Finally
Finally
(OP)
At last, I solved a model of something - anything - on my own. Whether the results are realistic is still anyone's guess!
Still pushing buttons robotically in some places, but at least I now know the training course wasn't a waste.
The result below took about 20 tries, starting over with the same STEP file imported again... and again...

So while FEMAP certainly isn't a user-friendly environment, a determined user can learn to use it.
For those considering it, the 3-day Intro To FEMAP training course given by Siemens is good to get you started using the software (knowing where all the buttons are) but really doesn't prepare you for doing any actual analysis work. That's just too much to ask of a course that only takes 3 days. I'd like to do more training, but I believe I've tapped out the budget the company can spend on me for this year. :)
Still pushing buttons robotically in some places, but at least I now know the training course wasn't a waste.
The result below took about 20 tries, starting over with the same STEP file imported again... and again...

So while FEMAP certainly isn't a user-friendly environment, a determined user can learn to use it.
For those considering it, the 3-day Intro To FEMAP training course given by Siemens is good to get you started using the software (knowing where all the buttons are) but really doesn't prepare you for doing any actual analysis work. That's just too much to ask of a course that only takes 3 days. I'd like to do more training, but I believe I've tapped out the budget the company can spend on me for this year. :)
STF





RE: Finally
RE: Finally
another day in paradise, or is paradise one day closer ?
RE: Finally
Actually on the bottom face it has 5 pinned fastener holes, and then I added circular "washers" around the rivet holes where the rivet heads would be, to clamp it down with surface constraints.
Then I applied 5 equal loads in the Y direction in the rivet holes on the vertical flange. No other loads or constraints.
Basically, I was testing to see if I gave it a trivial shear clip model, such as Bruhn D3.1, would I get a result I would expect.
I was pleased to see the distortion of the upper flange. It's the kind of thing I can miss in hand calcs but is always there.
STF
RE: Finally
You will be amazed at how much content you can find on the web by searching for "Femap Tutorials" in Google search and YouTube videos.
Good luck.
RE: Finally
BTW, I think my "finally" comment wasn't clear. Pushing buttons to get a pre-arranged result is easy.
Starting a problem from scratch and getting to a believable solution, all on my own... that's what "finally" worked.
STF
RE: Finally
Why do you use solid (volume) elements? Or am I misunderstanding the figure?
Thomas
RE: Finally
I don't yet have a good grounding in what the different element types are for.
Trying it again with a hex mesh would be interesting.
STF
RE: Finally
Personally I would have used plate elements. Then the model would have been fairly easy to create. Not that it is overwhelning in volume elements, I just could not see the reason.
But testing and learning, that is a good reason
Good Luck
Thomas
RE: Finally
RE: Finally
I'm not getting much time to practice. The company paid for only 1 seat, and currently FEMAP is being used by the senior analyst here, pretty much all day every day.
So I can only sneak in at off-hours.
STF
RE: Finally
Possibly get a free trial to practice on in the meantime at:
https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/plmapp/fe/e...
Years ago, there was a node limited version for students, but I am not sure if it is available.
arnie333
RE: Finally
You can use the "full" verson in demo mode with some limitations.
Thomas
RE: Finally
I'm sorry to hear that the 3-day training that you attended didn't leave you feeling prepped to perform analysis yourself. The best way to learn that is by working through examples. You can walkthrough this Femap Tutorial or watch the webinars on YouTube such as this one that covers preprocessing: https://youtu.be/JYO3hHLiH8s