Femap (''Finite Element Modeling And Postprocessing'') is an

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

analysis program sold by

Siemens Digital Industries Software Siemens Digital Industries Software (formerly UGS and then Siemens PLM Software) is an American computer software company specializing in 3D & 2D Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software. The company is a business unit of Siemens, operates u ...

that is used to build

finite element The finite element method (FEM) is a popular method for numerically solving differential equations arising in engineering and mathematical modeling. Typical problem areas of interest include the traditional fields of structural analysis, heat t ...

models of complex engineering problems ("pre-processing") and view solution results ("post-processing"). It runs on

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washi ...

Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for se ...

and provides

CAD Computer-aided design (CAD) is the use of computers (or ) to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer, improve the quality of design, improve c ...

import, modeling and meshing tools to create a finite element model, as well as postprocessing functionality that allows mechanical engineers to interpret analysis results. The finite element method allows engineers to virtually model components, assemblies, or systems to determine behavior under a given set of boundary conditions, and is typically used in the design process to reduce costly prototyping and testing, evaluate differing designs and materials, and for structural optimization to reduce weight. Product simulation applications include basic strength analysis, frequency and transient dynamic simulation, system-level performance evaluation and advanced response, fluid flow and multi-physics engineering analysis for simulation of functional performance. Femap is used by engineering organizations and consultants to model complex products, systems and processes including satellites, aircraft, defense electronics, heavy construction equipment, lift cranes, marine vessels and process equipment.

History

1985 - ESP founded by George Rudy and Femap originally developed as a pre- and postprocessor to

Nastran NASTRAN is a finite element analysis (FEA) program that was originally developed for NASA in the late 1960s under United States government funding for the aerospace industry. The MacNeal-Schwendler Corporation (MSC) was one of the principal and o ...

.
1999 - ESP acquired by

SDRC SDRC (''Structural Dynamics Research Corporation'') is a leading company specializing in MCAE (Mechanical Computer Aided Engineering) and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software. History SDRC was formed by engineers, led by then associate pr ...

2001 - SDRC acquired by EDS
2004 - Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software suite spun off to form UGS
2007 - UGS acquired by the Automation & Drives Division of

Siemens Siemens AG ( ) is a German multinational conglomerate corporation and the largest industrial manufacturing company in Europe headquartered in Munich with branch offices abroad. The principal divisions of the corporation are ''Industry'', ''E ...

and

formed Femap product development continues as a CAD neutral and solver independent application. Also it is available bundled with a number of Siemens PLM solvers, including NX Nastran, Advanced Non-Linear Solver, Thermal/Advanced Thermal Solver, and Flow Solver. As a standalone utility Femap is typically used with independent solvers such as

ADINA ADINA is a commercial engineering simulation software program that is developed and distributed worldwide by ADINA R & D, Inc. The company was founded in 1986 by Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Bathe, and is headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, United S ...

NEi Nastran Nei or NEI may refer to: * Nei, Iran, a village in Ardabil Province, Iran *Nei, a character in the ''Phantasy Star II'' roleplaying game * Nutrition and Education International *Nuclear Energy Institute, American nuclear industry lobbying group ...

, LS-DYNA, ANSYS or

Abaqus Abaqus FEA (formerly ABAQUS) is a software suite for finite element analysis and computer-aided engineering, originally released in 1978. The name and logo of this software are based on the abacus calculation tool. The Abaqus product suite consis ...

Application

Femap is used in a number of industries, including aerospace "Femap Used by Evektor in Aircraft Design and Development,"
Desktop Engineering, June 2008. and marine.

Add-ons

SDC Verifier enhances Femap with a new functionality. Together they provide an accepted and sound solution for the verification of constructions according to Structural Design Standards. SDC Verifier uses Femap as the pre-processor for the generation of a model and its graphical interface to visualize the results. • '
Blog of FEMAP & NX Nastran
'': written and maintained by Blas Molero Hidalgo from IBERISA (Spain) with videos, examples and much information about Finite Element Analysis (FEM/FEA) to support the FEMAP community all around the world.

References

{{CAE software Finite element software Product lifecycle management Siemens software products Windows-only software