Module 0: How to learn here

• Course Introduction

• Guide on using the course

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

• Boundary conditions

• Loads

• Meshing

• 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