Solid Models and Structure Analysis

Traditionally, prototypes of machine parts and industrial products were created by relying on a designer’s perception and experience. The strength of the parts and products were also analyzed through manual experiments. In recent years, finite-element analysis has been improved from research to the practical use phase and is becoming an indispensable tool in research, design, and the development of engineering. Additionally with the rapid development in computers and their processing speed, finite-element analysis is playing an important role in shortening the period of product development, reducing the costs related to such development, and improving the reliability of products. This is not all, finite-element analysis can measure what could not be measured in experiments so far, according to the experimental conditions. This improvement has possibly created a whole new approach to design. Furthermore, by using super computers, analyses that had required long calculation time, such as large-scale problems or nonlinear issues, can be solved in a relatively short time. With the assistance of engineering work stations (EWS), soon finite-element analysis is also going to be realized in the personal environment.