This paper on "On-Line FEA for Teaching and Structural Optimization Using Fixed Grid" was presented at the NAFEMS World Congress on The Evolution of Product Simulation From Established Methods to Virtual Testing & Prototyping - 24-28 April 2001, The Grand Hotel, Lake Como, Italy.

Abstract

Computational Mechanics has advanced to the stage of maturity whereby users expect/demand more than just the result from a computer simulation. There is a need to be able to quickly explore “what-if” scenarios, to be able to include the analysis as part of the design creation process rather than simply be part of the design validation. There is also a need for intelligent software that does this “what-if” exploration in an on-line, natural way. This means that the design exploration "engine" has been set a goal such as minimum/maximum stress or maximum stiffness or maximum buckling load. Having developed such intelligent analysis software there is then the educational role of making analysts aware of the new technology.
This article talks about the experience of using a Fixed Grid Finite Element Analysis (FG) software called Xblue as an educational tool for introducing students to FEA structural analysis and re-design. The program features a simple 2D sketching tool and provides fast computations of the displacement and stress field. Solutions to topological and/or geometrical changes are obtained On-line by graphical manipulation of design parameters.
The key point of FG analysis is that Mesh generation is encoded in a suitable and transparent manner to produce efficient finite element analysis without user intervention. By manipulation of the geometric shape (ie: locations of holes, etc) a new solution is generated without the overhead of pre- or post-processing for analysis.
Experience with students has shown that they could concentrate on developing new topology/geometry shapes by interactively modifying (testing) the designs rather than spending time with the internal mathematics and book-keeping of the analysis method. In addition to the interactive design alteration and evaluation processes, the software offers some fast automatic shape and topology optimization capabilities that help the user towards a better structural shape.
The software has been tested on a group of students with an elementary structural mechanics background but with no experience of FEA tools. Analysis of the feedback and comparisons with the "take-up" time on full-sized commercial FEA packages yield conclusions of a fast learning curve which has helped the understanding of structural problems. Several examples used with the students are presented to illustrate the teaching methodology of Xblue and its performance.