I don't mean to be rude but when you ask if FEA people are aware of what structural software can do. RE: Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis ThomasH (Structural) 24 Jul 09 17:42 So please understand that I'm not sugar-coating, I'm just sayinīottom line - FE programs are being used in many applications where certain structural programs are far better suited and also more economical. Structural programs offer zero in multiphysics.
Also, neither program offer kinematics, or temperature dependent material properties, so I undestand where traditional FE programs offer value. Both programs offer thermal load, but that's it. Having said that, for basic heat transfer analysis, thermal load across a wall, we could not use SAP2000 or Staad. It's unfortunate that the Robot presenter cited above in this thread made such a blanket statement when questioned about comparison to Ansys, because Robot, or SAP2000 may have been superior choices for many applications involving FEA, depending on the design application. And of cource, FE products offer little or no design codes. So the idea that only traditional FE programs like Ansys, Algor, etc should be used for FE or nonlinear analysis is an idea which is wrongheaded in many applications.ģ) Face it, basic FE tasks like response spectrum earthquake analysis, load combinations, manipulation of local axis of FE elements, and rotation of local axis of frame elements can be a bitch in many/most FE products compared to many of the structural programs. A year later, I was involved in a consulting project in which SAP2000 was replacing Cosmos FE for nonlinear snap though buckling analysis involving large deformations. SAP2000 had replaced ANSYS for FE dynamic analysis of foundations supporting vibrating equipment modeled with FE and because SAP was more productive, and SAP2000 was in the process of replacing Ansys in the application of pushover analysis involving nonlinear material analysis of frame elements. Based on the comments in this thread, it seems there is widespread unawareness about the ability to run nonlinear structural FEA with Robot or SAP2000.Ģ) My consulting firm worked with a Canadian company, Hatch, about 3 years ago, a company which used ANSYS, SAP2000, and Staad for their structural and FE requirements. I understand that both Robot and Midas offer nonlinear time history capabilities but I have no personal experience with those programs. this is nonsenseġ) SAP2000 can perform linear FEA analysis as well as nonlinear time history using direct integration or FNA analysis for models with frames, and/or shell/membrane and solid finite elements. My observation is that there is a huge unawareness among FE users as to capabilities of structural software, which seems to be described as "frame element" only. I'm speaking as an almost daily user of SAP2000, and I have a good friend who uses Robot and he loves it. I'd like to make a few observations for those doing FEA work who do not have structural products like SAP2000, Robot, or Midas on their radar, because most posting here seem to be very unaware as to what is available with structural FEA.