Project QUICKVIEW

Satellite Design / Femap and NX Nastran

Advanced satellite design for the USAF through their sub‐contractor Spaceworks. The model was built using Femap and analyzed using NX Nastran. Peak loads are experienced only during launch and this is simulated using a power‐spectral‐density (PSD) normal modes analysis. The model contains nearly 900,000 nodes and correlated within 5% to experimental results. It represented a “first” for the client to execute large models in a timely and accurate manner.

Nuclear Waste Vessel / Femap and NX Nastran

Large‐scale (300” diameter) nuclear waste processing vessels were modeled using Femap and analyzed using NX Nastran. This vessel and others were certified against ASME Section VIII, Div. 2 and the ASCE 4‐98 for Seismic Analysis of Nuclear‐Related Equipment. Our NQA‐1 engineering report on this vessel represented the first time that Bechtel had approved an external report for vessel acceptance at the Hanford WTP facility.

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Submarine / Femap and NX Nastran

Eight passenger, deep‐diving (depth 1,200’) luxury submarine built with Femap and analyzed using NX Nastran. First human occupancy submersible certified by the American Bureau of Shipping via the finite element method.

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Coffee Cup / Femap and LS-DYNA

Impact testing of consumer projects is quite common. However, virtual impact testing is just in its infancy for standard consumer products. This model was constructed from Solidworks geometry imported into Femap and then analyzed using LS‐DYNA. Simulation results showed definite regions for improvement and upon testing, the design passed with flying colors and can be found at your local Starbucks coffee shop!

Oil Drilling Winch / Femap and NX Nastran

High‐speed, high‐torque, 6,000 HP off‐shore oil drilling winch built with Femap and analyzed using NX Nastran. Passed DNV (Det Norske Veritas) certification with no problems while beating the client’s design weight requirement by 15%.

Heavy-duty Gearbox / Femap and LS-DYNA

1,100 Ton Top Drive Gearbox for off‐shore oil production modeled using Femap and solved with NX Nastran. The gearbox was certified under the American Petroleum Institute (API) and DNV Specifications. It was the first of its kind to pass complete load testing with no failure.

School Bus Seat / Femap and LS-DYNA

Bus seat analysis with the geometry imported from Unigraphics into Femap and then solved using LS‐DYNA. The model simulated the Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard for seat belt retention during a crash event. This was a new design for Navistar and incorporated the latest FMVSS requirement for seat belts. Numerical simulating greatly accelerated the testing program and shaved pounds of material off of the seat design.

Baseball Bat / Femap and LS-DYNA

Every baseball player knows that sound when the baseball hits the “sweet spot” and with enough swing, they have a home run. Nike wanted to determine if they could create a bigger sweet spot on their NCAA bats. This project built the bat and ball using Femap and then simulated the batting event using LS‐DYNA. Results? Our recommendation is to buy Nike.