Types of Analysis

1. Structural analysis

It is the most common application of the finite element method. The

term structural (or structure) implies not only civil engineering structures such as
bridges and buildings, but also naval, aeronautical, and mechanical structures such as
ship hulls, aircraft bodies, and machine housings, as well as mechanical components
such as pistons, machine parts, and tools.

Following are the types of structural analysis

Static Analysis - A static analysis calculates the effects of steady loading conditions
on a structure, while ignoring time-varying loads. Static analysis is used to determine
the displacements, stresses, strains, and forces in structures or components. A static
analysis can be either linear or nonlinear. Linear means straight line. σ = E ε is
equation of straight line (y = m x) passing through origin. "E" Elastic Modulus is
slope of the curve & is a constant. In real life after crossing yield point
material follows non liner curve.

Non Linear Static Analysis-

- Force (stress) Vs. Displacement [strain) curve nonlinear (polynomial).

- Stiffness [K] is function of displacement [d] (for linear analysis [K] is constant,
independent of [d])
-Deals with true stress &strain (unlike engineering stress &strain in linear static
analysis)
Dynamic Analysis –
Practical applications: Natural frequency is a characteristic and basic design property
of any component, while forced vibrations is applicable for components subjected to
force, displacement, velocity, or acceleration varying with respect to time or
frequency.

Modal Analysis – It is used to determine the vibration characteristics (natural

frequencies and mode shapes) of a structure or a machine component while it is
being designed. It also can be a starting point for another, more detailed, dynamic
analysis.

Buckling Analysis - Buckling analysis is a technique used to determine buckling

loads-critical loads at which a structure becomes unstable-and buckled mode shapes-
the characteristic shape associated with a structure's buckled response. Practical
applications: Commonly used for civil engineering applications. Mechanical
engineering applications - vacuum vessel, long gear shifter rod analysis, etc.
 2. Thermal Analysis - A thermal analysis calculates the temperature distribution
and related thermal quantities in a system or component. Typical thermal
quantities of interest are:

The temperature distributions, the amount of heat lost or gained, Thermal gradients
Thermal fluxes.

Practical applications: Engine, radiator, exhaust system, heat exchangers, power

plants, satellite design etc.

A steady-state thermal analysis determines the temperature distribution and other

thermal quantities under steady-state loading conditions. A steady-state loading
condition is a situation where heat storage effects varying over a period of time can
be ignored.

A transient thermal analysis determines the temperature distribution and other

thermal quantities under conditions that vary over a period of time.

An analogy of heat transfer analysis and structural analysis is shown in the table
below.
 3. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis
A fluid is a substance that continuously deforms under an applied shear stress
regardless of the magnitude of the applied stress. Gas and liquids are both
fluids. Fluid mechanics deals with the study of fluid, its properties, and its
behaviour.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the branch of fluid mechanics where

numerical methods are used to analyse fluid dynamics problems. It is based on the
Navier –Stokes equations (mass, momentum, and energy conservation equilibrium
equations).

In addition to the above analysis types, several special-purpose analysis also use
Finite element Method.

Fatigue Analysis, Crash Analysis, NVH(Noise, Vibration & Harshness).