2009

evaluating vibration effects, geometry plays a critical role in the resonant
frequency of a part. Avoiding or, in some cases, targeting critical resonant
frequencies literally is the difference between part failure and expected part
performance.
For any analysis, detailed or fundamental, it is vital to keep in mind the nature
of approximations, study the results, and test the final design. Proper use of
stress analysis greatly reduces the number of physical tests required. You can
experiment on a wider variety of design options and improve the end product.
To learn more about the capabilities of Autodesk Inventor Simulation Stress
Analysis, view online demonstrations and tutorials, or see how to run analysis
on Autodesk Inventor Simulation assemblies, visit
http://www.ansys.com/autodesk.
Understanding How Stress Analysis Works
Stress analysis is done using a mathematical representation of a physical system
composed of:
■ A part (model).
■ Material properties.
■ Applicable boundary conditions and loads, referred to as preprocessing.
■ The solution of that mathematical representation (solving).
To find a solution, the part is divided into smaller elements. The solver
adds up the individual behaviors of each element to predict the behavior
of the entire physical system.
■ The study of results of that solution, referred to as post-processing.
Analysis Assumptions
The stress analysis provided by Autodesk Inventor Simulation is appropriate
only for linear material properties where the stress is directly proportional to
the strain in the material (meaning no permanent yielding of the material).
Linear behavior results when the slope of the material stress-strain curve in
the elastic region (measured as the Modulus of Elasticity) is constant.
Understanding How Stress Analysis Works | 7