Structural Analysis and Design
Our Naval Architects and Marine Engineers provide a comprehensive structural analysis service for all types of engineering problems, from large scale ship structures to detail design issues. The services include: -
- 3D Hull Modelling including main structure members (bulkheads, decks, plating, main frames, etc.)
- Finite Element Analysis of the structure under static & dynamic loads
- Buckling, Heat transfer, Natural Frequency / Harmonic Response analysis
- The analysis results for a FEA model indicate stress, strain and deflections at each of the elements.
- Proposed modifications are analysed in detail to provide the optimum solution.
Methodology
We undertake a wide range of structural design and investigative projects using traditional calculation methods and where appropriate Finite Element Analysis Techniques (FEA).
Manual calculations using Beam Theory, Plate Theory and other approximation methods have their limitations; the modern approach is to carefully model the structural problem in detail using specialist software.
FEA essentially breaks down a structure into a fine mesh model of interconnecting plates or beams, which is then restrained and loaded to recreate the actual problem, then solved by straight forward mathematical stiffness calculations based on the material properties of the structure under consideration.
Capability
Our team combines their academic and engineering knowledge to provide practical solutions to structural problems.
Modern software and hardware enables us to undertake multiple analyses tools within an acceptable time frame.
We use the established Strand7 software to undertake the modelling and solving of FEA problems. This software has been verified against standard problems with very high accuracy. Strand7 is based on the windows graphical user interface, and as such is far easier to use for model generation and modification, than packages, which require an input file to be generated manually. An unlimited number of nodes (1D), beams and plates (2D) and brick (3D) elements can be used, and parts of a model can be copied, cut & pasted as per other drawing and office software packages.
From initial design to in-service support SeaTec has the resources to meet all of your structural engineering needs.
