Automesh

The important word here is « convenient ». It is indeed convenient, but not necessarily the best
way to get accurate and efficient results for every model.

First, you need to know what you actually want to simulate…

Then, decide the appropriate meshing strategy.

Those people don’t understand that every element has its strengths and weaknesses.

That’s right…some elements are better than others to simulate a certain type of systems.

CAD is about design and appearance, CAE is about engineering and physics.

Physics is sometimes better represented with a smaller and more compact model that gives away
exactly the kind of results we need, rather than a huge 3D monster model which « looks good » but
never gives good results once it passes the solver phase.

Your meshing must be created in accordance with your simulation goals and the kind of results you
want to get.

The difference between static and dynamic analysis

Static analysis means that we are making the assumption that the system we are simulating
doesn’t depend on time.

Whatever the time period we observe the system, it will remain always the same.

 In static analysis, the system and the boundary conditions don’t depend on time. What
matters is the intensity of the load.
 In dynamic analysis, there is a time dependency. What matters is the intensity of the
load AND the temporal distribution of the loading.
 It happens when the system enters in « resonance » with the frequency of the input
loading.
  Which means:
 When the frequency of the input load is equal to the « resonance » frequency of the
system.

Modal analysis is a simple way to calculate the natural frequencies of your system so you know which
frequencies can be destructive and dangerous for it.

Modal analysis calculates the natural frequencies of the system alone.

Modal is the simplest analysis and the only thing it does is telling you what are the “resonance
frequencies” of your geometry. It isn’t related to a loading at this stage, only to the geometry.
Resonance frequencies change due to the shape of your model and the way it is constrained only.

Because generally, once you noted the dangerous natural frequencies, you actually want to
know:

“If I excite my model at this dangerous frequency, how much deformation will I really get?”

This is done use other types of analysis called « Time response dynamic analysis » or
« Frequency response dynamic analysis » fea basics