The Effective Engineer - Optimization, Stress Margins, Composite Joints, and Siemens

Helping you solve your engineering challenges

For Engineers, Managers, and Technical Professionals

August 2011 | No. 1

Greetings!

Welcome to the inaugural newsletter from Structural Mechanics Corporation. This monthly newsletter provides engineers, managers, and technical professionals with information on how to get their jobs done more efficiently and get their products to market faster for less money.

Eric J. Roulo Tomoya Ochinero, Ph.D.

Save Weight via Topological Optimization

By designing structures using topological optimization, parts can be built in the most efficient shape,thereby reducing weight, saving material costs, and reducing waste. The method is ideal for castings, metalics, and composite parts where efficiency is critical. Most enterprise level simulation software now has capability, but using it requires additional planning and thought. SMC's guidelines for optimization allow rapid deployment of this technology.

Read on

Section Analysis Removes High Stresses

Stress analysis using finite element models often results in regions of the model that exceed the required stress levels. When this happens there are four typical approaches used to show the part good.

This article will concentrate on the section cut method, using forces and moments generated by the model to compute a net section stress against which the margin is computed.

Read on

Composite Joint Design Guidelines

Composite joints are significantly more complicated than their metallic counterparts because of the brittle nature of composite materials and the additional failure modes not present in metal structures. The following article discusses some common problems and presents design guidance to both the composite designer and stress analyst.

Read on

Siemens Channel Partner

Structural Mechanics Corporation has partnered with Siemens AG to provide engineering support and sales for their CAE software products. SMC is now an authorized reseller of the entire line of NX and Velocity engineering products including NX-CAE, NX-Nastran, Femap, and Solid Edge.

Read on

In This Issue

Topological Optimization

Section Analysis

Composite Joint Design

Siemens Channel Partner
Upcoming Events
NASA Project Manager Quotes

Tips & Tricks

Femap

Nastran

TED

Effective Engineering

The focus of this publication is on individual contributors and their first line managers in engineering and technical organizations. SMC provides insight and tools on challenging engineering problems seen in the competitive marketplace. Our focus is on effective methods and behaviors that will make you and your organization competitive and provide a rewarding professional experience.

Tips and Tricks

Tips to keep you effective at work and in your career.

FEMAP - Mesh to Geometry Associativity

NASTRAN - Grid Point Weight Generator Details

TED Video - Secrets of Success in 8 words, 3 mins.

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Upcoming Events

Open SMC Training - Topological Optimization with Femap video conference and webinar

8:00 AM PST, September 9th, 2011.

Open SMC Training - Intuitive Mode Identification with NX Nastran video conference and webinar

8:00 AM PST, September 23rd, 2011.

NASA Project Managers Guideline #1

There is no such thing as previously flown hardware, i.e., the people who build the next unit probably never saw the previous unit; there are probably minor changes; the operational environment has probably changed; and the people who check the unit out will in most cases not understand the unit or the test equipment.

Contact Information | www.structuralmechanics.com | (310) 372-2277

Please feel free to contact us at Structural Mechanics Corporation with any questions you have regarding this newsletter or our complete engineering, training, and project management services.