Design software Femap

quality controlsimulationdata analysis

Overview
SDC for Femap is a standards verification add-on for Simcenter Femap that performs automated code checks for strength, fatigue, buckling, welds and bolts directly within the Femap environment. It operates on native .modfem files without model export or duplication, enabling traceable verification workflows.

Key highlights

• Built-in engineering standards library (50+ standards)
• Automatic structural element recognition (beams, plates, welds, stiffeners)
• Comprehensive analysis coverage: bolt preload, tubular joints, panel and beam buckling
• Template-based, audit-ready reports with one-click updates

Standards verification and checks
Run automated code checks for strength, fatigue, buckling, welds and bolts using the built-in standards library (examples: ISO, API, AISC, ABS, DNV, Eurocode). Results are traceable to the source model and standards clauses to support certification and classification workflows.

How it integrates with Femap
SDC for Femap works directly on Simcenter Femap .modfem files with no model conversion. Users can update inputs, rerun calculations and regenerate reports from inside Femap to avoid version mismatch and reduce manual steps.

Main capabilities

• Standards verification inside Femap: code checks for strength, fatigue, buckling and welds without exporting the model
• Automated structural element detection and tailored check templates
• Complete analysis coverage including bolt preload, tubular joint checks and panel buckling
• Consistent, reproducible calculations within a single authoritative workflow
• Proven usage in offshore, machinery and industrial verification projects

Pre- and post-processing tools & utilities
SDC for Femap provides a toolkit to simplify verification workflows, including:

• Governing loads tool — extracts critical load combinations
• Peak Finder — identifies peak zones and summarizes results
• Moment & Shear Force — integrate grid-point forces to generate diagrams and exports
• Freebody — balanced internal/external force sets for substructure modelling and connector force extraction
• Rainflow counting — converts time histories into cycle matrices for fatigue (multiple algorithms)
• Compression-only supports — model one-way restraints and iterate load sets
• Automatic Structural Element Recognition — detects beams, plates, welds, stiffeners and joints
• Automatic Report Generation — produce structured, audit-ready reports with one-click updates
• Optimization module — optimize cross-sections, weld types or plate thickness based on code checks

Supported analyses
Strength checks, fatigue damage and life estimation (rainflow-based), buckling verification (panel and beam), weld assessments, bolt preload and bolt strength checks, tubular joint verification and other specialty checks implemented from the built-in standards library.

Benefits

• Direct integration with Femap — no model conversion required
• Large standards coverage (50+ built-in standards) for offshore, machinery, civil and industrial sectors
• Automation reduces manual spreadsheet and script-based checks, lowering human error
• Faster, template-based report generation for audit and certification
• Tools to support global and local analyses and combined shell/beam modelling

Typical use cases

• Run code checks and generate classification-grade reports for offshore and heavy industrial projects
• Perform fatigue damage workflows using integrated rainflow cycle counting
• Automate buckling, weld and bolt verification across multiple load combinations
• Automatically recognize structural elements and run tailored checks without manual selection

Technical specifications

• Integration: runs inside Simcenter Femap, works with native .modfem files
• Standards library: 50+ built-in engineering standards (ISO, API, AISC, ABS, DNV, Eurocode, etc.)
• Analysis types: strength, fatigue, buckling (panel & beam), weld checks, bolt preload and bolt strength, tubular joint verification
• Pre/post tools: Governing loads, Peak Finder, Moment & Shear Force diagrams, Freebody, Rainflow counting, Compression-only supports, Panel Finder, Thickness Plot, Weld Summation, Effective Plate Width, Stress Gradient
• Reporting: template-based automatic report generation with plots and tables; one-click updates
• Workflow: no model duplication or export required; update inputs and rerun calculations within Femap