News

NX Nastran 5.1 update available for current Femap v9.3.1 users
NX Nastran, the leader in finite element analysis, has just introduced version 5.1 with performance improvements, element improvements, large model iterative solver, process improvements, new level of contact solution accuracy, acoustic coupling improvements and more.

>> Click here to learn more about this update (1.6MB pdf)
>> Click here to download the update (login required)

Client Testimonial
The president of Sound Ocean Systems, Inc., James McFarlane, summarizes his ongoing working relationship with Predictive Engineering with this... "Simply put… Predictive Engineering is the best FEA company I have ever worked with."

>> Click here to read the full testimonial in our CONSULTING section

Response Spectrum Analysis Tutuorial
Response spectrum analysis is widely used for the design and assessment of structures that are subject to earthquakes or shock events. This tutorial will walk you through the theoretical background of response spectrum analysis and how to actuallyimplement it within FEMAPv931 and NX Nastran 5.1.

>> Click here to go to our Training/Downloads page
(login required)

Composites Tutorial for FEMAP v9.3.1
Femap 9.3.1 composite modeling has become a whole lot easier. This tutorial highlights all the great composite modeling improvements 9.3.1 brings to the table. This tutorial is designed to provide the beginning composites modeler with a running start.

>> Click here to go to our Training/Downloads page
(login required)

Eight NEW APIs Available for Download
When you're busy and want to get the work done fast, Femap APIs are there to help. We've have over 35 APIs available for download that will make your job easier. Extrude Multiple Surface, Group Nodes on Surface, and Multi Dependent Rigid Check are just a few of the new APIs we've added. Check them out on our API page.

>> Click here to learn more at our API page (login required)

 

Columbia Helicopters expands usage of Femap and NX Nastran After completing a recent Femap and NX Nastran training class, Ron Heberlein, Senior Engineer at Columbia Helicopters, gives us some feedback about the class. Read his comments in our Consulting section.

Fast Development for a Rugged Plane With our help in bringing FEA software to the Quest Aircraft Company, they were able to produce an easy-to-learn simulation solution that helped their startup company get FAA certification and move from concept to production. Check out this interesting article about how it was done (2.6MB PDF).

Our clients aren't the only ones who have discovered our skills and expertise, we've also gotten noticed by two of the leading engineering magazines: Mechanical Engineering and Desktop Engineering. Read their informative articles:

	Mechanical Engineering–Tying Two Forces: Software upgrades have made analyzing for fluid and structural interaction easier and more common than in the past but, alas, not much quicker. Read more...
	Desktop Engineering–Thermal Analysis 101: Meeting the Challenge A hot topic with more than one cool solution. What’s your thermal problem? Making sure a furnace maintains uniform heat across its volume? Designing a compact fan to cool down a PC board? Evaluating the insulating performance of a Space Shuttle heat tile? Read more...

Femap v9.3.1 Surface Modeling Tutorial: Surface modeling within Femap has many simularities to modern CAD solid modeling but with a small twist. Within Femap surfaces are treated as infitisimally thin solids. This tutorial goes over how to be more efficient with your geometric surface modeling within Femap.

The following downloads require login to access:

>> Read our Surface Modeling Tutorial (PDF)

>> Download our Surface Modeling Tutorial (23 MB zip file)

API TUTORIAL: Streamlining the creation of extremely complex finite element models through the use of the API capabilities in Femap is the focus of this tutorial. You will see how the powerful functionality of the Femap modeler can be customized through the use of its elegant application programming interface (API).
(added June 8, 2007)

>> Click here to view the tutorial (3.6MB PDF).

Mechanical Engineering magazine taps the knowledge of PE's George Laird in this feature article about the technology of combining fluid and structural analysis
(added May 14, 2007)
This month's Mechanical Engineering Magazine's feature article, "Tying Two Forces" shows how fluid-structure interaction (FSI) software is solving today's engineering problems and what the future holds for this powerful technology.

>> Click here to view the Mechanical Engineering article.

PSD (Power Spectral Density) Tutorial for FEMAP v9.3 and NX Nastran V5.0
(added May 8, 2007)
Power spectral analysis has always intimidated me with its complex theoretical background. Thus, when a client came to us with some real world modeling issues using PSD - the time was ripe to dig in and really understand what was going on with PSD analysis. This tutorial provides the theoretical background and some practical examples on using PSD to extract stress results.

>> Click here to visit the tutorial page (login required).

The new FEMAP v9.3 enhances composite modeling
(added Feb. 28, 2007)
With the release of Femap 9.3 composite modeling is about to become a whole lot easier. To help introduce these new capabilities, we at Predictive Engineering came together to author a tutorial which highlights all the great composite modeling improvements 9.3 brings to the table. This tutorial is designed to provide the beginning composites modeler with a running start, leveraging all the new functionality in Femap 9.3.

>> Click here to view the Femap 9.3 tutorial (login required).

KIC Holdings turns to FEMAP with NX Nastran
(added Jan. 10, 2007)
Who did KIC Holdings, a fast-growing, global operation, turn to when they wanted to shift from using CAE technology to FEMAP with NX Nastran? They chose Predictive Engineering! Read about their successful transition in this article from Desktop Engineering.

>> Click here to read the article on DE's website.

Learn to create your own APIs
(added Dec. 6, 2006)
FEMAP APIs are an OLC/COM based programming interface for FEMAP that can automate a lot of tedious tasks. And they aren't as difficult to create as you think. Our PowerPoint presentation walks you through the how's and why's of creating your own APIs.

>> Click to download (login required).
>> Click here to go to our API page (login required).

November 19, 2006: LSTC's LS-DYNA V971 was used to capture the impact behavior of a digger tooth system. The model was composed of brick and tetrahedral elements with material models of high-strength cast steel (*Mat_24) and simplified rubber (*Mat_181). An API Explicit Time Step calculator within Femap V9.2 was used to control the tetrahedral mesh size within the Unigraphics CAD parts. The simulation provides the first ever accurate prediction of pin ejection in digger-tooth systems. More details can be found under the LS-DYNA Projects section.

>> Click here to view an AVI movie of the event (68MB).
>> Click here to view a QT movie of the event (31MB).

November 11, 2006: Predictive Engineering's three-day FEA short course continues in its popularity with its recent  presentation at Monaco Coach in Coberg, OR. Since these course notes are constantly updated, revised notes can be downloaded by clicking here (login required). Additionally, a new AVI tutorial has been added to the Resources / Training Downloads section on working with NX Nastran's linear contact.

September 6, 2006: Putting Femap to work. With help from our UGS VAR program, KIC puts Femap® with NX Nastran to work in their fast-growing, global operation. Read their case study by clicking here (600K PDF file).

August 8, 2006: New API libraries! If you're using Femap V9.1+, these APIs will make you more productive, smarter, and keep you ahead of the curve. We've added 11 different APIs such as Move Nodes, Line and Point Deleter, and Divide Beam. Check them out by clicking here (login required).

July 26, 2006: In June, Predictive Engineering's George Laird taught a FEA Short Course at Motive Power in Boise, ID using Femap V9.2 and NX Nastran V4.1. Short course avi's are available for download to current Predictive Engineering clients or you can download the course notes by clicking here (login required).

July 6, 2006: With help from Predictive Engineering, the American Bureau of Shipping certified a submarine solely on the basis of finite element analysis (FEA) and strain sensor testing. Read the full story by clicking here (PDF document).

June 8, 2006: UGS, makers of NX Nastran for Femap® software, highlights our work with Norton Motorcycles to show off their product. Read the full story by clicking here (PDF document).

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