Finite element models are
representations of products used for performing
computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis. Finite element
models are complementary to computer-aided design (CAD)
models, which are mainly geometric representations of
products.
A Finite Element Model in the
Nonlinear Structural Analysis or Thermal Analysis
workbench consists of:
a system representation,
consisting of:
a Nodes and Elements
objects set (containing Mesh objects)
a Properties objects
set (containing Property-type objects, such as
contact connections)
a Materials objects set
(containing the material names and basic types
associated with the parts or products linked to
the analysis)
a Nonlinear and Thermal
Properties objects set (containing Connection
Behavior objects)
various environmental
action representations, contained within a Nonlinear
Structural or Thermal Case objects set and described
by a sequence of steps in the history of the
environmental actions
You can initiate an analysis
of a Finite Element Model when you have captured a
sufficient amount of specifications in the objects that
define the model.
The following topics are
discussed in this chapter: