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Blackfish Analysis

Advanced modelling and simulation services to support the design, validation and optimisation of engineered systems.

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Blackfish Analysis provides advanced modelling and simulation services to support the design, validation and optimisation of engineered systems across a variety of industrial sectors. By expertly applying analysis tools in combination with practical engineering knowledge, our analysts enable clients to solve complex engineering challenges, reduce risk and optimise designs throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Services

Design Support
  • Application of analytical and numerical techniques to support engineering design decisions from proof-of-concept through to detailed design.
  • Evaluation of performance, structural integrity and operational behaviour.
  • Reduction in risk.
Validation
  • Independent assessment of design against specified requirements, industry standards and performance criteria.
  • Validation of analytical models, calculations and assumptions.
  • Building of confidence.
Optimisation
  • Iterative analyses to refine performance, efficiency and reliability of complex systems.
  • Reductions in cost, weight and carbon footprint.
  • Improvement in design.

Capabilities & Industries

The Blackfish Analysis team specialise in structural mechanics, fluid dynamics, thermal and multi-physics modelling.
High-fidelity structural finite element analysis, covering assessments of stress, deformation, fatigue and failure, applying linear and nonlinear methods processed using implicit and explicit solvers.
Thermal engineering services, such as conjugate heat transfer or thermomechanical stress analysis to assess combined structural and thermal load effects
Hydrodynamic simulations for assessing and managing the response of naval and offshore marine systems under environmental conditions
At Blackfish Analysis, we are committed to maintaining the highest technical standards, investing heavily in leading software, training and keeping up-to-date with the latest industry practices. Our commitment to remaining at the forefront of engineering analysis is attested by our team’s regular delivery of industry seminars and masterclasses, as well as the publishing of technical literature and partnerships with academics.

Combining broad modelling expertise and understanding of sector-specific challenges, we are able to support a wide variety of industrial sectors: 
 
​Energy, Renewables & Clean Technology | Maritime & Offshore | Construction & Civil Infrastructure Decommissioning
Transportation & Rail | Automotive | Aerospace | Manufacturing

Deep Dive|Structural FEA Services

Structural finite element analysis (FEA) is a core area of expertise at Blackfish Analysis and the team have extensive experience in supporting clients with design validation, structural integrity assessments and engineering optimisation. This ranges from rapid linear static assessments and simplified beam-element representations to highly detailed shell and solid models capable of capturing nonlinear effects. We routinely carry out analyses to evaluate stress, strain, deformation, fatigue life, vibration, buckling and dynamic loading, typically from client CAD or using geometries built from scratch for early feasibility and proof-of-concept analyses.
 
Our expert knowledge and portfolio of completed projects covers a range of applications and modelling techniques:
  • Assessing large-scale onshore and offshore primary structures, such as towers and platforms, under global loading.
  • Modelling intricate mechanisms and assemblies that involve fasteners, springs, bearings, cables etc.
  • Accounting for material, geometric and contact nonlinearities.
  • Factoring in real-world manufacture and assembly considerations, such as residual stresses, preloaded joints, welds and interference fits.​
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Across all projects our models are subjected to rigorous internal quality control and results convergence checks. Working with the latest Ansys Workbench environment, we handle preparation of geometry, detailed meshing, simulation and post-processing of results in an interactive, streamlined fashion. To allow clients to view results without an Ansys license, we can export files for the free-to-download Ansys Viewer visualisation tool (which is also capable of displaying results from our thermal models).

Featured Project:

Conjugate Heat Transfer Analysis of a Wave Energy Converter
A proper thermal analysis enables engineers to predict and manage the temperatures of critical components during operation. To support its deployment in hot climates, Blackfish Analysis performed numerical heat transfer analyses on the Mocean Energy Blue Star 10 wave energy converter (WEC) using Ansys Fluent, accounting for both solid conduction and fluid convection (conjugate model).

The combined effects of solar irradiance and internal heat sources within hull/nacelle irradiance were assessed. The study demonstrated that the WEC can be deployed at the proposed site and subsystem temperatures will remain safely below limits.
"Thermal analyses performed by Blackfish Analysis gave us key insights on the temperatures of subsystems within the Blue Star 10 ocean energy converter in various operating scenarios, significantly strengthening our plans for deploying in different environments."
 
Chris Retzler
Technical Director,
Mocean Energy
Are temperature-related challenges affecting your application?
Get in touch to discuss your thermal or thermomechanical engineering requirements with BFA's expert team.

Featured Project:

Optimisation of Floating System Response in Marine Environment
When interacting with floating systems in dynamic marine environments, it is crucial that response of the floating body is well understood. Blackfish Analysis performed an iterative series of Orcaflex simulations to support Blackfish Engineering designers in the detailed design of the C-Dart quick mooring connector buoy, allowing optimisation of the buoy’s mooring arrangement and management of pitch rotation under load. By increasing stability, our experienced hydrodynamicists were able to maximise the operating window for making mooring connections.
Are you designing a floating system?
The BFA team can support you with
hydrodynamic analyses to understand
how your system will behave at sea.

Industry Seminars & Masterclasses

Keeping up-to-date with the latest engineering analysis trends and practices in order to continually deliver high quality services is a fundamental pledge at Blackfish Analysis.

Our analysts regularly attend training and seminars on the latest modelling software and techniques, but we go further; the team can be found sharing our knowledge and lessons learned at industry events throughout the year.
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In recent years, Blackfish Analysis have delivered technical talks on a range of topics including:
  • The role of engineering analysis as part of a wider Verification & Validation strategy.
  • Lessons learned from real-world product development projects.
Follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with the events we're attending.

Why Work With Blackfish Analysis?

Tailored Support
Solutions designed around your specific project requirements.
Independent Assessment
Objective technical reviews and validation services.
Engineering Expertise
Experienced analysts with specialist modelling capability
Integrated Delivery
Direct access to Blackfish Engineering's wider design, verification and product development teams.
Blackfish Analysis take pride in tailoring services to client-specific needs, from delivering standalone, independent engineering assessments, to longer term support in evaluating and optimising progressive design iterations (and anywhere in between).

Whether you understand what you need to assess but are unsure of the appropriate method, or whether you understand how to solve your engineering problem but do not have the resources available, we can help you.

Integrated fully with the core Blackfish Engineering Design team, our analysts can work with you to develop solutions that are risk-assessed and performance-driven. Every project has access to Blackfish’s extensive design, verification & validation and product development expertise “under one roof”.

Meet the Blackfish Analysis Manager

James Hastie is a chartered mechanical engineer with 13 years’ experience in technology development and R&D, primarily in offshore drilling and renewables, and is manager for the analysis capability and delivery at Blackfish. His technical expertise lies in structural analysis using linear and nonlinear methods. He has a PhD in the thermomechanical modelling of composite structures in deepwater applications and has authored more than 10 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals on themes of solid mechanics, materials modelling and additive manufacturing (his articles can be viewed on ResearchGate). James regularly presents at industry seminars and holds Honorary Researcher status at the University of Aberdeen.

His recent projects with Blackfish Analysis include:
•    Structural analysis and optimisation of fixed-bottom tidal turbine hub assembly, driveshaft, blade pitching mechanism and braking system.
•    Optimisation of semi-submersible tidal turbine platform under rotor and mooring loads.
•    Thermal modelling of hinged wave energy converter internal layout during operation.
•    Weld stress analysis for offshore crew transfer devices.
•    FEA of variety of mechanical systems in support of Blackfish Engineering Design team, including subsea anchors; cable reelers and latch mechanisms; marine buoys; test rigs and assembly frames.

Get in Touch

Whether you need support with design validation, structural integrity assessments, thermal engineering or hydrodynamic analysis, Blackfish Analysis would love to hear from you.
 
Contact our team to discuss your requirements or arrange an informal initial conversation.

© 2025 Blackfish Engineering Design Ltd. | Registered Company of England & Wales 10169509

Registered Address | Unit 4 Corum 2 | Crown Way | Bristol | BS30 8FJ

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