GRAB THE BENEFITS OF AUTODESK INVENTOR NASTRAN

Autodesk Inventor Nastran embedded with FEA Technology is a mechanical simulation tool, which was developed by Autodesk Inc. USA. Initially, the Nastran software was developed for NASA but now adopted by Autodesk as well which offers FEA simulation capabilities. This software simulates the mechanical structures and analyze the environmental conditions in order to check the responses of the structure. This tool is useful to simulate the linear and nonlinear FEA studies.

Apart from general engineering materials, Nastran can also be used to simulate and analyze the latest advanced materials, including composites, plastic, nonlinear elastic, shape memory, hyperelastic, viscoelastic, and brittle materials such as concrete.

It considers the unit system from the CAD, which is attached to the simulation, or else you can also set the units as per the requirements.

If we talk about the number of analyses capabilities, which we can perform, using Inventor Nastran then it supports a wide range of it. First, it is important that you understand the requirements, outputs, and limitations of the analysis type before using it. You can perform the below analysis types by using the software such as;

1. Linear Static
2. Normal Modes
3. Linear Buckling
4. Prestress Static
5. Prestress Normal Modes
6. Nonlinear Static
7. Nonlinear Buckling
8. Direct Transient Response
9. Modal Transient Response
10. Nonlinear Transient Response
11. Direct Frequency Response
12. Modal Frequency Response
13. Random Response
14. Shock/Response Spectrum
15. Multi-Axial Fatigue
16. Vibration Fatigue
17. Linear Steady State Heat Transfer
18. Nonlinear Steady State Heat Transfer
19. Nonlinear Transient Heat Transfer

Inventor Nastran has also enabled the solution for contact analysis; you can set the contact type and tolerance, performance connectors simulation such as bolt etc.. This gives you the power to optimize the mesh to obtain the accurate results.

You can generate the line mesh, which can be used in uniform cross-sectional structures, mid surface mesh and shell mesh for sheet metal parts and solid mesh to generate the solid elements in the structure.

Meshing is the critical operation in FEA so it must be done with real scenarios in the study. In Finite Element Analysis, mesh size is very important; it is closely related to the accuracy and number of the element required in the mesh. By increasing the elements in the simulation, you get better and better results but once you get the optimum size of the mesh to obtain accurate result, it will not effect or difference is very less in the results more an less, you cannot change the other parameters of the simulation.  In other words, keep refining the mesh until you see no difference in your results.

The best part of this product is, Autodesk provides the subscription based licensed for this software at a very economical price. User can subscribe the license based on the need and work, so there is no extra cost for the product. It helps a lot to the independent consultant in order to offer their services at minimum cost. User can opt for the monthly or yearly subscriptions.

Autodesk Inventor Nastran is available as a standalone and network license, which provides consistent user experience, eliminate the need for multiple simulation technologies and delivers CAD-embedded workflow. In this, you can manage the license, transfer the license and it available only in the Product Design & Manufacturing Collection. To try the software capabilities you need to download the Inventor Nastran software and use its trial version free of cost.  For downloading the software use the below given link and you can also extract the price information details, system requirements, OS etc. as per needs.

Autodesk Inventor Nastran

OPPORTUNITY OR PRODUCTIVITY WITHIN COVID-19 CRISIS

This is an intense difficult and a danger time for all of us and we need to fight against this time with rear positivity against COVID-19. Our PM, Mr. Narendra Modi addressed the nation about health safety measures and policies which government has been under taking them time to time. We need to stand together united and show our power of oneness and discipline to the world at this danger time. We can convert this crisis into opportunity or productivity by analyzing our inner skills; we need to think to fight against this illness by staying at home and enduring our skills to make some productive moves out of this time, need to think how we can sharpen our self, think to develop the value system and raise yourself. Therefore, what needs to be done so that we can make some productive move out of ourselves? I have tried to note down some of the points below, hopefully it will help you all.....

Inventory your free time

Most of us do not know where we need to spend our free time. While we may keep a calendar for appointments or a 'to do list' for the day, we are not always as aware of how we use discretionary time. It is hard to know how to change until you know what needs changing. So, inventory your free time by jotting down the things you wanted to do in your life but never got that much enough time to explore them.

Discover your interests

Some of us are so busy and never ask ourselves, what we really need to feel as a human. In fact, many use busyness as a convenient way to avoid facing the fact that they do not know what their real needs are. They simply let the natural demands of life set their daily agenda. If you have been neglecting your needs for some time, you might find this a hard task. Go back five or ten years and reflect on what you used to do for fun, stimulation and recreation. If you need to go back as far as childhood to identify interests, do so.

Revive your skills and learn new things 

In this time, we need to explore ourselves by representing our species and the greatest good things we need to do to ourselves is to bring back the new ideas, because the world is endangered by the absence of good ideas. We have plenty of time to revive our skills and learn new things and by doing this it will add a different level of confidence within ourselves. In order to learn new things we can join online distance classes and grab the advantages out of it.

Useful links for online learning:

www.edx.org

www.coursera.org

www.udacity.com

www.edraak.org

www.venture-lab.org

www.education.10gen.com

www.openhpi.de

www.ocw.mit.edu

www.khanacademy.org

www.oli.cmu.edu

www.ck12.org

www.udemy.com

www.skillshare.com

www.w3schools.com

www.tatainteractive.com

Show your hidden talent: 

Many people have hidden talent but they are not able to show case and sometimes they do not have plenty of time to explore their talent. Some people may have excellence writing skills, blogging skills, panting skills, gardening skills and many more. My point is to just rectify your hidden talent and explore yourself in this lockdown time in order to just losing your head in a crisis is a good way to become the crisis.

Commit to enrich yourself

Do you really perform your best work when you are burned out? Of course not. Nevertheless, our purpose in life can easily be reduced to survival when we are not re-creating those parts of ourselves that need renewal. Consider creative renewal as vital to your existence, not simply a luxury. Make a commitment to yourself that you will strive for a work/leisure balance. For some, balance means daily leisure, for others less frequent. However, it should be a regular part of each person’s weekly routine. Unless you consider it a priority for your life, it probably will not happen.

Plan your leisure

So here is where you pull it all together. You have identified areas of interest that you know will enrich you. You have committed yourself to participate in one or more of these activities at least weekly. In addition, you see how important creative leisure is to personal growth. Now it is just a matter of doing it. However, this is the hardest part. You have to battle the infinite number of conflicts that threaten to strangle your discretionary time. That is where your time inventory comes in.

Therefore, locate your open pockets of free time and plan it into your schedule. Treat it like a non-negotiable appointment that cannot be cancelled unless it is an emergency. This might appear to be elevating leisure beyond what it deserves. Nevertheless, that depends on the value it has in your life. You will spend your leisure time on what you value most. If that is watching television, using the Internet, talking on the phone, housework, or other activities, then at least do it deliberately. However, if you seek more than the average, the mundane and the convenient, pursue those interests with tenacity. You will not regret it. 

A small investment of time might literally change your whole life.....

Earned Value Analysis (EVA) or Earned Value Management (EVM)

Earned Value Analysis (EVA) or Earned Value Management (EVM) is a systematic PM methodology that allows the project manager to measure the amount of work actually performed on a project with respect to planned cost and schedule. It has the ability to combine measurements of the project triangle: scope, time, and costs.

In NASA Library, the first version of Earned Value Management (EVM) was developed by its Defence Department (DoD) to track programs during the 1960 and since 2005, EVM has been a part of general federal project risk management. Now, it is used in the private sector such as consulting firms, IT, automotive, manufacturing, aerospace, and educational establishments worldwide.

It has no relationship to the investment value or benefit of the project for which it has been funded. However, earned value matrix can be used to measure the cost and schedule inputs to Devaux's Index of Project Performance (DIPP), which integrates schedule and cost performance with the planned investment value of the project across the project management triangle.

Earned value calculations require the following input data to measure the performance of the project:

TERM	ABBREVIATION	MATHEMATICAL INTERPRETATION	DEFINITION
PLANNED VALUE	PV	Also called as Budgeted Cost for Work Scheduled (BCWS)	Authorized Budget assigned to the scheduled work
EARNED VALUE	EV	Also called as Budgeted Cost for Work Performed (BCWP)	Measure of actual work performed expressed as budget authorized for that work
ACTUAL COST	AC	Also called as Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP)	Actual cost incurred for the work performed

With this Input, you can derive the following calculations:

Project Variances:

TERM	ABBREVIATION	MATHEMATICAL  INTERPRETATION	DEFINITION
SCHEDULE VARIANCE	SV	= EV - PV	Amount by which project is ahead or behind plan
COST VARIANCE	CV	= EV - AC	Amount by which actual cost is ahead or behind planned cost
VARIANCE AT COMPLETION	VAC	= BAC - EAC	Estimated difference in cost at the completion of the project compared to Plan

Performance Indices:

SCHEDULE PERFORMANCE INDEX	SPI	= EV/PV	Measure of Schedule efficiency expressed as Earned Value to Planned Value
COST PERFORMANCE INDEX	CPI	= EV/AC	Measure of Cost efficiency expressed as Earned Value to Actual Cost

Note: CPI < 1 Project over budget , CPI > 1 project under budget, and CPI = 1 means project is on estimated budget.

SPI < 1 Project behind schedule, SPI > 1 Project ahead of schedule, and  SPI = 1 means project is on schedule.

Project Forecasting:

ESTIMATE AT COMPLETION	EAC	Option 1)  = AC + (BAC - EV) Option 2)  = BAC/CPI Option 3)  = AC + [(BAC- EV)/(CPI * SPI)]	Expected Total Cost of project = sum of Actual Cost till date and Estimate To Complete remaining work Option 1; Remaining Work will be done at the planned/budgeted rate Option 2; Remaining Work will be done at the present CPI Option 3; Remaining Work will be done considering present SPI and CPI
ESTIMATE TO COMPLETE	ETC	= EAC - AC	Expected Cost to finish the remaining project work
TO-COMPLETE PERFORMANCE INDEX	TCPI	Option 1) = (BAC- EV)/(BAC- AC) Option 2) = (BAC- EV)/(EAC- AC)	Measure of the cost performance required with the remaining resources to meet goal. Work Remaining/Funds Remaining Option 1; Efficiency that must be maintained to complete on Planned Budget Option 2; Efficiency that must be maintained to complete on current EAC
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE	ECD	= Project Start Date + (Planned Duration/SPI)	Expected Completion Date of the project

Note: TCPI define as how to effectively should use resources to complete the project on budget.  TCPI < 1 is good for project.

EVM/EVA contributes to; Improve communication and visibility with stakeholders, Reduce risk, Profitability analysis, Project forecasting, Better accountability and Performance tracking.

You can comment us about this article and EVM template that help you to understand Earned Value Analysis (EVA) or Earned Value Management (EVM) and compute the performance of the project. Moreover, help us to write more about engineering technologies and methodologies.