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FEA isnt commonly used in the bicycle industry, or at least not to the extent which i would > like! This is because its incredibly expensive, both in software, hardware and employee
salary. Fortunately I have unlimited (free, and legal) access to FEA software and a variety of > computing clusters to crunch the numbers.I don't think that's strictly true. There's a lot of FEA being done by most of the big manufacturers, particularly with composite frames.
The link to the original work on this is worth a read - https://janheine.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/the-biomechanics-of-planing/Which code(s) are you using?
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Are you or your university a member of NAFEMS? they have heaps of resources and the like, although I expect you already know that! Good luck with getting experience. On a side note, I work in the oil industry doing susbsea intervention work, soon (well, could actually be ages, have been hearing about it for a while) to be introduced is a new standard, API 17G which calls for more extensive FEA testing of designs and design by analysis so that should be a market opening up further in the future for your skill set!
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Sorry for the late reply. My primary software package is Abaqus Explicit, both structural and FSI (coupled Eularian Lagrangian, no messing around!). I think a couple of groups do model their frames (specialized had a frame where the decal was actually the stress contours, again this was done in abaqus!), BUT i dont think its effective (probably making more enemies than job opportunities at this point...). Carbon fiber is a real pain to model (I should know, my girlfriend did her PhD on modelling carbon fiber, makes interesting dinner table talk...), especially thin walled stuff with complex geometries, like bike frames. You could say the material is orthotropic and simplify your model, but that is a massive limitation. Furthermore, i seriously doubt bicycle companies use FEA for robust design optimisation (my area), which could be used to make some light frames!
Having said that, CFD is commonly used to good effect. One of my old lecturers was actually contracted by the british olympic TT team to work out what the most aerodynamic bolt shape is for the wheels.
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I do often look through NAFEMS, some of the stuff there is incredible. I might have solved my experience problem though, im currently looking at working with dassault systems and their living heart project (seriously cool FEA!):
http://www.3ds.com/products-services/simulia/solutions/life-sciences/the-living-heart-project
I didnt know FEA wasnt commonly used in the oil industry! I would have assumed anyone with that much money would just default to it. I guess as high performance computers become cheaper it will be adopted in more industries. Ill keep an eye out on this area because i would happily work in the industry.
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It's all driven by standards, for our work we use API 6A and API 5CT which cover subsea equipment, tubing and drill pipe and the most analysis they see is by hand calc for tension, burst and collapse. As all our stuff is temporary installation fatigue isn't too much of a problem and we aren't asked for the absolute values so we just have ceilings that we work to but with the new standards coming in that will change so we are looking to standardise more components so we minimise analysis. Sorry for rambling, still early!
Living heart project looks pretty cool, be interesting to see the applications for it!
user58517
Screwball
Bernhard-
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About
FEM/FEA engineer looking for consultancy/freelance work (possibly unpaid explanation inside).
Posted by
@Isotropic
Hi all,
Im not really sure if this is a great place to put this but here we go.
I have just finished my PhD in advanced FEA/FEM. Currenltly Im waiting for my viva which has been delayed, fortunately I have been employed by the university part time. This means that I have a large amount of time and resources on my hands. I would like to make the most of this by increasing my design portfolio.
Using FEA, I can reveal the stresses/strains within bicycle components. this will allow you to compare different designs or conclude whether or not the part will fail.
FEA isnt commonly used in the bicycle industry, or at least not to the extent which i would like! This is because its incredibly expensive, both in software, hardware and employee salary. Fortunately I have unlimited (free, and legal) access to FEA software and a variety of computing clusters to crunch the numbers.
My primary objective here is to increase my design portfolio/gain experience, as a result I will construct and run small jobs for free. larger jobs, like full blown design optimisation, would require some compensation (ill accept shiny bike components) as it is so labor intensive.
I can supply my CV upon request.
Jon