WaveSim: Simulation Software for Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
WaveSim: Simulation Software for Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
Modal, Static and Transient Simulation in Construction, Modification and Maintenance
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a powerful tool to predict the dynamic vibration behaviour of any kind of structure numerically. Based on the structural geometry, the specification of material properties and the imposed boundary conditions, the modal parameters (natural frequency, mode shape and damping) of the structure can be calculated. This method thus forms an important instrument in component and structure development (e.g. digital prototyping), which is mainly reflected in a shortened product development time.
The FEA module provides different algorithms to identify modal parameters (FEA Modal), simulate the structures static stress and strain (FEA Static), predict the structures dynamic answer to different external loads (FEA Transient) and calculate frequency response functions (FEA Frequency Response). Additionally, the simulation model can be enhanced with real world measurements based on WaveCam measurements using the FE Model Updating functionality.
This helps with planning, construction and maintenance. New designs, changes to the structure and external loads can be precisely simulated and optimized. This powerful tool assists you in your development process and prototyping to identify operation-critical or troublesome resonant frequencies of the structure and to gain a clear understanding of the cause-and-effect relationships between specific vibration excitations and their response.
Comparison between modal results of simulation and results of WaveCam frequency operating deflection shapes (ODS) or modal results from other vibration sensors
Semi-automatic geometry matching between the camera image and the solid model of the simulation and subsequent MAC (Modal Assurance Criterion) – calculation of the deflection shapes
Automatic mesh generation from STL and OBJ files
Parameter library for most common materials
Selectable boundary conditions and loads (free, fixed, force, pressure, etc.)
Various function types (constant, chirp, pulse, harmonic, etc.)
Detailed and customizable documentation of results
Applications
FEA – Modal Analysis
In FEA – Modal Analysis techniques from modal analysis are applied to the model of a structure to determine its vibration characteristics (natural frequencies and mode shapes). These characteristics are important parameters to understand dynamic loading conditions or as basis for transient or harmonic analysis.
The geometry is the starting point. Then on this geometry a mesh is generated. This mesh subdivides the geometry into elements that are used for the FEM analysis. Faces can be fixated as boundary conditions. Now the equations of motions are generated and solved providing natural frequencies and mode shapes. These results can then be animated on the provided geometry.
Results:
Natural frequency and resonance
Damping (rayleigh method)
Mode shapes
Mass and stiffness
State-of-the-art algorithm: The Krylov-Schur-Method
FEA – Static Analysis
FEA Static allows simulation of static stress and strain. On the loaded geometry boundary conditions are set and a force or pressure is being applied. Then the module calculates and visualizes via a colormap on the geometry stress and strain in different directions.
FEA – Transient Dynamic Analysis
Transient analysis is a technique used to determine the dynamic response of a structure under the action of any general time-dependent loads. This type of analysis can be used to determine the reaction of a structure as it responds to any combination of static, transient and harmonic loads.
WaveSim uses the Newmark time integration method to solve the basic equations of motion at discrete timepoints.
FEA – Frequency Response Function Analysis
FEA Frequency Response Function Analysis is based on FEA Transient Analysis but goes one step further. After responses are estimated according to FEA Transient Analysis, frequency response functions (FRFs) are calculated between input channel and output channels. The mode shapes of these FRFs can then be visualized for different frequencies. The frequency response analysis is used for the calculation of amplitude, phase and frequency response.
Two methods are available:
Newmark method with complete system matrices
Newmark method with modal super position
Digital Twin
Adapting your finite element simulation to measured modal results
Geometry matching
Optimization of the simulation mode
The WaveSim FE Model Updating is a powerful tool for adapting your finite element simulation to measured modal results.
This will create a modal, digital twin of your structure. WaveSim FE Model Updating is designed to be easy to use and is a useful tool for newcomers to FE. It iteratively optimizes the material parameters of the simulation up to an exact reproduction of the modal characteristics of the measured structure.
Model Updating also provides semi-automatic geometry matching to adapt the geometries from the simulation to the measured geometry (image). This is an important step to achieve comparability of the results and is done semi-automatically.
Result Viewer
For the first time, compare structural dynamic high-speed camera analyses with simulations and classical vibration sensors, such as accelerometers or laser vibrometers, and validate your measurements or simulations. By means of semi-automatic geometry matching, similarities between the results can be determined by determining the MAC criterion. By supporting the UFF file format, any modal result from different modal analysis software packages can be used.
Report
WaveSim Report allows you to generate automatically detailed report documents. The report contains all important information about your measurement data, the measured object, photos, videos and of course the results of the analysis. You can design the report individually and, for example, save only relevant modes or include only certain measurement data as a plot. For the export of the report documents various formats are supported (*.docx, *.pptx, *.pdf).
Software Specifications
Simulation needs only .stl or .obj files from a 3D model.
Videos
WAVEIMAGE: Experimental Modal Analysis of a car rim
In this measurement example, we investigate the vibration properties of a car rim using the Experimental Modal Analysis (EMA) module in WaveImage.
Our NVH engineer, Jan Heimann, hangs car rim freely in a frame to ensure the best possible vibration properties. The structure is excited by the automatic modal hammer WaveHit. The data of this vibration analysis is recorded via 3 laser Doppler vibrometers and gets analyzed in WaveImage. WaveImage offers the entire portfolio for vibration analysis, such as Operational Modal Analysis (OMA), Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Operating Deflection Shapes (ODS) and other modules.