Manufacturing & engineering
FEA
Finite element analysis
Definition
FEA predicts how a part behaves under loads, heat, or vibration by dividing it into small elements and solving the physics for each one with the finite element method. It is also the engine behind topology optimization and most generative design tools.
Also known as: finite element analysis, FEM, finite element method, structural simulation
Updated
FEM and FEA#
Ansys explains the distinction: FEM is the mathematical technique, and FEA is the interpretation of the results it provides. The process has three stages: define physics and boundary conditions, divide the object into elements by meshing and solve, then review the results.
The simulation mesh is not the same thing as an STL mesh, though both split geometry into small pieces. FEA results are only as good as the loads, constraints, materials, and mesh quality you give them, so a convincing color plot still needs an engineering check.
Sources
Related terms
Topology optimization
Topology optimization is a simulation-driven method that removes material from a design space while meeting stiffness or strength targets under defined loads. The results are often organic shapes that need interpretation or rework before they can be manufactured.
Generative design
Generative design is software that produces many design options from goals and constraints, such as loads, keep-out regions, materials, and manufacturing methods. It optimizes toward performance targets rather than following a text description of a shape.
Mesh
A mesh represents a shape as a surface of small flat polygons, almost always triangles, joined at shared edges and vertices. Meshes work well for rendering, games, and 3D printing, but they have no true faces, edges, or exact curves, so they are hard to dimension or edit as engineering geometry.