Internship – Development of a Structural Pre-Sizing Tool (Finite Element Analysis, Database & User Interface)

SUBJECT: Development of a Structural Pre-Sizing Tool (Finite Element Analysis, Database & User Interface)PROJECT CONTEXTDuring the engineering phase of industrial facility, a vibration study is conducted to check whether the vibration transferred from the rotating equipment to the supporting structure will cause any technical safety issues.A recurring question during the review is whether the steel structure supporting a rotating machine (pump, compressor, fan, motor package) is stiff enough during the early phase of engineering study. This is required early because the Finite Element Model of the platform is normally only available at a more mature stage. The key indicator is the dynamic stiffness at the package fixation points, which today requires a detailed finite element model for each case.The goal of this internship is to develop a fast pre-sizing tool that gives engineers an immediate estimate of the supporting structure’s dynamic behaviour from only a few input parameters, so that beam choices can be assessed in real time at an early design stage.ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESPart 1 – Finite Element Analysis as a databaseDevelop a simplified, parametric FE model of a typical equipment support frame (main beams on pillars, secondary beams, package fixation points).Use the model to generate a structured database of dynamic stiffness results covering a wide range of geometries, beam sections, package masses and boundary conditions.Consolidate the dynamic stiffness calculations performed by Vibratec on past projects into the same database.Train a predictive model (AI / surrogate model) on this database to estimate the dynamic stiffness of a new structure almost instantly.Compare the reduced FE model and the AI predictions against each other and against detailed FE results on real project cases.Part 2 – User interfaceDesign a simple, intuitive interface usable with limited information, without the need for Excel or hand calculation.Inputs: package size, weight and rotating speed; primary frame dimensions and beam sizes.Outputs: dynamic stiffness vs. frequency curve, dynamic stiffness at running speed, static stiffness, and frequency of the package suspension mode(s).Update results in real time when a beam selection changes, so the engineer can quickly find the beam arrangement that secures the machine integration.Test the tool on real cases with the engineering team and write a user guide.