NX CAE Tips & Tricks – FEA Workflow Part #2

In Part 1, we first became acquainted with essential user interface navigation before creating an idealized, analysis-specific representation of our bracket.  Next stop on our journey – meshing. Sometimes referred to as gridding, meshing is the process of dividing up geometry into discrete regions that can be subjected to numerical solution. To sound extra smart, or if you just like big words, you may also refer to meshing as a form of ‘domain discretization.’



A few things to keep in mind while you watch the video below – (i) NX CAE allows you create a mesh that is associative to its native CAD geometry, (ii) meshes inherit the material definition of their parent CAD by default, but this can be altered, (iii) it is often a good idea to verify the quality of your mesh using the built-in FEA model check feature. You’ll also be introduced to the concept of a mesh collector – a bin for storing and organizing meshes of the same variety. Click on the video to commence playback.

     Meshing

Next, let’s apply a hard constraint to the model before investigating the bracket’s response to various loading conditions. Note how a load can be applied to a polygon edge or face without being associated to any particular mesh element. This allows the load to be retained and updated in the event of a downstream geometry modification. Also, keep in mind that multiple subcases can be rolled into a single solution, reducing file redundancy while saving you precious time. Click on the video to commence playback.

     Boundary Conditions

Stay tuned for Part 3 where will execute the model, extract the results, and wrap up the analysis in a report.  In the meantime, I’d like to invite you to share your own experience or comment below.

Mark