Areas of Analysis Expertise
RTJ Consultants have a wealth of knowledge related to structural analysis from decades of industry experience. We would be happy to discuss a tailored solution to meet your requirements.
Traditional Analysis
Traditional methods are non-FEA based. RTJ Consultants understand and implement well established analysis methods via decades of experience in industry. These are generally much faster to implement and often used in unison with FEA or during design sizing activities.
FEA Simulation
Building an FEA model is simple. Building one that accurately simulates correct behaviours is not. This is where RTJ Consultants vast experience in this field will save you time and money. We ensure that all FEA models we generate are fit for purpose and adequately validated.
Automation
RTJ Consultants’ mantra is "work smarter not harder". We are experts at identifying areas where automation or improved processes can be used to improve repeatability or efficiency. Be it Excel data tables, VBA macros, python tools, FEA macro scripts or full C++ software, we can build a package to suit.
Metallic Structures
Often the backbone of most companies. Be it aluminium, steel or titanium we have the knowledge to ensure your product meets strength and performance targets. From static analysis to fatigue and damage tolerance life assessments, RTJ Consultants are here to help.
Composite Structures
From carbon fibre and glass fibre to sandwich panels, the material combination choices for composites are endless. RTJ Consultants are experts in traditional and FE based analysis of these materials. From static analysis to complex non-linear mechanical-thermal analysis, we have you covered.
New Designs
Do you have a new design? Embed RTJ Consultants into your workflow and allow us to take the stress out of structural and performance analysis. We can develop load cases from requirements, perform required analysis, iterate and optimise, determine testing requirements and post process test results and of course produce high quality reports to meet your certification needs.
Repairs
RTJ Consultants have industry experts in the field of design and substantiation of repairs. From patching damage, replacing components or assessing residual strength or life, we are here to support.
Modifications
Often access to the design data of a product you are modifying is limited. RTJ Consultants are experts in establishing limits and integrity values, to ensure that your design does not detrimentally affect the structural or functional requirements.
Test Requirements
Need to develop allowables data for a new composite or provide product level full testing? RTJ consultants can develop test requirements for the whole pyramid of testing from coupons to full assemblies. Our experience and knowledge can then post-process and validate test results be it for allowable generation, FEA verification or requirements validation.
Traditional Analysis
Many analysis companies with inexperienced staff dive straight into FEA when provided a problem. RTJ Consultants have the experience to know this isn’t always appropriate. Depending on the structure, it’s design phase or customer needs, full FEA analysis may be unnecessary. In these cases, RTJ Consultants can use their extensive backgrounds and industry experiences to perform rapid traditional analysis of the target structure, using tried and tested methods. In addition, we extensively use traditional analysis methods to supplement and validate any FEA that we produce.
Static and Dynamic Analysis
RTJ Consultants have extensive experience in applying traditional static and dynamic analysis methods to analytical problems. We have a wealth of tools and methods available many automated to enable rapid solutions and optimisation iterations. We pride ourselves in producing high quality analytical reports that full justify the analytical approach and results.
Fatigue & Damage Tolerance
Do you have a metallic structure that needs to be assessed for fatigue life or damage tolerance? Do you have a composite structure and need to understand how to assess it against complex damage tolerance requirements? Contact RTJ Consultants who can help perform these tasks with numerous industry accepted methods and tools available to meet certification requirements.
Buckling & Modal Analysis
Buckling, modal and frequency responses are often critical for redesigning load bearing structures. RTJ Consultants can employ traditional techniques to establish these stiffness driven properties be it metal or composite. This is often key to effective sizing during initial design activities.
Load Case Development
Do you have a large dynamic model or complex customer requirements to meet? Don’t fall into the trap of missing that important sizing case or validation case at the last minute. RTJ Consultants are experts in understanding requirements from aerospace to test equipment. We can quickly identify the load cases that you need to address, perform enveloping activities and leave you knowing your true analytical design requirements.
Material Assessments
If you have ever tried to design with existing composites or use a new material system, you’ll understand the difficultly establishing design allowables and properties. Often the simple choice of picking an appropriate metal alloy can be a critical decision effecting the strength, damage tolerance or thermal response. RTJ Consultants can help you to make the best decisions on materials and testing requirements.
Analytical Route Books
When first shown a structure or a concept. Before diving into analysis it RTJ Consultants recommend establishing an analytical route book. This aims to identify the complete analytical path and the methods that will be used to assess and validate the substantiation. Often establishing this route book upfront will reduce overall costs and allow pre-emptive automation. RTJ Consultants are experts in developing full project lifecycle analytical route books.
Routine FEA Analysis
Be it 3D or 2D idealisation, FEA can be used for rapid analysis of complex systems. In many cases a properly considered linear model will give good indications of a structures performance for sizing purposes before starting more complex analysis.
Many small FEA companies will provide minimal or weakly justified analysis reports that hide modelling or assumption errors. With RTJ Consultants you can expect detailed justification reports for all work we do. Our consultants have been drawn from industries with high regulatory and quality requirements. Quality is built into our mindsets from decades of experience.
Loads Models
Do you have a complex assembly with many load cases. RTF Consultants can build you a loads model, perform load case down selection and then link the output to either traditional analysis or create detailed sub models for assessment of details. This is workflow is fast turn and our consultants have decades of experience of best practice for both modelling and idealisation.
Meshing Services
Meshing is not just pressing a button. Building an effective mesh requires detailed knowledge of the fundamentals of FEA, the elements and the best practice methods of idealising components, joints and boundary conditions to ensure accurate simulations in the areas needed. RTF Consultants are industry experts at this.
Linear Static Analysis
Linear analysis is a rapid approach for most cases and is the bread and butter of FEA analysts. Generally, this is associated with small displacement theory however with good knowledge of structures and analysis methods even complex non-linear behaviours can be linearised. Even when it is necessary to carry out more complex non-linear analysis, these models are used as validation steps. RTF Consultants will never run non-linear analysis without verifying its behaviour with a robust series of linear checks.
Modal Analysis
By default, RTF Consultants perform modal analysis on all models we generate as it is perfect for assessing a model’s behaviours and connections are as expected. Often modal analysis can be used to ensure problematic frequencies are avoided as a precursor to frequency response analysis or as an input into traditional methods.
Buckling
Linear buckling analysis is a typical check for most load bearing structures. However, it should be noted that these are linear models and predict the onset of buckling. Buckling is not a final failure and if post-buckled residual strength or deflection analysis is required more complex analysis can be performed.
Thermal Analysis
Are you concerned about thermal effects? Do your scenarios involve radiation, convection or conduction? Linear / non-linear steady state and transient heat transfer methods can be easily performed. Not only can RTF Consultants implement the analysis, but they have a detailed understanding of temperature dependant material properties.
Complex FEA Analysis Methods
RTJ Consultants consider complex FEA methods to be those that are either non-routine, require additional licenses or a considerable setup and validation timeframe.
Many small FEA companies will provide minimal or weakly justified analysis reports that hide modelling or assumption errors. With RTJ Consultants you can expect detailed justification reports for all work we do. Our consultants have been drawn from industries with high regulatory and quality requirements. Quality is built into our mindsets from decades of experience.
Complex Scenarios
Multiple scenarios or loading steps can be simulated. Imagine a composite part being cured, internally there are baked in stresses, in service there are fatigue loads applied with damage propagation during a cyclic thermal regime. These multi continuation case scenarios can be modelled but are complex to validate. RTJ Consultants are available with the skills to carry out these complex loading scenarios.
Non-linear Models
Not all scenarios fall within the small displacement theory and constant material properties and so need non-linear models. Alternatively, simulations that pass into the plastic region might be needed. RTJ Consultants have the experience to develop these complex models that use model large deflections, non-linear materials, non-linear material properties, non-linear loadings or large sliding contacts. Many simulations that we see in this category are incorrectly set up and produce poor results. RTJ Consultants however are experts and will ensure that our models are validated against expected behaviours.
Frequency Response
Do you need to know how a part behaves under a full vibration spectrum? Are you concerned that parts might contact each other and whether you need to add stiffness. RTJ Consultants have several detailed methods that can be applied to determine frequency responses that can answer these questions.
Damage Propagation
Do you have a bonded joint, cracks, or delaminations and need to understand residual strengths or propagation loads? RTJ Consultants can use multiple techniques to analyse these behaviours including using cohesive zone models. These are highly dependent on good selection of element sizes and time steps, things that RTJ Consultants have an expert understanding of.
Non-Linear Buckling
Not all scenarios fall within the small displacement theory, constant loads and properties assumption and so non-linear models are required. Similarly, simulations that pass into the plastic region require non-linear approaches or local linearisation. RTJ Consultants have the experience to develop these complex models that use model large deflections, non-linear materials, non-linear material properties, non-linear loadings or large sliding contacts. Many simulations that we see in this category are incorrectly set up and produce poor results. RTJ Consultants however are experts and will ensure that our models are validated against expected behaviours.
Non-linear Structural Thermal
Add convection, radiation and conduction to multilayer materials and a structure under complex loading and you have non-linear transient thermal structural analysis. Contact our specialists now to discuss how RTJ Consultants can carry out these types of analysis for you.
Flutter
Flutter analysis is not vibration. In its basic form it is an interaction of lift with torsional and bending stiffnesses. Tuning of these stiffnesses is key to a successful flutter design. There are few places in the UK with in-house ability to perform flutter analysis. RTJ Consultants can offer this and are considered experts in the field.
Design Optimisation
FEA Topology Optimisation
RTJ Consultants can use modern optimisation software to determine design solutions that meet a blend of customer requirements be it weight, strength or stiffness. We would typically recommend and iterative optimisation trial first to get an understanding of the design space. Beware analysts who offer pure FEA optimisation, the results are often suboptimal, difficult to interpret or miss key design requirements. RTJ Consultants’ experience allows us to avoid these pitfalls and provide useful and relevant results.
Hybrid Iterative Optimisation
RTJ Consultants are experts at design of experiments approaches to optimisation. We can use our engineering knowledge to embed manufacturing and design requirements into the process. Optimisation is a hybrid mixture of FEA and traditional analysis. Typically, it involves running several scenarios to understand and map the solution space iterating towards a solution. We typically find that this process can quickly iterate to a solution that meets design requirements without the need to undertake detailed FEA topology optimisation.
Traditional Optimisation
Similar to the iterative optimisation but using non-FEA approaches. These tend to be quick and so brute force methods can be used that map more of the design space. These would typically link various tools such as Excel, VBA, MATLAB and python and run optimisation code. These traditional optimisation processes are invaluable during the initial design sizing before attempting detailed FEA approaches.
Analysis Process Automation
RTJ Consultants’ mantra is “work smarter not harder”. We are experts at identifying areas where automation or process improvement can increase repeatability and efficiency. Be it Excel data tables, VBA macros, python tools, FEA macro scripts or full C++ software, we can build a package to suit.
FEA Scripting
RTJ Consultants have demonstrated experience in writing HyperWorks, ABAQUS and NASTRAN scripts, to automate meshing and analysis. This includes building parametric models, where geometry can be built, meshed and runs setup based on input variables. This is perfect for supporting optimisation and iteration.
VBA and Excel
As data analysts, RTJ Consultants are experts at Excel and VBA. We can review your business analysis needs and create Excel sheets using high power functionality such data tables, database links and VBA to automate processes and meet your analytical needs.
Database Driven Analysis
Let’s face it, we analysts tend to overuse Excel. When presented with data, the first thing that often a happens is filtering and extraction based on VLookUp’s etc. This means the data loses cohesion and engineers’ time is wasted setting up effective mini databases within Excel. RTJ Consultants understand the power of database driven design. We can build whole engineering analysis strategies that extract FEA data into databases and use the power of SQL to handle data manipulation that can prepare data in the form ready for inputs. Never worry about a load iteration or propagating a design change again as this will be automatic.
Python Scripting
Python is a great tool for data management, post processing, graphing. Exposes code which makes it easier for customer alterations. Not only is it great for data processing, but it can also produce high quality graphs as outputs that are a significant timesaver on Excel equivalents.
MatLAB And Simulink
RTJ Consultants can build customised MatLAB and Simulink models to help automate analysis processes. Contact RTJ Consultants for more information.
Custom Software
RTJ Consultants can create standalone bespoke applications using C# or C++ depending on the user interface requirements that can be used to perform data manipulation, routine analysis, post process data or generate reports. These programs come fully validated and documented. Contact RTJ Consultants for more information.