Module 1: Introduction to FEA

What is FEA for?

What does FEA do?
FEA Workflow
How to define a problem
What is important in FEA
Consistent unit system
Conclusion

Module 2: Important Engineering Concepts

What is stress
Normal stress and shear stress
Stress in 3D
Equivalent stress
Hooke’s law
Structural rigidity
Stress concentrations
Active forces and reaction forces balance
Rigid body motion
Conclusion

Module 3: Model Preparation

Importing CAD geometry

Creating geometry in preprocessor
Benefits of simplifying the geometry
Model symmetry
How to define symmetry in FEA
Small details spoil mesh
How to connect beams to shells and beams/shells to solids
Rigid, hinged, semi-rigid connections in beam models
How to check if the connection is a hinge
How to calculate connection rigidity
Linear material properties
When linear material is not enough
Conclusion

Module 4: Model Supports

How to support your model
Rigidity of supports
Realistic boundary conditions
Why pinned supports can be rigid!
How to make an area support
What can and cannot be simplified
Boundary conditions and Hooke’s law
Linear contact – the basics
How to define linear contact
When it is possible to ignore contact?
Typical solutions for contact and BC
» Example 1: Cantilever
» Example 2: Bolted connection
» Example 3: Beam on area support
» Example 4: Different rigidity supports
Conclusion

Module 5: Loads

Realistic load values and codes

Characteristic and design loads
Concentrated loads and reality
Force vs Moment
Gravity vs Pressure
Enforced deformations as load
Realistic load distribution
» Load distribution: Part 1
» Load distribution: Part 2
» Load distribution: Part 3
Conclusion

Module 6: Meshing

Basic element types

» Beam elements
» Plate elements
» Solid elements
» Choosing element type
Higher order elements
TRI vs QUAD
TET vs HEX
Model Simplifications
RBE – Rigid Body Elements
Plain strain elements
Mesh refinement
» Mesh refinement: Case study
» Mesh refinement: Challange 1
» Mesh refinement: Challange 2
Mesh and Mathematics (M&M!)
Mesh Quality Measures
Conclusion

Module 7: Analysis

Analysis… let’s put your FEA solver to work!

Linear Analysis Setup
Solver vs pre/post processor
Linear Static Limitations
What does nonlinear material do?
What does nonlinear geometry do?
Contact
Beyond Linear Static
When it is safe to use linear static?
Model Checking
Troubleshooting
Conclusion

Module 8: Post-Processing

Post processing
Business advice first!
Stress/Strain/Displacement
The Stress Map!
Stress averaging
Issues with stability
Dealing with stress higher than yield
Strain as a measure of capacity
Deformations
Beams in FEA
Results verification
Verification with hand calculations!
Business side of the report
Technical side of the report
Conclusion

Example 1: Plate in tension

Geometry
Material properties
Boundary conditions
Loads
Meshing
Analysis
Post processing
Conclusion

Example 2: Bolted cantilever

Geometry
Material properties
Boundary conditions
Loads
Meshing
Analysis
Post processing
Conclusion

Example 3: Solid bracket

Geometry
Material properties
Meshing
BC and contact
Loads
Analysis
Post processing
Conclusion

Example 4: Roof rafter stability

Introduction: Stability design

Introduction: LBA
Introduction: LBA settings
Geometry
Supports / Loads / Mesh
Initial stability calculations
Critical bending moment calculation
Critical bending moment in design
Bracing influence on stability
Developing model further – part 1
Developing model further – part 2
Verifying assumptions about bracings
Conclusion

Example 5: Street lamp

Geometry
» Base: Part 1
» Base: Part 2
» Post: Part 1
» Post: Part 2
» The top part
Materials + Properties
Meshing
» Base plate
» Base plate: “Bonus” video
» Lamp post
» Top part
Loads
» Wind load according to EN 1991-1-4
» Loading the model
Boundary conditions
» Avoiding contact with line supports
» Dealing with stress concentrations
» Defining contact
Analysis
Post processing
» Deformations
» Stress
» Stability
» Summary
Conclusion