FEA SOFTWARE
FEA SOFTWARE
(OP)
I did my course in civil engineering about 30 years ago. Things were different back then FEA was around but quite distant. I now use microstran (structural analysis program both 2d and 3d). Structural engineering often involes analysing quite vexing models e.g. plates Im currently going thru this now. Can anyone recommned a good FEA software for structures and how would it be different to what I have?
Thanks
Thanks





RE: FEA SOFTWARE
building the model
solving the model
displaying the results
If you are lucky you will find a package that does all 3 in an integrated environment.
In my opinion the easiest pre and post processor, where all you have is sketches, is femap. I only do linear stuff so have no particular opinion about solvers.
Hypermesh is a powerful pre and post processor,especially for meshing solids, but it has a 'unique' user interface. It does have a built in solver, but is designed to integrate with other solvers just as well.
Call me a luddite, I still write decks by hand.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
You are confusing the younger members with "decks"......"luddite"
Ed.R.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
But what are decks?
and while your at it what is a luddite?
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Cheers
Luddite
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Card decks bring back good/bad memories lining up for computer runs. Also thanks for new word "Luddite" I may use it first opportunity I have.
Happy Australia Day !
Cheers !!
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
one of a group of early 19th century English workmen destroying labor saving machinery as a protest;
broadly : one who is opposed to especially technological change
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Hans
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Could you answer Greg's original question? As hansm2 says, there are many posts on this subject, but the answer may vary depeding on your application. It appears you are civil-structural, are you working on concrete? Steel? Poured structures? Beam-reinforced wood? Houses? High-rises?
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Thanks !
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
For instance, I do a lot of work on spaceframes and suchlike, with beam elements, which could be up to 500 mm long. On the other hand I occasionally have to model the joints in laddder chassis, for which I use plate elements, these might be perhaps 5 or 10mm on a side. Alternatively I might be modelling a suspension arm in which case the tets might be only 2mm on a side.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Microstran does not have any limitations for linear structures. So does a FEA program have limitations then?
Now 500 mm would be significant in structures whereby 2mm would not be significant. So about 100mm would be about the linear acuracy required. But is this important in FEA?
But with structures anything may come up for analysis really. So Im looking for something which is fairly general.
Hope this makes sense.
Thanks !
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
FEA programs don't really have a scale. That is set by your units, inside it is all just ones and zeroes.
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Being new to FEA (as I said did my course 30 years ago) I simply dont know how accurate the mesh should be for the structural applications Im looking for. Im using microstran now which is a matrix structural analysis software, so Im going in new territory, maybe I dont need it at all so what Im looking for maybe is more guidance from a structural engineer.
Thanks anyway.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Finele Consulting Engineers
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Good FEA codes could require months, years practice before you feel comfortable with it. Simple FEA codes will allow you go much quicker at the beginning, but very limited down the road.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Were you talking to me?
I know the lead time of tooling is very long and it is extremely expensive, but FEA is not a easy and cheap solution as well if you start from scratch.
The way how the simulation should work I think is: run simulation, do tests, compare, if match means the simulation/model is good, otherwise, tune the simulation until match. So before the simulation matches experiments, it means nothing and nobody knows if it is correct or not. But unfortunately, people want to predict things such as if the tooling design is good by simulation. So it is like a paradox.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Cheers
Greg Locock
SIG:Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: FEA SOFTWARE
Comparing with hundreds of thousands, or millions of tooling cost, FEA is usually cheaper/easier. But I was trying to say that it is not like 100 times cheaper or cost nothing but a license.