This pdf document describing Femap Nastran Contact Modelling is a corrected / updated version of a popular EnDuraSim Tech Tip originally authored in 2008. The document provides a useful review of Femap / NX Nastran Regions, Connectors and Connection Properties, which can be used to model contact and glue interfaces between similar and mismatched mesh. […]
This post provides a list of EnDuraSim API programs for Femap, many of which are free (if there is just a link, it’s free! Right click -> Save Link As to download). If you are accessing this post from our News & Tech Tips page, please click on the post heading to see the full […]
This is a summary of preferences which should be modified for a new Simcenter Femap Nastran installation, and why. It includes Femap preferences, plus settings to improve the Nastran solver analysis performance, further down this post. This information is current as of Version 2021.2, but most points are also relevant to earlier versions. Femap File […]
This document is the concise guide to Nastran RBE2 and RBE3 Rigid elements. It describes some of their main uses, as well as the key differences between RBE2’s and RBE3’s. Also explained are the common errors: User Fatal Message 2101 (GP4) which occurs if your RBE elements has a constraint on a dependent node; User […]
This post and the pdf doc provide a practical explanation of consistent units in FEA. Many FEA modellers/solvers do not show units within the software – the analyst must use consistent units with these. The PDF provides details and a units conversion table. EnDuraSim_Consistent_Units.pdf But if you have limited time and are starting a new […]
EnDuraSim authored this pdf document several years ago, but it remains a definitive summary of resolving the common causes of singularities in FEA models. It was written with Femap and NX Nastran (USER FATAL MESSAGE 9137) in mind, but the principles are equally relevant to virtually any structural/mechanical FEA code such as Ansys, Abaqus, MSC.Nastran, […]
Femap Version 11.4 and Version 11.4.1 have been released. 11.4 is a significant release, with some additional updates and a Nastran point release added in V11.4.1. If you are under maintenance and haven’t upgraded yet, then you should go straight to 11.4.1 as it is a complete installation. A complete list is available via Help […]
Layers and Groups are ways in which complex models can be separated into convenient bits. After years of experience, our recommendations are these: Layers are better for pre-planned separation of significant parts of the model. Remember, entities belong to only one layer. New entities are placed on the Active layer. Copied entities are placed on […]
Femap with NX Nastran allows some “cheats” to run certain types of dynamic analysis, even without the (as usual, very cost-effective) Dynamics add-on. Firstly, given that Non-linear transient simulation is part of the standard capability, this allows a time history analysis to be run – and with the included multi-core / multi-cpu SMP capability. The […]
Delivering a roving science laboratory from Earth to the planet Mars requires meticulous planning and precision performance. You only have one chance to get it right; there’s no margin for error. Engineers and scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology had to make crucial decisions thousands of times over […]
We are pleased to announce the formal release of Femap Version 11.1. This is a significant release with substantial productive functionality to make more advanced FEA easier to complete. Here is a quick summary of Femap with NX Nastran V11.1 enhancements: Geometry: Further improvements in Non-Manifold Add. Non-manifold add is the best way to intersect […]