Abstract
GKN Fokker, a Dutch aerospace company that designs, develops and produces aircraft structures, landing gear, and electrical systems, needed to accelerate design and development, bridge the gap between design and analysis teams, and meet strict aviation safety certification requirements. By implementing Siemens’ Simcenter 3D, GKN Fokker established a modular simulation environment compatible with multiple finite element solvers and created customized tools to simplify complex analysis tasks. The solution reduced finite element model creation time from several weeks to just a few days, significantly increased the number of design configurations that could be analyzed within the same timeframe, and provided the accuracy needed to meet strict aviation regulations.
Key Takeaways:
- Faster FE model creation: Simcenter 3D reduced finite element model creation time from weeks to days.
- Bridged design and analysis: Simcenter 3D improved communication between design and analysis teams by providing a compatible analysis environment.
- Multiple solver compatibility: Engineers could use Simcenter 3D with different FE solvers while retaining existing expertise.
- Modular simulation approach: Associate meshes allowed simulation files to be reused when FEM models or geometry were updated, saving days or weeks of work.
- More design configurations: Simcenter 3D enabled engineers to analyze many configurations in the time previously required for a single simulation.
- Improved design optimization: Faster iterations allowed GKN Fokker to explore more design options and material combinations.
- Simplified engineering workflows: Customized Python-based GUIs made complex tasks and parameter changes easier for a wider group of engineers.
- Improved legacy model reuse: Orphan meshes enabled engineers to recreate geometry from older FE meshes when original geometry was no longer available.
- Supported aviation compliance: Simcenter 3D provided accurate analysis results needed to meet strict aerospace safety regulations.
- Future automation: GKN Fokker plans to use Simcenter HEEDS with Simcenter 3D Design Space Exploration to automate workflows and evaluate additional design options.
