MOHD TAUFIK BIN AZMI 88868 POLYMER ENGINEERING (4) ASSIGNMENT EBP 420

Question : Write short assignment on use of finite element analysis (FEA) in rubber engineering. Please include the example of case study of the applications of FEA in designing rubber products. Answer : Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computer simulation technique used in engineering analysis and of course in rubber engineering applications. It uses a numerical technique called the finite element method (FEM). There are many finite element software packages, both free and proprietary. Development of the finite element method in structural mechanics is usually based on an energy principle such as the virtual work principle or the minimum total potential energy principle. FEA provides the ability to analyze stress acting on an object. Finite element analysis (FEA) is a computer simulation technique used in engineering analysis. It uses a numerical technique called the finite element method (FEM). Development of the finite element method in structural mechanics is usually based on an energy principle such as the virtual work principle or the minimum total potential energy principle. At Seal Science we can analyze the simulated stresses acting on a seal and determine the best design for a seal. The seal design is put under a dynamic simulation and our engineers analyze the appropriate stress points and can locate potential problem areas and apply these design considerations to a final seal. Please email us using the link above if you needs designs requiring FEA. In its applications, the object or system is represented by a geometrically similar model consisting of multiple, linked, simplified representations of discrete regionsi.e., finite elements on an unstructured grid. Equations of equilibrium, in conjunction with applicable physical considerations such as compatibility and constitutive relations, are applied to each element, and

a system of simultaneous equations is constructed. The system of equations is solved for unknown values using the techniques of linear algebra or non-linear numerical schemes, as appropriate. While being an approximate method, the accuracy of the FEA method can be improved by refining the mesh in the model using more elements and nodes. A common use of FEA is for the determination of stresses and displacements in mechanical objects and systems. Thus, in rubber engineering the uses of FEA can be applied. However, it is also routinely used in the analysis of many other types of problems, including those in heat transfer, solid state diffusion and reactions with moving boundaries, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetism. FEA is able to handle complex systems that defy closed-form analytical solutions. A variety of specializations under the umbrella of the mechanical engineering discipline such as aeronautical, biomechanical, and automotive industries all commonly use integrated FEA in design and development of their products. Several modern FEA packages include specific components such as thermal, electromagnetic, fluid, and structural working environments. In a structural simulation FEA helps tremendously in producing stiffness and strength visualizations and also in minimizing weight, materials, and costs. FEA allows detailed visualization of where structures bend or twist, and indicates the distribution of stresses and displacements. FEA software provides a wide range of simulation options for controlling the complexity of both the modeling and the analysis of a system. Similarly, the desired level of accuracy required and the associated computational time requirements can be managed simultaneously to address most engineering applications. FEA allows entire designs to be constructed, refined, and optimized before the design is manufactured. This powerful design tool has significantly improved both the standard of engineering designs and the methodology of the design process in many industrial applications.[4] The introduction of FEA has substantially decreased the time taken to take products from concept to the production line. It is primarily through improved initial prototype designs using FEA that testing and development have been accelerated. In summary, the benefits of FEA include increased accuracy, enhanced design and better insight into critical design parameters, virtual prototyping, fewer hardware prototypes, a faster and less expensive design cycle, increased productivity, and increased revenue. In rubber engineering, the FEA can be applied in producing rubber bushes. The analysis using FEA only can be started after a specific FEA model had been generated. During this process, the important parts must be identified and included during the analysis. Then choose the

geometrical space for the model either in plain strain, plain stress or axisymmetric. The use of symmetry is to reduce the size of the model. Once the modeling dimensions and basic element type have been selected then the next task is to generating a good mesh. This mesh is something like grid which allows us to observe the deformation from the computer. Usually a material model has to be chosen for this analysis due to its nonlinear deformation. Rubber is usually modeled as elastic and this is defined in terms of the strain energy density or strain energy potential. Hence in this case Ogdens second order is chosen as the strain energy function and it is fitted to the test data. As conclusion, the finite element analysis method could be used to predict deformation of rubber at low strain value. It is used to simulate mechanical behavior of engineering components. Apparently, there is other method that can used to measure the rubber product deformation such as try and error method. By using this method, the deformations on every points of the sample have to measured and recorded. It is found that this method is labour intensive and consuming a lot of time. Although the finite element analysis method could not simulate the deformation perfectly but it make our deformation prediction job easier and faster. This is the main purpose of finite element analysis. FEA is a useful tool in engineering design.