model in Cosmos Design).
So without any experience with FEA I don’t know what software to choose:
1. It has to be cost effective.
2. It has to give me possibility to calculate deflection under load.
3. I need to know under what load my pallet will be collapsed.
4. It needs to work with low-density polyethylene. May the material be a reason to choose non-linear analysis software?
5. Some of the pallets are steel reinforced, so I need to execute all above-mentioned calculations for steel reinforced plastic pallets.
6. Because, of rotation molding process of molding the pallets are hollow.

Frank, after all above mentioned what software you may recommend? And if it is Cosmos/Design, linear or non-linear stress analysis?

Best regards,

Olga

hulkhogan (Automotive) Sep 21, 2002
'Olga'

1.cost effective depends on your budget
and how much time you have to spare running
and learning FEA. Good packages have their price
which can be some $10.000/year for a mechanical
plus thermal package, which seems what you need
i.e. comprises 2-3)
4. if you are satisfied with aproximatively approaching
results in a sensible way, you might spare yourself the
nonlinear effort and cost, depends on temperature
range and other factors - if you want to employ special
material laws or simply nonlinear response curve of your
plastics modeled, you might need certain nonlinear
features of a code, which translates into more costs
for the product, time to invest in handling this
5. same as for 4.
6. doesnt make a difference

Wrt software I already gave some product names previously.
If you need more details, please state your affilation, name
and email - in this forum or contact me at the above given
mail adress of mine(no cost traps, no advertising,
at the max we get a new customer

Cheers, Frank
IFE Ingenieurbuero Frank Exius
Bonn Germany

robonave (aerospace)
To Olga,
is a good idea to buy a specilised FEA software (COSMOS is good for Inventor too) but why don't you start making experience and try the FEA (2D and 3D) option in AMD4?

robonave

Dear Robonave,

I tryed to run FEA in mechanical desktop, but look likes it may "calculate" forever on more or less complicated models.

Thanks,

Olga