Are you struggling with convergence issues before obtaining results in your more complex models?

Are you looking for a methodological approach to speed up the debugging of advanced models and increase the efficiency of your discussions with your favorite support hotline?

Are you new to FEA and want to learn how to speed up the debugging of your models that haven’t worked on your first try?

How to Debug Finite Element Models

A systematic methodology for finite element model debugging

This 3-session, live online course explains what you need to know to debug linear and nonlinear implicit finite element models efficiently and systematically. By attending, you will learn to interpret the most frequent issues you can encounter when developing finite element models for static analysis and understand the error messages.

You will explore the range of debugging tools offered by finite element software and learn how to best use them to find a solution. Many error messages are self-explanatory, but the most concerning issues with your model can lead to error messages that are much less clear and difficult to correct. The relation between the message and its cause is not always obvious and requires significant effort to be addressed.

This course will teach you how to manage these situations. We will explore the different causes of numerical difficulties, propose a methodology to speed up the debugging process, and finally reach solver convergence to obtain the expected results from your models.

By the end of this course, you will also be able to efficiently prepare a discussion with your favorite software hotline to speed up the problem-solving process and get results from your models.

Who should attend?

CAE Engineers struggling with complex models and experiencing numerical problems before obtaining acceptable solutions
Experienced CAE Engineers looking for a more systematic way to debug finite element models and understand in depth the causes of most frequent issues
Beginners who are looking for an introduction and a methodology for model debugging

What will you learn?

The key takeaways from this class are:

Understand the origin of numerical difficulties in linear static finite element models
Understand the origin of convergence issues when using implicit finite element method to solve linear static models
Debug nonlinear static problems exhibiting issues with nonlinear materials
Debug geometrically nonlinear finite element models including contact
Have efficient interactions when dealing with with hotline support

Why an E-Learning class?

Travel and training budgets are always tight! The e-Learning course has been developed to help you meet your training needs.

If your company has a group of engineers or specific training requirements across any subjects, please contact us to discuss options.

Course Content

Session 1

Introduction to model debugging

The debugging toolkit

Debugging Linear static finite element analysis (Null and negative pivots Singular Jacobian matrix, Hourglass effect, …)

Session 2

Debugging nonlinear static FE models part 1

Why/when to go nonlinear?
What exactly is non-convergence?
Material nonlinearity issues (elastoplastic with and without hardening, hyperelastic, nearly incompressible materials)
Geometric nonlinearity issues

Session 3

Debugging nonlinear static FE models part 2

Advanced strategies so to solve convergence issues
Material nonlinearity – a deeper dive (Hyperelastic material, near uncompressible materials with softening, Viscoplastic material, Composites including delamination)
Geometric nonlinearities and buckling – a deeper dive
Contact

Sanity checking

Working with your simulation tool hotline partners

PSE

PSE Competencies addressed by this training course

FEAkn1	List the various steps in the analysis/simulation process.
FEAkn15	List 2 common solvers for large sets of simultaneous equations.
FEAkn16	List the various forms of element distortion.
FEAco1	Describe the sources of error inherent in finite element analysis, in general terms.
FEAco2	Discuss checks that may be used post-solution to check for the presence of inaccuracy.
FEAco3	Explain the term solution residual.
FEAco4	Explain the meaning of convergence, including h and p types.
FEAco6	Discuss the need for a consistent set of units in any analysis and illustrate possible pitfalls.
FEAco9	Explain the meaning of the term ill-conditioned when used in the context of a set of solution equations and illustrate physical situations where this might reflect reality.
FEAco10	Describe why incompressible or nearly-incompressible elastic media can cause difficulties with analysis.
FEAco12	Outline a common method employed to solve the large sets of sparse symmetric common in FEA.
FEAco14	Discuss the nature of the structural stiffness matrix.
FEAco17	Explain the process of Gaussian Quadrature and the terms Reduced Integration, Shear Locking and Mechanisms.
FEAco26	Discuss the significance of computer memory to solution elapse time for large models.
FEAco27	Explain how unwanted cracks can be produced in 2D and 3D solid meshes and describe which plot type is useful in detecting these.
FEAco28	Explain why element distortion generally results in poorer results.
FEAco29	Discuss the term Flying Structure or Insufficiently Constrained Structure.
FEAco35	Discuss the terms Validation and Verification and highlight their importance.
FEAco39	Discuss the Geometric Stiffness Matrix and highlight situations where it becomes important.
FEAap1 2	Employ a range of post-solution checks to determine the integrity of FEA results.
FEAan1	Analyse the results from small displacement, linear static analyses and determine whether they satisfy inherent assumptions.
FEAev5	Manage verification and validation procedures in support of FEA.

Details

Event Type	eLearning
Member Price	£259.72 \| $325.00 \| €312.14
Non-member Price	£392.38 \| $491.00 \| €471.58
Tutor:	Patrick Morelle

Dates

Start Date	End Date	Location
Session Times		Online

How to Implement a Modelling & Simulation Strategy

Three-Session e-learning course

2/2.5 hours per session
PDH Credits - 6

Attend the live sessions, or view the recordings at your convenience.

Please click here to view the FAQ section, or if you need to contact NAFEMS about this course.

Engineering Board PDH Credits

*it is your individual responsibility to check whether these e-learning courses satisfy the criteria set-out by your state engineering board. NAFEMS does not guarantee that your individual board will accept these courses for PDH credit, but we believe that the courses comply with regulations in most us states (except Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana, and New York, where providors are required to be pre-approved)

Special Note(s):

Just as with a live face-to-face training course, each registration only covers one person. If you plan to register more than one person, please send an email to e-learning @ nafems.org in advance for group discounts. For NAFEMS cancellation and transfer policy, click here.