Mechanics of materials and structures: A simulation-driven design approach

Abstract

Engineering product development has developed considerably over the past decade. In order for industry to keep up with continuously changing requirements, it is necessary to develop new and innovative simulation methods. However, few tools and methods for simulation-driven design have been applied in industrial settings and proven to actually drive the development and selection of the ideal solution. Such tools, based on fundamental equations, are the focus of this paper. In this paper the work is based on two cases of mechanics of materials and structures: welding and rotor dynamical simulations. These two examples of simulation-driven design indicate that a larger design space can be explored and that more possible solutions can be evaluated. Therefore, the approach improves the probability of innovations and finding optimal solutions. A calibrated block dumping approach can be used to increase the efficiency of welding simulations when many simulations are required.