Constraint based analysis tools for design

ABSTlL4CT Finite element analysis has become a powerfid tool in the design process. Analyses of stress, heat transferand dynamic behavior are common to ftite element analysis. Due to the time required to build a ftite element model, finite element analysis is tx%g used as an atter-the-fact verification tool. This fact prevents the use of the FEA in the early design stages. This paper &scribes an interactive constraint based system developed at University of Puerto Rico for finite element model generation, solution and optimization using 3D elements. The system consists of a geome~ editor, constraint generator, constraint solver, fmalysis file generator and optimizer. ANSYS~ is used as the Finite Element engine. This system has been designed for modeling 3D shapes from which a finite element model is derived, solved and optimized.