Mechanical Structural Analysis
8 weeks · 0 milestones
Perform structural analysis of a real mechanical component or assembly under defined loading conditions, documenting all assumptions, methodology, and results. The analysis must specify: the loading conditions (forces, moments, pressures) with justification for the values chosen, material properties with source reference, a documented mesh or calculation methodology showing how the problem was discretised or simplified, safety factor calculation with reference to the applicable standard (e.g. ASME, BS, or EN standard for the application), and a sensitivity analysis testing at least one assumption (what happens if the assumed load increases by 20%). Preferred proof: FEA on a component from a real project using professional software. Accessible alternative: FEA using SimScale free tier (browser-based, no install) or ANSYS Student Edition (free download) for a realistic component scenario, OR a fully documented hand calculation for a statically determinate structure using first principles and free textbook references. Proof artifacts: the analysis inputs and results (analysis artifact) and the documented methodology with assumptions (documentation artifact). Verification: a mechanical or structural engineer reviews the methodology — 'your mesh is coarser near this stress concentration; what effect does that have on your result?' — and the safety factor rationale.
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3 milestones
Select a mechanical structural analysis problem: a beam under transverse load, a pressure vessel, a welded joint, a column under axial and bending load, or a machine component under cyclic loading. Define the geometry (dimensions, cross-section, material), support conditions (fixed, pinned, roller), and load case (point load, distributed load, pressure, combined loading). Identify the failure modes to check: yielding, buckling, fatigue, fracture. State the design standard to be used (Eurocode 3 for steel structures, EN 13445 for pressure vessels, ASME BPVC, BS 7608 for welded joints, or equivalent). A structural analysis without a defined failure mode is incomplete — knowing the load is not enough; the question is what the structure will fail by.
Proof required
Submit your problem definition document (≥500 words): structural description with geometry and material, support conditions and load case with all values in engineering units, the design standard cited, and ≥2 failure modes to be checked.
What gets checked
- Load case gives all values in engineering units — load in kN or N, dimensions in mm or m, not stated as 'moderate load'
- Design standard is named specifically — not 'follow industry standards'
- ≥2 failure modes are identified — yielding + buckling, or fatigue + fracture, or equivalent