Modeling a wire mesh

[DrTunk]

Hi,

I'm attempting to model and analyze a tennis racquet but I am stuck on the string mesh. I was thinking of making a long complicated spline, and then sweeping a small diameter circle along that.

Is there any other way around that?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[rstupplebeen]

Are you planning on performing FEA on this? If so create the spline and apply beam elements and pretension them with contact that factors in the cross-sectional area. Those details are probably more accurately placed in a message board for your favorite solver. You might want to create a membrane representing the strings to greatly reduce solve time associated with hundreds of contact locations. Cool yet very difficult problem. I hope this helps.

Rob Stupplebeen

 

[ShaggyPE]

If you are trying to analyze the racquet frame you can probably do without the strings. You can simulate the tensioning by applying directional loads to the connection point of the string to the racquet. If you need to do some sort of impact analysis with the strings in place... that will be pretty complex as rstupplebeen mentioned.

If you are trying to identify the center of percussion, I don't believe that requires strings... just of function of frame geometry and mass... It has been a while since I took those classes.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist
Certified SolidWorks Advanced Sheet Metal Specialist