Hi all,

First, I am somewhat new to SolidWorks and modeling in general, so I apologize if this is in the wrong place.

Anyway, for a project I am working on for my engineering co-op (an independent project, I should add), I am studying a failed part. Its a stamped steel U-brace, and it twisted about 15* or so during usage. I drew the part in SolidWorks, but I have no idea where to go from here. I want to figure out how much load/torque would have caused this failure, and a more experienced user told me that he thinks that theres a way that SW will do an iterative study until it finds that failure load, but he's not sure. Can anyone explain in Layman's terms how to do this? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Edit- I do have a very basic understanding of FEA and have done some basic things with it (think introduction to modeling college engineering class), but that is it really.

Edit 2-

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUBARU-IMPRE...-/270764176330

This is the piece. Its an upside down U that holds the differential and driveshaft in place for a Subaru Impreza. In a sudden loading (not fatiguing), the diff twisted about 15* on its axis, taking the bracket with it. I'd like to set the deformation as a 15* twist and find out what happened, moment wise.

So far the part is meshed and everything is good, i did some basic FEA test runs on it.