In the last couple of years, many companies have begun to add simulation tools to their design process. Simulation lets you explore design concepts and determine their real world behaviour, allowing concepts to be refined when minimal costs have been incurred. Once a model has been developed the analysis helps in evaluating the feasibility of the new design as well as trouble shooting failed designs already in the market and finding solutions without the need to prototype and waste time and money.
Typically this has been FEA or Finite Element Analysis, an advanced engineering tool that is used in design and to augment/replace experimental testing. The technique is based on the premise that an approximate solution to any complex engineering problem can be reached by subdividing the structure/component into smaller more manageable (finite) elements. A variety of reporting tools can be used to illustrate the behaviour of the analysis model including colour contour and vector plots, section cuts, animations, graphs and text output.
Examples of uses for FEA include but are not limited to the following possible analysis types and applications:
• Linear and non-linear static stress/displacement analysis (buckling, thermal loading, quasi-static analysis)
• Dynamic stress/displacement analysis
• Non-linear stress analysis for the simulation of manufacturing processes, e.g. metal forming
• Analyses of a welded and/or bolted connections
• Fatigue and fracture analysis
• Sub-modelling to study a local part of a larger model
• Steel & reinforced concrete buildings/frames.
Lots has been written about PTC Creo Simulate in this blog lately because it’s a great tool for conducting structural, thermal, and vibration analysis of your 3D CAD models. It provides a comprehensive set of finite element analysis capabilities. However, it’s not the only simulation or analysis extension available for PTC Creo and Simulate users.
In fact, there are many more options that can help you understand how your model will perform under various conditions. There’s a lot you may need to know to craft a great product design.
If you’re ready to go beyond PTC Creo Simulate, browse the list below to see what else you could be using to get the best from your 3D models.
PTC Creo Advanced Simulation Extension
Use this extension to see how advanced, nonlinear effects influence the performance of your products and more. With PTC Creo Advanced Simulation Extension, you can:
- Solve nonlinear large displacement, pre-stress, dynamic and transient thermal analyses.
- Simulate advanced materials behaviors such as hyper-elasticity, anisotropic, orthotropic, and composite laminates.
- Review advanced modeling entities such as mass/spring idealizations, pre-loaded bolts, and friction on assembly contact points.
PTC Creo Spark Analysis Extension
As more and more products incorporate electromechanical components, PTC Creo Spark Analysis Extension automates the process of clearance and creepage analysis. Use this extension to:
- Analyse and verify that clearance and creepage distances comply with requirements for components, surfaces, and nets.
- Optimize the design faster and easier for various space, materials, and cost constraints.
- Ensure product safety.
PTC Creo Mechanism Dynamics Option
PTC Creo Mechanism Dynamics Option (MDO) can virtually simulate real-world forces and analyse how your product will react to them. Use this tool to:
- Optimize the mechanism’s performance over a range of input variables.
- Size motors, springs, and dampers.
- Design and evaluate cam and slot profiles for peak performance.
- Create accurate motion envelopes for use in interference and space claim studies.
- Create high-quality animations directly from dynamic simulations
PTC Creo Fatigue Advisor Extension
Using PTC Creo Fatigue Advisor Extension, you can predict the life of metal structures that are prone to fatigue failure under cyclic loading and investigate the impact that design changes have on their endurance. Use this extension to:
- Conduct fatigue analysis, evaluating performance measures such as life, damage and factor of safety
- Use durability characteristics in design studies to optimize product life
- Better understand product durability in real-world settings by specifying repeated standard loads.
By optimizing your designs with PTC Creo simulation and analysis tools, you can save time and money as you prevent errors, rework, and production delays. See a demo of how easy it is to streamline design with simulation tools in this short video:
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