Certified FEA Solutions.
Engineering Services.
Our core expertise at Metis DE lies in the use of Computational Analysis such as Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for the purpose of design certification.
Our team has a deep understanding of Australian and International Standards and is able to certify a wide range of mechanical and structural equipment.
Our engineers are experts in FEA and can undertake complex analysis ranging from static linear stress analysis to non-linear analysis, buckling analysis, fatigue analysis, dynamic analysis or thermal analysis.
As part of the design verification process, we will provide an engineering certificate and a detailed engineering report if required. All our designs are signed off by a Chartered Professional Engineer.
Design Certification
At Metis Design and Engineering, we specialise in design verification and certification.
Our team has extensive expertise in Australian Standards, including AS4100, AS3990, AS1657, AS1664, AS4991, AS1576, AS1170, among others.
This enables us to certify a broad spectrum of mechanical and structural equipment.
During the verification process, we rigorously assess the structural strength and serviceability of your design, ensuring full compliance with the relevant Australian Standards and confirming its suitability for the intended purpose.
Our commitment to compliance ensures that every project meets the highest regulatory standards.
At Metis D&E, all designs are reviewed and approved by a Chartered Professional Engineer, guaranteeing not only the highest standards of quality but also strict adherence to compliance requirements.
Our dedication to compliance is at the core of our operations, providing you with the assurance that your designs are both safe and compliant.
Design Registration
In Australia, the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 mandates that specific items of plant must be registered with WorkSafe. These items include certain cranes, Elevated Work Platforms (EWPs), lifts, pressure vessels, and more.
Whether you are manufacturing, importing, or supplying this equipment, it is your responsibility to ensure the design is registered with WorkSafe.
Metis Design & Engineering can assist with the registration of your design. Acting as a third party, we manage the entire registration process from start to finish. We liaise with WorkSafe, ensure the design complies with Australian Standards, and prepare and lodge the application on your behalf.
Additionally, we have established partnerships with industry experts who can provide third-party verification of designs we work on, as required in the design registration process.
This collaboration ensures that all aspects of compliance and safety are thoroughly addressed, giving you peace of mind.
Finite Element Analysis
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a powerful tool used across various industries to improve design and performance. Here are some key applications:
Design Testing
FEA allows engineers to test how a design will perform under different conditions without having to build physical prototypes. This can include testing for strength, durability, and performance.
Problem Solving
If there’s a failure or issue with a product, FEA can help identify the cause by simulating different scenarios and pinpointing where the problem might be.
Optimisation
Engineers use FEA to optimise designs, making them more efficient and cost-effective. This can involve reducing material usage while maintaining strength or improving the overall performance of a product.
Safety Improvements
By simulating extreme conditions, such as crashes or high loads, FEA helps in designing safer products.
Innovation
FEA supports innovation by allowing engineers to experiment with new materials and designs in a virtual environment, speeding up the development process.
Design Certification
FEA is crucial in the design certification process. By using FEA, engineers can demonstrate that a design meets the strength and performance requirements of applicable standards. This involves:
Compliance Verification
Ensuring that the design complies with industry standards and regulations.
Documentation
Providing detailed reports and simulations that show the product’s performance under various conditions.
Regulatory Approval
Submitting FEA results as part of the documentation required for regulatory bodies to approve the product for market release.
At Metis DE, we have years of experience using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), providing cutting-edge solutions to meet your engineering needs.
Our skilled team utilises advanced FEA techniques to simulate real-world conditions, ensuring your designs are robust and reliable.
Innovation is at the heart of what we do. By leveraging virtual testing environments, we accelerate the development of designs, bringing your concepts to life.
Additionally, our comprehensive FEA reports support the certification process, demonstrating compliance with industry standards and facilitating regulatory approvals.
Metis DE have developed a proprietary methodology for using FEA for design compliance and certification. This approach ensures that your products meet regulatory requirements.
Our process includes custom compliance verification, tailoring our FEA models to meet specific industry standards and regulations.
We provide thorough documentation with detailed reports and simulations that clearly demonstrate product performance under various conditions.
With Metis DE, you can trust that your products will meet expectations in terms of performance, safety, and compliance. Let us help you achieve engineering excellence through our FEA services.
Fatigue Analysis
Fatigue analysis, often integrated with Finite Element Analysis (FEA), studies how materials and structures behave under repeated or cyclic loading, leading to the gradual accumulation of damage and eventual failure.
Fatigue assessment in mechanical design is crucial for:
Risk of Design Failure
This is where we identify potential failure points in components by subjecting them to repeated stressors.
This helps to prevent unexpected breakdowns in final designs.
Safety
We ensure that components can withstand cyclic loading without developing cracks.
This helps prevent potential issues that could lead to compromised safety.
Static vs. Cyclic Loading
A structure might appear safe under a static load but can fail under cyclic loading due to the accumulation of microscopic damage over time.
Fatigue assessment helps detect these vulnerabilities early.
Typical Output of Fatigue Analysis:
Fatigue Life Predictions:
Estimates of the number of cycles a component can endure before failure.
Crack Growth Rates:
Data on how quickly a crack will propagate under cyclic loading.
Safety Factors:
Calculations to ensure that the design remains within safe limits under expected loading conditions.
Maintenance Intervals Determination:
Establishes schedules for inspections and maintenance to detect and address fatigue damage before it leads to failure.
Design Improvement:
Investigate effectiveness of design iterations in mitigating fatigue concerns.
Root Cause Analysis (RCA):
Fatigue analysis can be used to explore and verify the potential root cause of failure where cracks have developed.
Our company has extensive experience in fatigue assessment and, by addressing the aspects above, we can design safer, more reliable systems that endure the demands of their operational environments.
Dynamic Analysis
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) dynamic analysis is a powerful simulation technique used to evaluate how structures respond to dynamic loads, which can change in magnitude, direction, or frequency over time.
Unlike static analysis, which assumes loads are constant and applied slowly, dynamic analysis considers the effects of inertia and damping forces.
Here are some key aspects of FEA dynamic analysis:
1. Dynamic Loads
These are loads that vary with time, such as impacts, vibrations, and oscillations. Examples include seismic activity, wind loads on buildings, and the forces experienced by vehicles on rough terrain.
2. Equations of Motion
Dynamic analysis uses the equations of motion, which include terms for mass, damping, and stiffness. These equations account for the inertial forces and damping forces.
3. Types of Dynamic Analysis:
- Modal Analysis: Determines the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a structure. This is crucial for understanding how a structure will respond to oscillating loads.
- Harmonic Analysis: Evaluates the steady-state response of a structure to sinusoidal (harmonic) loads.
- Transient Analysis: Studies the response of a structure to time-varying loads, such as shocks or impacts.
4. Applications
Dynamic FEA is widely used in various engineering fields, including automotive, aerospace, and civil engineering. It helps in designing structures that can withstand dynamic forces, reducing the risk of failure due to vibrations or transient loads.
Dynamic FEA is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of structures subjected to dynamic conditions.
Vibration Analysis of Mining Equipment:
Analysing the dynamic response of crushers, mills, and vibrating screens to optimize design and reduce wear.
Structural Analysis of Conveyor Systems:
Evaluating the impact of dynamic loads during start-up and shut-down to ensure robust design.
Impact Analysis of Rock Crushers:
Simulating impact forces to improve crusher components’ durability and prevent failure.
Seismic Analysis of Underground Structures:
Assessing seismic response to ensure the stability and safety of structures.
Fatigue Analysis of Mining Vehicles:
Predicting fatigue life of haul trucks and loaders to plan maintenance and extend service life.
