CHAPTER 8 FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS__________________________________ 481

8.0

Introduction ................................................................................................. 481

Stress and Strain Computation

482

8.1

Finite Element Method .................................................................................. 483

8.2

Element Types .............................................................................................. 485

Element Dimension and Degree of Freedom (DOF)

485

Element Order

486

H-Elements Versus P-Elements

487

Element Aspect Ratio

487

8.3

Meshing ........................................................................................................ 487

Mesh Density

488

Mesh Refinement

488

Convergence

488

8.4

Boundary Conditions ................................................................................... 492

8.5

Applying Loads ............................................................................................ 502

8.6

Testing the Model .......................................................................................... 503

8.7

Modal Analysis ............................................................................................. 506

8.8

Case Studies ................................................................................................. 508

Case Study 1D: FEA Analysis of a Bicycle Brake Lever

509

Case Study 2D: FEA Analysis of a Crimping Tool

511

Case Study 4D: FEA Analysis of a Bicycle Brake Arm

513

Case Study 7: FEA Analysis of a Trailer Hitch

516

8.9

Summary ..................................................................................................... 518

8.10 References ................................................................................................... 519

8.11 Bibliography ................................................................................................. 519

8.12 Web Resources ............................................................................................ 519

8.13 Problems ...................................................................................................... 520

xiv

MACHINE DESIGN -

An Integrated Approach