1Applying Virtual Reality Techniques to the Interactive Stress Analysis of a Tractor Lift Arm By

The objective of this research is to examine the challenges of applying virtual reality techniques to the interactive stress analysis of a tractor lift arm. NURBS-based free form deformation, finite element analysis, sensitivity analysis, collision detection, and virtual reality are combined to create an interactive environment for designers to view and modify part shape, evaluate the resulting stresses, and check for interference of the new part shape and surrounding parts in real-time. These methods are implemented using a surround screen virtual environment where the part of interest and associated geometry surrounding that part are displayed together using stereo projection to provide a three-dimensional view of the assembly. 2Introduction Manufacturing companies are continually trying to reduce the time required to take an idea from product conception to market so they can increase their competitiveness, maintain or increase their market share, and ultimately gain higher profits. This time reduction means fewer hours to develop the product, and fewer physical prototypes of the design that can be tested. With developments in computer codes, designers now rely more heavily on computer analysis and simulation as a way to reduce the number of costly prototypes and the time required to test them. Analysis and simulation leads to fewer prototypes, because it allows designers to solve many design problems before the first prototypes are built. Finite element analysis (FEA) is one form of structural analysis commonly used by manufacturing companies. Virtual reality (VR) is a unique human-computer interface that allows the user to use natural head and hand movements to interact with the objects in the environment