Summary FEM - Finite elemental analysis

Finite elemental analysis question set 2
Question
Shown in Figure Q2 is a typical sealing system
found in the powertrain system of high
performance cars and/or aircraft. For the
purpose of stress analysis such a sealing system
is highly non-linear and so the quality of results
from non-linear Finite Element (FE) simulations
can have a major impact on designing the
system to be fit for its intended purpose.



Part A (8 marks)

Identify the main causes of non-linearity present in analysing the sealing system, using
illustrations to present them. Which aspect is the most difficult one to simulate using FE
modelling.



Part B (12 marks)

To accelerate the simulation, gap elements may be used to model contact analysis.
Although they are rarely used today in finite element simulations. Discuss the advantages
and disadvantages of using gap elements in the contact analysis of the sealing system



Part C (17 marks)

As the FE analyst, briefly summarise the modelling requirements and technical data required
to develop a contact model. To simplify the analysis, the shaft can assumed as rigid body.
Discuss this assumption on the quality of the output



Part D (16 marks)

If assumed all the contact bodies are elastic and the analysis is static, explain why the CPU
time required is high to complete the stress analysis for the sealing system.