Fatigue Analysis (Durability)
Prevent structural failures of your product under cyclic and dynamic loads by replicating experimental fatigue tests.Download Brochure Request information
It is well known that a significant percentage of mechanical component failures (literature suggests up to 85%) are caused by fatigue.
Given such a significant figure, it is clear how crucial it is to address durability during the design phase, generating enormous added value and reliability for most products.
On the other hand, the subject of fatigue analysis of materials, and even more so of mechanical “components,” has historically been difficult to resolve in a fully predictive manner within computer simulations. In fact, component life can vary based on the type of material, the surface finish, and the heat treatment used.
Over the years, SmartCAE has developed the know-how required to perform durability analyses that increase the lifespan of mechanical components, whether they are made of metallic materials or laminated composites.
Reducing costs and time-to-market with simulation
The Benefits of Durability Analysis
Fatigue tests are extremely expensive for several reasons. First, they require the physical creation of a prototype, with all the economic and technological implications that entails.
Furthermore, these tests take a considerable amount of time to yield results: a component designed to withstand hundreds of thousands or millions of cycles will require weeks of testing and significant laboratory management costs.
Finally, fatigue tests are destructive: the prototype is stressed until a fracture is initiated.
In the unfortunate event that the product fails the test, the design must be modified and the entire test repeated, leading to further costs and delays.
For these reasons, durability analysis using Finite Element Models (FEM) allows you to anticipate test results by weeks, slashing costs related to prototyping and experimentation.
Experimental fatigue testing for final product validation can proceed only after simulation has provided the necessary confidence that the test will be successful.
Fatigue Analysis and Durability Services by SmartCAE
Over 20 years of engineering expertise at your service.
We have gained significant experience in materials fatigue analysis and durability verification:111111
This is the most common application, as it can be performed using both specialized software and traditional analytical methods. In both cases, the starting point is an FEM model created to determine the correct strain and stress state in the area of interest.
This type of verification is used when the component’s strain and stress state varies significantly in direction and intensity during operation. In such cases, reducing the analysis to a uniaxial stress state can be too approximate. We use specialized durability analysis software to perform these evaluations.
Stresses induced by vibration regimes, typical for components installed on moving vehicles, can trigger fatigue fractures. We have performed numerous vibration fatigue verifications following typical scenarios in the aerospace and automotive sectors.
When verifying objects made of welded metallic parts, special attention is required in interpreting FEM results. Over the years, we have refined various FEM modeling and fatigue post-processing techniques for welded structures, applicable to any type of joint.
Fatigue analysis of laminated composite structures remains a challenge today in terms of both mathematical methods and the data required for the FEM model. We employ robust mathematical approaches that allow us to effectively estimate the fatigue strength of carbon fiber parts.
Validate your product before you build it.
What if you could reduce your prototyping costs by up to 80%? Would you like to know how?
With computer simulation, we help you predict your product's performance under real operating conditions before it is manufactured. Partner with us to eliminate design errors, optimize performance, and bring better products to market faster. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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Discover our range of CAE software solutions and expert mentoring services. Our specialists will help you select the solution that best fits your needs and ensure its successful integration into your product development process. Contact us today for a free technical assessment.
View all softwareSimcenter 3D Durability
Simcenter 3D provides a comprehensive suite of tools to support fatigue and durability analysis throughout all stages of product development.
winLIFE
winLIFE is an add-on for Simcenter Femap that enables fatigue analysis using the results of finite element structural calculations.
