SIMCENTER FEMAP
Siemens Digital Industries FEMAP and Simcenter Nastran
Simcenter Femap delivers high-performance FEA modeling, recognized as the world's leading Window-native pre- and post-processor for advanced engineering finite element analysis.
CAD-neutral and solver-neutral, Simcenter Femap is widely used by the world’s leading engineering organizations and consultants to model complex products, systems, and processes, including satellites, aircraft, defense, automotive vehicles, electronics, heavy construction equipment, lift cranes, marine vessels, and process equipment. Siemens PLM Software’s Femap system facilitates an advanced engineering analysis environment.
Simcenter Femap & Simcenter Nastran are highly integrated and can be sold together as a bundled solution. But more than this, being open to all solvers, Simcenter Femap demonstrates the power and value as a core analysis tool. Femap is CAD independent and leverages Siemens PLM Software’s Parasolid modeling kernel that allows direct access to Parasolid data for surface and solid modeling in addition to advanced geometric tools necessary for accessing non-Parasolid geometry. From advanced beam modeling, mid-surface extraction and hex meshing to robust CAD import and idealization, Femap gives you unparalleled model control and flexibility with a broad range of loads, materials, analysis types and visualization options.
Simcenter Femap is not just a solid investment for those committed to excellence in the use of finite element analysis technologies. It’s the right tool to help you realize your business goals.
Try Simcenter Femap with Simcenter Nastran and explore state-of-the-art modeling functionality
Simcenter Femap 30-Day TrialThe right tool and the right choice for excelling in finite element analysis technologies
Simcenter Femap AP Seats & LicensesNow available by subscription, select the Simcenter Femap product that best suits your needs
Simcenter Femap Monthly SubscriptionsSimcenter Femap is CAD-independent and can access geometry data from all major CAD systems including CATIA, Pro/Engineer, NX, Solid Edge, SolidWorks and AutoCAD. Once imported you can prepare the model for analysis using the geometry locator to identify and display potentially troublesome entities, such as slivers, and either remove them completely with the geometry cleanup tools or suppress them. Femap also offers a wealth of geometry creation and modification functions so you can make necessary model changes in preparation for finite element model creation.
The full finite element model with underlying data is fully exposed by Simcenter Femap, allowing you to view, create or modify entities directly. Femap's grouping, layering and visualization tools help you to manage model display while creating and setting up the finite element model.
Simcenter Femap includes specialized capabilities to help with modeling tasks including:
• Mid-plane extraction of thin-walled structures to aid creation of more efficient and accurate shell models
• Weldment modeling that connects discrete solid welded parts together into a contiguous model
• Data surfaces that allow you to create complex loading conditions based on prior analysis output for multi-physics applications
Simcenter Femap's 3D solid and surface meshers are tuned to generate high-quality meshes, providing well-shaped elements to ensure accurate results. Simcenter Femap gives you full control over all mesh generation parameters including mesh sizing, meshing of small features, growth factors, short edge suppression, etc. With complex geometry, modification of the mesh is often required in areas where greater accuracy is desired. For this situation, Femap's Meshing Toolbox allows you to interactively modify mesh sizing parameters on the underlying geometry, and see the mesh update automatically. You can also view element quality feedback live while modifying the mesh, to ensure that a high-quality finite element model is created.
Simcenter Femap with Simcenter Nastran supports assembly modeling, including automatic contact detection that determines the components initially in contact. The contact regions can be set to be simply in contact (with or without friction) or glued together. The contact calculations performed by NX Nastran are iterative and update during the solution, to take into account deformation changes representing the true contact condition in the final results.
Other types of component assembly modeling techniques also supported include spot-weld, fastener elements, and bolted joints with optional pre-loading.
Besides solid and shell element models Simcenter Femap also supports beam modeling and meshing. This technique allows models comprising long, slender components (for which a solid meshing approach would create a large, unwieldy model) to be represented by one-dimensional elements with associated properties.
Model visualization is key to beam modeling, and with Femap you can view these elements as solid components and include offsets. Smcenter Femap features a section property editor which includes a library of standard cross-section shapes. You can also define your own sections, and the built-in section property calculator automatically determines the required properties.
Also available are full beam visualization and results display options including shear and bending moment diagrams.
The use of composite materials in designs has increased significantly in recent years, and Simcenter Femap can help you model and post-process results on composite structures. With Femap's laminate editor and viewer, you can update the laminate properties interactively as you create and modify plies in the laminate.
You can also post-process composite laminate results using Femap's global composite ply feature, which allows you to view results on continuous plies through the structural model.
Simcenter Femap is solver-neutral and provides in-depth pre- and postprocessing support for all of the main commercial solvers on the market, including NX Nastran, Ansys, LS-DYNA, Abaqus and TMG. You can take full advantage of the advanced analysis capabilities of these solvers using Femap's comprehensive modeling and analysis support, particularly for dynamic, geometric and material nonlinear, heat transfer and fluid flow analyses.
A wealth of visualization capabilities help you view and interpret the results to quickly understand the model behavior. You’ll find everything you need to view and interpret the output data, including:
Complete access to results data is provided through the Data Table pane, which you can use to gather, sort and control the amount and type of data that is visible, to compile an analysis report.
The Velocity Series CAE products offer scalable solutions for design engineers in the form of the CAD-embedded Solid Edge Simulation program, and Simcenter Femap with NX Nastran for CAE analysts.
The Simcenter Femap with Simcenter Nastran product line itself offers solution scalability, from the more general simulation capabilities available in the base module to more advanced applications including dynamics, optimization, advanced nonlinear, rotor dynamics, heat transfer and fluid flow in add-on modules.
Another great webinar from Applied CAx. I very much appreciate the descriptions, the reference sources, the logic and rational about when things are enough or too much, and even all the extra items that you talk about. When the webinar recording comes out on your site, I like to go through it again very slowly and listen very carefully and make sure I understand all your points. I very much appreciate you providing these webinars, that is why I switched to Applied CAx as my VAR. I first learned of Applied CAx when I was working at SpaceX, and one of your webinars was used by our engineering group to help explain some aspect of FEMAP.
After making the decision to purchase FEMAP, I knew I would be facing a potentially steep learning curve. I had used MSC Patran for the last 7 years, but had decided to go with FEMAP due to excellent reviews from friends and colleagues. I signed up for the Applied CAx weeklong training course and found myself picking things up very quickly. Adrian and Kyle from Applied CAx really know the program inside and out. They helped build my FEMAP foundation during the day and during breaks would help me with specific problems pertaining to my work. In that week of training, I found FEMAP to be intuitive and the training from Applied CAx to be top notch.
You can't learn everything in a week, so my questions for the team at Applied CAx only increased after the training. Adrian consistently gets back to me within a few hours with helpful tips or insights. Engineers know that you can't extend a deadline because your FEA support was late in getting back to you. This is why I truly appreciate the level of support Applied CAx provides. In some cases, my questions have been related to the inner workings of the Nastran DMAP code. In each case, Adrian put me in contact with the correct person from Siemens within a few hours.
I’ve been impressed by Applied CAx since I purchased FEMAP and I look forward to working with them as my analyses continue to get more complicated. They are an excellent resource and I’m glad to have their support.
LTK has had a long history with using ANSYS, as the most experienced and prominent FEA experts have been using ANSYS for a while. One of our senior engineers used FEMAP once and really liked it, so we decided to pursue it as it was very compatible with various input files. The enhancement of the geometry engine was a huge plus.
As the use of commercial FEA software was somewhat new to LTK, the first reseller got the opportunity for selling 5 seats and also the maintenance account for all 5 seats. When I started working at LTK in 2013, my CAD and FEA skills from the auto industry helped us pursue more work and I also started using FEMAP extensively for FE modeling and analysis. From then our business has grown well and we have been using FEMAP for various forensic studies.
Our previous reseller was contacted for tech support on many occasions and it would take a lot of time for them to get back to us and sometimes tech support was provided by emails. This seemed very primitive to me. Matter of fact, before the tech support got back to me, I was able to troubleshoot using the FEMAP help system but as well, most of the time with Applied CAx’s YouTube channel. I really liked the way all the information was presented, so I subscribed to the channel.
I got to know that Applied CAx had webinars and hence registered for one, and from then on I have not missed any. I contacted Adrian Jensen to inquire about the maintenance account and I got a very good response from him which made me feel very confident of their services and I was able to take responsibility for a change of account with LTK management. I put together a presentation and showed the management the benefits of transferring the account and I was not confronted with any questions and eventually when the time came, I worked with Applied CAx’s sales person and transferred the maintenance account.
One more important aspect I liked was the availability of LS-DYNA and George Laird being an expert I thought would be big plus for us. I foresee the use of LS-DYNA a lot in our business in the future so I personally wanted LTK to have a one stop shop for all capabilities. I personally am trying to get registered for LS-DYNA training so that we get ready for our future.
As far as tech support is concerned, I have had fast and top quality responses. The awesome thing is, I get a lot of information during the support communication, also get the full concept and learn a lot. Even if the issue is very simple, I get quick response. If someone asked me about buying Siemens products and LS-DYNA, I will surely recommend Applied CAx for it.
Applied CAx and Predictive Engineering experts are very knowledgeable about the products we've evaluated and used. They and the other staff provide consistently great support during product evaluation and after purchase.
After having worked with a couple of FEMAP suppliers in the past I can say that Adrian at Applied CAx has far exceeded my expectations. I seem to never wait more than a few hours for an email response, which is amazing considering we are on opposite coasts.
We use FEA for vessel design and having the support from Applied that helps break down the core problem to simple examples helps in multiple ways:
First, it's the proper FEA technique so we aren't just barrelling through issues, it's a methodical way to a solution.
Second, it's easily explainable to all within the office who are not FEA savvy but are interested in what we do to help our clients.
As well the sales side has accommodated us in every way. Since I am the technical guy here, I have explained to other suppliers to "please change all billing issues to our office manager." Erik is the first one to enact that and stick with it.
All in all Applied CAx has been a pleasure to work with.
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Meet our Simcenter Femap Support TeamWe consistently create new seminars, whitepapers, and APIs. Review our video tutorials, model files, tips & tricks, and more.
Simcenter Femap Technical ResourcesTwice a year we hold highly-regarded, hands-on Simcenter Femap training. Our team is also available for customized onsite training.
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