[Stu Bloom]

Very nice, and its a great experiment ... on the surface ...

However looking at the deflected plot shape I am a bit concerned about how you have your model constrained. When using FEA, in order to have meaningful results, it is critical to know a lot of background about structural analysis and to understand how your applied loads and boundary conditions can influence your outcome. Here at R-R we have several entire departments dedicated solely to their own areas of FEA due to the intricacies involved with properly utilizing these tools and the criticality and safety concerns inherent in our product.

It is amazing and encouraging for me to see FEA software available to HS students. It makes me wonder how talented our new engineering graduates will be over the next 5-10 years.

As a mechanical design engineer I use these tools for preliminary analysis to help compare different concepts. Our final designs are always put through extensive analysis by our specialists.