Simulation and Analysis

Computer Aided Engineering, or CAE, is a general term encompassing various types of computer analysis techniques used in engineering. The analysis is often utilized to simulate physical phenomenon such as stiffness of a structural component, fluid flow around an aircraft, motion of a mechanism, or similar phenomena. Luxon Engineering employs multiple techniques in simulating product designs to validate performance without the need for a physically testing a prototype. This capability allows us to quickly iterate through product designs at minimal cost to the client which results in a superior design and minimizes time to market. Various disciplines of CAE are explained below; and any of these analysis types can be utilized in an optimization routine to automate the iteration process. This results in the ideal design for your project goals. See more on our optimization page here.

The Right Tools for the Job

The right tool for the job is problem dependent, and we employ a wide variety of those tools. Be it a simple Excel spreadsheet utilizing the solver add-in, or a non-linear fluid-structure interaction analysis, we have the capabilities to simulate your design scenario. Our primary analysis tools are within the Altair HyperWorks Suite, which includes a vast array of simulation tools. From simple linear-static FEA to highly non-linear models, the Optistruct and Radioss solvers are more than capable. Acusolve is our primary CFD package and very powerful, suitable for most flow and thermal simulations. For most simulation jobs, we utilize a combination of different analysis runs with data organized/computed within an Excel spreadsheet for easy reference and communication with the client. Upon completion of an analysis project we offer a thorough written report summarizing the analysis techniques, assumptions, and results.

Structural Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Finite element analysis is typically used in structural applications to check for stress concentrations, factor of safety, determine resonant frequencies, and find other values of interest. Finite element methods give us the ability to run through many different design configurations quickly to identify potential problem areas or ways we can improve the design without the time and expense required to create a prototype and physical testing. The Altair HyperWorks suite provides us with a broad range of analysis capabilities including highly non-linear models, contact simulation, fatigue simulation, composite analysis, heat transfer and thermal analysis, shock and vibration, and optimization runs. We will help you to determine the best analysis path forward to achieve your project goals.

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Computational fluids dynamics is used to predict how fluid will flow over an object (external flow) or through an object (internal flow) and the related properties of such flow. Properties of interest may be thermal related, such as heat transfer and the temperature prediction of components of interest. For example, heatsink performance is critical to maintaining temperatures of electronic components below damaging levels. Flow analysis over the heatsink can reveal expected temperatures and the geometry can be altered as necessary ensure a successful design. Lift and drag coefficients are important in many external flows and CFD is a powerful tool to determine these coefficients. Geometry can be updated and tested virtually to achieve design goals.

Our primary CFD tool, Acusolve, utilizes a powerful unstructured mesh solver to quickly iterate through design iteration. Acusolve is a great fit for low speed (Mach number less than 0.5) flow solving thermal and turbulence parameters for most fluids. For higher speed flow, we have access to other solvers such as SC/Tetra. Whether you’re looking to evaluate the cooling capabilities of your electronics enclosure, the flow of kerosene through a pump system, or the lift coefficient of a wing concept, we have the capabilities to help you succeed.

Multi-Body Dynamic Analysis (MBD)

Multi-body dynamic analysis is preformed to determine an assembly mechanisms motion, force magnitudes, and directions throughout various scenarios. MBD is useful to check for part interference, size actuators and motors, and plot various parameters of interest throughout a mechanism's motion. For simple models we work directly in the SolidWorks environment for quick design iterations.

More complex models utilize the MotionSolve package within Altair HyperWorks. This gives us the ability to better resolve contact conditions, friction, and use Flexbodies in the analysis which model the effects of flexible components (based on FEA models). This advanced technique does not limit the analysis with the rigid body assumption producing more accurate results.