Modeling and Simulation: A User’s Perspective

Lighter structures, specialty materials, higher rotational speeds, greater flows, higher temperatures and horsepower, all lead to higher efficiencies and less pollution. The designs of mechanical systems are being pushed to great extremes and therefore call for much greater accuracy in modeling the systems. The work of the design engineer has been facilitated immensely over the past few years by the introduction of computerized modeling tools. Stress Finite Element Modeling, Rotordynamic Analysis, Computerized Fluid Dynamics and Modal Analysis are some of these tools. They are also used extensively in the audit of designs if troubleshooting of a dynamic system becomes a requirement. The primary intent of this paper is to give the reader, the ability to coordinate the modeling work in an intelligent and authoritative way when he/she is not the one actually entering the numbers. It should also offer a clear idea of what the objectives of such analyses are, and an understanding of how these modeling techniques work, with their limitations and requirements, and sufficient knowledge to make decisions about the acceptability of the design.