Use of computer simulation in the design and selection of critical components in fluid power systems

The design of fluid power components and systems based solely upon the use of steady-state analysis may lead to failure and possible safety hazards even in applications where the dynamic requirements are apparently insignificant. For example, the wall thickness of a telescopic actuator, selected on the basis of estimated steady-state pressure values, may prove inadequate under transient conditions where a load is suddenly brought to rest by the action of a hose-break valve. The use of factors of safety, more aptly referred to as factors of ignorance, frequently provides a way forward, but the degree of uncertainty can be reduced if computer simulation is used to predict the actual values of pressure transients