Title: Integrating and automating finite element analysis and optimization on PCs

Authors: Tso-Chien Pan, Shih-Fu Ling, Ching-Huan Tseng

Addresses: School of Civil and Structural Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 2263, Republic of Singapore. ' School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 2263, Republic of Singapore. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China

Abstract: The development of an interface coupling program on PCs for a finite element analysis software system, SAP90, with an optimisation software system, MOST, is presented. By controlling and directing the communications, the interface coupling program integrates the two programs while retaining their versatility and interactive features. The integrated system is applied to a numerical example for the minimisation of steady-state dynamic loads transmitted from a vehicle exhaust pipe system. The interface coupling program automates, at a relatively low cost, the usually time-consuming iterative process for optimising an engineering system, while remaining flexible in structural modelling and efficient in equation solving.

Keywords: exhaust pipes; finite element method; FEM; multifunctional optimisation system tool; MOST; structural analysis program; SAP; vibration isolation; vehicle exhaust.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1994.062531

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1994 Vol.7 No.3/4/5/6, pp.278 - 283

Published online: 09 Jun 2014 *

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