01 Feb Steady-State vs Transient Analysis
In a steady-state process, the response of the system, whether it is stress, temperature, or otherwise, does not change over time. In a transient analysis, this response is time-dependent. All real-world processes have both a steady-state and a transient phase, but depending on the required results, it is more appropriate to analyse one or the other.
A steady-state analysis should be used when the system response changes insignificantly, or when only the end state is of interest. As an example, in a heat transfer analysis, the temperature in the system will remain constant after an equilibrium is reached.
A transient analysis should be done when the system response changes over time, and by a significant amount. In a heat transfer example, a transient process will cause the temperature keep changing with time.
In a steady-state analysis, loads are applied in one go, and only one result set is calculated. In a transient analysis, the loads are applied at discreet times with certain time increments in between, and results are calculated for each of those time steps. Depending on the process being analysed, a transient analysis could be simulating anything from a very short time frame (milliseconds) to a very large time frame (months).
A transient stress analysis can be static or dynamic (https://fea-solutions.co.uk/static-vs-dynamic-analysis/). A steady-state stress analysis is always static.
The difference between steady-state and transient analysis applies to analysis types, including stress, heat transfer, fluid flow, electrostatic and magnetic.
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