Bonded/Bolted Joint analysis (A4EI/J and other codes)

[Qbar]

I know this was done a few years back based on some old threads, but I didn't really see a good answer from what I read.

I'm looking for copies of A4EI, BJSFM, etc. As I understand it these are (or were) in the public domain for US citizens, but I can't seem to find any way to actually get my hands on them. Are these codes old enough now that I am out of luck or is there a way to still get copies of these codes (and hopefully their respective manuals)?

 

[SWComposites]

I have copies of all of them. Who do you work for? where?

 

[Qbar]

An aircraft company in Maine.

 

[Qbar]

Would you be wiling/able to share your copies of these codes? If so, what is the best way to get in contact with you? I can't seem to find a private message or email option on this forum.

 

[SWComposites]

Send an email to me at: info AT "my eng-tips handle" dot com

Steve

 

[blakmax]

Be aware that A4EI is as user friendly as a parking attendant. For example, you must enter the adhesive plastic shear stress, elastic shear strain limit and shear modulus to four decimal places because the first thing is that it checks that the values are compatible and gives an error message if they are not. So, why insist on getting all three data values and then calculating for any error? Why not just enter two and calculate the third? Enter shear stress, elastic shear strain limit and calculate shear modulus, not ask the user to do that and then play data nazi by doing exactly that calculation and insisting the correct data is entered.

The data also has to be entered in a specific FORTRAN format. I was so frustrated with it that I initiated the development of a pre and post processor with a commercial company so I could enter the data using a windows based user interface. It runs A4EI in the background and outputs the results in the standard Hart-Smith format but also provides the results graphically for shear strain, shear stress etc. with overlap position. It also adds steps, tapers etc. automatically rather than having to do it by hand. Quite a powerful little bit of software. Not sure if it is possible to still get the software but if there is interest I will track down the owner of the package.

I am also aware that the USN has a pre-post processor they use at North Island.

As an aside, the limitation with this forum in not being able to contact people outside the forum for purposes like this is very frustrating. I once added my address in xslkjnxkihdh dot com format (this is not a real address) and was severely chastised by email at that address by the forum manager. There really needs to be some form of making contact outside the forum by private message.

Regards

Blakmax

 

[Qbar]

@swcomposites
I am getting an undeliverable error message when trying that email address.

@blakmax
I have seen example input files and it certainly does not look like fun to deal with. If there is a GUI out there, I would love to get info on it.

 

[ESPcomposites]

I created an Excel interface to the BJSFM code, which makes it very user friendly. The older codes can be quite clunky to use.

I considered doing the same for A4EI, but that code is not available to those outside the US. That is really unfortunate.

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com

 

[blakmax]

Is A4EI really restricted to the US? I have a copy down under in AUS and I can not find any restrictions in the handbook for the software.

 

[ESPcomposites]

It is hard to exactly say with those old codes. BJSFM is pretty clear since they published the document (I believe Volume 3) with the FORTRAN source. That is publicly available so distribution is unlimited.

On the other hand, the A4EI code was not published (and I think intentionally so). For a time, you used to be able to access the old codes, but I believe you had to be from the US and perhaps it had to be for a DoD use. However, the official caretakers of those old codes no longer distribute it and noone took over for them. So unless you have permission, I don't know that you are allowed to possess them.

That said, it is quite a shame since there really isn't anything in there that isn't known at this point. It is common knowledge, but technically it could be a legal issue.

That said, there is nothing "special" about A4EI and one could rewrite the code based on the published analysis methods. So it could be argued that there isn't any issue with redistribution. It would be good if it could be proved that distribution is unlimited though. I would be inclined to build an Excel pre/post for it, making it a lot easier to work with. Those old FORTRAN codes can be a nightmare as you stated.

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com

 

[Qbar]

What happened to the ASIAC anyways?

I'm kind of surprised there isn't a straightforward way to get copies of this stuff, especially given the age of most of these codes and how easily they could park them on a server somewhere for download. I know at least some of the codes they maintained were available to industry based on some documents I read and I would think export controls on things like A4EI would kind of pointless by now.

 

[ESPcomposites]

Qbar, I agree. Problem is that ASIAC is defunct. So it sort of leaves things in awkward state. Its a shame they didn't close it out in a better way.

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com

 

[Hansmeister]

As I recall, the restrictions to the A4EI/J codes was in Volume 1 of the technical data.

 

[blakmax]

I spoke with the programmer who wrote my interface for A4EI and he says that there will be significant issues trying to run A4EI on the more modern 64 bit computers. given that A4EI was written in the days of flight using the horse-drawn zepplin. It is possible using a bit of free software called DosBox, but he has licencing restrictions on distributing software which requires distributing DosBox with it.

Regards

Blakmax

 

[ESPcomposites]

Blakmax,

I don't know if this an option, but I compiled the Fotran BJSFM to be a DOS executable. Then I used Excel as a pre/post to the DOS executable. Haven't tried with A4EI, but it could probably be done the same way. I will have to look at the paper and see what the restrictions are, but I still think it has some restrictions (unlike BJSFM).

Brian

http://www.espcomposites.com

 

[Qbar]

It seems I am not likely to get my hands on this code, so I have a related request:

Does anyone have a copy of Hart-Smith NASA CR 112236 (Adhesive Bonded Single Lap Joints)? I am unable to find this anywhere on the web.

 

[SWComposites]

Qbar,
send me an email at s_h_w_a_r_d @ t_a_o_s_n_e_t.c_o_m

without the spaces and _'s.

SW