Algor, the commercial FEM package, an introduction Group: 3 Ian Fulton Timothy Chin James Bernstein Hussain Khersoh

3 Basic Stages to Algor Preprocessing Processing Post Processing

Procedure

Preprocessing Stage Create Model Nodal point locations Element selection Nodal connectivities Material properties Displacement boundary conditions Loads and load cases Preprocessor assembles data into a format for execution

Processor Stage Code that solves the system equations Generates element stiffness matrices Stores data in files Assembles the structure stiffness matrix Must provide enough displacement boundary conditions to prevent body motion Solution gives nodal displacements With element information, get strain and stress

Post Processing Stage Numeric output data difficult to use Reduces data to graphic displays (contour plots, graphs) Magnifies nodal displacements Nodal displacements are single valued Stress at a node can be multi-valued if multiple elements are attached to the node (stress is found from within each element)

Post Processing cont.. Look at deformed displacements and check for consistency with expected results Look at stresses and compare to approximate solution

Creating A Model Setting up unit system after model is drawn

Creating A Model Assign groups

Creating A Model Apply boundary conditions

Creating A Model Define each element type

Creating A Model Assign cross sectional area

Creating A Model Define material type (characteristics)

Creating A Model Set stress analysis conditions

Creating A Model Analyze

Creating A Model View results (Displaced model shown)

Creating A Model Results (P/A model shown)

Re-design/analysis Refine model by considering the results of the first analysis High stress and rapid variations (reduce element size) Low stress (increase element size) Redo analysis and check if results are converging

Refined Model

Conclusion 3 stages of Algor Pre-Processing Processing Post Processing Design Analysis & Re-design Time Saver