Structural FEA Deep Dive: Proving Complex Structures Before They're Built

Blackfish supports engineering decisions through structural finite element analysis, ranging from rapid feasibility studies to highly detailed assessments of stress, deformation, fatigue life, vibration, buckling and dynamic response. The resulting analysis provides evidence to support design validation, risk reduction and informed decision-making before manufacture, testing or deployment.

Blackfish carries out structural finite element analysis on everything from large offshore structures to complex mechanical assemblies. Assessments range from rapid feasibility studies through to highly detailed finite element assessments, providing evidence to support engineering decisions before manufacture, testing or deployment.

Structural FEA supports the assessment of stress, strain, deformation, fatigue life, vibration, buckling and dynamic response. By combining high-fidelity numerical modelling with practical engineering experience, Blackfish helps clients understand how designs are expected to perform before committing to testing, manufacture or deployment.

Clients receive analysis that reflects how a structure is expected to behave in service, providing evidence to support engineering decisions before manufacture, testing or deployment.

Challenge

Structural behaviour is rarely straightforward. Projects range from large offshore structures subjected to environmental loading through to intricate mechanical assemblies containing fasteners, bearings, cables and moving interfaces.

In many cases, manufacturing and assembly effects such as welds, residual stresses, interference fits and preloaded joints can have a significant influence on performance and therefore need to be properly understood before a design progresses.

Approach

Blackfish develops finite element models ranging from rapid beam-based assessments through to highly detailed shell and solid models. Working from client CAD or geometry developed in-house, the team assesses stress, strain, deformation, fatigue life, vibration, buckling and dynamic response.

Where required, models incorporate material, geometric and contact nonlinearities to better represent real-world behaviour.

Every model undergoes internal quality assurance and convergence checking before results are issued to clients.

Outcome

Clients receive analysis that reflects how a structure is expected to behave in service, providing evidence to support engineering decisions before manufacture, testing or deployment. Results can be reviewed directly using the free Ansys Viewer, allowing stakeholders to interrogate and visualise the model without requiring an Ansys licence.

The resulting insight helps reduce technical risk, identify potential weaknesses, optimise designs and build confidence in project decisions.

Discuss Your Challenge With Our Engineers

Whether you're developing a new technology, reducing technical risk, or solving a complex engineering challenge, our team can help. Get in touch to discuss your project with an experienced engineer.