innovation and creativity from concept through to manufacture . . . . . specialist rotational moulding expertise

What is FEA?

Finite element analysis developed within safety critical areas for the aerospace and nuclear industries. Rota Design uses the technique to provide analysis and risk assessment for new product designs right through to verification of critical structural elements.



In rotational moulding applications, a digital model of the product and its specified material parameters are loaded and analysed. Typical results provide an indication of areas where failure under load may occur but may also indicate where savings in materials may be gained.

This process is valid for new product design and subsequent product refinement, hence, simple amendments to design may result in significant tooling, material and process time savings.

The major advantage being that Rota Design is able to verify with confidence that a proposed design will perform to specification prior to prototyping, production of the tooling and thus before manufacture. FEA may be applied to many other materials and processes and is not confined to the rotational moulding process.

In the analysis, the model is subdivided into a digital mesh of finite elements.

The application of a defined load produces variation within the mesh and nodal displacement. Equations for equilibrium are assembled in a matrix form and are compared with the test results. From this data, the individual element stresses and strains are calculated and areas of highest strain and thus, risk of failure, clearly indicated - see red areas in images.

It is vital to have experience and understanding of the application of the technique and the physical processes involved to ensure that analysis of the model is defined and correctly interpreted. Rota Design your competent partner.

Rota Design was instrumental in the development of a pallet manufactured from sand and a patented unifier. FEA was applied at critical points throughout the design process.

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