Introduction Superposition is used in many different scenarios for structural calculations. In fact, the method is so useful that multiple names were even “invented” for it when used for a specific application: Static load combinations. Modal dynamics. Load-case combinations. Load reconstruction. Because so many different methods use it, a separate article on the topic is […]
Overview Modal methods in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) are extensively used in dynamics because it can dramatically reduce the runtime of certain types of models. The most common use is for modal-transient and modal frequency response analysis. Interestingly enough, it is a badly understood method with a common misconception being: “It solves in the frequency […]
Introduction Frequency response analysis in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used to calculate the steady-state response due to a sinusoidal load applied to a structure at a single frequency. It is a specialized type of transient response analysis that is extremely efficient to solve a very specific type of model. In the rest of the […]
Nonlinear runs tend to require anything from tens of iterations to thousands of iterations to complete. Reducing the number of iterations to convergence and reducing the time per iteration will speed up a run. In this article we’ll discuss some ways to speed up iterations and leave reducing the time per iteration to a subsequent […]
This article is part of a series on the use of Marc and Mentat. Because Marc can solve such a large set of physics, the number of things that can go wrong is pretty large. In this first article we’ll be looking at convergence problems and how to overcome them. Introduction Getting linear FEA (Finite […]
What is a Modal Analysis? What answers do we get out of it? How is it useful? What does it not tell us? In this article, we’ll discuss where a modal analysis comes from, what it is and to some extent what it is not. We’ll also discuss why we do it, what we get […]
More precisely: “How accurately can an FEA (Finite Element Analysis) predict the real response of a structure?” Let’s start by introducing the typical process (chain) of getting from a real structure to an FEA model with results: Set up 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) geometry of the real structure Simplify the CAD by removing unnecessary […]
