Stress Analysis and Simulation

SECG has a wide range of stress analysis and simulation capabilities ranging from individual component stress analysis to multi-part large scale assemblies with complex deformations, contact friction, thermal gradients, and/or material plasticity. SECG engineering stress analysis and simulation services can be performed standalone or can be coupled with SECG’s design engineering services to optimize and validate designs, while reducing overall project lead time.


Stress Analysis Services

  • LINEAR STRESS ANALYSIS
  • CONTACT WITH FRICTION
  • NON-LINEAR LARGE DEFORMATIONS
  • PERMANENT DEFORMATION / PLASTICITY
  • TRANSIENT LOADING AND IMPACT
  • COMPLEX LOAD SEQUENCING
  • FASTENER PRELOAD AND APPLIED FORCES
  • STEADY STATE / TRANSIENT THERMAL
  • COUPLED STRUCTURAL/THERMAL SIMULATIONS
  • TIME DEPENDENT CREEP
  • WELD JOINT SIMULATION
  • THREADED JOINT ANALYSIS (STRAIGHT, TAPERED,ETC.)
  • FATIGUE ANALYSIS (S-N, E-N, FRACTURE MECH.)
  • MECHANICAL CREEP AND STRESS RELAXATION


Linear Stress Analysis

Linear stress analysis is the most common of all structural analysis simulations. These types of simulations typically consist of single or multiple constant loads coupled with a variety of constraint conditions with material properties that are constant. These types of simulations can be of single components or large multi-part assemblies.



Contact Analysis with Friction

SECG specializes in difficult contact problems involving friction. In many component and structural applications, load is transferred from one component to another by way of a limited area of contact. What complicates the problem more is that this area of contact can change shape and size throughout the life of the problem when large deformations or displacements are present. Proper specification of friction and simulation parameters is critical for not only obtaining a converged solution, but also for ensuring the contact results are accurate.





Contact Analysis with Friction

SECG can simulate forces due to direct contact, sliding friction, Hertzian contact stresses, and much more. Sample projects involving complex friction contact coupled with large deformations include:



  • DAVIT ARM POWER POLE CONNECTION
  • ADHESIVE ASSEMBLY AND WARPAGE ANALYSIS
  • GEAR TEETH MESH STRESS EVALUATION
  • API CASING PIN AND COUPLING THREAD SIMULATION

Large Deformation and Deflection


Complex analysis problems involving large deformations are something SECG regularly solves. For problems involving large deformations, many simulations are performed incorrectly using linear FEA methods, thereby overestimating stresses and deflections. It is understandable why companies default to linear FEA: accounting for large deformations can be computationally costly and can take a substantial amount of time to solve. SECG has invested in its computational infrastructure and simulation methods to deliver non-linear large deformation results accurately in an expedited time frame.





Yielding / Permanent Deformation / Plasticity

SECG has extensive experience performing non-linear simulations involving material yielding or plasticity effects. Common engineering problems involving material yielding or plasticity would be press-fits, shrink fits, failure analysis, metal forming, etc. Most simulations performed by analysts and design engineers are within the elastic range of the materials of construction. However, analyses involving material yielding require not only the right tools, but a skilled engineer to perform such a complicated simulation.

SECG starts off by focusing on proper definition of material properties. SECG has partnered with nearby metallurgical firms to perform ASTM material testing in order to obtain exact material properties for use in the finite element analysis (FEA). Establishing correct material properties is key to obtaining accurate results. From there SECG uses its broad experience to perform the non-linear permanent deformation simulation, which could include other complexities such as contact, large deformation, etc.


Fatigue Analysis

Fatigue Analysis

The facts are that 90% of all structural failures occur due to fatigue. If your design will be subject to time varying loading or any type of oscillating boundary condition, a fatigue analysis would be required to determine the serviceable life of the design. SECG can perform fatigue analysis and simulations using the stress-life, strain-life, and fracture mechanics approaches.



Thermal Analysis

If your design will be subject to thermal loading or temperature related environmental conditions, a thermal analysis can be used to determine the temperature distributions throughout your design. SECG can couple thermal and structural simulations to determine the combined stresses and displacements due to temperature gradients and physical loading. Thermal simulations can also be used to determine complex displacements resulting from thermal expansion or contraction when external conditions such as forces or constraints exist. Thermal simulations can be either steady state or time dependent transient.




Thermal Analysis