Finite Element Analysis

I modeled a frame of 4130 steel using tubing and plate dimensions from: http://www.shapirosupply.com/catalog

The model was built with very thin walled stock with the intent of increasing wall thicknesses were the FEA indicates. As it turns out, a design change would help the high stress point (red) rather than increasing the wall thickness.

The frame weighs less than a pound at this point.

The bearing retainers were restrained and 400 pounds of load was applied to the rear of a simulated seat.

Other loads and load directions would obviously generate other stresses.

Keep in mind, I’m a novice so far at this FEA stuff but its fun.

The avi of the analysis is here:
http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/albuo68
if I loaded it correctly.

Doug

Doug,
I can’t view the movie unfortunately cause of the platform I’m on. I was wondering what software package you were using to do your FEA and what sort of elements/method you are using.

Maybe if I get the time I’ll do a few FEM simulations at work and see what I crank out. It would be interesting to compare results.

Re: Finite Element Analysis

“peter.bier” <peter.bier.gv40y@timelimit.unicyclist.com> wrote in message
news:peter.bier.gv40y@timelimit.unicyclist.com
>
> Doug,
> I can’t view the movie unfortunately cause of the platform I’m on. I
> was wondering what software package you were using to do your FEA and
> what sort of elements/method you are using.
>
> Maybe if I get the time I’ll do a few FEM simulations at work and see
> what I crank out. It would be interesting to compare results.
>

The modeling package is SolidWorks. The FEA is CosmosExpress which does
linear analysis only.

One problem was how to model the seat post in the seat tube so that the
loads could be input properly. A non-linear package would help with this
interface but probably isn’t needed since the higher stress will probably
always be lower on the seat tube.

What software do you have available? My email is dvm2 at cox.net

Maybe we can figure a way to trade models if we can translate them.

Doug