Finite Element Analysis

When designing a case, the design must be checked before the production phase. These checks may be intended to provide the necessary conditions or to determine the extreme limits. For example, knowing how much weight a car can handle is a key parameter for design. You need to determine the dimensions and materials of the frame according to these parameters.

How is this done? As a classical method, prototypes can be produced before mass production and tests can be made on them. This method is a widespread method applied by all the producers from the beginning of the industrial revolution and still being used to date. Prototypes are produced for both the simplest of designs such as stools besides much more complicated designs such as automobiles.

In recent years, a new method called Finite Element Method (FEM) has been developed, allowing the design to be tested on a computer by applying the desired scenario. To be able to perform this test, the design must first be drawn in 3D on a computer in SolidWorks or a similar program.

That's where the method starts. As is known, every object in the world has an infinite number of points. With this method, the infinite point in design is first reduced to a finished end. These reduced node points are combined to form 3, 2 or 1 dimensional shapes.

Thus, the final element model of the design is being prepared. Subsequently, the necessary parameters are entered in this model and the desired tests are applied on the computer. For example, after the model is modeled with one dimensional (line shaped) elements and the used material is processed in the model, a forklift accident where the rack is hit to a wall at a certain angle, can be analyzed to determine how much weight the piece will break under.