Role of the pre- and postprocessor in FEA Accuracy and control Simplifying and cleaning up the geometry and discretized data Ensuring that the calculated results are understandable and relevant This figure illustrates to role of the pre- and post-processor and the solver in the product design process

Role of the pre- and postprocessor in FEA Preprocessor Import data Correct geometry Discretize or mesh it Idealize physical design Create FE model for analysis Postprocessor Import results Display results in graphical format Helps understanding model behavior

Top pre- and postprocessor considerations Accuracy Does the pre- and postprocessor provide the ability to control creation and adjustment of the FE mesh and enable you to control the FE model creation process sufficiently without sacrificing accuracy? Accessing CAD data Can the pre-processor import and manage geometric data from multiple CAD systems and data formats?

Top pre- and postprocessor considerations FE model creation and idealization Does the pre- and postprocessor allow you to idealize certain topologies such as thin-walled models, and create smaller, more accurate finite element models? Efficiently detect all geometric irregularities and repair or remove them. Have the ability to create and manipulate geometry and FE entities in the absence of any geometry Provide beam modeling tools. User interface Easy to learn and use Have the ability to tailor the user interface to your needs

Top pre- and postprocessor considerations Solver support and solution scalability Does the pre- and postprocessor support the export of solver input files and the import of solver results files? Can it support the parameters needed by industry-leading solvers? Also take potential additional simulation requirements for the future in consideration. Understanding the results Allow full control of results selection and include a robust and varied set of tools to manage and display results. Facilitate easy comprehension of the data. Easily view appropriate results quantities on shell and beam elements

Top pre- and postprocessor considerations Automation and customization Provide some method of automation for repetitive sets of commands Interaction or data transfer with third party software products such as Word and Excel. Overall value and support Assessment of the company behind the software. Ready-to-go systems with software, manuals, guides and security. Keeping pre- and postprocessor up to date. Application engineering support by telephone and onsite. Free trial versions with support. Availability of bug fix releases of the software.

Conclusion The choice of pre- and postprocessor is equally important with the choice of the solver itself. There are many questions that need to be answered to ensure you have a complete solution that provides timely results while reducing the risks of poor model quality and accuracy.

What are your FEA requirements? Do you use more than one FEA solver in your company? Do you use geometry form multiple CAD systems to build your FEA models? Is there a need to work with legacy FEM models, or models with no geometry source, only FEA data? Is there a need to customize the Graphical User Interface to fit your process? What are your simulation goals and who uses it? Implicit, explicit calculations?

FEA Software landscape Open source FEA: Code-Aster, FreeFem++, OpenFoam Simulation apps: Simscale, TotalSim, Simulation Hub In-CAD simulation: Solid Edge Simulation, NX Simulation, Fusion 360 Standalone pre/post processors: Femap, Patran, Hypermesh Solvers: NX Nastran, Abaqus, Ansys, MSC Nastran, LS-DYNA, MARC, Optistruct, Radioss (implicit or explicit solver needed?) Integrated 3D Simulation Platforms: Simcenter 3D, STAR-CCM+, COMSOL, ANSYS DISCOVERY LIVE

Functional checklist Femap / NX Nastran Linear or nonlinear structural analysis or dynamics analysis Buckling Normal modes Composites analysis Rotor Dynamics Contact problems or “Glued” connections modeling Thermal Analysis, heat transfer Transient response Frequency response Complex eigenvalues Random vibration Aeroelasticity Electronics cooling Data Surfaces and Data Mapping of data to the FEM model Weldment Modeling Bolt Pre-Load calculations Large Complex model manipulation Beam and cross section modeling with precise visualizing of the true beam representation and orientation Mid-Plane extraction of solid Geometry for plate model creation Advanced loads definitions Femap / NX Nastran

Functional checklist Other solutions might be more suitable Fatigue of Fracture Mechanics Acoustics Advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) or advanced Fluid Flow applications Free surface or fluid sloshing applications Turbo-machinery analysis (pumps and compressors) especially if it involves modeling the fluid forces acting on the machinery, or if cavitation is important. Electromagnetics (High Frequency or Low Frequency) Thermal analysis that involves or ablation, or problems where boundary layer effects are important Other solutions might be more suitable

Licensing considerations Fluctuating usage? Buy or lease? Need some or lots of different simulation capabilities? Simultaneous use? Additional costs?

Licensing considerations Simulation-as-a-Service Accessible to a large number of users Simultaneous use For cloud-based or local computing infrastructure Token software license model Infrequently-used CAE applications also available Flexible Floating / concurrent licenses Anyone on the network can use the licensed module, up to the number of licenses specified in the license file. With more then 5 users, this offers more flexibility than node locked model Node-Locked Licenses An USB-dongle serves as your license key, so you can use the license on multiple computers, but not at the same time. Mixed Node-Locked and Floating Licenses

Licensing considerations: Configurations Single Server Configuration Standalone Node-Locked Configuration Dongle Redundant Server Configuration Multiple Server Configuration Single Server Configuration One server that your clients communicate with for licenses. Standalone Node-Locked Configuration There is no server. Client points directly to the license file. These files are locked to the client and not available to any other client. Redundant Server Configuration Ensures the availability of your licenses in the event of a deamon crash until system administrator is available. You must identify and provide the hostids for three servers where cpies of the license file will reside. Requires at least two of the three servers to be active for the license to be available. Multiple Server Configuration Combining server configuration types to create an overflow mechanism. In cases of occasional heavy use by one group, it allows license requests to overflow to other license servers. However this is controlled from the client side.

Why Femap? FEMAP is Siemens dedicated, stand alone, Finite Element Modeling (FEM) and Post-Processing application for predicting structural, dynamic, and thermal behavior of complex engineered components & systems. FEMAP has unsurpassed technical depth for: Importing data, (CAD (geometry) or FE data (models)) Developing finite element models for a targeted solver Visualizing the model Interpreting and reporting the results FEMAP is CAD agnostic and solver independent FEMAP is 100% Windows native allowing it to integrate seamlessly into the typical engineering workflow PowerPoint, Word, Excel MATLAB/Simulink etc.

Femap subscription

Femap subscription Monthly subscription: Several options online Perpetual license through a Siemens PLM partner: A node locked version (Dongle). An USB-dongle serves as your license key, so you can use the license on multiple computers, but not at the same time. A floating version (Network). One or more licenses are made available by a local network through a pool. Authorized users can request available licenses from this pool.