What is Structural Analysis?
Structural analysis is a simulation engineering discipline that focuses on determining the strength, stability, and durability of structures under various loads and conditions. By using advanced mathematical models and simulations, engineers can predict how structures – ranging from buildings and bridges to mechanical components – will respond to real-world forces such as gravity, wind, seismic activity, and thermal changes.
This typye of analysis ensures that structures are safe, efficient, and capable of withstanding both everyday use and extreme conditions.
The role of structural analysis in digital engineering
Structural analysis involves the application of principles from physics and mechanics to assess how different materials behave under stress. Whether it’s designing a skyscraper or a complex mechanical part for an aircraft, structural analysis helps engineers identify the most efficient ways to use materials without compromising on safety or performance.
Engineers use tools like FEA (finite element analysis) to create virtual models of a structure, which are then subjected to simulated loads. These simulations provide insights into potential weak points, areas of excessive deformation, or failure risks. With this data, engineers can optimize designs before physical prototypes are built, saving both time and resources while improving safety and performance.
What are the benefits of structural analysis?
Enhance product safety
Identify potential failure points, weak spots, and vulnerabilities in a design before it is built. By simulating real-world conditions such as load-bearing capacity, seismic activity, or wind forces, engineers can ensure that structures are safe for users and the environment.
Reduce development costs
Limit the need for multiple physical prototypes by using virtual prototypes through FEA and other advanced simulation methodologies. This minimizes material costs and accelerates the development process by identifying design issues early on, thus avoiding costly redesigns or production errors.
Optimize material use
Determine where reinforcement is necessary and where materials can be minimized without compromising safety. This leads to more efficient designs that reduce waste, lower costs, and improve sustainability.
Improve design quality
Explore a wider range of design options and make more informed decisions. It also improves the overall quality of designs by ensuring that they meet high standards of performance under different load conditions.
Shorten time-to-market
Reduce project timelines by streamlining the design process and reducing the need for physical testing. Validate designs virtually and iterate quickly to bring smarter products to market faster.
Mitigate risks
Simulate various operational scenarios and identifying potential problems early in the design phase. This reduces the likelihood of encountering unforeseen issues during construction or production, minimizing delays and ensuring smoother project execution.
Predict performance
Understand how a structure will behave under various loads and environmental conditions before construction begins. This helps ensure that the design will perform as expected throughout its lifecycle, reducing warranty costs and increasing customer satisfaction.
Comply with regulations
Ensure that designs comply with relevant industry standards and regulations (e.g., Eurocode, AISC). This not only enhances public safety but also avoids legal liabilities.
What's the best way to get started with structural analysis in your organization?
Integrating structural analysis into your product development process is essential for ensuring design integrity, optimizing material use, and enhancing overall product performance. Keep reading to discover our recommended approach to structural analysis, or reach out to us for a free consultation today.
Identify the purpose of the structure or component. Understand the environmental conditions it will face (e.g., loads, temperature variations, or seismic activity). Define performance criteria such as strength, durability, and safety standards.
This can be done using CAD (computer-aided design) software such as CATIA or SOLIDWORKS. The geometry should accurately represent all critical features of the design, including dimensions, shapes, and connections. Ensure that the model is detailed enough to capture all necessary features, but simplified enough to avoid unnecessary computational complexity during analysis.
These properties will influence how the structure behaves under different loads and conditions. Material data can be sourced from industry standards or material databases integrated within simulation tools like Abaqus or SIMULIA.
Boundary conditions define how the structure is supported or constrained. For example, fixed supports might be applied to simulate where a building is anchored to its foundation.
Meshing is a critical step because it affects both accuracy and computational efficiency. A finer mesh provides more detailed results but requires more computational power. A coarser mesh reduces computation time but may miss important stress concentrations. The goal is to strike a balance between accuracy and efficiency by refining the mesh in areas where high stress or deformation is expected.
Use FEA software to calculate key factors such as stress distribution, strain, deformation patterns, and potential failure points. The results provide valuable insights into how the structure will perform in real-world conditions.
Check your design against relevant industry standards and regulations (e.g., Eurocode for civil structures or ISO standards for mechanical components). Ensuring compliance at this stage helps avoid costly redesigns later in the development process.
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Our simulation team are on-hand to provide tailored guidance and support with a deep knowledge of the full SIMULIA portfolio. Reach out to talk to an expert today.
Essential software for structural analysis
Abaqus
For advanced engineering simulations and comprehensive analyses.
CATIA Analysis
For advanced engineering analysis and design validation.
SOLIDWORKS Simulation
For evaluating performance and behavior inside the product design environment.
View our extensive range of software solutions