TWI Frequently asked questions
Modelling results could be reported with a caution something like: "Warning: A computer model is not guaranteed to produce the correct answer - please check the results and modelling assumptions carefully". Modelling is notengineering alchemy, a computer model will not convert poor input into accurate, useful output.
The following points should be considered:
- Boundary conditions are not straightforward. (Incorrect application of boundary conditions is probably the most common cause of error in finite element modelling).
- Materials data and applied loads are often not well defined
- Real engineering components are made to tolerances, and so are not exact analytical shapes
- Real component/material failure is often too complex for routine modelling methods to predict accurately.
Copyright by TWI, 1999
