Algor tutorial explains mechanical event simulation for virtual prototyping of a buckling bar

Citation

(1998), "Algor tutorial explains mechanical event simulation for virtual prototyping of a buckling bar", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 70 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.1998.12770fab.017

Algor tutorial explains mechanical event simulation for virtual prototyping of a buckling bar

Algor tutorial explains mechanical event simulation for virtual prototyping of a buckling bar

Keywords Algor, Prototype, VR

Algor Inc. recently announced the release of a new keystroke tutorial which claims to make learning about its Mechanical Event Simulation software for Virtual Prototyping easier (Plate 12).

The buckling bar tutorial features an aluminium bar modeled using two different methods. First, the bar is modeled with an applied force, a traditional finite element analysis (FEA) technique. Then, the bar is modeled with a three-dimensional mass on top of it, using Algor's Accupak/VE Mechanical Event Simulation software. In each case, motion, impact and permanent deformation are simulated. However, the Mechanical Event Simulation produces more realistic results.

"This tutorial demonstrates the advantages of Algor's Mechanical Event Simulation for virtual prototyping over traditional FEA", said Michael L. Bussler, Algor's president and chief executive officer. "In this buckling bar example, Mechanical Event Simulation replaces the assumptions inherent in traditional FEA with the actual physics of the design event and produces results that more closely correspond to an actual laboratory experiment".

Plate 12 The buckling bar tutorial released by Algor, Inc. features an aluminium bar loaded first with an applied force (left) and then with a modeled, three-dimensional mass (right). In each case, Algor's Accupak/VE simulates the event's motion, impact and permanent deformation. However, the model with the three-dimensional mass produces more realistic results, compared to an actual laboratory experiment (inset)

The buckling bar tutorial demonstrates that engineers can use Accupak/VE's capabilities to describe the external influences that control an event, such as gravity and inertia. During the Mechanical Event Simulation, Algor's Monitor generates a graph of position over time. Algor's Superview in Monitor mode graphically displays the model's dynamics and stresses as the event unfolds.

Other tutorials are available from Algor for a wide variety of topics including linear stress analysis, nonlinear stress analysis, heat transfer analysis, fluid flow analysis, electrostatic analysis, analysis involving beam/truss elements and other Mechanical Event Simulation capabilities for virtual prototyping. Upcoming tutorials will cover other topics including finite element modeling and piping analysis.

Each tutorial can be downloaded as a full-color document from Algor's Web site, www.algor.com, or accessed from DocuTech, Algor's technical user documentation information resource on CD-ROM. All of the tutorials can be read and printed by the most popular word processing tools.

Algor, Inc. provides finite element analysis, Mechanical Event Simulation for virtual prototyping, CAD interfacing and piping analysis products to more than 16,000 engineers located in over 60 countries. In addition, the Algor Publishing Division offers books, videos and multimedia products which help engineers do better design, simulation and analysis with virtually any engineering software.

For more information contact Algor, Inc. Tel: +1 (412) 967 2700.