CAD Simulation and Analysis Flashcards
6 cards from real CAD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 CAD Simulation and Analysis flashcards as text
What is the safety factor in FEA results, and how is it calculated?
Answer: Ratio of material yield strength to calculated stress
Safety factor equals the material's yield strength divided by the peak calculated stress, indicating how much additional load the part can safely handle.
In thermal simulation, what property describes a material's ability to conduct heat?
Answer: Thermal conductivity
Thermal conductivity (k) quantifies how readily a material transfers heat through conduction, measured in W/(m·K).
What does mesh convergence testing verify in FEA?
Answer: That results stabilize as element size decreases
Mesh convergence testing confirms that refining the mesh no longer significantly changes the results, ensuring numerical accuracy.
Which FEA element type is most commonly used for thin-walled sheet metal parts?
Answer: Shell elements
Shell elements efficiently model thin structures by representing thickness as a parameter rather than meshing through the wall, saving computation time.
In motion simulation, what term describes the joint that allows rotation about one axis only, like a door hinge?
Answer: Revolute joint
A revolute (or hinge) joint constrains all translations and two rotational degrees of freedom, permitting only single-axis rotation.
What is the purpose of applying symmetry boundary conditions in FEA?
Answer: To reduce model size by analyzing only a representative portion
Symmetry boundary conditions allow engineers to model only half or quarter of a symmetric part, cutting solve time without losing accuracy.