Good source for the basics of FEA
Good source for the basics of FEA
(OP)
Hi All,
let me first introduce myself a bit:
My name is IJsbrand Schipperus, I work for an engineering office in The Netherlands. We do in house project and we send people to other companies. For our in house projects we want to have one persons who can do FEA on FEMAP (UGS - Siemens). Guess what, they asked me...
First of all, I do have had some education on strength calculation, but never FEA or matrix calculations. What I am searching for is some basic resource to work through, so I understand what the program is doing for me...
So for short: internet resources on matrix calculations and basic FEA are welcome, books are very welcome too.
IJsbrand Schipperus
let me first introduce myself a bit:
My name is IJsbrand Schipperus, I work for an engineering office in The Netherlands. We do in house project and we send people to other companies. For our in house projects we want to have one persons who can do FEA on FEMAP (UGS - Siemens). Guess what, they asked me...
First of all, I do have had some education on strength calculation, but never FEA or matrix calculations. What I am searching for is some basic resource to work through, so I understand what the program is doing for me...
So for short: internet resources on matrix calculations and basic FEA are welcome, books are very welcome too.
IJsbrand Schipperus





RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
FEMAP, as far as I can see, is only the pre-processor to other software you'll need to actually do the analysis. If you've bought some decent software then there should be manuals supplied with it that will give you the basics of FEA.
You don't need to know about matrix calculations at all.
corus
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
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RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
the idea of me being the only person doing strength calculations is that in the future we have the capacity of doing so. For the time being our reseller will support us and I will have them check my first projects.
We do a large array of different engineering, but our core bussiness is mechanical engineering, machine design. We have customers doing lithography, so very small, very unique engineering (vacuum also), but we do off-shore projects too. Most project fall in between, like automated drill-lines and plant handling machines.
Xerf: looks good, I think you hit the target here!
IJsbrand Schipperus
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
http://www.rpi.edu/~des/IFEA2007Fall.html
One of the best material which explains well for the beginner.
Try "Building better products with finite element analysis"
book also. (can find in amazon)
All the best,
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
there are some courses on FEM, given by MSE, and maybe also by UGS/Siemens (as they both have the same person in assisting them in the support of their customers).
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
You need to know how, why and where to use certain elements with repesct to true life structure, which tends to be governed by industry methods. Reading textbooks wont give you the necessary info that you need to have in order to use the FE in anger.
i must say, having one person who is currently untrained within a company which intends to use software seems a bit worrying for me.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
Also, all the results need interpretion which need engineering sense too.
FEA is not just piece of cake.
Thanks.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
You don't need a deep grasp of theory to do good FEA. You need to understand roughly how the theory works, and a good understanding of its implications.
But that is not the same as a deep understanding of the theory.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
Never become an expert, then.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
No, I did not. Nor could I.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
A good web site is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_element_method.
Use of FEMAP without significant FEA training would not be prudent. While an untrained user can "mouse" around in the FEMAP program and obtain "results" that may look "pretty", the results may not represent the correct solution due to not understanding the FEA process and modeling of the problem.
However, I believe you are starting at a good beginning - self training - that is, if nothing else is available.
The best of luck to you.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: Good source for the basics of FEA
I completely agree with people who say : knowledge about theory of finite elements is essential for understanding how to model a structure or a part of it , how to implement a material and so on. Not only have you to be able to model it, but also the experience to understand the results of the analysis.
However, my advice is to study at least this book:
1) Fundamentals of finite element analysis by David V. Hutton.
It's more practical then Zienkiewicz.
Enjoy your studies.
Aliante