Citation:

Samuel Ambosta, 2024. "Optimizing Structural Performance with Advanced Finite Element Techniques", ESP Journal of Engineering & Technology Advancements  4(3): 59-76.

Abstract:

Mechanical engineering has gradually relied on high computational methods in the field for improved performance of structures which play significant roles in the enhancement and development of engineering systems. Linear Analysis has evolved to be a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in that it assists engineers in simulating the behavior of structures under different loads and conditions. Several applications of FETs are discussed with the aim of understanding how FE can be used in improving structural performance in structural elements in practical applications involving aerospace and automotive structures, more especially in the evaluation of the performance of an airplane wing. The paper starts with an overview of the field contents and the development of FETs from simple linear static analysis into more complex methods like nonlinear dynamic analysis and coupled multiphysics simulations. In the paper, the author stresses the importance of creating a balance of the methods, elements, and boundary conditions to get a precise result. Particular emphasis is paid to material modeling and its supplementation, such as the anisotropic material and composites that are extensively used in present-world engineering systems. A comprehensive description of the method in this study is presented in the methodology section of the paper, which describes the procedures followed in this study, such as the identification of the right FEA software, the creation of a realistic model of the airplane wing and the application of several loading regimes that replicate real-life conditions. The paper also includes a comparison between the various methods of meshing and the effect they have on the precision and time taken during simulation. These results establish the capability of enhanced FETs in determining the structural behavior of the airplane wing, stressing the zones that are likely for failure. It also teaches the learner the value of compliance with material modeling and the use of the right element type in the whole process of designing to achieve plausible outcomes. Based on the presented results, the paper outlines the general recommendations for the design and analysis of mechanical structures and the future development of the given field.

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Keywords:

Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Structural Performance, Mechanical Engineering, Meshing Techniques, Material Modeling, Nonlinear Dynamics, Aerospace Engineering, Anisotropic Materials, Computational Efficiency.