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Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis

(OP)
Does anyone have any tutorials on FEA, i would like to learn it, but don`t know where to start. Thank you

RE: Finite Element Analysis

Florin85,

   There are text books out there too.

   Do you want to learn to understand Finite Element Analysis, or do you just want to operate the software?
 

               JHG

RE: Finite Element Analysis

(OP)
Thanks drawoh, i would like to learn both the software and to understand. Thank you.

RE: Finite Element Analysis

Florin85,

   Search Amazon for the books.  There are some free FEA tools out there, you can play with.  You may wind up having to install Linux.

   Search Google.  

               JHG

RE: Finite Element Analysis

(OP)
Thanks, why do i need to install Linux?

RE: Finite Element Analysis

Florin85,

   FEA tools FeLT and Calculix both run under Linux.

   You might want to go to the FEA forum as ask what textbooks they recommend.

               JHG

RE: Finite Element Analysis

Calculix also runs on Windows but you do have a lot more options with Linux than Windows. You might want to look at CAELinux too, you can put that on a USB and boot into it without the need of installing Linux.

RE: Finite Element Analysis

Go by Borders and check for books; may be really cheap now.

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2010 SP 4.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

RE: Finite Element Analysis

When I first started to learn FEA, My instructor swore by doing hand validated calcs. I can see why. Software is very easy to use. . .  and even easier to miss-use. If you really want to understand FEA, you need to understand Matrix math. Then you will have a good appreciation for what the software is doing and how boundary conditions can drastically affect your outcome.

StrykerTECH Engineering Staff
Milwaukee, WI
http://www.stryker-tech.com/

RE: Finite Element Analysis

I think hand calculations are often seen as too angelic, you can just as easily get a completely wrong answer. You forget a step, you invert the wrong sign, you get some trig wrong...

I think FEA isn't much more "automatic" than manual hand calcs, because setting up your loads, setting up your restraints, defining the mesh... all of that is manual.

The only automatic process is the actual number crunching (which is what a computer does) and as we know but a layman may not, it is not a black box. You do have control.

It's pretty much as manual as a manual hand calc. just then, in a completely different way. It can be valuable in that respect though, if fea and a hand calc. come out with similar answers because they are different in how one postulates the question and comes to a resultant answer.

Certified SolidWorks Professional

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