2009 Dodge Journey

Josh Rader — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:11:34 -0600

Dodge is coming back to its original minivan formula with the Journey, a vehicle about 10 in. shorter than current minivans. And it’s loaded with clever features.

Weibull Plots Predict System Reliability

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:00:00 -0500

Weibull Plots Predict System Reliability

FE Updated: Supercomputing When It’s Needed

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:00:00 -0500

Ronnie Hoogerwerf
Application Engineer
Interactive
Supercomputing Inc.
Waltham, Mass.

Edited by Paul Dvorak

FE Update: Expecting Too Much from FEA

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 -0500

Paul M. Kurowski
President
Design Generator Inc.
London, Ontario, Canada

Edited by Paul Dvorak

Doing so brings simplifying assumptions that cause modeling errors to the math model.

FE Update: Expecting too much From FEA

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 02:00:00 -0500

Paul M. Kurowski
President
Design Generator Inc.
London, Ontario, Canada

Thanks to progress in CAD and a high-level integration with FEA, analysis models are now prepared in CAD and solved with add-in FEA programs. This combination of CAD with FEA is so good that it blurs the difference between reality and abstract simulation models. For example, inexperienced FEA users tend to attribute the behavior of real objects to FEA models which are based on restrictive and simplifying assumptions.

FE Update: Simulating Structural Discontinuities Using Springs

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0600

David Dearth
President
Applied Analysis & Technology Inc.
Huntington Beach, Calif.

Edited by Paul Dvorak

Finite-element techniques can help investigate these abrupt changes. Here’s one way that uses spring elements.

The Processor Future is Multicore

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:00:00 -0600

Senior Editor

It’s not hard to predict that next-generation processors will have smaller details, more transistors on each square millimeter of silicon, and do more clever things, such as powering down under-used sections even between keystrokes. They will also have many cores or CPUs. The latest chips, for example, have up to four cores and by 2010 that figure could rise to eight and more in engineering desktop computers.

FEA builds better bridges

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 02:00:00 -0500

Engineers historically “overdesigned” bridges using substantial margins of safety to compensate for unknown forces that could affect a structure over time. To help ensure future bridges will be economical, as well as reliable and easy to maintain, researchers at Penn State University use Abaqus/Standard software from Simulia in Providence, R.I., to model and analyze virtual bridges. This lets them solve design problems before any concrete is poured or spans erected.

FEA Is Not The Only Way To Solve Thermal Problems

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 02:00:00 -0500

Paul Dvorak
Senior Editor

(Structural analyses top the list.) And although most thermal simulations are done with finite elements, there are advantages to methods that work with networks of thermal bodies connected by links that simulate conduction, convection, and radiation.

"Go fly a kite" takes on a whole new meaning

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:00:00 -0500

The jet stream typically blows west to east, 6 to 9 miles over the northern hemisphere, at speeds up to 310 mph.

Wind machines could transmit electricity over aluminum or copper cables — or as microwave beams — to power grids. Atmospheric scientist Ken Caldeira at Stanford University says his calculations show that 1% of the energy in high-altitude winds could satisfy the world's energy needs. Scientists still need to identify materials that could stand up to the jet stream's buffeting, and find a way to reposition generators as the jet stream moves across the sky.

More articles by Paul Dvorak

2009 Dodge Journey

Weibull Plots Predict System Reliability

FE Updated: Supercomputing When It’s Needed

FE Update: Expecting Too Much from FEA

FE Update: Expecting too much From FEA

FE Update: Simulating Structural Discontinuities Using Springs

The Processor Future is Multicore

FEA builds better bridges

FEA Is Not The Only Way To Solve Thermal Problems

"Go fly a kite" takes on a whole new meaning