FEA | FEA Assistant

The FEA Assistant allows you to add multiple FEA Objects to a structure model.

The FEA Assistant adds the Add FEA Objects tab to the Drawing Assistant tabs.
See Draw | Drawing Assistant for details on using the Drawing Assistant tabs.

Rules for Adding FEA Objects

• An FEA Mass can be added to each visible selected Point on the structure model

• An FEA Spring, FEA Damper, FEA Rod or FEA Bar can be added wherever there is a visible selected Line on the structure model.

• An FEA Triangle can be added wherever there is a visible selected Surface Triangle A Surface Triangle is a drawing Object that defines a surface between three Points on a structure model. Surfaces are used for hidden line displays, surface fills, surface textures, photo realistic models, and color contour displays. Surface Triangle properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Current Type | Surface Triangles. on the structure model.

• An FEA Quad can be added wherever there is a visible selected  Surface Quad A Surface Quad is a drawing Object that defines a surface between four Points on a structure model. Surfaces are used for hidden line displays, surface fills, surface textures, photo realistic models, and color contour displays. Surface Quad properties are displayed in the Objects spreadsheet by executing Edit | Current Type | Surface Quads. on the structure model.

• FEA Tetras, FEA Prisms & FEA Bricks can only be added to a selected Substructure A Substructure is a collection of Points, Lines, Surfaces, and FEA Objects. Substructures can be selected, moved, cut, copied & pasted like the other drawing Objects. Substructure properties are displayed in the Substructures spreadsheet. The Drawing Assistant is used to create structure models by added Substructures from the Substructure Library to the model. The FEA Assistant is used to add FEA Objects to a structure model. that was previously created using either the Extrude or Revolve command.

Structure Window Showing FEA Assistant Tabs.

Add FEA Objects Tab

• Adds FEA Objects of the same type to the selected Substructure.

The FEA Assistant only operates on one selected Substructure at a time.
Before using the FEA Assistant, use Draw | Substructures | Add Objects to SubStructure to create as many Substructures as necessary with only Points, Lines, or Surfaces in them before using the FEA Assistant to add the desired FEA Objects to the structure model.

To add FEA Objects to a selected Substructure using the Add FEA Objects tab

• Choose a property from the Properties list next to the (M,C,K), (Rods,Bars), Plates or Solids button.  

• If the FEA | Properties List is empty, press the New button to add a new property to the FEA Properties list.

• Press the enabled (M,C,K), (Rods,Bars), Plates or Solids button to add the FEA Objects to the selected Substructure.