FEM Module
Introduction
The FEM Workbench provides a modern finite element analysis (FEA) workflow for FreeCAD. Mainly this means all tools to make an analysis are combined into one graphical user interface (GUI).
Workflow
The steps to carry out a FE analysis are:
- Preprocessing: setting up the analysis problem.
- Modeling the geometry: creating the geometry with FreeCAD, or importing it from a different application.
- Creating an Analysis.
- Creating a finite element Mesh for the geometrical model.
- Adding Constraints such as loads and fixed supports to the model.
- Adding a Material to the analysis model.
- Solving: solving a system of equations using an external solver from within FreeCAD.
- Postprocessing: visualizing the analysis Results from within FreeCAD.
As of FreeCAD 0.15 the FEM Workbench can be used on Windows, MacOSX and Linux platforms. Since the workbench makes use of external solvers, the amount of manual setup will depend on the operating system that you are using. See the FEM Install page for instructions on setting up the external tools.
Menu: Model
- Analysis container: Creates a new container for a mechanical analysis. If a solid is selected in the tree view before clicking on it, the meshing dialog will be opened next.
Materials
- Material for solid: Lets you select a material from the database.
- Material for fluid: Lets you select a material from the database.
- Nonlinear mechanical material: Lets you select a material from the database.
- Material editor:: Lets you open the material editor to edit materials
Element Geometry
Electrostatic Constraints
Fluid constraints
Mechanical constraints
- Constraint fixed: Used to define a fixed constraint on point/edge/face(s).
- Constraint displacement: Used to define a displacement constraint on point/edge/face(s).
- Constraint plane rotation: Used to define a plane rotation constraint on a planar face.
- Constraint contact: Used to define a contact constraint between two faces.
- Constraint force: Used to define a force in [N] applied uniformly to a selectable face in a definable direction.
- Constraint pressure: Used to define a pressure constraint.
- Constraint self weight: Used to define a gravity acceleration acting on a model.
- Constraint bearing: Used to define a bearing constraint.
- Constraint gear: Used to define a gear constraint.
- Constraint pulley: Used to define a pulley constraint.
Thermal constraints
- Constraint initial temperature: Used to define the initial temperature of a body.
- Constraint heatflux: Used to define a heat flux constraint on a face(s).
- Constraint temperature: Used to define a temperature constraint on a point/edge/face(s).
Menu: Mesh
- Nodes set: Creates/defines a node set from FEM mesh.
- FEM mesh to mesh: Convert the surface of a FEM mesh to a mesh.
Menu: Solve
- Solver Calculix CCX tools: Creates a new solver for this analysis. In most cases the solver is created together with the analysis.
- Solver job control: Opens the menu to adjust and start the selected solver.
- Solver run calculation: Runs the selected solver of the active analysis.
Menu: Results
- Results purge: Deletes the results of the active analysis.
- Result show: Used to display the result of an analysis.
Menu: Utilities
Context Menu
Preferences
- Preferences...: Preferences available in FEM Tools.
Tutorials
Tutorial 1 FEM CalculiX Cantilever 3D
Tutorial 2 FEM Tutorial
Tutorial 3 FEM Tutorial Python
Tutorial 4 FEM Shear of a Composite Block
Coupled thermal mechanical analysis tutorials PDF's
Video Tutorial 1 Forum post with you tube link
Video Tutorial 2 Forum post with you tube link
Further video Tutorials Forum post with you tube link
Links
FEM Install for a detailed description how to set up a working FEM Module.
FEM Mesh for further Information about the FEM Mesh in FEM Module.
FEM Solver for further Informations about FEM Solvers in FEM Module,
FEM CalculiX for further Information about CalculiX, the most used and best develop solver in FEM Module.
FEM Project for more detailed informations about the Units, Limitations and the Development of FEM Module.
FEM Concrete for informations about analysis's of concrete structures.
- Materials: Solid, Fluid, Nonlinear mechanical, Reinforced (concrete); Material editor
- Element geometry: Beam (1D), Beam rotation (1D), Shell (2D), Fluid flow (1D)
Constraints
- Electromagnetic: Electrostatic potential, Current density, Magnetization
- Geometrical: Plane rotation, Section print, Transform
- Mechanical: Fixed, Displacement, Contact, Tie, Spring, Force, Pressure, Centrif, Self weight
- Thermal: Initial temperature, Heat flux, Temperature, Body heat source
- Overwrite Constants: Constant vacuum permittivity
- Solve: CalculiX Standard, Elmer, Mystran, Z88; Equations: Deformation, Elasticity, Electrostatic, Electricforce, Magnetodynamic, Magnetodynamic 2D, Flow, Flux, Heat; Solver: Solver control, Solver run
- Results: Purge, Show; Postprocessing: Apply changes, Pipeline from result, Warp filter, Scalar clip filter, Function cut filter, Region clip filter, Contours filter, Line clip filter, Stress linearization plot, Data at point clip filter, Filter function plane, Filter function sphere, Filter function cylinder, Filter function box
- Additional: Preferences; FEM Install, FEM Mesh, FEM Solver, FEM CalculiX, FEM Concrete; FEM Element Types
- Getting started
- Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
- Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate
- Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
- Workbenches: Std Base, Assembly, BIM, CAM, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework
- Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub