FEA Software for Structural Components 1

[dlmeteng]

I am looking for an FEA software package to analyze structural components of pressure vessels not covered in ASME Section VIII Div. 1 (mainly platforms and saddles). I have some experience with ANSYS as well as Solidworks Simulation but was wondering if anyone else had a preference between the two or a program better suited for this situation.

Thank you in advance,
DL

 

[C2it]

FE-Pipe is worth a look, from Paulin Research Group in Houston.

 

[TGS4]

The issue is not any specific piece of software, but the knowledge and experience of the user, and the methods by which they interpret the results - which for non-pressure components may be to a structural Code or standard.

I would look skeptically at any software that purports to allow an un-knowledgeable and/or ill-experienced user to perform any sort of analysis, particularly when the means of interpreting the results according to any particular Code/Standard are contained in a "black-box". I make no claim that any of the above or following-noted software recommendations from other valued eng-tips members fall in this category - but caveat emptor.