Finite Element Analysis of Steel Structures

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) can be a useful tool to determine stress levels in structures and optimize design.  Common challenges faced by engineers include: pressure to rely wholly on FEA results; which FEA results can be trusted for assessment; and comparing fatigue Standards details with FEA details in real structures.

This seminar provides an overview of the positives and negatives of FEA with particular emphasis on fatigue and weld design and is of specific value for structural, mechanical and forensic engineers.

Course Details

Date: Tuesday 31 October

Time: 12.00 for 12.30pm start until 5:00pm

Location: State Library of Western Australia, 25 Francis Street, Perth, WA 6000

Included: Light lunch on arrival, afternoon tea, presentation notes available via ASI Dashboard

Fee: $410 ASI member, $580 non-member

Contact: enquiries@steel.org.au

Course content

• When your FEA is responsible for deciding: “Will it work without us testing?”
• FEA stresses for fatigue: the good the bad, the ugly.
• The value of test models to provide better information.
• Weld details: real world vs FEA vs Standards (eg. AS 4100 Sec 11, EC 3, BS7608).
• Solid vs Plate vs Beam models for assessment stress: “Should I model the weld?”
• Duty cycles and stress ranges: “What do I do without the fatigue software add-on?”
• Case studies from amongst mining, railway and industrial equipment. Wind fatigue analysis of Perth Stadium speaker frames