Structural and Load Modifications in Finite Element Analysis

M. L. Musayeva

and P. S. Tsamaeva

Kadyrov Chechen State University, 32 Sheripov Street, Grozny, Russia

Department of Technological Machines and Equipment, Grozny State Oil Technical University named after Academician

M. D. Millionshikov, 100 H A Isaeva pr, Grozny, Russia

Keywords: Structure, loads, software packages, complex analysis, modifications, Finite Element Analysis.

Abstract: The following work was conducted to outline the alternation of structure and loads in the finite element

analysis or analysis in general. Nowadays, computers are able to handle complex analysis but yet the analysis

sometimes requires to be solved. With the simplified version, analysis can be done in a faster way and with

the fewer errors as well. Hence, the following work outlines the main aspects of the structure and loads

alternation. Gives different types of examples of structure and loads alternation. Also, the work shows

advantages and disadvantages of alternation of structure and loads during analysis.

1 INTRODUCTION

With the advancement of computer calculations, most

of the complex analysis can be carried out in a short

amount of time. In the past, it would take hours and

days to tackle even the simplest calculations.

Therefore, with the growth of computing power, there

are new ways to solve some complex problems and

even problems that were unsolvable in the past due to

the lack of solving methods.

Modern days give researchers powerful tools for

analysis. With the improvement of computing power,

various tools have emerged. These tools (software

packages) comes in wide diversity. Some are created

for the modeling purposes, some for analysis, and

ones with the capability to perform both.

These tools can analysis a given problem with the

accurate results if they are carried out correctly. The

quality of output results depends on many aspects. In

the beginning, the correct method selection can

increase the accuracy of the results. Many methods

are used for different tasks, and therefore inaccurate

or even incorrect results will be obtained when using

the wrong method to solve a problem. The second

thing is the knowledge of the researcher. For the

correct output values, the prescribed steps for analysis

needs to be carried out correctly. Therefore, the

researcher must be qualified in the given problem.

The third is correct representation of the tackling

problem and the application of boundary conditions.

The analyzing structure must be matching to the real-

world object. If some parts of the analyzing structure

differ from the real-world one, the output results will

as well be different. Boundary conditions play a vital

role in whole analysis. Even a slight displacement in

applications of these conditions will give different

output data. The last one is the interpretation of the

results. There is a lot of data after analysis solved.

Therefore, it is important to extract correct values and

the skills to correctly interpret them. Of course, there

are many other things to be looked up for the quality

results output, but the main ones are mentioned in this

work (Jiménez, 2021; Ordoñez, 2021).

Sometimes correct answers are not necessary in

the analysis, but tendency. Some researchers use tools

to predict results or in other way to see a tendency of

results. In this case, the results will not match the real-

world values, but will be on the same path. Hence, the

structure can be changed or simplified. Similarly, the

boundary conditions also will be altered. In other

terms, it can be noted as a simplification or

idealization of structure and loads. The following

work will look into the use and reasons of altering the

appearance and acting loads to it.

2 ALTERNATION OF

STRUCTURE AND LOADS

For the analysis to be performed, some initial object

required. This object or a structure can be in any

Musayeva, M. and Tsamaeva, P.

Structural and Load Modiﬁcations in Finite Element Analysis.

DOI: 10.5220/0011556000003524

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Methods, Models, Technologies for Sustainable Development (MMTGE 2022) - Agroclimatic Projects and Carbon Neutrality, pages

127-130

ISBN: 978-989-758-608-8

 2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

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Figure 1: Mars rover.

shape, size, state and etc. Usually, a structure has

different appearance and can be simple in one case

and complex in others. Consequently, simple one will

be easier to be modelled and analyzed than the

complex one. The researcher has to make decision to

analysis the structure as it is or alter the appearance

and hence change the acting loads. Of course, both

simple one and complex one can be analyzed as they

are. But most of the time, both of the structures are

simplified for ease of analysis.

There are two main reasons for alternation of

structure and loads. The first of these, as was

mentioned before, is related to the ease of analysis

and the methods used. The second one is for working

out different scenarios of how the structure will act by

changing the appearance and the acting loads on it.

2.1 Structure Alternation

The following paragraph will be devoted to examples

of alteration in the structure. By examining the

examples, one can notice that some of structures are

altered more, while others are not. In figure 1

presented Mars’ Rover, which is currently used for

the exploration of water on Mars.

Comparing two models, one can conclude that the

difference in parts is vast, but the main body forms

are represented in a simpler way (Magomedov, 2022;

NASA SCIENCE; Daniela, 2015). Figure 2a and b

illustrates the structure of the braking system. The

representation of one object can be done in many

ways, as illustrated in the figure 2. In one case, the

brake system is represented with the closer

appearance to the real-world system, and in another

one, it has more simple modeled parts. As it was

mentioned the appearance, complexity, forms and etc.

depends on the researcher. The smartphone screen is

shown in the figure 3. Figure 3 shows translation of

3D model to 2D model (Magomedov, 2019). It is not

only 3d model simplification one can get, but 2d

simplification too. Of course, there are a lot of

different ways and methods to simplify the structure

that are not represented in this work.

Figure 2a: Disc brake system.

2.2 Alternation of Loads

As it was mentioned earlier, the second thing that can

be altered is the loads. First of all, by just altering the

structure appearance, the loads will respectively

change. Second thing is when 3D model is translated

to 2d model as illustrated in the figure 4 (López, 2012;

Enterfea). As model is translated to 2D model, some

loads are changed or reduced. There is another

method used in the analysis, which is segments

removal. In which the structure is cut to a smaller

portion and then one of the segments is analyzed.

In this method not only the structure is simplified

but also loads simplification or reduction take place.

MMTGE 2022 - I International Conference "Methods, models, technologies for sustainable development: agroclimatic projects and carbon

neutrality", Kadyrov Chechen State University Chechen Republic, Grozny, st. Sher

128

Figure 2b: Disc brake system.

Figure 3: Smartphone screen.

Figure 4: Beam models.

3 ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES

As it was discussed above, simplification of the

structure leads to easy analysis. By the simplification

of the structure nodes or finite elements get reduced

(of course, mesh can be added to refine the divisions

of structure even with the less parts), hence making it

easier for the solver to calculate. It is also fair to

mention that complex structures often give errors.

Errors are inevitable part of the modern tools for the

analyses. They occur way more often and there are a

lot of reasons for their occurrence. However,

simplification can sometimes eliminate them. If given

the simplified structure to the solver it will calculate

it faster (in some cases it can introduce more errors)

Structural and Load Modiﬁcations in Finite Element Analysis

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hence reducing time needed. In any production of

goods, technique, food or in this case any analysis

reduction of time is essential for the future

prosperous. Time in our society is equals to profit,

which means any reduction in time will positively

effect in any given task.

With the advantages, there are some

disadvantages for structure alternation before the

analysis. First and the main disadvantage is precise

values, which are collected at the end of the analysis.

By the idealization or alternation of any given

structure, the output results will only illustrate

tendency or somehow close results, but no correct

results. Therefore, the researcher should choose the

correct method and decide, which result are expected

from the analysis, whether precise or correlates with

the correct values. The other outcome of alternation

is incorrect values, which is not even correlates with

the tendency. With the simplification of the structure,

the output values can go in any direction, meaning

that they won’t carry any value at the end.

Introduction of new error also possible with the

alternation.

4 CONCLUSIONS

To conclude, the following work was performed to

understand the use of alternation of the structure in

the analysis. The work described the process and the

meaning of the alternation or idealization of the

structure. The examples also were presented in this

work to illustrate the different ways of alternation.

The importance of use of these methods were also

presented with the advantages and disadvantages.

With the improvement of the software, the alternation

process will be easier to performed, but today it’s a

method that researchers use manually.

REFERENCES

Jiménez, H. F., et al, 2021. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ.

Sci. 776. 012012.

Ordoñez, M., et al, 2021. Propuesta metodológica para el

diseño de prótesis utilizando CAD generativo y análisis

CAE. p. 7

Magomedov, I. A., José, Luis Ordoñez-Avila, Bagov, A.

M., 2022. Statistical evaluation of a robotic six-wheel

structures mechanism based on motion simulation.

NASA SCIENCE (Mars exploration program) Mars

Perseverance Rover, 3D Model.

https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/25042/mars-

perseverance-rover-3d-model/.

Daniela, N. Lastra. 2015. Modelado y control dinámico de

un Aerogenerador. Universidad de Cantabria,

Cantabria.

Magomedov, I. A., et al, 2019. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth

Environ. Sci. 378. 012064.

Enterfea, 2D vs 3D Finite Element Analysis (with

examples). https://enterfea.com/2d-vs-3d-finite-

element-analysis/.

López, V., 2012. Ingeniería de la Energía Eólica.

Barcelona: Marcombo S.A.

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neutrality", Kadyrov Chechen State University Chechen Republic, Grozny, st. Sher

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