Beams: a sneaky, simple and complex element - Femap 11.3 online seminar

Beam elements are very helpful in modeling structures such as space frames and bolted connections. At first glance beam elements appear simple; all that is required is a material, a cross section, orientation, and two nodes. It is important to keep in mind that this simplicity comes with some limitations. When is a beam element appropriate? What is a beam end release? Why are there stress results from 4 points? Where does the load get applied in non-symmetric beams? This seminar introduces beam element theory and show the user how to set up beam properties in FEMAP 11.3. We’ll analyze a structure, then explore some of the quirks of using beam elements, followed by a discussion of when they are helpful and when they should be avoided. For more FEMAP resources, please visit us: http://appliedcax.com/resources-and-support/femap-resources/library-of-femap-online-seminars