FEMAP! That can be defined as a dedicated standalone, windows based pre and post processor for different types of finite element analysis simulations. It has a long history since its inception in 1985. The product was earlier with Unigraphics Systems which was acquired by Siemens PLM Solutions few years back. Every branded FEA software product gets upgraded every year with new valuable features that look good as well as feel good. FEMAP is no exception. Here we are looking at new functionalities in FEMAP release 12.0.

PAD and WASHER enhancement: Pads and Washers are used to effectively partition the geometry to get high quality isoparametric meshes around stress raisers such as holes. Till now this functionality was available only for circular geometries. Now the feature includes arbitrary geometries that may include tangential discontinuity

COPY/ROTATE/REFLECT: This functionality allows users to copy/rotate/reflect geometries along with associated meshes, loads and boundary conditions. The command can be executed successively to create different types of patterns with respect to translation and rotation.

Mesh Point Editor: Hard points are points defined by fixed coordinates on a curve or a surface that constrain the mesher by creating nodes at these specified locations. Hard points are desired at assembly level meshing to ease connection between different parts through node to node connectivity instead of using contacts. Hard points are further useful in connecting solid or surface mesh with a beam mesh which is a common application in civil structures such as concrete reinforcements. FEMAP 12 has a hard point editor through which hard points data can be imported into Femap via an external file or a clipboard. View/options can be used to control the display of hard points.

COHESIVE elements: These elements are used in modeling phenomenon such as delamination and material damage. Common real-life examples are peeling of a tape or evolution of a crack. NASTRAN solution sequences 401 and 402 have cohesive elements capability so it’s worth to include cohesive meshing capability in FEMAP.

Mesh->editing->cohesive meshing command has been added that work similar to mesh->editing->edge split command with a difference that cohesive command adds layers of cohesive element at the split with user defined element thickness and adjusts the size of original elements to achieve mesh compatibility.

BEAM Centerline Finder: This feature was earlier available as an API but now it has been included in the GUI of FEMAP 12.0. For arbitrary shapes, sometimes it is not possible to define all the section properties of beams. This feature extracts the beam properties using cross section of underlying solid geometry. User has two options. First option is to interactively pick curves and cross section of underlying solid. Second option is to pick only solid and FEMAP uses longest edge of the solid as curves for associated beams.

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