I think I’ve invented something, but don’t have the wherewithal to manufacture a prototype, yet. It’s an inflatable something - I know it must be possible to model this in software, but are there solutions available to the amateur?
I want to design a hollow polyhedron, define the tensile and elastic properties of the surface, then test what happens when it’s inflated.
I get one free bump, right?
Finite-element analysis software like ANSYS, NASTRAN or PASTRAN or the larger modelling programs like CATIA might be able to do what you are interested in. I think SolidWorks might be able to do some FEA analysis; there’s a free student download but I’m not sure it’s the complete package.
They aren’t cheap or particularly user-friendly/intuitive software packages for someone without FEA experience and/or enough understanding of the mechanics of the problem to correctly parameterize the problem. It will spit back an answer based on what you provide it; but you need to know that what parameters you’re providing make sense and whether the output makes sense.
Perhaps contacting an experienced contract engineering firm would be your best bet; otherwise maybe dealing with researchers at a university?
Good luck!
Thanks for that advice - I suspected the entry curve might be a bit steep for what I want to achieve. I think I need to talk to my friend the intellectual property lawyer before I start commissioning prototypes…