SectionBuilder is a finite element based tool for the sectional analysis of beams of arbitrary configuration made of anisotropic materials. ShapeBuilder is a pre-processor to SectionBuilder that enables the parametric definition of simple cross-sectional shapes that are used in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
This tutorial describes how to run SectionBuilder, exercise its many options, and how to understand the output generated by SectionBuilder. A detailed user's manual is available for SectionBuilder and in many instances, this tutorial links to this user's manual as a resource for finding more detailed information and background material.
ShapeBuilder provides a convenient way of generating simple cross-sectional shapes in a parametric manner. Familiar shapes such as I-sections, T-sections, or L-section are obtained easily along with more complex shapes such as airfoil sections or double box sections. This tutorial makes exclusive use of ShapeBuilder for the generation of the cross-sectional shapes.
|SectionBuilder||Sign conventions||Sectional properties||The file system|
|File operations||Open the input file||Save the input file||Backup the input file|
|Run SectionBuilder||Perform FEM analysis||The graphics commands|
|Visualize results||Visualize strain field||Visualize stress field||Visualize warping field|
|Display results||Display topology||Display axes and centers|
|Element operations||Select an element||List stress tensor||List strain tensor|
|Sensor operations||List sensors||Select an element||Create a sensor|
|Static loads||Select a loading case||Edit a loading case||Create a loading case|