FEMAP Training

Mark Sherman
Danilo Centazzo
Introduction to FEMAP
Agenda
Day 1
Introduction
Install, Setup and Customize FEMAP
The User interface and the On-Line Help
Exercise - User Interface
Example 3 - Plate With Hole
View and Display options
Exercise - Viewing and Displays
Materials and Properties
Example 4 - Roof Truss
Exercise - Beam/Plate Element Meshing
Building Geometry in FEMAP
Example 8 - Simple Solid
Meshing
Exercise - Hexahedral versus Tetrahedral
Agenda
Day 2
Importing and Meshing Geometry
Exercise - Fixing and Meshing Bad Geometry
Exercise - Mesh Repair
Midsurfacing
Exercise - Solid Geometry Creation and Midplane
Loads and Constraints
Exercise - Bearing Load
Groups and Layers
Online Example - Working with Groups and Layers
Visualizing and Documenting Results
Exercise - Plotting and AVI manipulation
Agenda
Day 3
Question and Answer Session
Work on Specialized Projects
Install, Setup and Customize

FEMAP
Install, Setup, and Customize FEMAP
New Installation.......7
Updating a Previous Installation...8
Graphics Considerations....9
FEMAP Preferences.10
Program Options - Database and Startup.11
Program Options - Geometry..12
Program Options - Interfaces, Libraries, and Colors...13
User Interface - Messages and Lists, View Settings...14
User Interface Render Graphics..15
User Interface - Menus, User Menus, Shortcut Keys..16
New Installation
Auto run on NT4.0, 95, 98, 2000, and XP

Administrator Privileges Required for NT,
2000, and XP.
300 Node Demo
Network Licensing
Server / Client
Requires password file tied to Host ID
Standalone
Requires a parallel or USB security
device.
After install of FEMAP, the Sentinel
System Driver (used to access the
security device) will be installed.
Complete will install both of the parallel
and USB security device drivers.
Custom will let you select between
parallel and USB
Updating a Previous Installation
Auto run on NT4.0, 95, 98, and 2000

Administrator Privileges Required for NT
and 2000.
Modify displays a list of FEMAP components

with the installed components checked.
Check components to add them, and uncheck
to remove them.
Repair will automatically reinstall into the

existing previous installation, replacing the
corrupted installation.
Remove will completely remove FEMAP from

the system.
Graphics Considerations
A very high windows color resolution is not

needed with CAD and FEA programs, and might
actually cause slower graphics performance.
16 Million colors is a recommended
setting, or 8 bit True Color.
The desktop area resolution must also be
taken into consideration.
Right mouse button on Windows Desktop
Select Properties, then Settings

Adjust Color Palette and Desktop Area to
optimum for your graphics card
Use Test to verify support by your
graphics card of combination of Palette
and Area
Graphics appearance relies on your
Windows Settings (more is better)
If FEMAP appears to be having graphics errors,

it could be the driver for your graphics card.
Update the drivers for your graphics card often!
Drivers from the manufacturers of the graphics

card chipset tend to be more stable then the
drivers from the maker of the graphics card.
FEMAP Preferences
Configure FEMAP for optimum performance and the way you prefer to work.
Divided into two categories, User Interface, and Program Options
File Preferences.
Be sure to exit FEMAP and start it again for the new preferences to be applied.
10
Program Options - Database and Startup
Select File - Preferences, choose Database
Define various Database Memory settings
Cache Pages, Blocks/Page and Max Cached Label for improved RAM
management and performance. More information on page 3-17 of the User
Guide.
Installed RAM
Cache Pages
Blocks/Page
128
8000
256
12000
512
15000
1000
15000
11
Specify Scratch Disks for the location of the temp, scratch, and recovery files
FEMAP writes out. The Windows temp directory is the default.
The Windows temp directory is an environment variable in Windows that
can be modified by right clicking on My Computer, and selecting
properties.
11
Program Options - Geometry
Select File - Preferences, choose Geometry
Can select between the Parasolid, Acis, and Standard geometry engines to start
with. The Parasolid engine is recommended.
The scaling of geometry is done internally in FEMAP so that a part of 1.0 on the
desktop will be stored as 0.0254 in the database.
This scaling will allow you to import and model parts that are outside of the
Parasolid modeling limits (500x500x500). If you import geometry with a different
scale then the internal scale, new or modified geometry will be out of scale with
the imported geometry.
Load Expansion on Midside Nodes sets the defaults for modification of the
distribution of nodal loads (such as force and moment) on parabolic elements.
To obtain an even distribution of force across a parabolic element, most
programs require a larger portion of the force be assigned to the midside
nodes. You can set the factors Along Edges, On Tri-Face, or On Quad-Face to
represent the amount of the total load on the element which will be applied to
the midside node.
You will typically want to use the default values above, as well as use the
Midside Node Adjustment Default. If you have further questions on the
distribution required for your solver program, please consult the reference
documentation for your analysis program.
12
Program Options - Interfaces, Libraries

and Colors
Interfaces preferences control the FEMAP defaults for

creating analysis models. The defaults can be defined
for each interface (eg NASTRAN, ABAQUS, etc.)
The Libraries preferences allow you to select the

default libraries the FEMAP uses.
The Colors preferences allow you to select the default

colors for entities.
13
User Interface - Messages and Lists,

View and Graphics.
Messages and Lists Preferences control text

displayed in the Messages and Lists window
and the size of that window. When you select
the Messages and Lists Window option, you
will see the Preferences dialog box. These
options are partitioned into two major types:
Borders and Size, and Fonts and Colors.
In Views and Graphics Preferences, the

startup view allows you to specify a view
other then the default startup view so that
you dont have to re-specify view options.
Views are saved in View Quick Options
(Ctrl Q).
If you see flicker during Dynamic Rotation,

try customizing the options for View and
Dynamic Rotation.
14
User Interface Render Graphics
Render mode is a high-speed graphics mode that uses the OpenGL graphics
language. The Render Graphics Preferences dialog box lets you control the
Render graphics method used, as well as the level of functionality that you have
while in Render mode
You can choose between two Render methods: Original or Enhanced.

Generally, you should use the Enhanced method.
The Enhanced method doesn't support a few post-processing displays. For

these types of displays, you must set the method to Original:
beam diagrams
isosurfaces
section cuts
vectors (contour and deformed), deformed trace plots
freebody displays
Hardware Acceleration can be toggled off if the graphics card, or it's drivers, are
causing instability in FEMAP.
15
User Interface Menus and Toolbars,

User Menus, Shortcut Keys
Change the Menus and Toolbar preferences to

suite your working style
The User Menus preferences allow you to

integrate custom API scripting and program
files into FEMAP. This will be touched upon
further in the API section of the training
manual.
Shortcut keys are assigned so that any

command in FEMAP can be accessed by
pressing a key. Good for commonly used
commands.
16
The User interface and the OnLine Help
The User Interface, and the On-Line Help
Layout....19
FEMAP Main Window.20
Toolbars....21
Status Bar and Tray....22
Graphics Windows......23
List Window..24
Entity Selection Box25
Right Mouse Button....26
Shortcut Keys...27
Online Help...28
Exercise - User Interface....28
Example 3 - Plate With a Hole.Examples Manual P 3-1
18
Layout
FEMAP Main Window

Menu Structure
View Toolbar
Command Toolbars
Tray/Status Bar: Shortcuts, Active Parameters, Dynamic Query
FEMAP Graphics Window
Messages and Lists Window

Command and Error Information
Accessing Commands
Main Menu
View Toolbar
Command Toolbars
Status Bar
Right Mouse Button
Shortcut Keys
Help System
19
FEMAP Main Window
Intuitive Windows menu structure.
Access to all commands through

drop-down windows.
Lists Short-Cut Keys on menu.
Provides quick access to commands

via Toolbars.
View Toolbar
Command Toolbars
20
Toolbars
View Toolbar - typically above Graphics Window

Provides access to view commands while in other dialog
boxes.
Important for positioning of model while picking entities.
Command Toolbars - Typically right of graphics Window

Provides shortcut to commonly used commands.
Multiple levels of Toolbars for access to large number of
commands.
Very convenient when creating geometry and postprocessing results.
21
Status Bar and Tray
Contained at bottom of FEMAP Main Window
Provides running total of nodes and elements in model.
Short description of commands when in the menu structure

of FEMAP.
Tray on Right
Provides Access to Current Entities
Property, Load Set, Constraint Set, Group, Output Set
Change Current Entity or create a new one
Dynamic Query - end of Tray

Select Type of Entity (Defaults to OFF)
Hold Cursor at an entity on the screen
Information about entity provided in Tooltips Box
22
Graphics Windows
Multiple Windows available.
View information stored separately for each Window.

Capability to change view options for only one
view or all views at one time.
True Windows - provide easy transfer from FEMAP to

other Windows programs.
Cut and Paste
Windows Metafiles
AVI, JPEG, and BITMAP files
23
List Window
Provides information on commands

FEMAP is performing, and their
status.
List and error information
Maximize Window by DoubleClicking.
Return to Normal Size by Double

Clicking.
Copy or Save Information from List

Highlight and Cut
Save to File
24
Entity Selection Box
The entity selection box is used by commands to build a list of entity IDs
that will be used for the operation.
The add method allows you to graphically, and through methods, add
entity IDs to the list of Ids.
The remove method allows you to graphically remove entity IDs from the
list, and is dependant on the order you removed the entities. So if you
were to add the entity ID after removing, it would still be included in the
list.
The exclude method allows you to exclude entity IDs permanently from the
list.
The Delete command will delete the id from the list.
Additional methods under the method button will vary depending on the
entity.
25
Right Mouse Button
Provides quick and Convenient Access to common

commands.
Previous Command
Recalls the last command executed
Change the Workplane.
Picking Options (Snap To, Pick Query, Pick All

Inside)
Change method of coordinate selection
Allows for query selection, and front screen
picking
Available while in a command
Position - Display/Remove Cursor Position Window.
Model, Post, and XY Data

Convenient method of changing view
parameters
Menu commands for these options several
layers down, right mouse button provided
easy access
26
Shortcut Keys
FEMAP contains preprogrammed shortcut keys for commonly used

commands.
F5 - View Select, F6 - View Options, F8 - View Rotate, Ctrl+D - View
Redraw, Ctrl+A - View Autoscale Visible, Ctrl+G - View Regenerate,
CTRL+Z - Undo, and Many More. (See Appendix A of User Guide)
Preprogrammed Keys shown on Menu Structure.
Customizable Keys - available under File Preferences.

Define any letter key as a FEMAP command
Case Sensitive - 52 assignments available
Dialogue Box Keys - available when in a command.

Ctrl+A - Measure an Angle
Ctrl+C - Windows Copy
Ctrl+D - Measure a Distance
Ctrl+Z - Use Standard Coordinate Selection Dialog Box to define
location.
And Many More (See Appendix A of User Guide)
27
On-Line Help
Menu Help - FEMAP provides description of each command while pointing at it

or accessing it on the Status Bar .
Full On-Line Help System accessed through the Help Menu.
Help is also context sensitive

Access a command
Hit F1 to access HELP
Help Window will appear at description of the current command.
28
Open a FEMAP model file, and look in the Examples

subdirectory of the FEMAP Training folder on your
desktop.
Open Fanpost.MOD
Save As a different name, in training work directory.
30
Press F5 to access View Select.
Press F1 to access Help on View Select.
Select Contour and Hit OK.
Go to Dynamic Query (Right most on Tray) and

Select Element
Hold Mouse over an element until information

appears in Tooltips Window.
31
Hit Right Mouse Button and select

Post Data.
Change Contour from Solid von

Mises Stress to Total Translation
and Hit OK.
32
View and Display Options
View and Display Options
Model Manipulation......35
View Select........36
View Options.....37
View Quick Options..38
View Style...39
Render....40
Exercise - Viewing and Displays........41
34
Model Manipulation
Dynamic Display allows you to dynamically

manipulate a FEMAP model.
Menu Button
Default is 3D (XY) rotation
Alt key with mouse for Rotate Z
Ctrl key with mouse for Pan
Shift key with mouse for Zoom
View - Rotate
Or Ctrl-R or F8
Provides standard views (left, right,
isometric)
Allows precise rotation
Also allows magnify, zoom and pan
35
View Select
View - Select
Or menu bar option, or F5, Ctrl-S.
Defines the contents for each view (Window)

Can either be of the model or an XY graph
Deformed Style and Contour Style options require analysis
results
36
View Options
View - Options
F6, or Ctrl-O
Control various options for three

different categories.
Labels, Entities and Color
Tools and View Style
Post Processing
Common uses
Controlling contour levels
and colors
Viewing plate thickness and
beam cross-sections
Toggling entity labels
37
View Quick Options
Ctrl-Q or Menu Button
Controls the display of various entities

On or off
Colors
Allows you to save or load views.

A saved view can then be loaded as the default view
when FEMAP starts, by assigning it in the preferences.
Common combinations:
All Entities Off, Elements On
Load/Constraints On/Off
38
View Style
Access through menu icon.
Options on Style
Wireframe
Hidden
Solid
Rendered Solid
Enhanced Render
Mesh Size (On/Off)
Common Combinations
Rendered Solid
Wireframe, Render (off)
Shrink
39
Render
Activate with View Style or View

Select.
OpenGL graphics
Hardware accelerated, Faster
drawing
Dynamic Rotation of solid, shaded

models.
Advanced Post-Processing options

cannot be used with Enhanced
Render.
Dynamic Cutting Plane and
Isosurface
No Post-Processing in Wireframe
mode
No entity labels
Copy and Print Bitmaps only
40
Exercise - Viewing and

Displays
Exercise - Viewing and Displays
Open the CH12Post.MOD model file,

located in the examples sub directory of
the FEMAP Training folder on your
desktop.
Produce the following plots using

multiple views
A) Dimetric view of shaded
geometry only.
B) Isometric view of curves only.
C) Dynamically rotated and zoomed
view to highlight the area of
maximum von Mises stress.
42
Types of materials supported..45

Defining Materials.....46
Other Types of Materials.....47
Defining Properties...48
Modifying Materials......49
Beam Properties...50
Example 4 - Roof Truss....Examples Manual, P 4-1
Exercise - Beam/Plate Meshing.....51
44
Types of materials supported
Isotropic
Properties are constant in all directions (values entered as a
single value).
Orthotropic
Direction dependent.
Define in two planer or three principle directions.
Anisotropic
Properties specified as a general 3x3 (2-D) or 6x6 (3-D) elasticity
matrix.
Hyperelastic
Materials subject to large deformations
Input distortional and volumetric deformations or stress/strain
data.
Other Types
Unique material types for LS-DYNA, MARC, and
ABAQUS/Explicit.
User Defined material types for custom program interfaces.
45
Defining Materials
Model - Material
By default, the type is Isotropic
To select different material

model, choose Type which
appears on the top right of every
material definition dialog box,
and then select a different
material type, e.g., Hyperelastic.
The default Define Material

dialog box changes to the last
selected type after changing the
material type.
To enter values for material

properties
Type values directly into the

fields provided; or
Access the material library by

selecting Load and choosing a
material
Nonlinear, Function dependence, and

Phase Change information can also
entered in this dialog box by clicking
the appropriate button.
46
Other Types of Materials
LS-DYNA, MARC, and ABAQUS/Explicit Material

types.
47
Defining Properties
Model - Property
New model default is Plate, or for
an existing model the default is the
most recent type defined.
Other types are selected with
Elem/Property Type.
Properties define additional analysis

information for each element type, and
are controlled by the element type.
Property data includes

Material selection
Geometric information ( thickness,
radii, areas, etc.)
Mass and inertia
Contact property includes analysis
program specific types of contact
as well as generalized friction data.
48
Modifying Materials
Modify - Edit - Material

Specify the Material ID you want
to edit; or
Use Method to select a material
by Element, etc
Highlight and modify the field you

wish to edit.
Modify the Type as needed.
49
Beam Properties
Model - Property
Elem/Property Type Beam
Enter values directly; or
Use Shape to load a library of shapes or create

a General Section from geometry created by, or
imported into, FEMAP.
Choose a standard shape from the Shape
drop down list on the Cross Section
Definition box.
Enter appropriate values for a shape and
determine stress recovery points.
Use Draw Section to verify the resulting
shape.
Choose General Section under Shape to
select any surface as the cross section of
a beam.
Beam properties will be automatically
calculated by pressing OK.
50
Exercise - Beam/Plate
Meshing
Exercise - Beam/Plate Meshing
In this example we will read in simplified wireframe geometry of the

following assembly.
The top plate will be modeled with plate elements, and the
underlying support beams will be modeled with beam elements.
52
Import Geometry - DXF

Select File - Import - Geometry, import
GEOMMESH.DXF, located in the Training Files
subdirectory of the FEMAP Training folder on your
desktop.
This geometry will be meshed with elements,
whose properties and materials we will now define.
53
Create the Material

Any Finite Element Model will require the creation
of Materials and Properties, to create the Aluminum
Material that will be used for this model, select
Model - Material from the FEMAP Menu.
Next, Press Load and Load the 7050-T651 Plate
from the FEMAP Material Library.
54
Create the Plate Property

Two Properties are required for this model, a plate
property, and a beam property. To create the plate
property, select Model - Property from the FEMAP
Menu.
Fill in the box as shown, being sure to pick the
material previous created in the Material field.
Press OK to continue.
55
Create the Beam Property

FEMAP will automatically prompt you for the next
property, to change to a beam property, press the
Elem/Property Type button, and change the
Property Type to Beam.
56
Create the Beam Property

FEMAP now displays the Beam Element Type Property input
box.
Instead of entering the beam properties manually, press the
Shape button and we will enter the cross-section data
directly.
57
Specify the characteristics of the beam cross-section

Fill in the cross-section information.
Select I-Beam or Wide Flange (W) for the shape.
H = 2.0, W Top = 1.0, W Bot = 1.0, Thick Top = 0.1, Thick Bot
= 0.1, Thickness = 0.1
In addition to the cross-section definition, be sure to change the

Orientation Direction to Up, this will be useful in our example to
align the cross-section with respect to the rest of the model.
Press OK when finished, and FEMAP will return to the standard

Beam input with appropriate values filled in. Be sure to fill in a
title, it will make selecting properties later more intuitive.
58
Create the Boundary Surfaces that will be meshed with plates.

Boundary Surfaces are composed of exterior, and optionally,
interior closed connected curves. In our example, we will
create two boundaries, choose Geometry - Boundary Surface
from the FEMAP menu. Select the six curves that make up the
left boundary.
You can pick in any order, FEMAP will automatically connect the
curves consecutively. Press OK in the Entity Selection Dialog.
Create another Boundary Surface using the four curves in the right
cell.
59
About Mesh Sizing

The default mesh spacing in a new FEMAP model is 1.0, for
this example, it works fine for most of the part, by using the
tools available under Mesh - Mesh Control, you can customize
the mesh spacing almost infinitely.
The pictures below show meshes performed on boundary

surfaces with different mesh sizes specified for the various
curves.
60
Seeing the mesh size

To visualize the mesh spacing, select View - Options from the
FEMAP menu,
Select the items shown to turn on the Mesh Size indicators on
curves.
You will then see that the curves have the default mesh size
on them.
61
Adjust the mesh size on the arc.

Select Mesh - Mesh Control - Size Along Curve from the
FEMAP menu.
Select the Arc.
Change the Number of Elements to 8. The boundary surfaces are

now ready to mesh.
62
Constraining the Model

For this example, we will add
boundary conditions to the
geometry of the model before
meshing. FEMAP will automatically
expand the boundary conditions out
to the nodes when exporting the
analysis model to your solver.
To fix the edges of this model,
select Model - Constraint - On Curve
from the FEMAP menu, before
creating any constraints, FEMAP
will prompt you to start a new
constraint set. Fill in the box as
shown, and press OK to continue.
Select the five curves indicated, and
the fill in the Create Constraint on
Geometry Dialog Box as indicated.
63
Loading the Model

We will apply a 100 #/in. load on the curved section of the
model.
Select Model - Load - On Curve from the FEMAP menu.
Just like constraints, FEMAP prompts you start a new
load set, fill in the box as shown.
Select the arc, and press OK.
Create a Fore Per Length in the Z direction of 100 lbs/in.
64
Mesh the surfaces.

Select Mesh - Geometry - Surface from the FEMAP menu.
Since we are going to mesh all the surfaces in this model (the
two boundary surfaces), use the Select All button and then
press OK.
Change the Property reference to the plate property we
created, by selecting it in the Property drop down menu. Use
the default values for Mesh Control and Smoothing, press OK
to mesh.
65
Add the support beams.

Select Mesh - Geometry - Curve from the FEMAP
menu. Select the four curves indicated.
Select the second property we created.
FEMAP will now ask for a vector to orient the Y-Axis
of the beam elements, align the beam Y-Axis with
the Global Z-Axis (base: 0,0,0 - tip: 0,0,1).
66
Modifying the Beam Offset

We will now offset the beam Neutral Axis ( and Shear Center )
from the vector between the two nodes defining the Beam .
First, use the Modify - Update Elements - Offsets
Select METHOD as TYPE, and scroll to type 5 L Beam then press OK
to continue.
Now check the options for Update End A and Set End B=End A
Press Ok and continue .
67
Now you must select the vector that will define

the offset of the Beam.
Type in a vector of Base 0.0, 0.0, 0.0
Tip 0.0, 0.0, -1.05 and press OK.
68
Visualization
First we will clean up the display a bit by removing
unnecessary entities.
Press Ctrl-Q to bring up the FEMAP View Quick Options,
turn all Geometry Off, and then toggle off the nodes. Click
Done.
Rotate the model using View - Rotate from the menu (Ctrl-R)
or F8, choose a Dimetric View.
69
Visualization
Since the beam elements are
drawn as lines, we cannot see
them because they coincide
with the edges of the plate
elements. To see them, we will
shrink all elements.
On the FEMAP View Toolbar,
select the View Style Icon, next
toggle on the shrink option.
70
Final Checks
Select Tools - Check - Coincident Nodes. When you mesh
different portions of a model at different times, there are
invariable, coincident nodes, sections of your model that
overlap.
Select All Nodes
Answer No to the
Ok to Specify additional nodes.
Toggle on the actual Merging of Nodes.
71
At this point, your model is ready to analyze. We will analyze it

with the FEMAP Structural solver.
Model - Analysis to open the Analysis Manager.
Click on New to create a new analysis set.
Give it a title, select FEMAP Structural for the solver, and
click OK to accept the default analysis options.
Click on Analyze to start the analysis.
On your own, and using View Select, and View Quick Options,
try to get a display similar to that below.
72
Wireframe Geometry Creation75

Geometry - Curve From Surfaces..76
Surface Geometry Creation.77
Solid Geometry Creation..78
Solid Geometry Creation Techniques79
Additional Solid Modeling.80
Example 8 - Simple Solid..Examples Manual, P 8-1
74
Wireframe Geometry Creation

Geometry Menu
Lines
Arcs
Circles
Splines
75
Geometry - Curve From Surfaces
Used to create curves from surfaces or the surfaces of FEMAP solids. Based
on the Update Surfaces flag, the new curves can stand alone, or update the
surface used in their creation.
Normal
Projection
Intersection
Curve
Vector
Projection
76
Surface Geometry Creation
Corners creates a simple surface from 3 or 4 corners.
Edge Curves creates a surface from 3 or 4 curves.
Aligned Curves lofts a surface through curves.
Ruled creates a ruled surface between two bounding

curves.
Curves can be extruded and revolved into surfaces.
Sweep can be used to sweep multiple-curve cross

sections along a curve. Very useful, along with Aligned
Curves, to create highly curved surfaces that can be
stitched into complex curved solids.
Convert is used to convert surfaces made with the

standard FEMAP geometry engine, and boundary
surfaces, into Parasolid surfaces. It is highly
recommended to only use planar boundary surfaces
with the Convert command.
77
Solid Geometry Creation
Dual Engine Geometry Modeling - ACIS or Parasolid
Two Approaches to Solid Modeling

Primitives
Block
Cylinder
Cone
Sphere
Extrude 2-D Profile
Revolve 2-D Profile
Boolean Operations - Union, Subtract, Common
Profile Based Solid Modeling

Create 2-D Profiles, Extrude or Revolve while adding or
removing material.
Through All, Depth
Combine the two methods when appropriate
78
Solid Geometry Creation Techniques
79
Additional Solid Modeling
80
Meshing
Meshing
Mesh Control Menu.81

Mesh Control Continued.82
Mesh Control Continued.83
Geometry Meshing..84
Geometry Hex Meshing..85
Exercise - Hexahedral versus Tetrahedral......86
82
Mesh Control Menu
Mesh Control - Default Size, used to define the default element

size.
If you only need a uniform mesh, this will be the only mesh
control operation you need to do.
Will be used along curves that have no other sizing specified.
Mesh Control - Size.

At Point, used to specify the size along any curve that
references that point, and does not already have a size
specified.
Along Curve, specifies the element size, or number of
elements to be placed, and how they will be spaced along the
curve.
On Surface, used to specify the size on all of the curves
referenced by the surface, and gives other options for
controlling the mesh on the surface.
On Solid, provides the same basic mesh control as the
previous, but also has additional options that pertain
primarily to multi-solid meshing, and hex meshing.
Free Mesh
Controlled/Free Mesh
83
Mesh Control Continued
Mesh Control - Interactive, allows you to interactively modify

existing mesh sizes along one or more curves.
Can use Add, Subtract, and Set To.
Mesh Control - Custom Size Along Curve, can be used to place

nodes at specific locations along curves.
Mesh Control - Mapped Divisions on Surface, allows you to

specify divisions for a mesh on 3 and 4 sided surfaces.
Mesh Control - Mesh Points on Surface, defines specific locations

on a surface where nodes will be created when the surface is
meshed.
84
Mesh Control Continued
Mesh Control - Attributes

At Point, is used to assign meshing properties to points, so
that when the points are meshed, the properties will
automatically be assigned to the points.
Along Curve, in addition to specifying the property to be
used, there are additional options, like element orientation,
releases, and offsets.
On Surface, most commonly used for assigning plate
properties to surfaces, and should be used when meshing
multiple surfaces with different properties in one meshing
operation.
On Volume/Solid, are much the same as the above, only
applies to volumes/solids.
Mesh Control - Approach on Surface, used to specify whether, and

how, FEMAP will create a free/boundary mesh, or a mapped mesh.
85
Geometry Meshing
Mesh - Geometry - Point, is the most basic of the automatic

meshing commands.
Will generate nodes (or elements and nodes) at the selected
points.
Allows you to specify the beginning node and element ID.
Mesh - Geometry - Surface, creates nodes and planar elements on

a selected set of surfaces.
Must first define the mesh sizing using one of the various
Mesh Control commands.
There are also basic Mesh Control options on the Automesh
form, as well as Mesh Smoothing, and Element Shape
options.
Mesh - Geometry - Volume, creates nodes and elements in a

selected set of volumes.
Since this command uses a mapped meshing technique, the
number of nodes/elements along opposite faces of a volume
must always be equal.
Mesh - Geometry - Solid, Produces a 3-D solid tetrahedral mesh in

a solid part.
Mesh - Geometry - Solids From Elements, meshes a plate element

mesh that encloses a volume into a solid element mesh.
86
Geometry Hex Meshing
Semi Automatic Hex Meshing

FEMAP can automatically hex mesh
solids that are valid mapped meshing
solids.
Preparing the solid for Hex Meshing

Begin by slicing the solid into simple
sections that are extrudable.
Slicing and sectioning the geometry
is accomplished using Geometry Solid - Slice, Slice Match, Slice Along
Face, and Embed Face.
Meshing the Solids

Use Mesh Control to set the size and
link the adjacent surfaces.
Then Mesh - Geometry - Hex Mesh
Solids.
87
Exercise - Hexahedral versus

Tetrahedral
In this example we will explore two different

representations of the same model. One comprised of
Tetrahedral elements, and the other, composed of
Hexahedral. We will begin by applying loads and
constraints to the model. Then meshing the solid with
Tetrahedral elements. The model will be solved using the
FEMAP Structural Solver. Next we will save as a new
model, delete the Tetrahedral mesh, and mesh the part
with Hexahedral elements. Again we will solve the model
in FEMAP structural.
89
Import the Geometry

Select File - Import - Geometry and
choose the file Ch16hexmesh.x_t
from the examples subdirectory of
the FEMAP Training folder.
The defaults will work fine so press
OK.
When Geometry is imported all viewing

options are set to the wireframe
defaults, We will begin by setting the
display so we can work on the part.
Press the View Style Icon, and
select Rendered Solid.
Rotate the model into the position
shown here by clicking the left
mouse button, and holding it while
dragging the mouse.
Apply the Geometric Load.

Select Model - Load on Set, type in
a title for the set, and press OK.
Model - Load - On Surface, when
the standard dialog selection box
appears, select the highlighted
surface.
Select Force as the load type, then
enter a force of 200 in the negative X
direction.
90
Create the Geometric Constraints.

Model - Constraint - Set, and enter
a name. Press OK
Model - Constraint - On Surface,
and choose the three surfaces on
the inside of the bracket, then press
OK.
Create a Fixed constraint on the
geometry.
Create The Material

Model - Material, press Load for the
list of materials in the FEMAP
material library. Select the 2024T351 Al Plate .25-.5 and press OK.
FEMAP then returns to the Define
Material box, with the values of the
material you selected filled in. Press
OK to create the material, then
Cancel to end the command.
Create the Solid Property

Model - Property, FEMAP will bring
up the default plate property type.
Click on Elem/Property Type, and
select Solid to change to Solid
property type. Press OK.
You will see that the property form
has changed to the Solid Element
type. Enter the title "Solid Property".
Press OK to create the property, and
Cancel to end the command.
91
Mesh Sizing
The meshing process generally
consists of 2 steps, establishing
mesh sizing and control on the part,
and meshing the part. It is also
recommended practice to check the
mesh, and if needed, refine it.
Mesh - Mesh Control - Size on
Solid FEMAP will automatically
select the solid, if not, pick it, and
press OK to get the Automatic Mesh
Sizing form.
Change the Element Size to 2, and
the Minimum Elements on Edge to 2,
and press OK.
FEMAP will size the solid, and
when finished, graphically display
the locations where nodes will be
placed. This feature can be turned
off by unchecking Mesh Size under
the View Style icon.
The last step of setting of building
the analysis model is to mesh the
geometry. Since the boundary
conditions were applied to the
geometry, they will automatically be
expanded onto the nodes when
exporting the analysis file, or
performing the analysis in FEMAP
Structural.
92
Meshing the Part
Mesh - Geometry - Solids, FEMAP

will ask you if you want to update the
Mesh Sizes, select NO, because we
want to use the sizes we assigned in
the last step.
The default options of creating
Midside Nodes (to create 2nd order
tets) are fine. It is recommended
with thin parts to use a Tet Growth
Ratio of 1 to 1, so change that to 1.
Press OK to mesh the part.
93
Solving using the Analysis Manager

Model - Analysis, click on New to
create a new analysis set.
Enter a title, select 34..FEMAP
Structural for the solver, and
1..Static for the analysis type.
The default analysis options will be
sufficient for this example, so click
OK to create the analysis set, and
Analyze to finish the analysis.
Post Processing
Display the contour of the Solid Von
Mises Stress, and the Total
Translation for the deformation
display.
To do this, View - Select (F5, or

Cntrl S), select Deform for
Deformed Style, and Contour for
Contoured Style, and click on
Deformed and Contour Options.
If they aren't already, Select the
Solid Von Mises and Total
Translation vectors for the contour
and deformation displays,
respectively.
Save the model here as
tetmesh.mod, for later comparison
with the hex meshed model.
94
Preparing to Re-Mesh
First save the model file as
hexmesh.mod. Then turn off the
contour and deformed displays, and
return to rendered solid.
To delete the mesh, Delete - Model
- Mesh, Select All, press OK.
Select NO so that the properties and
materials you previously created
remain intact.
Subdividing the Solid to Aid in

Meshing.
You will subdivide this solid into the
ten independent solids shown on the
right. The solids are shown exploded
for clarity of viewing.
Select Geometry - Solid - Embed Face.

Pick surface A, select Automatic as
the embed option, select All Curves
to be embeded, and press OK.
Repeat this command for surfaces B
and C.
95
Slicing the Geometry

Geometry - Solid - Slice, select
solids 1 and 2, then Press OK.
You will then be prompted for 3
points to define the cutting plane.
Select points A, B, and C, and Press
OK (you might need to set your snap
to points, right-mouse click, and
select Snap to Point).
Geometry - Solid - Slice, select
both halves of what was solid 1 for
the previous slice command.
This time, click on Methods, and
select Global Plane as the cutting
method, the X Y plane as the cutting
plane, and point B in the previous
cutting command as the base for the
XY plane.
Press OK to slice the solid.
Check to see that you sliced your
part into the proper sub-solids by
using the command List - Geometry
- Solids to display the entity
selection box. Pass the mouse over
the part, and each solid will highlight,
allowing you to see the separate
solids your part now consists of.
96
Free Hex Mesh of the Model

Mesh - Mesh Control - Size on
Solid. Select all solids, and press
OK. The automatic mesh sizing
dialog box will come up, select Hex
Meshing, and enter a Min Elements
on Edge of 2.
FEMAP will then change the
surfaces of the solids that appear to
be successfully hex-meshable to
translucent blue, and automatically
link the surfaces that connected
solids share. These linked surfaces
are then changed to light blue.
Linking is a mesh control that will
ensure connected solids have the
same node locations. This ensures
connectivity of the mesh.
The model is now ready to mesh,

Mesh - Geometry - Hex Mesh
Solids. Select All, and press OK.
We will use the default hex meshing
options, so press OK to hex mesh
the part.
97
Mapped Hex Mesh of the Model

As you can see, all but two of the
solids have good hexahedral
elements on them. The free mesh
on these two solids has wedges in
addition to the hexahedral elements.
The mesh will need to be mapped on
them.
Brick meshing inherently requires
the mesh to be propagated
throughout the solid geometry.
Therefore if the surfaces are mixedmeshed with triangles and quads,
then the final hex mesh will include
bricks and wedges. The default free
mesher will always use a
combination of triangles and quads
on any surface that is not a simple 4sided region. To force FEMAP to
map mesh surfaces that are not 4sided, you will use the Mesh-Mesh
Control-Approach on Surface
command.
First delete the previous hex mesh,
Delete - Model - Mesh, Select All of
the elements, press OK, and Yes to
delete the elements.
98
Specifying the Mesh Approach

Use Mesh - Mesh Control Approach on Surface. FEMAP will
ask you to pick the surface you wish
to set an approach on.Choose
surface A. When the Surface
Approach dialog box appears, select
Mapped - Four Corner.
Since the surface has more than four
corners, you must specify which
corners you want FEMAP to map
between. Choose the four corners
1, 2, 3, and 4 specified for surface A,
and press OK.
The command will automatically
repeat. Perform the same process
each time with surfaces B, C, and D.
Hex Meshing the Solid
Mesh - Mesh Control - Size on Solid,

Select All of the solids. Click Yes to
update the sizes on the solids, then
set the Type of Meshing to Hex,
and enter a Min Elements on Edge
of 3.
Mesh - Geometry - Hexmesh Solids,
select all of the solids, and mesh
with the default options.
99
By applying approaches on surfaces of the model, you can greatly

improve the quality of the mesh.
100
On Your Own
Now solve the model using the Analysis Manager, and compare the
Solid Von Mises Stress contour on this hex meshed model with that
obtained from the tet meshed model you analyzed earlier in the
exercise. Perform the following below before analyzing the
model.
Because slicing of the solids for hex meshing caused the geometry
ID numbers to change, you cannot use the old load and constraint
sets for this model. They reference the old geometry ID numbers,
and the hex elements are associated with the new geometry. You
will need to delete the old load and constraint sets, then, re-create
them with the same load values and constraint configurations (refer
to pages 84 and 85), but referencing the new surfaces.
Why would it be a problem that a load set references geometry that
wasn't used to create the mesh?
You will also need to delete the old Analysis set, and create a new
one. Check that you are using the right load and constraint sets for
your new analysis set by expanding (clicking on the + button) the
Analysis set, then expanding the Master Requests and Conditions,
and finally expanding the Boundary Conditions. The Windows
Explorer-like interface of the Analysis Manager is an intrinsically
easy straightforward way to set up, and modify, the options for your
analysis.
101
Importing and Meshing

Geometry
Importing and Meshing Geometry

Import Formats....102
Troublesome Geometry..103
Exploding and Stitching..104
Boundary Surface from Surfaces on a Solid...105

Edge and Feature Supression...106
Exercise - Fixing and Meshing Bad Geometry107
Exercise - Mesh Repair......117
103
Import Formats
Solids
Parasolid (.X_T)
ACIS (.sat)
STEP (.stp or .step)
STEP AP 203 Solid Entities, AP 214 Surfaces
IGES
Lines, Arcs, Circles, B-Splines and NURBS
Trimmed and Untrimmed B-Spline and NURBS Surfaces
IGES Trimmed Surfaces stitched together in FEMAP to form
Solids, highly effective from Pro/E and IDEAS
DXF
Lines, Arcs, Circles
Direct Translators
Available in FEMAP Enterprise
CATIA Import, reads CATIA model files and Express files.
Advanced IGES interface, supports more entity types.
VDA Import, direct access to VDA files up to v2.0
IDEAS Import, reads IDI files generated by IDEAS MS8+
PRO/E Import, reads the PRO/E .PRT file, v16-v20
Solid Edge Import, direct access to Parasolid geometry in
Solid and Sheet metal part files.
Unigraphics Import, direct access to v11-v15
104
Troublesome Geometry
The challenge of meshing a part will usually arise from a

combination of two factors. The modeling approach of the
part(whether it was modeled with FEA use in mind, or for CAD
purposes), and the geometry translation interface that was used to
bring the geometry into FEMAP.
You usually don't know if you have a problem with your geometry
until you try to mesh it. The list window is valuable for
troublshooting the areas of your geometry the mesher is having
trouble with.
Geometry - Solid - Cleanup

Is used to "cleanup a solid. This command will check the
solid, and remove any extraneous features which are not part
of the actual solid, but may have been introduced during the
export and import process, or from boolean operations.
Geometry - Solid - Explode/Stitch

Sometimes, problems with small slivers, or edges that don't
quite meet each other can be solved by exploding the solid,
and re-stitching it with a tolerance wider than the slivers.
105
Exploding and Stitching
Geometry - Solid - Explode/Stitch

Sometimes, problems with small slivers, or edges that don't
quite meet each other can be solved by exploding the solid,
and re-stitching it with a tolerance wider than the slivers.
106
Boundary Surface from Surfaces on Solid
Geometry - Boundary Surface - From Surfaces on Solid

Takes the surfaces you select, and uses the enclosing outer
curves to form a regular boundary surface.
The surfaces must be stitched into a solid.
This feature works best with surfaces that have small to
moderate curvature.
Can be used to remove sliver surfaces by selecting surfaces
that surround the sliver.
107
Edge and Feature Supression
Mesh - Mesh Control - Feature Supression
108
Exercise - Fixing and Meshing

Bad Geometry
Exercise - Fixing and Meshing Bad

Geometry
Problem Description/Objective:
In this example we will import geometry with a
missing sliver. We will then try to solid mesh it,
and look at the errors we receive. Then
demonstrate the use of exploding and stitching
Parasolid geometry to fix sliver surfaces that
cannot be fixed by the geometry cleanup
command.
110

Geometry
Import the Geometry

File - Import - Geometry, Select
Geometry Repair.x_t from the
Training Files directory.
Leave the default import options
checked, and press OK.
This Parasolids file is imported as
surfaces that need to be stitched
together. The surfaces are assigned a
random color. In this case, the sliver in
the geometry is quite obvious, but it
usually isn't.
111

Geometry
Stitch the Surfaces Together to Create

a Sheet Solid
Geometry Solid Stitch. Click
Select All and press OK in the entity
selection form.
Read what FEMAP has written in the
list window, specifically, Created 1
connected region, Created Sheet
Solid 9, Solid 9 passes body
checking.
NOTE: A sheet solid is a type of
Parasolid solid that has no volume, it
is essentially a surface that can
perform solid surface operations,
such as intersect, stitch, explode,
and the slice commands. When this
sheet solid is viewed from further
away, it can look like a regular solid,
and can easily be mistaken as such.
This is a common confusion, to
verify if it is a sheet solid or a regular
solid, use Tools Mass Properties
Solid Properties, then select the
solid/sheet solid you want to check
the properties of. Select OK then
No to not create a representative
node. Look in the List window, and
read the various properties. Next to
volume, if there is a 0, then you have
a sheet solid, if there is volume, then
you have a regular solid.
112

Geometry
Meshing the Bad Geometry

Pick wireframe for the view style.
The curves around the area of the
removed sliver surface should be
highlighted. This is a feature of
FEMAP that activates after a stitch is
performed. This is a quick way to
see if there are any problem areas in
geometry you have just imported or
created.
Because this example is of geometry

correction, and for the sake of
simplicity, we will not create any
materials or properties before hand,
and accept all of the meshing
defaults.
Mesh Geometry Solids. Accept

the defaults and click on OK.
Click on Load and load a library
material.
Click OK on the define Isotropic
material form.
OK the defaults on the automesh
solids form.
You should then get an error
message that the mesher aborted.
Press OK.
Look in the List window, and read
the messages FEMAP has written.
113

Geometry
NOTE: A general summary of the solid
meshing process of FEMAP would be to
say that it first meshes the outside
surface of the model, and then, based on
that surface mesh, meshes the inside
volume with elements. The error we are
getting, Surface has at least one hole, is
saying that the tetra mesher was not able
to correctly mesh the surface, and is
aborting and leaving the failed surface
mesh on the model for diagnostics
purposes.
Tools Undo, make sure that the list

window states Undoing Mesh Geometry
Solids Command, if not, undo until it
does.
Geometry Solid Cleanup enter 9 in
the ID box of the entity selection form.
Check all three options, press OK on the
form, and OK on the stitch tolerance form,
if it comes up.
You will notice that the list window says
Solid 9 passes Geometry Checking,
even though the sliver is still there.
114

Geometry
NOTE: Geometry that passes the
checker may still not be able to be
meshed. Often, you will not be able to tell
if a piece of geometry can be meshed,
without first trying to mesh it. Knowing
what can be meshed, and what needs to
be modified, comes with experience, and
much trial and error.
Try to visualize the size of your
element, and how your geometry could be
constructed with it. If you cant see how
your geometry could be made from the
elements, chances are the mesher wont
be able to either.
The geometry checker didnt
automatically fix the geometry this time,
so we will have to manually fix it. Here is
the first method that we will use.
We will explode the sheet solid into
surfaces, and delete the two surfaces that
make up that face of the cube. After
using the cleanup tool to remove the extra
curve that made up the sliver, a new
surface will be created from edges. Then
all of the surfaces will be stitched up to
create a solid.
115

Geometry
Explode the Sheet Solid and Delete the rest of

the Face.
Geometry Solid Explode. Pick the
sheet solid.
Delete Geometry Surface select the
surface that had the sliver taken out.
Click on Yes to delete the surface.
You will not be able to see the changes until
you regenerate the view. View
Regenerate or <Cntrl G>.
Create a New Surface to Define the Face.

When the curve was projected onto the
face, the curves on the edges were split, as
well as the surface. Verify that there are
two curves defining the left and right edges
by using the list command.
Geometry Solid Cleanup, Select All in
the entity selection box.
Check all three boxes and click OK to
cleanup the geometry.
Geometry Surface Edge Curves
Select the four curves that make up the
original surface.
Click on OK and Cancel out of the surface
from curves command.
<Cntrl G> to regenerate the screen.
116

Geometry
Stitch the New Solid Together.

Geometry Solid Stitch click on
Select All. And press OK.
Look at the list window to verify that
a solid was created. You can also
double check by using the solid
properties tool introduced earlier.
Mesh the New Solid.

Mesh Geometry Solids. Accept
the defaults and click on OK.
Click on Load and load a library
material.
Click OK on the define Isotropic
material form.
OK the defaults on the automesh
solids form.
On Your Own
Apply a 100 psi pressure on the face
you corrected, and fix all of the
corners.
Solve the model with FEMAP
Structural solver, and display a
contour of the Solid Von Mises
Stress.
117
Problem Description/Objective:
The FEMAP geometry import is very robust. From Parasolid- and
ACIS-based systems -- 100% reliability, and Pro/ENGINEER IGES and
most other IGES, also very good, at least %95. From Catia, STEP and
IGES, imports are good, >90%.
However, in some cases (due to problem surfaces) auto meshing
can be difficult. The previous example demonstrated correcting the
geometry to obtain a good mesh. Some times it is quicker to correct a bad
mesh that results from bad geometry, then to fix that bad geometry and
mesh it. FEMAP provides flexible ways to manually close bad surface
meshes.
We will Import a FEMAP neutral file that has a flawed mesh. This
mesh has a small hole that isn't obvious from looking at it, but becomes
quite so upon changing to a free edge view.
119
Import the Neutral File

Start FEMAP
File - Import - FEMAP Neutral, and select
MeshFix.neu.
120
Review Free Edges

Use View - Select (F5 key)
Click the Free Edge button
Click OK.
The free edges can now be
viewed
121
Zoom in on the free edges.

Create a Group using the Group - Set
command. Name the group Free Edge
Elements.
Select Group - Element - ID. Choose the
method to be ID - Free Edge. Press the
shift key to place a pick box around the
free edges. Click OK. DO NOT Select
All.
Turn on the group by clicking the right
mouse button in the modeling area and
selecting Model Data from the list. Click
the Active button under group. Click OK.
Place the nodes on the free edge
elements in the group by using the Group
- Node - On Element command. Box pick
the elements.
Choose Group - Operations - Automatic
Add. Click the Active button. Click OK.
122
Use Model - Element to create triangular

elements by hand in order to close the
hole in the mesh.
Select Tools - Check - Coincident Nodes.
Select All the nodes. Click OK. Choose
No when asked OK to Specify Additional
Range of Nodes to Merge
Check Merge Coincident Entities and use
the default Maximum Distance to Merge.
Click OK.
Now the model can be meshed with
tetrahedral elements by using the Mesh Geometry - Solids from Elements
command.
123
Midsurfacing
Midsurfacing
Midsurfacing....123
The Midsurface Commands..124
Exercise - Solid Geometry Creation and Midplane...125
125
Geometry Midsurface
Midsurfacing commands
Allows user to extract
midsurfaces thus
reducing the complexity
and increasing the
accuracy of the FEM.
126
Geometry Midsurface
The four commands above the first

separator are used for generation and
trimming of a single midsurface
Automatic
Will automatically generate the
Midplanes, trim them to the
solid , and clean up any
surfaces that are determined
not to be part of the model.
Generate, Intersect and Cleanup

These are the steps in order that
the automatic command
follows.
Used to allow the user to
specifically determine how and
where the midsurfaces are
created.
Assign Meshing Attributes.

Will walk you through creating a
material for the selected
surface(s) and then
automatically create the
property referencing the original
thickness of the solid.
127
Exercise - Solid Geometry

Creation and Midplane
Exercise - Solid Geometry Creation and

Midplane
Create a rectangle
Select Geometry - Curve Line Rectangle first corner (0,0,0)
second corner (10,5,0)
Create a Boundary surface

Select Geometry - Boundary Surface (pick all four curves in any
order)
Extrude the Boundary into a Solid

Select Geometry - Solid - Extrude.
Set Material to New Solid and the
Depth to 5.
129

Midplane
Fillet the solid

Geometry - Solid - Fillet Pick
curves A and B. Then enter a
Fillet Radius of 2.5.
Move the Work plane to the

top of the block
Select Tools - Workplane On Surface and pick surface
A. Pick point 1 for the At
Point, and point 2 for the Axis
Point.
130

Midplane
Create a rectangle on the face to
extrude through the solid.
Geometry - Curve Line Rectangle
with a first corner of (1,5,4), and a
second corner of (11,5,1).
Create a Boundary surface from the
rectangle.
Geometry - Boundary - Surface
again pick all four newly created curves
in any order.
Cut the Boundary Through the Solid.

Geometry - Solid - Extrude Set the
Material to Remove - Hole and the
Length to Through All.
131

Midplane
We will repeat the same
process that we previously used
to cut the rectangle through the
solid, only this time it will be to
cut a hole.
Place the Workplane on
Surface A, at point 1, and with
the axis point at point 2.
Draw a circle on the
Workplane that is concentric with
the fillet on surface A.
Geometry - Curve Circle
Center, click on methods,
and change it to Center.
Choose either of the arcs that
make up the filleted edge on
surface A (this is so that the
center of the circle we are
creating will be concentric with
the fillet). Enter a radius of
1.4.
132

Midplane
Create a Boundary Surface from the
Circle, and extrude it through the part,
removing material.
If your part does not look like the
one on the right, Cntrl Z to undo the last
operation (the extrude), and try it again.
Once you have it, save your model.
Midsurface the solid

Geometry - Midsurface - Automatic
Select All of the surfaces, and press OK.
FEMAP will then ask you for a Target
Thickness, any surfaces that have a
distance between them less then the
target thickness will have a midsurface
created between them.
Cntrl-D to bring up the measuring
command that will measure the distance
between two locations you specify, then
return you to the form you were in, with
that distance filled in. Pick two points that
will represent the thickness of the part.
You will need to "bump up" this
thickness a bit so that the target
thickness is slightly larger then the actual
thickness.
You should then have a midsurface
representation of the part created inside
of it. You can delete the solid part to
expose the midsurface.
133

Midplane
On your own:
This bracket will be bolted on the back surface, and will
support a 2000 lb load.
From the geometry, and what you've learned, build three
models of the same boundary conditions, one with solid
tetrahedral elements, another with hexahedral elements, and
the last, with a midsurface representation.
For the Boundary Conditions, fix surface A, and apply a
1000lb Force to Surfaces/Curves B and C.
Solve the models in FEMAP Structural, and compare the
results with each other. Create a Microsoft Word document
that has pictures of all three models with Von Mises Stress
contours. You can place a picture of the FEMAP graphics
window in the Windows clipboard by File - Picture - Copy, then
you can paste that into Word.
134
Loading Categories.134
Defining a Load...135
Creating Load Sets.136
Advanced Loading, Functions..137
Advanced Loading, Distributed Loading.....138
Dynamics, Nonlinear, and Heat Transfer139
Exercise - Bearing Load.........................................................140
136
Loading Categories
Body or Global Loads

Acceleration - Translational (gravity) and Rotational
Velocity - Rotational
Thermal - Default Temperature
Nodal Loads
Force, Moment, Displacement, Velocity, Temperature, Heat
Generation, Heat flux
Elemental Loads
Distributed (Load/Length Across a Line Element)
Pressure
Temperature
Heat Generation (Heat Energy / Unit Volume)
Heat Flux (Heat Energy /Unit Area)
Convection
Radiation
Geometry Based Loads

Points
Lines
Surfaces
137
Defining a Load
Body Loads are applied to the entire body

Often used to simulate gravity or to define default temperatures.
Element Loads
Can be distributed , pressure, temperature , heat flux,
convection or radiation.
Distributed Load allows you to define a Load / length value for
line elements, a Pressure load / area for planer or volumetric
elements.
Heat flux , Convection, and Radiation loads are applied to
element faces while temperature and Heat Generation loads are
applied to the element itself.
Nodal Loads
Can be applied by both Model - Load - Nodal and Model - Load Nodal on Face. Model - Load - Nodal on Face allows you to
select a particular element face and faces adjacent to the one
selected.
Geometry Based Loading

Can be either nodal or elemental.
Load is applied to the point, curve, or surface.
Any nodes or elements associated to the geometry will have the
load applied appropriately upon export for analysis.
138
Creating load sets
Model - Load - Set, creates a new, or activates an existing, load set.
You may create as many different load cases as necessary using

Model - Load menu.
This command is also available in the tray.
139
Advanced Loading, Functions
Function Dependence
Allows you to create general X vs. Y tables of information.
Used for time or frequency dependant loads or to attach
nonlinear information to material properties.
Data can be created in four ways.

By choosing a single value to enter in the X and Y values
one at a time.
Using a linear ramp, you pick a starting and ending X and Y
value.
An equation where you specify the starting and ending
values of X and delta X and then enter Y as a function of X.
By using the get function to attain data from a two column
spreadsheet, or a listing of two comma separated values
from a text file.
140
Advanced Loading, Distributed Loads
You can make load equations as a function of nodal or element

centroidal location without having previously created a function.
XEL and XND will give the x coordinate of the element's
centroid, or node's location, respectively.
The input, !i will cycle through all of the entities you selected in
the entity selection box to apply the load on.
141
Dynamics, Nonlinear and Heat Transfer
Provides the solution type and control

information for various dynamics runs
Model - Load - Dynamic Analysis

Direct Transient
Modal Transient
Direct Frequency
Modal Frequency
Model - Load - Nonlinear Analysis

Static (solutions strategies,
etc.)
Creep
Transient
Model - Load - Heat Transfer

Radiation
Free and forced convection
142
Constraint Categories
Nodal Constraints
Specify specific degrees of
freedom (1-6, X,Y,Z translation and
rotation)
S
143
This exercise will create a simple bearing load with a sinusoidal

variation over the inner circular curve. This will demonstrate how to
use an equation for load variation. With smaller equations, it is quicker
to define the equation in the load definition form, then to create a
function, and reference that function in the load.
145
Open the bearing.mod file in the Training Files directory.
Create a load set, Model - Load - Set command. Name the set
Bearing.
Model - Load - On Curve, select the inner arc of the half circle (curve
5).
Choose Force Per Node as the load type, select Variable as the
method, and change the Coordinate System to 1..Global
Cylindrical.
146
Press the Advanced button under method to bring up the Advanced

Load Methods dialog box. Choose Equation in the Multiply By
category.
Enter sin(!y)+1 in the Equation field of Multiplier Data, and press

OK.
NOTE: The expression !y will normally extract the y coordinates from the
curve, but we had changed to a cylindrical coordinate system, so
it will extract the theta coordinates of the curve.
Enter 1 in the Value field for FX, when you select a function, or
equation, for the load, the number in the Value field becomes a
scaling factor for that function or equation.
The bearing load is shown as a constant magnitude force. To view

the functionally dependent load on the model, the load must be
Expanded using Model - Load - Expand.
147
Model - Load - Expand
Expand must be selected as the

Operation and On Curves as the Type.
Click OK. Select the curve which has the
load applied. Click OK. The load has now
been expanded.
To further visualize the load, the load

vectors can be scaled by magnitude.
Press the F6 key to bring up the View
Options menu. Select Load Vectors
under Options and change the Vector
Length to 1..Scale by Magnitude. Click
OK.
148
Groups and Layers
Groups and Layers
Similarities and Differences....................................................147

Layers.....................................................................................148
Defining and Populating Groups.............................................149
Adding to Groups....................................................................150
Displaying Groups..................................................................151
Online Example - Working with Groups and Layers...........Online
150
Similarities and Differences
Layers
Each entity simply assigned to one and only one layer
Display any number of layers
Graphical selection only picks from active layers
Imported with some CAD geometry
Groups
Entities can be simultaneously assigned to as many groups as
you want
Can define by various rules and relationships - Surfaces by ID,
Nodes on Elements, Elements on Surfaces, Materials on
Elements, Elements by Shape...
Can define by coordinate, plane or volume clipping
Can be automatically generated using various commands
Display only one group at a time
Graphical selection only picks from active group, but can select
any number of groups from the selection list
151
Layers
Create and Manage from the

toolbar
Show all or selected layers

Move layers you want
between hidden and visible
Each view can show
different layers
Create layers with New Layer

Assign ID, name and color
Can display everything on
layer with layer color using
View Options
152
Defining and Populating Groups
Define using commands on Group Menu

First use Group Set to define a Group, then use
other commands to add entities into group
Group Rules
Various entity selection commands, either by ID
or using relationships to other entities
Entities can be added to group using any
combination of selection methods
Use Exclude if you want to remove permanently
Group Clipping
Selects all entities inside/outside clipping region
Clip first, then rules - not restrict entities selected by rules
153
Adding to Groups
Group Operations
Use Automatic Add to add to a group as you model
Combine groups using Boolean operations
And (if in Group A and Group B)
Or (if in Group A or Group B)
Not (if not in Group A)
Generate groups
Based on changes in geometry, materials,
properties, element type
154
Displaying Groups
Displaying Groups
Right click in graphics window and
pick Model Data, or choose View
Select and press Model Data
Choose between the Active Group,
No Group (the entire model), or
Select a specific group from the list
Post-Processing
When contouring elemental results,
only
data from active group is used to
compute
nodal average or nodal max/min
155
Visualizing and Documenting

Results
Visualizing and Documenting Results
View Select.............................................................................154
Deformed and Contour Data...................................................155
Contour Options.....................................................................156
Contour Type..........................................................................157
Contour Options, Data Conversion.........................................158
XY Plots..................................................................................159
Freebody Display....................................................................160
Basic Menu Commands..........................................................161
Animation Options..................................................................162
Detailed Post Processing Options..........................................163
Detailed Animation Options....................................................164
Exercise - Post Processing.....................................................165
157
View Select
Use the View Select dialog box to:

Specify the type of plot
Deformed, Animate, etc.
Specify the style of contour, and what data to plot
Contour, Criteria, IsoSurface
Select Deformed and Contour Data to select data, e.g., von
Mises Stress
User Guide Chapter 5
158
Deformed and Contour Data
Menu is an option from View - Select, or

can be accessed with Quick Access
Menu (right mouse)
Must have results available in FEMAP
Key items to specify

Output Set
Deformation Output Vectors
Contour Output Vectors
Contour Options
159
Contour Options
Contour Type
Controls whether the contouring will be done with data on the
nodes or elements.
Nodal , Will average all values at the nodes and does not account
for any discontinuities in material or geometry.
Elemental, Used in conjunction with the Element Contour
Discontinuity options
Provides the capability to Smart Average results. Thus
accounting for discontinuities in material or geometry and providing
a more accurate representation of the results.
Other Options
Choose Double Sided planer contours and the additional vector to
postprocess results on both sides of plates.
160
Contour Type
Nodal vs. Centroidal Stresses

Output data from analysis programs varies in the
position that it is calculated
Nodes or the centroid of the element
If you select nodal data, e.g., translations, FEMAP uses it
directly
For results with element centroid data but no corner data,
you can either:
Average the Centroidal values for the all the elements
connected to each node (default); or
Use the Maximum of the Centroidal values of the
connected elements.
For results with element centroid data and element corner
data you can either:
Average the values at each node (element corner data)
to determine the data (default),
Use the maximum of the values at each node (element
corner data)
Average the Centroidal values for the all the elements
connected to each node
(ignores the corner data you have); or
Use the Maximum of the Centroidal values of the
connected elements..
The contour algorithm in FEMAP will use either nodal or
elemental data to perform the contouring.
Depending on the selected options and the available
data, FEMAP will use several different approaches to
calculate the contours
161
Contour Options, Data Conversion

Controlling Data Averaging
Data Conversion options

0. Average, Use Corner Data (default)
1. Maximum Value, Use Corner Data
2. Maximum Value
3. Minimum Value
Example
Four elements sharing node N, with corner data
Stress at node N can be calculated
0. Average Use Corner Data
(w+x+y+z)/4
N.B. if no corner data, this becomes
(a+b+c+d)/4
1. Maximum Value Use Corner Data
max (w, x, y, z)
2. Average, (no corners)
(a+b+c+d)/4
3. Max, (no corners)
max (a, b, c, d)
Node N
162
XY Plots
Available types of plots are:

XY vs ID plots XY data as a function of ID
XY vs Set plots XY data versus the output set
number for an Output Vector across several Output
Sets
XY vs Set Value Similar to vs Set, except uses
Output Set value for X
XY vs Position plots XY data vs the position of
nodes or element in an axis direction for an output
Vector in on Output Set
XY vs Function (not a postprocessing option) plots
XY data for a function
163
Freebody Display
View - Select, choose Deformed

and Contour Data
Plots the Freebody information of
the entire body or a select group
of elements..
Must have recovered Grid
Point Force Balance data
from analysis, if not only
Applied and reaction forces
will be available.
Total Summed Loads allows
you to check the model for
equilibrium.
Choose the types of entities
to be viewed
Can be viewed at any time
except in render you must
be in Hidden Line.
Loads from Freebody
Model - Load -From
Freebody
creates a set of loads from
the freebody as displayed
on the screen.
164
Basic Menu Commands
Create the animation in the View Select dialog box

and select Animate as a Deformed Style
165
Animation Options
This will create a animation of the active
deformation vector.
By selecting View - Advanced Post - Animation

you can control the speed of the animation.
166
Detailed Post Processing Options
Accessed via the View Options (F6, Ctrl-O) menu

Category PostProcessing
Long list of options, key ones include

Post Titles
On/off, Location
Deformed Style
Scale, Automatic scaling options
Contour/Criteria Style, Levels and Legend
167
Detailed Animation Options

Animation options such as number of
frames and shape are controlled in View
Options, PostProcessing.
Once the plot is

Animating it can be
saved as a Avi file using
the File, Picture Save
menu and selecting the
Avi format.
168
Exercise - Post Processing
Exercise - Post-Processing
Open the ch9post.mod file from the examples

directory.
Select the Post-Processing Data to Deform and

Contour, and Specify the Method Used to Contour
the Results.
View Select (Cntrl-S, F5), select Deform, and
Contour for the Deformed and Contour Styles.
Click on Deformed and Contour Data to bring up
the Select Post Processing Data form.
The results from the analysis of a model are
organized into output vectors that can be used as
the data for the various displays. Select the Total
Translation for the deformation display, and the
Solid Von Mises Stress for the contour display.
Click on Contour Options to modify the type of
averaging performed on the data to be contoured.
Select Max Value so that FEMAP will use the
maximum corner value at each of the nodes.
OK all forms to display the contoured and
deformed model.
You can use the difference in Max and Average
results to make a quick estimate of the fidelity of
the model. If there is a large difference between
these two contours, especially at locations that do
not have sharp corners or breaks in the model.
Your model may require a finer mesh. More
information about the data conversion FEMAP
uses can be found in the Commands book.
170
Publish in Microsoft Word, 2 Contoured Plots of the Plate Top Von

Mises Stress, one using Average data conversion, and the other
using Max data conversion.
Display the Solid Von Mises Stress for the Contour, with the
Average type of data conversion, and the Total Translation for the
deformation.
To place a picture of the plot in the Windows Clipboard, File Picture - Copy.
Open Microsoft Word, and choose Edit - Paste Special, and Paste
it as a Device Independent Bitmap, and deselect Float Over
Text.
Repeat for the plot using Max corner data conversion.
171
Post-Processing Options
View - Options (Cntrl-O), and select the
Post-Processing category.
Select the Undeformed Model option,
and uncheck Draw Entity. Only the
Deformation model will be shown.
Now select the Tools and View Style
category.
Select Filled Edges, and deselect Draw
Entity.
Turn the Filled Edges back on, and
select View - Advanced Post - Dynamic
Isosurface, and dynamically view the
regions of constant stress.
Do the same with the Dynamic Cutting
Plane, View - Advanced Post - Dynamic
Cutting Plane, to see a dynamically
contoured plane cut.
172
Now open the model Ch3post.mod from the examples directory.
Make an XY Plot of the Plate Top VonMises Stresses.

View Select, and select XY vs. Position, and then click on XY data.
Choose MSC/NASTRAN Case 1 under the Output Set drop down list,
and Plate Top VonMises Stress under the Output Vector list.
This plots all the element centroidal values vs. X position -- not useful,
we will create a new vector of nodal stresses, based on the VonMises
Stresses.
First we will set the following output set, and vector, to be the active
ones for the model, Model Output Set choose Set 1, Model Output
Vector, choose 7033, Plate Top VonMises Stress.
Model Output Convert, then Yes, Yes, and a new vector will be
created with nodal data, that is based on the active vector (in this case
Plate Top VonMises Stress, which is an element centroid-based vector)
173
Make a Group of the Nodes on the Top Curve to Reduce the Amount of
Data Being Plotted.
Change back to a model view, and define a group of nodes at the top of
the plate by Group - Set, name the group top nodes. Then Group Nodes - Nodes on Curve - pick the top curve.
Now Plot the New Vector, With Only the Group of Top Nodes Being
Used For the Plot.
View - Select, select XY vs. Position, then click on XY Data.
For the Group, select top nodes.
Under Output Vector, Select 300000 Avg Converted Vector 7033 this
is the vector that was created by the Convert command.
174
Change back to a model view, and reselect entire model

View - Select , choose Quick Hidden Line; Set Render,
Solid
Right click Quick Access Menu Model Data, choose Group,
None
Animate the model, and Adjust the Animation Options

View - Select, Animate (produces a very fast animation),
View - Advanced Post - Animation, select Slower (adjust to
preference).
Select the Postprocess Toolbar Icon from the Main Toolbar on
the side, and then the Post Options Icon.
Make the following changes: Undeformed (off), Scale
Deformation - 2, Animation Frames - 10
continuously,
Animation Positive Only, and Animate Contours
Turn off the element edges

View - Options, choose category Tools and View Style,
option Filled Edges, turn off Draw Entity - OK.
Save this as a Movie File (AVI), and insert it into a

presentation.
File - Picture - Save, and drop down the Files of Type to
AVI, name the file and save it.
Start PowerPoint (if available), open an empty presentation;
then in PowerPoint...
Insert - Picture - Movies and Sounds, and find the file you
saved, Double click on image -- it will play once.
Right click on image: Edit Movie Object settings to
continuously Loop and Rewind Movie...
175
Solving Using the Analysis Manager
To enter the analysis Manager

select Model-Analysis
The FEMAP analysis manger
stores the options necessary to
create a ready to run input file or
to launch the FEMAP Structural
solver, or to launch a local
solving package, or start VisQ to
send the input file to a solver on
another machine. The Analysis
Sets are stored along with the
FEMAP model file or can be
stored in a FEMAP library that is
available across different model
files.
To set up a Analysis Set choose
New in the analysis manager.
FEMAP will display a dialog box
where you choose the Analysis
Program where you want to
solve the model and solution
type you would like to use.
You can press the OK button to
create a Analysis set for the
specified program that uses
default values or you can press
Next and FEMAP will walk you
thorough all the possible options
for that analysis type.
176
Solving Using the Analysis Manager
Fill in a Title " Structural solution

1" and Press OK.
In the Analysis program field
use the pull down to select
FEMAP Structural
For Analysis Type choose 1
Static
The Analysis Set Manager
shows all Analysis sets defined
in the model and the sections
that make up the input file. By
clicking on the plus signs the
tree is expanded where
individual options are visible.
The analysis set can be
modified by highlighting the
option and double clicking, or
pressing the edit button.
After the Analysis Set has been
created the model is ready to be
solved.
If you have Purchased FEMAP
Structural then you can solve
the model easily by pressing the
Analyze button.
The FEMAP structural Solver
will start in a separate window,
when it completes the results
will be automatically loaded
back into FEMAP
177

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Install, Setup and Customize

Install, Setup, and Customize FEMAP

Auto run on NT4.0, 95, 98, 2000, and XP

300 Node Demo

Updating a Previous Installation

Auto run on NT4.0, 95, 98, and 2000

Modify displays a list of FEMAP components

Repair will automatically reinstall into the

Remove will completely remove FEMAP from

A very high windows color resolution is not

Right mouse button on Windows Desktop

Select Properties, then Settings

If FEMAP appears to be having graphics errors,

Update the drivers for your graphics card often!

Drivers from the manufacturers of the graphics

Divided into two categories, User Interface, and Program Options

Program Options - Database and Startup

Select File - Preferences, choose Database

Define various Database Memory settings

Program Options - Geometry

Select File - Preferences, choose Geometry

Program Options - Interfaces, Libraries

Interfaces preferences control the FEMAP defaults for

The Libraries preferences allow you to select the

The Colors preferences allow you to select the default

User Interface - Messages and Lists,

Messages and Lists Preferences control text

In Views and Graphics Preferences, the

If you see flicker during Dynamic Rotation,

User Interface Render Graphics

You can choose between two Render methods: Original or Enhanced.

The Enhanced method doesn't support a few post-processing displays. For

User Interface Menus and Toolbars,

Change the Menus and Toolbar preferences to

The User Menus preferences allow you to

Shortcut keys are assigned so that any

The User interface and the OnLine Help

The User Interface, and the On-Line Help

FEMAP Main Window

FEMAP Graphics Window

Messages and Lists Window

FEMAP Main Window

Intuitive Windows menu structure.

Access to all commands through

Lists Short-Cut Keys on menu.

Provides quick access to commands

View Toolbar - typically above Graphics Window

Command Toolbars - Typically right of graphics Window

Status Bar and Tray

Contained at bottom of FEMAP Main Window

Provides running total of nodes and elements in model.

Short description of commands when in the menu structure

Dynamic Query - end of Tray

Multiple Windows available.

View information stored separately for each Window.

True Windows - provide easy transfer from FEMAP to

Provides information on commands

List and error information

Maximize Window by DoubleClicking.

Return to Normal Size by Double

Copy or Save Information from List

Entity Selection Box

The Delete command will delete the id from the list.