Structural Analysis based on Finite Element Method Reference Center

• Grant number: 17/20646-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: February 01, 2019
• End date: October 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanics of Solids
• Principal Investigator: Renato Teixeira Vargas
• Grantee: Renato Teixeira Vargas
• Company: NEP Núcleo de Consultoria em Engenharia e Pesquisas em Tecnologia
• CNAE: Serviços de engenharia ; Testes e análises técnicas ; Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• Associated researchers: Marcílio Alves ; Marco Lucio Bittencourt
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/13686-4 - Structural analysis based on finite element method reference center, BP.TT; 19/07494-5 - Structural Analysis based on Finite Element Method Reference Center, BP.TT; 19/02162-4 - Structural analysis based on finite element method reference center, BP.PIPE

Abstract

This project describes the steps and the main obstacles to the creation of the Structural Analysis Reference Center (RELIEF). The RELIEF is a virtual platform will provide courses, free programs, technical support, and hardware engineering to promote the transfer of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) technology for small and medium-sized companies. This initiative is an innovation in the area of services because there are not technical and economic viable alternatives for this industrial segment in the market of courses, programs and engineering consultancies. Structural analysis is a consolidated instrument in big companies because it helps in designing of products and structures and it performs the failure prediction by means of calculations. Big companies operating in product development, designs and manufactures are users of CAE programs.Two barriers do not allow the introduction of this technology in small and medium companies: difficulties to training engineers and the price of CAE programs. The platform will provide courses, created through partnerships between laboratories of universities, recognised by notorious know, small and medium companies and the proponent of the project. Will be explored the areas of numerical, solid mechanics, finite element method and structural analysis. Will also be covered by disciplines intended to solutions of the real problems of these companies. The high price of CAE programs is a limiting factor for access to technology. Until a few years ago the discontinuity of the groups developers and the low quality of the interface were obstacles to the use of CAE free software. However, recent advances and consolidation of development teams with professional standards, free programs are feasible alternatives to the market. The platform can be accessed via the portal developed by the laboratory of Computational Simulation of Unicamp that allows to implement computer simulation services of mechanical components and structures on the Internet. Among the services are access to the CAE programs, technical support and database via Web browser. Relief can be classified as a disruptive innovation, because it is used initially in simple applications and as a didactic tool in the courses, but little by little will move to valued parts of the market, as a real solution to companies. With this project, it is expected to provide an efficient tool for transfer of CAE technology, connected to the concept of service as a service, for the process of innovation in small and medium companies and startups, that do not have the necessary capital for investments. (AU)