Case study
FEA Barbell Bench Analysis
For a finite element analysis course project, I modeled a bench-rack loading scenario inspired by real gym setup constraints. The analysis focused on accurate boundary conditions and load distribution to estimate when structural damage would occur while the bar rests on the rack.
The brief
Challenge
Simple-looking geometries can still produce misleading outputs unless supports and contact constraints are modeled correctly.
Approach
What we made
I treated boundary conditions as the core problem, validated assumptions against the physical setup, and iterated the model until response behavior was consistent.
- Defined and iterated boundary conditions to match realistic bench rack contact behavior.
- Estimated the load threshold at which rack-bar interaction would cause damage.
- Documented a complete analysis workflow with extensive figure-based reporting.
Outcome
Results
The final model estimated a 267.67 kg damage threshold for the bench-rack loading condition and provided a practical interpretation of safe loading context.
Gallery
Visual snapshots
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