Blog Posts

When we’re performing finite element analysis, we’re always looking for ways to idealize and simplify loading. This both increases the confidence in our results and reduces the overall computational expense required to solve the problem. A great example of this is the ability to estimate the pressure at the bottom of a liquid filled tank,

There are so many engineering problems where capturing the micromechanics of individual particles plays a crucial role in determining the overall system behavior. Some examples include sand piling, powder metallurgy, mineral processing, particle packing etc. These problems are numerically modelled using Discrete Element Method (DEM). DEM is a finite difference method used for predicting the

Cars and planes, air conditioners, and batteries, among others, all rely on fluids to function at their best. However, fluid problems are quite difficult to solve by hand. So how do engineers make design decisions based on fluid problems? Do they have to rely on physical testing only? Of course not! They use CFD, or

The Coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian (CEL) technique in Abaqus is a powerful tool to analyze the interaction between structures and fluids simultaneously without the need to use different software. In this article, we will talk about the importance and applications of CEL. But first, it’s important that we get a basic understanding of the differences between Lagrangian

We all know that Abaqus is an extremely powerful FEA solver that allows us to simulate all kinds of real-world physics… but what happens when a material model or other type of physical behavior is unavailable in the tool? It might be tempting just to give up and go a different route – but not

Thermal analysis is a powerful tool in an FEA analyst’s arsenal. It is useful to analyze problems such as heating of chips in a PCB or the heating effects of a battery. There are two main types of thermal analysis – steady-state and transient. In this blog, we will discuss both of these types and

One of the biggest strengths of Abaqus is its large library of available element types, meaning that you can optimize analyses for both accuracy and efficiency. It is well known that, when we’re modeling very thin structures, such as the wall of a pressure vessel, it is beneficial to utilize shell elements rather than solids.

One of the most common questions you’ll hear asked in the FEA community is “What mesh size should I use?”, and for good reason! If your mesh is too coarse, the answers that you generate may not be as accurate as you need them to be. Conversely, if your mesh is too fine, the simulation

Mechanical engineers in their studies will learn how to do mechanical analysis on basic shapes, such as beams. However, real life parts are almost never that simple. The shapes are complex and they can be loaded or constrained in various ways. So how can we analyze these parts? The answer is through finite element analysis!

If you’ve been in the field of engineering for even a short time, you’ve undoubtedly heard the term ‘fatigue’. But have you ever thought about what it actually is, why it matters and how we can go about predicting it? If not, this post is for you! And hey, it might be a good refresher