Services : Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a computer-based numerical technique for calculating the strength and behavior of engineered structures. It can be used to calculate deflection, stress, vibration, buckling behavior and many other phenomena. It can be used to analyze either small or large-scale deflection under loading or applied displacement. It can analyze elastic deformation, or "permanently bent out of shape" plastic deformation. A computer is required because of the astronomical number of calculations needed to analyze a large structure.

Using the finite element method, a structure is broken down into many small simple blocks or elements. The behavior of each individual element can be described with a relatively simple set of equations. Just as the entire set of elements would be joined together to build the whole structure, the equations describing the behaviors of the individual elements are joined into an extremely large set of equations that describe the behavior of the whole structure. The computer solves this large set of simultaneous equations. From the solution, it can get the stress and deflection of all the parts of the structure. The stresses will be compared to allowed values of stress for the materials to be used, to see if the structure is strong enough.

Hess Engineering uses both 3-D modeling and FEA software to evaluate suspect components of new and existing designs for strength and deflection.