Expertise
Structural Mechanics is the computation of deformations, deflections, and internal stresses within structures as a means to evaluate performance.
Citadel Structural Mechanics uses Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to provide our clients (see the Partners page, Client tab) with answers to product performance questions and insight into product behavior:
- Is it strong enough?
- Is the stress too high?
- Is it rigid or flexible enough?
- How far will this part deflect or move?
- What does the force-deflection curve of this mechanism look like?
FEA can also be used to run do investigational studies like:
- Components of Variation (COV)
- Design of Experiments (DOE)
Linear and nonlinear FEA analysis:
Citadel can address simple linear analyses, but also specializes in more complex nonlinear analysis, with experience in handling the following nonlinearities:
- Large deflection and large strain
- Multi-body Contact including complex frictional behavior
- Advanced material models
- Engineering polymers, elastomers, and biomaterials (including UHMWPE)
- Validation & Correlation
- Additionally, we conduct the following analyses:
- Fatigue Analysis
- Harmonic and Modal Analysis
Validation, Calibration & Correlation:
Citadel leverages physical test data whenever possible to ensure simulation results that the client can have confidence in:
- Validation of the analysis model against the physical test ensures correct constraints, loadings, and boundary conditions.
- Calibration of Material Models with material test data ensures that correct properties, including non-linear behaviors, are captured and replicated.
- Correlation of the analysis to equivalent physical test data establishes boundaries on how well the Finite Element Analysis will predict physical test results.
Citadel will partner with certified test labs and your own test facilities to build confidence in the predictive results.
Take the next step!
Citadel Structural Mechanics shines in leveraging Product Development expertise to provide Design Optimization guidance: We take the next step to recommend design changes, typically in the form of updated geometry models, and accompany them with the analysis results that demonstrate the performance improvements.
Our focus is not to merely identify the problem, but to provide a result that will address the problem. Speaking both languages, that of analysis and of design, creates synergy, fueling innovation.