CAEfatigue: FEA Based Fatigue, Durability & Random Response Solution
CAEfatigue is a random response and vibration fatigue solver for the frequency domain plus a fatigue solver for the time domain. It works with mixed random and deterministic loadings or standard time domain-based loadings to provide fatigue life and damage predictions, as well as several forms of response statistics. It is exceptionally fast, easy-to-use and capable of handling very large models. The software is sold in 4 different package configurations – Premium, Frequency, Random, and Time. Click the above tabs to learn more about each specific solution.
Democratizing Fatigue Analysis for the Masses
Response analysis, fatigue analysis, and the use of a graphical interface have traditionally suffered from a lack of democratization; that is to say, only expert users have been fully capably of using the technology. CAEfatigue aims to change this.
Two interfaces to the software are available – a Control File, text-based interface is provided for the advanced Users to help rapidly create an input control file that is needed to run an analysis. Many variables are either used in default mode or are automatically calculated based on an understanding of the system being analyzed.
Also available is a Process Flow graphical-based interface, provided to help novice users quickly gain an understanding of the technology without the need to understand the structured format of the control file interface. The interface is simple and intuitive to use.
Time Domain Fatigue Analysis
CAEfatigue is designed to provide basic fatigue analysis tools for the linear static superposition approach, the modal participation factor approach and the direct stress recovery method. This TIME package is intended to provide a vast improvement in the analysis process for conventional static superposition analysis, modal participation factor (dynamic transient) analysis and direct stress recovery analysis. The TIME package uses state of the art software development tools and algorithms to deliver a fatigue solver with superior speed and accuracy. Coupling time domain tools with frequency domain tools provides Customers with a complete time and frequency domain analysis package that surpasses the performance and accuracy needs of our users.
Multi Input PSD Analysis for Multi-Channel, Multi-Event Loading
CAEfatigue offers all the input / output options mentioned for Base Shake loading plus the ability to use multiple random input PSDs (and cross PSDs) with mean offsets; i.e., data from a test rig with multiple events and multiple channels per event plus a mean offset. This module offers random response and S-N and/or E-N fatigue results generated from the multiple simultaneous correlated load inputs, with any number of DOF’s, inputs, events and frequencies. Coupled with advanced random analysis, CF becomes a powerful tool for understanding output results for displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, stress, strain and fatigue (damage / life).
Base Shake PSD Analysis plus Mean Loads plus Deterministic Loading
CAEfatigue is designed to provide the user with both the random response results and the fatigue results from a structure undergoing loading input from a single random PSD with or without additional loading from deterministic inputs and mean offsets. This package allows the User to do Random Analysis only. Response outputs includes mean stress, RMS stress or strain, mean stress plus RMS stress or strain, moments, zero crossings, peaks per second and irregularity factor.
The loading inputs needed for CF can come from Optistruct, Nastran, Ansys or Abaqus generated from (virtually) any size model. Examples of inputs are simultaneous wide band and narrow band inputs, wide band random and swept sine inputs, wide band random and deterministic inputs, wide band and swept narrow band inputs, swept narrow band or swept sine wave.
Advanced Random Analysis
For many automotive and aerospace systems it is required to calculate both durability and to rule out the possibility of collision of individual components during severe base shake vibration conditions. Advanced frequency domain methods now exist to enable the durability assessment and response to be assessed in the same analysis. With the advanced random analysis output, it is possible to output displacement and/or velocity and/or acceleration and/or force RMS levels and Power Spectral Density (PSD) plots for both absolute and relative responses. In addition, a residual sum of the squares (RSS) is calculated to take into account any off axis response.
New post processing options allow the relative response from any node to be compared against the actual distance to all nearby nodes in order to check for the probability of collisions (i.e. RATTLE) between adjacent parts. The response maximum is determined using either a ratio of the RMS (e.g. 3.0*rms) from a corresponding level of probability on a Gaussian or Rayleigh distribution, or by using a method which takes into account the number of cycles of response. Advanced Random Analysis output is an excellent addition to predict structural response under complicated loading conditions found in many engineering applications throughout a wide variety of industries.
