Siemens FEMAP v11.2.1 with NXNastran Femap Overview Femap is an advanced engineering simulation software program that creates finite element analysis models of complex engineering products and systems, and displays solution results. Femap can virtually model components, assemblies or systems and determine the behavioral response for a given operating environment. Using Femap’s digital simulation capabilities you can: Predict and improve product performance and reliability Reduce time-consuming and costly physical prototyping and testing Evaluate different designs and materials Optimize your designs and reduce material usage CAD-Independent Femap is CAD-independent and can access geometry data from all major CAD systems including CATIA, Pro/Engineer, NX, Solid Edge, SolidWorks and AutoCAD. Once imported you can prepare the model for analysis using the geometry locator to identify and display potentially troublesome entities, such as slivers, and either remove them completely with the geometry cleanup tools or suppress them. Femap also offers a wealth of geometry creation and modification functions so you can make necessary model changes in preparation for finite element model creation. Finite Element Modeling The full finite element model with underlying data is fully exposed by Femap, allowing you to view, create or modify entities directly. Femap’s grouping, layering and visualization tools help you to manage model display while creating and setting up the finite element model. Femap includes specialized capabilities to help with modeling tasks including: Mid-plane extraction of thin-walled structures to aid creation of more efficient and accurate shell models Weldment modeling that connects discrete solid welded parts together into a contiguous model Data surfaces that allow you to create complex loading conditions based on prior analysis output for multi-physics applications Finite Element Meshing Femap’s 3D solid and surface meshers are tuned to generate high-quality meshes, providing well-shaped elements to ensure accurate results. Femap gives you full control over all mesh generation parameters including mesh sizing, meshing of small features, growth factors, short edge suppression, etc. With complex geometry, modification of the mesh is often required in areas where greater accuracy is desired. For this situation Femap’s Meshing Toolbox allows you to interactively modify mesh sizing parameters on the underlying geometry, and see the mesh update automatically. You can also view element quality feedback live while modifying the mesh, to ensure that a high-quality finite element model is created. Assembly Modeling Femap with NX Nastran supports assembly modeling, including automatic contact detection that determines the components initially in contact. The contact regions can be set to be simply in contact (with or without friction) or glued together. The contact calculations performed by NX Nastran are iterative and update during the solution, to take into account deformation changes representing the true contact condition in the final results. Other types of component assembly modeling techniques also supported include spot-weld, fastener elements, and bolted joints with optional pre-loading. Beam Modeling Besides solid and shell element models Femap also supports beam modeling and meshing. This technique allows models comprising long, slender components (for which a solid meshing approach would create a large, unwieldy model) to be represented by one-dimensional elements with associated properties. Model visualization is key to beam modeling, and with Femap you can view these elements as solid components and include offsets. Femap features a section property editor which includes a library of standard cross-section shapes. You can also define your own sections, and the built-in section property calculator automatically determines the required properties. Also available are full beam visualization and results display options including shear and bending moment diagrams.