FEAusingOSS Ed2 Preview

Finite Element Analysis using
Open source Software

Mesh
Deformed shape
Von Mises
Tresca
- by Dharmit A. Thakore
Finite Element Analysis with

Open Source Software
Second Edition

Second Edition
Dharmit Thakore, CPEng, RPEQ

Moonish Ent. Pty. Ltd.
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Moonish Enterprises Pty Ltd

GPO Box 1299, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
2014
Credits and Copyright

Written by: Dharmit Thakore
dharmit@moonish.biz
Publisher: Moonish Ent. Pty. Ltd
engineering@moonish.biz
http://engineering.moonish.biz
Graphic Design / Layout: Lomesha Thakore
lomesha27@gmail.com
Edition 2 2014 Dharmit Thakore
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical or otherwise, without prior written consent from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief
quotations in a review. You may store the pdf on your computer and backups. You may print one copy of this
book for your own personal use.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this book is based on the authors experience, knowledge and
opinions. The author and publisher will not be held liable for the use or misuse of the information in this book.
To
My wife,
Our beloved son
&
About the Author

Dharmit Thakore is the Director of Moonish Enterprises Pty Ltd at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He
practices as a Mechanical / Piping Engineer in Queensland. He received his Bachelors degree from Birla
Vishwakarma Mahavidhyalaya, Vallabh Vidhyanagar, Gujarat, India which was affiliated with Sardar Patel
University. He started his engineering career as a young Graduate in Larsen & Toubro Sargent & Lundy,
Vadodara. He came to Australia for further studies and settled here. He received his Registered Professional
Engineer in Queensland (RPEQ) recognition early in his career and subsequently obtained his Chartered
Professional Engineer (CPEng) as a Mechanical / Piping Engineer.
Dharmit has broad interests, which include finite element analysis, design, optimization and Open Source
software. He is a member of ASME, Engineers Australia and Board of Professional Engineers in Queensland.
Table of Contents
Forewordxiii
What motivated me to write this bookxiii
This book is written forxiii
This book is not written forxiv
What software would you need to follow throughxiv
What are the steps in Finite Element Analysisxv

Study Casesxvii
Case 1: Getting to know Salome-Mecaxvii
Case 2: Editing command (.comm) filexvii
Case 3: 1D Finite Element Analysisxviii
Case 4: 2D Frame Finite Element Analysisxviii
Case 5: Axi-symmetric Finite Element Analysisxviii
Case 6: 2D Shell Finite Element Analysisxviii
Case 7: Basic 3D Finite Element Analysisxviii
Case 8: 3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Linear Meshxix
Case 9: 3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Quadratic Meshxix
Case 10: Finite Element Analysis of a Pseudo Assemblyxix
Case 11: Finite Element Analysis of a 3D Assemblyxix
Getting to know Salome-Meca1
Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem2

Step 2: Input values for the FE analysis2
Step 3: Model Geometry3
Step 4: Meshing Geometry8
Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Salome-Meca Linear Static Analysis Wizard12
Step 10: Run the analysis16
Step 11: Post Processing of the Results18
Summary31
PS Using Efficient to generate command (.comm) file32
Chapternotes36
Editing command (.comm) file39

Step 8 and 9 again: Manual editing of command (.comm) file47
Step 10: Running the analysis52
Summary55
Chapter notes60
1D Finite Element Analysis61

Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Creating command (.comm) file with Eficas70
Result85
Summary85
Chapter notes91
2D Frame Finite Element Analysis93

Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Creating command (.comm) file by using a template102
Summary107
Chapter notes113
Axi-Symmetric Finite Element analysis115

Step 4: Meshing of Geometry120
Step 10: Running the analysis130
Summary143
Chapter notes148
2D Shell Finite Element analysis149

Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Writing command (.comm) file by hand156

Result167
Summary167
Chapter notes173
Basic 3D Finite Element Analysis175

Step 8 and 9 again: Manual editing of command (.comm) file184
Step 4 again: Meshing Geometry188
Step 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 again: Salome-Meca Linear Static Analysis Wizard 189
Step 11 again: Post Processing of the Results190
Summary190
Chapter notes194
3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Linear Mesh195
Step1: Description of the problem196

Summary215
3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Quadratic Mesh221
Step1: Description of the problem222

Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Efficient Wizard246
Summary267
Chapter notes268
Finite Element Analysis of Pseudo Assembly269
Step 1: Description of the problem270

Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Efficient Wizard to generate command (.comm) file280
Summary289
Chapter notes290
Finite Element Analysis of 3D Assembly291
Step 1: Description of the problem292

Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Creating command (.comm) file by using a template302
Summary315
Chapter notes324
What will be covered in Volume 2a
Parametric Modelling in Salome for Geometry and Mesh generationa

Editing and Generating Mesh in Salomes Mesh Modulea
Combining element types in a single FE Analysisa
Non Linear Material Analysisa
Sliding Contact instead of Glueda
Modal Analysisb
Thermal Analysisb
Volume 2 Book Promotion - 35% Offb
Appendix Ac
Other sources of informationc
Appendix Bd
Installing Software required for this bookd
Ubuntu 12.04 Configurationd
Salome-Meca 2013.2 installationf
Efficient Installh
Foreword
Foreword
During my university life, I had taken Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) as my
elective subjects. As a young university student, I was fascinated by the power of computers and the help that
they provide to obtain results that are easy to understand for a complex simulation. Going from Drawing boards,
pencils and erasers to CAD with everything on the computer, having multiple revisions of the same drawing and
the powerful undo and redo functionality were one of the journeys that I will never forget.
At that time, our university was having education version of AutoCAD (I wont tell the version of AutoCAD as
that will reveal my age ) for drafting and Solid Edge for Finite Element Analysis. The only problem was that
outside university we were on our own. We even didnt have student versions of those software to use at home.
What motivated me to write this book

It was not until 2006 that I was introduced to the world of Linux, Ubuntu (in particular) and Open Source Software.
I was captivated by the motivation of so many active developers around the world and the effort that they put in
to develop Open Source software. The only problem I had with Open Source Software was that these software,
even though powerful enough to compete with commercially available software, didnt have a reference manual, a
user guide or an easy step-by-step guided method on how to use the software, starting from scratch. Selected few
software do have excellent resources but most open source software lack them. Almost all software had expected
that the user will figure out the way. This gap is bridged by so many active users of Open Source Software who put
on video tutorials and write how-to manuals which are published on the internet. A big kudos to those volunteers
who put in their time and effort for Open Source software to help others and to me when I started out.
I wrote this book so that someone can pick up this book, start using Salome and Code Aster straight away without
hunting for resources on what to do next. I wanted the learning curve to be relatively easy. So I designed this book
such that the users do a few exercises, following the step by step guide in this book, feel confident in the procedure
and then are able to use the Open Source software the way they want. I wrote this book for the reason that the
tutorials on the internet and the videos on websites are scattered and unlinked. I want to help someone to have all
the information in one single place, in an easy to follow manner, which will enable them to learn the fundamentals
of the software in a fun and easy format.
This book is written for

Those who have a passion for learning Open Source software, particularly CAD and FEA software. This book is
written for those who are new to software like Salome and Code Aster.
If you are having trouble understanding where to start with Salome and Code Aster, this book is written for you.
If you are having troubles understanding the computer translated Code Aster User Documents (which are rich in
information), this book is written for you. If you want easy reference to 75% of FEA problems that are encountered
by engineers in day to day life and want to do that by Open Source Software, this book is written for you.
This book is for those who dont want to waste their time in finding tutorials online and trying to make logical and
sequential sense. This book starts with a very basic introduction of what to do to perform FE Analysis, and then,
with each new Chapter, it introduces new concepts in an easy to understand format. If you want to learn how to
do FE Analysis with Open Source software in a weeks time, than this book is for you.
xiii
Finite Element Analysis using Open Source Software
This book is not written for

Someone who is an advanced users of Salome and Code Aster, who already knows how to use these software,
knows what their limitations are and what they are capable of. This book will be of limited help to you unless
you want to gift it to someone who is starting out fresh and whom you are mentoring and dont want to answer
fundamental questions.
If you are the developers of Salome and Code Aster, then I doubt this book will be of any help to you, but if you are
developers of only Salome or only Code Aster, and want to know what is happening on the other side of the fence,
then this book might be of use to you.
In short, if you are advanced user and after reading the Table of Content you can say to yourself that the information
covered in this book is something that I already know, this book is not for you.
This book is also not written for someone who does not know what Finite Element Analysis is. FE Analysis, as a
fundamental, should be known to the user of this book.
What software would you need to follow through

Operating System used:
1. Ubuntu 12.04
Software used for this book are
1. Salome-Meca version 2013.2
2. Code Aster version 11.3
3. Efficient version 0.1.0
Please note that if you install a software that is of higher version than that mentioned above, the screenshots may
differ, but the fundamental concepts remain the same.
xiv
What are the steps in Finite Element Analysis
What are the steps in Finite Element Analysis

This book does not teach you what Finite Element Analysis is. You are nearly ready if you are familiar with the
general form of Hooks law which states that For small deformations of the object, the amount of deformation /
displacement (Dx) is directly proportional to the deforming force or load (F). The constant of proportionality in
the above equation is the stiffness (k) of the object.
Generally the stiffness of the object is known due to the fact that we would have its shape and material properties
as a given. If not, Either we would be optimising its shape by finding stresses generated in the object due to applied
loads (e.g. objective of the study can be optimise web thickness of gussets or optimise thickness of a pressure
vessel Nozzle saddle), or we would be checking which material is most suitable for the given object (e.g. objective
of the study can be Can Aluminium alloy be used to reduce the weight of the object?). So stiffness k would be
fixed for the given analysis based on shape and material selected.
The next step is boundary conditions. Any given object has to be sufficiently supported in the real world and FEA
will emulate these supports, either there is a fixed support (e.g. bolted or welded joint), sliding support (e.g. shaft
in hub or pipe shoe on structural steel). By applying these boundary conditions of supports, we are providing /
fixing values of displacement. Then there would be forces applied to the object, either by gravity (self-weight) or
by pressure applied on a surface or force applied on the object. By adding these boundary conditions of loads, we
are providing / fixing values of force / load.
After all of the above is given to Code Aster (FE analysis software of choice for this book), it tries to solve the equation
which will be in matrix form with the given input values of displacement and forces and obtain displacement for
the entire object. These displacements (Strains) are converted to Stresses (Stress = Strain multiplied by Youngs
Modulus of the material, for elastic case) and are displayed as a coloured model or exported as a table.
Figure on the next page shows general steps to perform FEA.
xv
In the coming chapters of this book, we will be using above philosophy to carry out Finite Element Analysis of 1D,
2D, 3D models of the objects and obtain Displacements, Forces and Stresses. Interpretation of results will be left
to the reader.
xvi
Study Cases
Study Cases
Real world examples are used in this book to describe each Study cases. Not only will this make it interesting, it
will give users a better understanding of how theory translates to practical analysis or what to do when rubber
meets the road.
To make this more interesting a small role play is introduced in this book (at the start of the chapters) in which
the main character Esha is a fresh out of University young Engineer who joined a Design firm and was given
responsibility to carry out FE Analysis of calculations that were traditionally performed by either hand calculations
or the Rule of thumb method was used.
A supervisor John is appointed to mentor Esha. John is passionate about the use of Open Source software
and knows the power they possess. To break the ice, John shows Esha the use of Salome-Meca by giving a very
small example of a 1m cube with pressure of 1MPa applied on top face and in another example he shows stresses
generated in a cantilever beam with gravity load applied.
After showing how easy it is to conduct FE Analysis with Salome-Meca, John shows Esha what the fundamental
steps to perform Stress Analysis are and how to replicate them in Salome-Meca and Code Aster.
John asks Esha to conduct FE Analysis of real world examples that will help her in building her capabilities and
confidence.
With every new example new concepts will be discussed and explained in an easy to follow format.
Case 1: Getting to know Salome-Meca

In this case a very easy FE Analysis of a Solid cube will be stress analysed. It will be fixed at the bottom face and a
pressure of 1MPa will be applied on its top face.
A step by step procedure will be discussed that will take you on a journey from where you are right now to
knowing Salome-Meca better. You will understand concepts of different modules of Salome-Meca viz. Geometry,
Mesh, Aster, Post-Pro etc. You will see how to make a simple geometry and make it ready for Meshing. You will
create the mesh (if you are following with the book) out of the Geometry. You will understand the Wizard that
Salome-Meca has and how to enter required parameters. After the analysis is complete, you will review the results
that are given by default, visualise them and try to make sense out of them. Then you will add a new analysis to
the same study and see how you can have multiple load cases for the same geometry.
Case 2: Editing command (.comm) file

With the first case, you will be thinking that Salome-Meca can only be used with its limited Wizard Analysis. But
in the Second case John will break this thought and show you how to edit the command (.comm) file to give you
results and analysis type that you want.
You will understand how to use Salome-Meca Wizard to generate the default command (.comm) file. How to edit
this file manually and then conduct the FE Analysis.
xvii
Case 3: 1D Finite Element Analysis

With this case, John will show how manually calculated results of a simple Pipe Guide which behaves as a cantilever
beam are calculated by Salome Meca by the use of 1 Dimensional (1D) Analysis.
John will discuss what should be taken care of in 1D analysis as well as the use of Aster module, which has more
power than the Wizard. You will also learn how to use Eficas to generate command (.comm) file.
Case 4: 2D Frame Finite Element Analysis

This case takes 1D analysis carried out previously and adds one more dimension to it. A 2D frame is built and
Analysed in this study.
John shows how to model a 2D frame, how to mesh it and finally how to perform FE analysis using Salome-Mecas
Aster module. You will also learn how to add a Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) to the study and how to obtain
results in Text file along with in MED file.
Case 5: Axi-symmetric Finite Element Analysis

The next logical step in performing FE analysis is Axi-symmetric analysis. This is what will be discussed in this
section of the book.
How to generate 2D geometry for Axi-symmetric model of a Pressure Vessel. John will ask Esha to demonstrate
that the stresses generated in the hemispherical head is half that of a cylindrical shell by analysing a Pressure Vessel
shell and head junction using Axisymmetric model. If you are following along you will get a hands on idea of the
way Axi-symmetric analysis works and how Salome-Meca Wizard takes care of the minor details of the analysis.
You will also learn how to create a Quadrangle 2D mesh and how to insert Sub-mesh.
Case 6: 2D Shell Finite Element Analysis

Some of the complicated 3D geometries are better modelled as 2D shells to reduce the burden on computing
power. In this case, a shell FE analysis will be carried out.
This will be another FE analysis that Esha is asked to do. Esha has to replicate the same 1D Pipe Guide results
by using Plate / Shell elements in Salome Meca. Esha will have some problems of understanding where to get
information for the analysis, but with careful guidance given by John, she will be able to successfully perform this
analysis and demonstrate results to John. You will learn how to visualise maximum and minimum stresses in a
shell.
Case 7: Basic 3D Finite Element Analysis

This case re-introduces the world of 3D analysis, where a familiar Pipe Guide Analysis that was carried out
previously by 1D and shell elements will be carried out with a 3D model.
Here, additional concepts of How to apply Force on a Surface is described. Also described is the difference
between 1D, Shell and 3D analysis results. When Esha gets results in her 3D analysis that are inconsistent with
xviii
Study Cases
previously carried out 1D and shell analysis, John explains her the difference in results. You will learn what
h-refinement is and also get a hands on experience of the time it takes to compute when the number of elements
are increased.
Case 8: 3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Linear Mesh

This is the study which shows how to conduct FE Analysis with Hexahedral Linear mesh elements. John asks Esha
to conduct the analysis that they did for Axisymmetric Pressure Vessel with 3D hexahedral elements.
You will learn how to add Sub-Mesh to an existing 3D hexahedral mesh.
Case 9: 3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Quadratic Mesh

After the first exposure to 3D analysis and hexahedral elements, John thought that it is time to take this up a notch
and refine the mesh elements to Quadratic elements.
In this analysis a Pressure Vessel and Nozzle junction is analysed with Hexahedral mesh elements that are Quadratic
in nature. A force of 10kN will be applied on the face of the nozzle and the stresses and deflection will be obtained
from the analysis.
You will learn how to partition a geometry to make it suitable for hexahedral meshing. You will also learn how to
perform Boolean operations on the Geometry and how to translate and rotate geometries. Some of the advanced
types of Boundary Conditions will be discussed in this chapter.
Case 10: Finite Element Analysis of a Pseudo Assembly

Once you get a taste of 3D FE Analysis, and you get a very good feel of how to do it efficiently in Salome-Meca and
Code_Aster, the next step is to see stresses in individual parts of the Model.
In this case, John describes a way to conduct 3D FE Analysis for Pipe Guide Weld Assembly which has only 1 mesh
but the user can visualise stresses for individual Assembly Parts.
Case 11: Finite Element Analysis of a 3D Assembly

This case will show one of the true capability of Salome Meca where a previously conducted 3D FE analysis will be
re Analysed by separating individual parts and then conducting the analysis as an Assembly.
This analysis will be focused on stresses in individual parts and how they interact with each other at their Contact
surfaces. How to create a Geometry and mesh it to make it ready for Assembly analysis. How to generate the
command (.comm) file for an Assembly analysis. You will also learn how to use ASTK, a GUI for Aster for this
analysis.
After describing all the types of analysis that John and Esha are going to have a look at, John showed Esha her
desk where she will be working as an intern. This computer was not a hi-fi top of the notch computer but a 3 years
xix

old computer which had seen better days. It has Ubuntu 12.04 preinstalled on it with Salome-Meca and Efficient
pre-loaded. John explained that FE analysis will work on moderately powerful computers which are 64 bit, have
around 2 to 4 GB Ram and a graphics processor.
Appendix B provides information on download and installation of Salome-Meca 2013.2 and Efficient.
xx
Getting to know Salome-Meca
Chapter 1
Before starting straight on FE Analysis, John explained that
a bit of homework before hand will make sure that the study
goes smooth. It is always good to accumulate all the required
information viz. What are the geometric inputs, what material
properties will be used and what are the Specific results required off
this analysis.
Even though John was showing Esha how to operate Salome-Meca, he
explained the input values, geometry and the specific results they were
after as if they had got that information from the client. Esha was writing
down the information that she got from John verbally.
Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem

As far as Esha understood, the FE Analysis that John was doing was a very simple FE Analysis of a Carbon Steel
Cube that is fixed at the bottom end and a pressure of 1MPa and 10MPa (2 different Load Cases) is applied on the
top face. The main purpose was to get familiar with Salome-Meca and getting in the mind set of how to conduct
FE Analysis.
Step 2: Input values for the FE analysis

Dimensions of the Cube: 1000mm x 1000mm x 1000mm (1m x 1m x 1m)
Youngs Modulus: 2.1e5 MPa
Poissons Ratio: 0.3
Pressure Applied on Top face: 1MPa and 10MPa (As two separate load cases)
Step 3: Model Geometry

Booting the computer was fast and Ubuntu 12.04 was ready for inputs.
Following steps are to be taken after you have started you Ubuntu OS.
#
1
Description
Figure
When Ubuntu starts, it looks like figure below
As can be seen when Salome-Meca is installed, you get an icon on the Desktop.
There are two ways to start Salome-Meca.
3
One is to open terminal and go to the folder where Salome-Meca is installed and then type
./runAppli
Other is to Double Click Salome-Meca icon to start it.
After Salome-Meca Application Loads it will look like figure below.

#
Description
Figure
The toolbar of Salome-Meca looks like figure below.

The first line has common Menus like File, Edit, View, Tools, Window and Help.
5
The second line has tools like New, Open, Save, Close, Copy and Paste
Next to Paste button is the drop down for SALOME Module Selection. Different modules available in
Salome-Meca are Geometry, Mesh, Post-Pro, YACS, JobManager, Aster, Eficas, OpenTURNS, Homard
and ParaVis.
All of the Modules are also shown as buttons next to the drop down
6
Click Down Arrow where it says
Salome-Meca and Select Geometry.
7
A window pops up like the adjacent

figure. Information on the window are
self-explanatory.
Click New

#
Description
Figure
In Salome-Meca main toolbar, Click

New Entity -> Primitives -> Box
In the Box Construction window, select
Second Algorithm (Option Button)
8
Keep Default Name Box_1

In the Dimensions at origin, fill in
values as shown in the figure on the
right
Click Apply and Close
Hover over the toolbar (shown below) and when you pause for a second over a button, it will display the
name of the button.
Select 5th Button from the left in the tool bar (Fit All) and the Entire box will fit to screen.
Thats it, you have created the geometry

and are viewing it properly and this
model will be used for Analysis.
10
Note that Salome-Meca also created 4

additional items. A point on the Origin,
Vectors in X, Y and Z direction.1
Now we need to define Geometric
groups that will be helpful in FE
Analysis.

#
Description
Figure
Make sure that Box_1 is selected in the
Object Browser
New Entity -> Group -> Create
In the window that pops up, select third
Option for Shape Type for selecting
Faces on the Geometry.
Enter Fixed as Name.
Rotate the model so that you can see
the bottom face.2
11
Click the mouse button again to deselect

it so that you can select the face.3
Click on the Bottom face and it will be
highlighted with White edges.
Click Add button in the Create Group
window and the face number will be
added as shown.
Click Apply.
Repeat the steps for selecting the top
face and name it Press. Add it and
then instead of clicking Apply click
on Apply and Close
Your Object Browser on the left should

look like the adjacent figure.
12
Right click on Box_1 and select Show

only OR click on the Eye icon on the
left of Box_1 to highlight it and then
un-highlight eye icons for Fixed and
Press and it will do the same thing.

#
Description
13
Save your file at a proper destination

and give it a meaningful name. Here
John gave it a name Case1.hdf
Figure
As John saved the file, Esha was intrigued by the ease with which simple geometries can be done in Salome-Meca.
John explained that the next step is to Mesh this Geometry.
Step 4: Meshing Geometry

Step by Step example of how to mesh the geometry are shown below.
Following steps assumes that you have completed Geometry Creation steps as per previous Section and have saved
the file to a meaningful location with a meaningful name.
#
Description
Figure
In Salome-Meca main toolbar, Click the
down arrow where it says Geometry and
Select Mesh.
Make sure that Box_1 is still selected in
the Object Browser and click Mesh ->
Create mesh and a window will pop up
as shown here.
Keep default name of the mesh as

Mesh_1.
Make sure Box_1 is in the Geometry
field. (If not, select the curved arrow
next to Geometry and select Box_1)
In the 3D, Algorithm drop down select
Netgen 1D-2D-3D

#
Description
For the Hypothesis (which is grey at

this stage and shows <None>) Click on
the Gear Button and select Netgen 3D
parameters.
Figure
In the Hypothesis Construction window

that pops up, keep default parameters
and click OK
Now you will be back to the Create mesh

window.
Click Apply and Close button

#
Description
Figure
Nothing happens to the 3D model. So
where is the mesh?
If you check Object Browser you will see
three new entities added to the Mesh
Tree.
Hypotheses, Algorithms and Mesh_1.
Mesh_1 has an exclamation mark on
it which suggests that it needs to be
computed.
Right click Mesh_1 in the Object

Browser and select Compute.
After some time, if everything goes well

a Mesh computation succeed Window
will pop up which will give information
about the mesh that was created.
It shows total number of Nodes, Edges,
Faces and Volumes. It also shows
whether the Mesh is Linear or Quadratic
(more on this later)
10

#
Description
Close Mesh Information window and

you will be able to see the mesh that was
created for your Analysis
Figure
It is this easy said John and then clicked on Save Button before going any further. Then John went on and said
that In the next section, we will discuss how to build information for a Linear Static FE analysis by using SalomeMeca Wizard.
11
Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Salome-Meca Linear Static Analysis Wizard

John said that we have completed Steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 for conducting a FE Analysis. We made our Geometric model
and gave it Geometric Groups and then we created a 3D mesh of the Geometric model which will be used for FE
Analysis. John re-iterated the steps as he knew that more Esha repeats the steps the more confident she will get.
#
Description
Figure

the down arrow where it says Mesh and
Select Aster.
Make sure that Mesh_1 is still selected

in the Object Browser and in SalomeMeca main toolbar Click Aster ->
Wizards -> Linear Elastic, and a window
will popup.
The first step is to define the type of
Model. This is Step 5 in FE Analysis
figure.
Select 3D, from the drop down, if not
already selected and click Next.
The next step is to select the Mesh that

will be used for the Analysis. This is
Step 6 in FE Analysis figure.
2
If Mesh_1 is not already selected here,

Click the Curved Arrow and select
Mesh_1 in the Object Browser and it
will be added to the Analysis.
Use geometrical groups should be
automatically selected, and if not, select
this option and click Next
12

#
Description
Figure
Next define the Material Properties to

be used in the analysis. This is Step 7
in the FE Analysis figure.
Add Youngs Modulus and Poissons

Ratio.
As we have our dimensions in
Millimeters, our Youngs Modulus
should be in MPa.
Input the values as shown in the adjacent
figure and click Next.
Next we input Geometric Boundary

Conditions. This is Step 8 in the FE
Analysis figure.
This is where the Geometric Groups

that were defined at Geometry creation
stage comes in handy.
If Fixed is not already selected by
default, double click below Group and
select Fixed from the options.
If DX, DY and DZ values are not already
0 (zero) enter it manually and click
Next
13

#
Description
Figure
Next input Load Boundary Conditions.

This is Step 7 in the FE Analysis figure.
5
If Press is not already selected by

default, double click below Group and
select Press from the options.
If Pressure value is not already 1 (One)
enter it manually and click Next. Here
1 is 1MPa.
Till now we have defined all of the

information that is required to complete
the FE Analysis.
Now we save the command (.comm)
file which is the command file that
passes on the information we just input
in the wizard to Code_Aster.
6
Click on the Button with File icon and

by default you should be taken to Save
As window with the location of the
hdf file that we had saved earlier. Give
a meaningful name so that it becomes
easy to remember later.
John said that As we have used Pressure
of 1MPa, I have given a filename of
Pressure1.comm
Click Save
14

#
Description
After saving the file, you will be taken

back to the Wizard where the file
location will be displayed.
Figure
Then you need to Click Finish.
A new branch Aster will be created in

the Object Browser.
Open Aster branch and you will see
linear-static underneath it.
This concludes the Pre-Processing stage of FE Analysis said John while he clicked on the Save button. He added,
Salome-Meca wizards make it very easy to conduct a basic analysis. Esha noted that it only took them 10 minutes
to reach to this stage and most of Johns time was taken up to explain her how to use the Wizard. If John had to do
this analysis by himself, he would have reached this stage in no time. John said, Next, we will discuss how to run
a Linear Static FE analysis by using Salome-Mecas Aster module.
15
Step 10: Run the analysis

If you have created your geometry, meshed it properly and have created the Command file that tells the Processor
what is the type of analysis, what the boundary conditions are and what results we are after, the next step becomes
easy said John. But we havent mentioned anywhere what results we are after said Esha, quickly pointing out to
John that he might have missed a step somewhere. John smiled and he was happy that Esha was paying attention.
He said, Salome-Meca makes it easy for the first time users and depending on the Analysis Type the user selects,
it selects what results will be generated. He went on and said that This output type can be changed based on the
results we are after by editing the command (.comm) file, but for this analysis we will use the defaults
#
Description
Right Click the linear-static branch in

Object Browser and Select Run.
Figure
16

#
Description
Figure
A new window will pop up and there

will be numbers flying around the
screen.
2
Right now the information that was

passed on to the Processor for Analysis
is being calculated.
If everything goes right, a new Branch
Post-Pro will be added to Object
Browser.
John said that If you can NOT see

Post-Pro branch in the Object Browser,
it means that there is something wrong
with the analysis.
If an error occurs at this stage, it would
be better if the user Re-iterate all the
steps carefully and conduct the analysis
again.
John clicked on the save button and said, As we can see that a Post-Pro node has been added to the Object Browser
tree, Processing has completed and that results are ready for us to be evaluated. Depending on the Type of
Analysis, it can take a few minutes as it happened now or it can take several hours said John. Next we will see
some of the ways we can visualize the results in Post Processing Module of Salome-Meca.
17
Step 11: Post Processing of the Results

We will find out the results of our FE Analysis in this step said John.
#
Description
Figure
In Salome-Meca main toolbar,

Click the down arrow where it
says Aster and Select Post-Pro.
1
Open the Post-Pro branch till

you see three branches in the
parent branch of Fields.
Fields is the branch that holds
the results of the analysis.
18

#
Description
Figure
RESU____DEPL means, Result

(RESU) of the Displacements
(DEPL) of the nodes.
2
Open this branch and Right

Click on 0 , -. From the pop
up window select Deformed
Shape
Check Magnitude coloring and
keep the default Scale Factor
19

#
Description
Click Scalar Bar Tab, In here

if you want, you can change
several parameters.
Figure
At this moment keep everything

default.
20

#
Description
Click Input Tab. Notice that

the Face groups Fixed and
Press are shown here greyed
out.
Figure
Nothing to do here at this stage.

Just Click Apply and Close
21

#
Description
A new sub-branch Def.Shape

is created in RESU____DEPL
-> 0 , - branch.
Figure
The deformed Shape is shown as

Wire frame model.
Notice that at the bottom of the window, a graph of Deflection with minimum and maximum
deflections is shown.
The maximum deflection here is 0.004734mm
Right Click on Def.Shape

and select Show Only and
on the right hand side only the
Deformed shape will be visible.
Right Click on Def.Shape and

select Representation -> Surface
frame, and you will be able to
see the deformed 3D model.
As can be seen maximum
deflection is at the top of the
cube (as expected) and zero
displacement is at the bottom of
the cube (again as expected)
22

#
Description
Figure
Now, in this step, Right Click on

0 , -. From the pop up window
select Deformed Shape
Check Magnitude coloring and
keep the default Scale Factor
Click Scalar Bar Tab and then

in the Scalar range: section,
Click the down arrow on Scalar
Mode and Select [1] DX, -.
Keep everything else default and
As can be seen two or more
different type of visualisation
can be added to the study if
required.
23

#
Description
Figure
Right Click on Def.Shape:1
and select Show Only and
only the Deformed shape will be
visible.
Again,
Right
Click
on
Def.Shape:1
and
select
Representation -> Surface frame
and you will be able to see the
deformed 3D model.
Here you will be able to see how
the cube deforms in X direction
only.
10
If you zoom in and rotate the

model you will be able to see
bulging occurring in the X
direction.
You can view deflections in Y and Z direction by following step 8 and 9 above and Selecting DY
or DZ.
Play around with the Scale Factor in the Deformed Shape Tab and see the deformation change.
24

#
Description
Figure
RESU____SIEQ_NOEU is the
Result (RESU) of the Stress
(SI__) Equivalent (__EQ) or
Equivalent Stresses at Nodes
(NOEU).
11

Click on 0 , -. From the pop
up window select Scalar Map
Select [1] VMIS (VonMises
Stress) from the Scalar Mode
and keep the rest as default
Click Ok
25

#
12
Description
Figure
A new sub-branch Scalar Map

is created in RESU____SIEQ_
NOEU -> 0 , - branch.
The Entire geometry is coloured
with the VonMises Stresses
which is shown as a Solid model.
Right Click on Scalar Map and

select Show Only and only
the VonMises Stresses will be
visible.
13

frame, and you will be able to
see the VonMises Stresses as 3D
model.
As can be seen maximum
stress is at the top of the cube
(as expected) and zero at the
bottom of the cube (again as
expected)
14
Notice that at the bottom of the window a graph of VonMises stresses with minimum and maximum
stresses is shown.
The maximum stress here is 1.02521 MPa
26

#
Description
Figure
In a similar fashion of showing

multiple branches of Deflection,
multiple branches of Stresses
can be shown. A Scalar Map of
Tresca Stresses can be added to
the study as well.
Right Click on 0 , - sub-branch.
From the pop up window select
Scalar Map
15
In Scalar Bar Tab in the Scalar

range: section, Click the down
arrow on Scalar Mode and
Select [2] TRESCA, -. Keep
everything else default and
select Show Only
frame
27

#
Description
Figure
RESU____SIGM_NOEU
is
the Result (RESU) of the Stress
(SIGM) or SIGMa at Nodes
(NOEU). Six stresses Sx, Sy, Sz,
Sxy, Sxz, Syz
Click on 0 , - sub-branch.
From the pop up window select
Scalar Map
16
Select [1] SXX (Stress in X

direction) from the Scalar Mode
and keep the rest as default and
Click Ok
select Show Only
frame.
Now lets see how we can run a second analysis in the same .hdf file by adding a new FE Analysis in Aster Module.
28

#
Description
Figure
Click the down arrow where
it says Post_Pro and Select
Aster.
Make sure that Mesh_1 is
selected in the Object Browser
and click Aster -> Wizards ->
Linear Elastic and a window will
popup.
Select 3D if not already selected
and click Next.
Click the Curved Arrow and

select Mesh_1 in the Object
Browser (if not already selected).
Use geometrical groups should
be automatically selected, if
not select this option and click
Next
Use the same Geometric
Boundary Condition as per
previous analysis. For Load
Boundary condition, instead
of Press value to be 1 double
click it and input a value of 10.
Click Next.
Save this command (.comm)

file as Pressure10.comm to
differentiate it from the previous
analysis carried out.
Click Save
Click Finish
29

#
Description
A new analysis will be added to

Aster linear-static0
Figure
Right Click linear-static0 and

Select Run.
4
If everything goes well a new

branch will be created in the
Post-Pro module called linearstatic0.rmed
To find out the Deflection and Stresses for this analysis, repeat steps 2 to 16 shown previously.
Well thats the complete FE Analysis of a Carbon Steel Cube. The analysis I just showed you is very helpful to
understand the steps required in Finite Element Analysis. It might not have any practical use though, said John.
John saved the entire Analysis and closed Salome-Meca. Now I understand the fundamental steps of how to
perform FE Analysis in Salome-Meca but there are quite a few questions that come to my mind said Esha. John
was happy to see that Esha had questions to ask as he now knew that she was paying attention.
What if I want to carry out Self Weight analysis, or apply Force instead of Pressure? How do we do that in SalomeMeca? asked Esha. That is what I am going to show you next but before I do that lets recap of what we did right
now said John.
30
Summary
Esha listed out the steps that they followed to perform the analysis out loud
1. We Started Salome-Meca and entered Geometry Module and created a New Study.
2. We created a Primitive Cube and named the top and bottom face which we used in FE Analysis.
3. We meshed the model with tetrahedral mesh elements in Mesh Module.
4. Then we entered Aster Module and created a new Analysis by using Linear Static Analysis Wizard.
5. We entered required information, saved the command (.comm) file and completed the Wizard.
6. We Ran the analysis and as everything went well, we were presented with Post-Pro Module Option.
7. We entered Post-Pro Module and saw Deflected Shape of the Model, VonMises Stresses and Tresca Stresses.
8. We built another analysis in the same study file and completed analysis by visualising results in Post-Pro
module
Very good said John, but dont forget that even before you start the analysis make sure you have all the input and
output parameters for your study that has been discussed with the client.
31
PS Using Efficient to generate command (.comm) file

How to generate this same command (.comm) file using Efficient
#
Description
In Mesh Tab, keep everything

default
Figure
32

#
Description
In
Analysis
Tab,
everything default
Figure
keep
In Material Tab, Enter the

information as shown in the
adjacent figure.
Click Add to add this material
to the command file.
We dont need to enter anything for Element Tab
33

#
Description
Figure
In Boundary Condition(s)
Tab, Enter the information
for restricting face Fixed in
All directions as shown in the
figure.
Click on Add
Next we need to add Loads in

the Load(s) tab.
First we will add Pressure of 1
MPa. Change the Load Type to
Pressure.
6
Enter Press for Load Name

and Press for Is Assigned to.
For the Amount of Pressure
enter 1.
Click Add
For this study we do not need
to step the load cases.
34

#
Description
Figure
Next Click on Output Tab.

7
Here we will click Add ALL

button to add all options
available for this analysis.
Click Save .comm file.

8
Save it in the location where

you saved the study.
Remember to add full name
(with .comm) in the File name.
35
Chapternotes
1
In CaeLinux 2011 these entities were not generated by default but in Salome-Meca 2013.2 they are.
Click Second button on the figure shown in Step 11 (looks like a mouse) which will help you to zoom, pan and rotate
the geometry. Alternatively you can perform these operation by Holding down Ctrl key and using Left, Middle or
Right mouse buttons respectively.
If the mouse button is still selected, you wont be able to select the face. If you are using Ctrl key with mouse buttons,
you dont have to click this mouse button again.
36
37

Notes:
38
Editing command (.comm) file
Chapter 2
John explained that the analysis he was going to
show next was a very simple analysis and follows
the same steps that he had presented previously. In
this analysis they will manually edit the command
(.comm) file, remove the pressure load and apply
Gravity load to the entire 3D model.
39

John told Esha that this analysis is for understanding how to edit a command (.comm) file manually. He will show
Esha how gravity load is applied to a cantilever beam. The main aim of the study was to see the effect of self-weight
on a 1m Long and 10mm square Carbon Steel cantilevered rod. Only self-weight of the rod was considered in this
study. John said that here we will not go into details of matching the results of FE Analysis with hand calculations
based on theory.

Dimensions of the rod are as follows
Width and Length of Rod: 10mm x 10mm
Length of Rod: 1000mm (1m)
Poissons Ratio: 0.3
Density of Carbon Steel: 7.8e-9 tonne/cubic mm (7800 kg/cubic meter)
Gravitational Acceleration: 9800 mm/square second (9.8 m/square second)
40

John started Salome-Meca and created a new Study. He then enabled Geometry Module and started the input for
Rod 3D model.
Description
Figure
For generating the Square Rod

3D model, we need to create a
box.
1
Click New Entity -> Primitives

-> Box and enter the values as
shown in the figure and leave
its Name as Box_1. Click on
Apply and Close
41

#
Description
Figure
Now we need to create a Face

group of the face which will be
used in FE Analysis to fix the
Geometry.
Rotate the model so that the
face on the YZ plane is visible.
Click New Entity -> Group ->
Create.
2
Select Third Option Button

Face.
Change the Name to Fix
Now select the Face of the
square rod that is on the YZ
plane.
Once the correct Face is
selected Click Add and then
Click Apply and Close as we
do not need to create any more
Groups for this study
Save the file with a meaningful name. Next we will Mesh it, said John.
42

John said that in this study we will mesh the Model with the default Mesh size given by Salome-Meca.
#
Description
Figure
Select Mesh Module in SalomeMeca.

Click on Box_1 in the Object
Browser and then Click Mesh
-> Create Mesh.
In the Window, make sure

Box_1 is selected as Geometry.
Select Netgen 1D-2D-3D as
the Algorithm and for the
Hypothesis Click on the Gear
Button and Click Netgen 3D
Parameters.
In the window that pops up,
leave the Default settings and
Click Ok.
43

#
Description
Your Create Mesh window

should look like the adjacent
figure.
Figure
A new Mesh_1 will be created

in the Object Browser.
Right Click Mesh_1 and select
Compute.
3
If Everything goes well you

will be presented with the
information of the mesh that is
created.
Click Close on this window.
John clicked on the Save button and asked Esha Are you ready for the next Step?
You bet I am was the answer John got.
44
Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Salome-Meca Linear Static Analysis Wizard

John said Esha, do you know what we do next?
Esha said that the next step is to use Salome-Meca Linear Static Wizard to create a command (.comm) file which
will hold information about the analysis that we are going to do. Then Esha paused and said, But as Salome-Meca
Linear Static Wizard does not have Gravity load case, you are going to show me how to edit the command (.comm)
file by hand.
You know the steps further, so I am going to hurry and do it myself and explain them in short, said John.
#
Description
Figure
Click on Aster Module and Make sure that Mesh_1 is still selected in the Object Browser. In Salome-Meca
main toolbar, Click Aster -> Wizards -> Linear Elastic, and a window will popup.
Select 3D as type of analysis. Click Next
Select Mesh_1 in the next step if not already selected. Click Next
Enter 2.1e5 for Youngs Modulus and 0.3 for Poissons Ratio. Click Next
For Geometric Boundary Condition select Fix and give it values 0, 0, 0
For Load Boundary Condition

as we dont have any other face
to apply, select Fix and leave
default of 1 for Pressure. Click
Next
45

#
Description
Save the File by giving it a name

Gravity and Click Finish
Figure
This completes the steps to generate a study and save the command (.comm) file as we did earlier for the cube
said John. Now we want to edit the command (.comm) file, remove Pressure term and add Gravity load to it.
46
Step 8 and 9 again: Manual editing of command (.comm) file

#
Description
Open the folder location where

you saved the Gravity.comm
file recently by just double
clicking it.
Figure
If your Ubuntu installation

is unchanged, this file should
open in gedit.
47

#
Description
Figure
When the file opens, it should

look like the figure shown here.
Dont worry if you do not

understand what all those lines
after lines of code are and how
they interact with Salome or
Code-Aster.
At this stage what we need to
do is very simple
48

#
Description
Figure
Find the words MA=DEFI_

MATERIAU which defines
the Material that will be used
for the Analysis. These are
generally specified at the
beginning of the file.
3
At the end of the sentence that

is highlighted in the adjacent
figure we want to add Density of
Steel to the Material definition
as it is not added by default.
Density of material is required
if we want to apply Gravity load
on it.1
Add
RHO=7.8E-9,
as
highlighted in the adjacent
figure. Density units are in
tonne / cubic millimetre.2
49

#
Description
Find the words PRES_REP

which is the pressure term that
we entered on face Fix with a
value of 1.
Figure
Select the entire sentence that

is highlighted and delete it by
pressing Delete.
Replace the above sentence

with the one shown here
50

#
Description
Figure
So what did we do here? PESANTEUR literally means GRAVITY in French. Translate it and see for
yourself.
So we are writing a code that says that we want to add Gravity Load to the study. The amount of load to be
applied is 9800 mm/square second,3 and that it should have a direction of Negative Z (-Z) which is shown
by a vector (0,0,-1) => (X=0, Y=0, Z=-1).4
John saved the file Gravity.comm and said that the next step is to run this analysis.
51
Step 10: Running the analysis
Description
Figure
Open Salome-Meca again and check that Case2.hdf file is Open. Make sure that Aster module is
selected.
Right Click the linear-static branch in Object Browser and click on Run.
A new window will pop up and as you know numbers will be flying around the screen.
If everything goes well you will be able to see Post-Pro appear in Object Browser.
The next step is to visualise the results.
52

As Esha just had a taste of what needs to be done in Post Processing stage, John let Esha carry out this step of Post
Processing.
#
Description
Figure
Esha opened the RESU____DEPL branch and added the Deformed shape.
To make the deformation more prominent, she changed the Scale Factor to 100 as shown in adjacent
figure and Clicked OK.
For this Deformed shape, she enabled Show Only and changed the Representation to Surface
53

#
Description
Figure
Then she opened RESU____SIEQ_NOEU branch and added Scalar Map with the Mode as VMIS
For this VonMises stresses, she enabled Show Only and changed the Representation to Surface
John said that at this stage dont worry if the results of the analysis are not what you would get from the Manual
Calculations. The sole purpose of this Analysis was to show you how to manually edit the command (.comm) file
and add Gravity load.
After Esha stopped fiddling with the Post Processing Module, she told John that when he started showing her how
to do FE Analysis with Wizards in Salome-Meca, she was not sure if it could be flexible and powerful but after the
second example she has more confidence in what she is learning and hopes that all of her queries will be solved.
John told Esha that they have barely scratched the surface of what lies ahead of them. Salome-Meca is very
powerful tool if the user knows how to use it.
54
Summary
Esha summarised her learning
1. How to manually edit the command (.comm) file to change default Linear Static Wizard information.
2. How to add Gravity load
John said that now it was time for a coffee break as they were doing this for more than an hour.
55

#
Description

default as we are starting a New
Analysis, we are using MED
file and we are conducting
Linear Static Analysis
Figure
56

#
Description
In
Analysis
Tab,
keep
everything default as we are
performing Mechanical 3D
Analysis.
Figure

adjacent figure for Carbon
Steel material.
We dont need to enter anything for Element Tab
57

#
Description
Figure
In Boundary Condition(s)
Tab, Enter the information
for restricting face Fix in
All directions as shown in the
figure.
Click on Add
Next we need to add Gravity

Load in the Load(s) tab.
Change the Load Type to
Gravity.
6
Enter Gravy for Load Name

and All for Is Assigned to. To
add gravity enter -9800 in
FZ.
Click Add
to step the load cases
58

#
Description
Figure

7
Here we will click Add ALL

button to add all options
available for this analysis.

8

59
Chapter notes
1
Or any other type of load that requires density of the material, like doing FE analysis of a rotational body.
This units are consistent with mm, N, MPa, mm/s^2
Remember our units are mm, second, tonne, Newton, Mega Pascals etc.
Same results can be achieved by the value of -9800 and vector of (0,0,1)
60
1D Finite Element Analysis
Chapter 3
After both John and Esha had a casual chat over coffee,
when they returned to the computer John said, Now that
I have showed you what Salome-Meca looks like, next I
will show you how to perform 1D Analysis. For this FE
Analysis John will show 1D Geometry Modelling in SalomeMeca. Then they will generate a command (.comm) file by
using Eficas, then use ASTER module of Salome-Meca to carry
out the analysis and do Post Processing in Salome-Meca.
61

John showed Esha some of the Manual calculations that he had performed to find the maximum deflection and
stress generated in a Pipe Guide based on bending theory of cantilever beam.
He explained Esha that we will reproduce this manual calculation result by FE Analysis. In this instance a simple
1 Dimensional linear static FE analysis with Beam elements will be performed.
62

Dimensions of the Pipe Guide are as follows
Width of the Plate: 100mm
Thickness of the Plate: 10mm
Height of the Plate: 150mm
Poissons Ratio: 0.3
Force applied to this plate: 2000N (2kN)
63

Open Salome-Meca, start a new Study and Enable Geometry Module.
#
Description
Figure
Click New Entity -> Basic -> Point.

A new window opens asking for Coordinates of the Point.
1
Select first Algorithm in Points.

Enter P1 as Name.
Enter 150, 0, 0 for X, Y and Z.
Now we need to create a Line with the

two points.
Click New Entity -> Basic -> Line.
Select first Algorithm for Line by two

Points.
Click on the Curved arrow on the right
of Point 1 and Select Point O from
the Object Browser.
Repeat above step for Point P1
Click Apply and Close.
64

#
Description
Figure
Next we need to give Names to the

groups of Entities so it becomes easy to
conduct FE Analysis.
Click on New Entity -> Group ->
Create.
3
In the window that pops up select first

Algorithm for selecting Points. Give it
a name Fix and from the 3D window
select the end of Line_1 which is on
the Origin and Click Add. When this
point is added to the Selection (Entity
number 2 in this case), click Apply.
Do the same for the other end of the
line and give it a name Load.
65

#
Description
Figure
Next we need to create a group of Line.

On the top of Create Group window,
select second Algorithm for Lines.
4
Enter Guide for Name.

Select the only Line from the 3D model
and click Add.
Your Object Browser should look like

adjacent figure.
Save this file and give it a proper name. I have used Case3.hdf
66

John enabled Mesh Module in Salome-Meca and started the procedure to generate the Mesh.
#
Description
Figure
Click Mesh -> Create Mesh and in the

window that pops up, keep default
name Mesh_1, make sure that
Line_1 is selected as Geometry.
1
For 1D algorithm select Wire

Discretisation from the drop down
box.
Click on the Gear button next to
Hypothesis.
In the pop-up window select Nb.

Segments and the window shown in
adjacent figure will pop up.
2
Keep default Name and Enter 10 for

Number of Segments.
Click OK on this window.
Click Apply and Close on Create
Mesh window.
67

#
Description
Figure
Right Click Mesh_1 in the Object

Browser and Click Compute.
3
If everything goes well, you should be

able to see that there are 11 Nodes and
10 Edges in the Mesh.
Right Click Mesh_1 in the Object

Browser and Click Create Groups
from Geometry.
4
Select three Groups that we created

in Geometry module and they will
be added to the window as shown in
adjacent figure.
Click Apply and Close.
68

#
Description
Your Object Browser should look like

adjacent figure
Save this file.
Figure
This concludes creation of the Mesh for the FE Analysis, said John. Next we will create a command (.comm) file
that will give instructions to Aster about the Analysis.
69
Step 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9: Creating command (.comm) file with Eficas

There are several ways in which we can generate command (.comm) file, said John. One is to create it with the
help of any Text Editor, second is to use Salome-Meca Wizard and the one we will be looking at is using Eficas.
Eficas is an application that generates syntactically correct command (.comm) files. This does not mean that they
will make sense and that there will be no errors while running the Analysis. This only means that there will be
little to No chance of missing a comma or a Closing bracket, still the information to put in the file has to come
from the user.
For this analysis I will show you the use of Eficas and then you can decide if you want to use it for future analysis
or create the command (.comm) file manually, said John.
Description
Figure
In Salome-Meca select Eficas module to enable it.
Eficas has not been ported to English yet so everything you will be doing from now on will have French
language, including Tool Tips.
In the Main Tool Bar, Click on Eficas
-> Eficas pour Code Aster.
A new application Eficas starts.
As said earlier, it is not in English but
the icons can be understood.
From left to right, icons are
1. Create a new file
2. Open a file
3. Save a file
4. Copy
5. Paste
6. Delete
7. Cut
Click on Create a new file icon
70

#
Description
In the next window it will ask for the

version of Code-Aster that you want to
use.
Figure
Select stable from the drop down

menu and Click OK1
Before we go any further lets save this

file as Case3.comm in the location
where we have saved our MED file.
Click on Fichier -> Enregistrer sous,
give it a name, I have used Case3 and
Click Save.
71

#
Description
Figure
After the file is saved, the Eficas window looks like that shown below. In the left column it shows the
file name Case3.comm in Red colour. This means that this file is not complete. When the file will be
complete, i.e. when it will have all parameters defined like Start, End, Material definition, Mesh definition,
Load and Boundary condition defined, it will become Green. At this stage Eficas is ready for Input from
the user.
The second Column shows all the commands that are available in Code-Aster and these are sorted
Alphabetically. They can be sorted based on groups but in this instance we will stick to Alphabetic sorting.
Information that needs to be entered in command (.comm) file are called Concepts in Code_Aster and we
need to add following Concepts
1. DEBUT (This is the marker for file start)2
2. Material Definition
3. What type of Mesh file to read3

4. Type of Modelling (1D, 2D, 3D, Mechanical, Thermal etc)
5. Assign previously defined Material to the Model
6. Add Geometric Boundary Conditions
7. Add Load Boundary Conditions
8. Define type of Analysis (Static, Linear, Non-Linear, Dynamic etc)
9. Results to be calculated at the Elements and Nodes
10. Save the results to a MED file4
11. FIN (This is the marker for file End)
72

#
Description
Figure
In the second Column scroll down to DEBUT, Click it and then Click on Valider5 Button at the bottom.
6
When you do that, DEBUT gets added to the comm file and it has Green button which means that no extra
information is required to be entered.
Two Tabs Ajouter Mot-Clef (Add Keyword) and Nouvelle Commande (New Command) are shown.
Next we need to define Material to be
used in the study.
To add a new Command Click on
Nouvelle Commande and Select
DEFI_MATERIAU which means
DEFINE MATERIAL, Click Valider.
DEFI_MATERIAU gets added to

comm file with Yellow, which means
that you need to add more information
to it as it is incomplete.
The middle section has a new Tab
Nommer Concept which is to add
the name of the Concept.
73

#
Description
Figure
Find ELAS (Elastic) from Mots

Clefs Permis (Permitted Keywords)
and Double Click it to add to the
command (.comm) file.
Two other branches need to be filled
to make ELAS keyword Green, they
are Youngs Modulus (E) and Poissons
Ratio (NU).6
Click on E and add value 2.1e5 and

Click Valider.
9
Click NU and enter 0.3 and Click

Valider
Now, ELAS should turn Green but
DEFI_MATERIAU is still Yellow. The
reason is that we need to save this
Concept with a Name.
10
Click on DEFI_MATERIAU, then

Click on Nommer Concept and enter
CS as the name of the Concept.7
Click Valider to add it to file, and
then DEFI_MATERIAU should turn
Green.
74

#
Description
Figure
Next we need to define the type of

Mesh file that will be read as input.
11
Click on Nouvelle Commande Tab

and find LIRE_MAILLAGE, Double
Click it to add to the file.
Then Double Click FORMAT and
then Double Click MED.
Click on LIRE_MAILLAGE again
and give it a Name mesh.
As we will need to apply Boundary
Conditions on the Nodes, it is
important that the MED file has
information for the node group.
12
To do this, we will need to define

node group from the element groups
and that means we need to add DEFI
GROUP to the file.
and find DEFI GROUP and Double
Click it to add to file.
Click on MAILLAGE and select
mesh that was defined previously
75

#
Description
Figure
Next, we need to make a Group of the

entire Mesh and call it TOUT.8
13
Click on DEFI_GROUP and Double

Click CREA_GROUP_MA from
Second Column.
Click on NOM and give it a name
TOUT and Click Valider.
Double Click on TOUT and then
Select OUI, which means give name
TOUT to All Mesh elements.
Next we need to convert this group of

Mesh to group of Nodes.9
Click on DEFI_GROUP and Double
Click CREA_GROUP_NO from
Second Column.
14
Click on b_option and Select

TOUT_GROUP_MA and Click
OUI which means convert All Mesh
Groups to Node Groups.
Click on DEFI_GROUP and select
mesh from Nommer Concept
76

#
Description
Figure
Then we need to define the type of

Modelling.
and find AFFE_MODELE (Assign
Model), Double Click it to add to the
file.
Double Click MAILLAGE and then
Double Click mesh
15
Double Click AFFE, Double Click

TOUT and then Double Click OUI
which means that the modelling is for
the entire Mesh.10
Click on PHENOMENE and Double
Click MECHANIQUE.
Click on b_mechanique and Double
Click MODELISATION and then
Add POU_D_T to the file.11
Give a name of model to AFFE_
MODELE
Next we Add Material Properties
defined previously to the Model.
and find AFFE_MATERIAU (Assign
Material), Double Click it to add to the
file.
16
Next add MAILLAGE = mesh,

For AFFE add
TOUT = OUI and
MATER = CS.
Give it a name material
77

#
Description
Figure
Now we need to define the Geometry

of the Beam that we are going to
analyse.12
17
Add a new Concept AFFE_CARA_

ELEM and give it information as
shown in adjacent figure.
Here we are defining it as a Rectangle
Cross Section with Width (HY) = 100
and Thickness (HZ) = 10.
Give it a Name Guide
Next add
Condition.
18
Geometric
Boundary
Add a new Concept AFFE_CHAR_

MECA and give it information as
We are fixing this point by adding
value of 0 to all degrees of Freedom.13
Give it a name Fixed
78

#
Description
Next we
Condition.
19
Figure
add
Load
Boundary
Add a new Concept AFFE_CHAR_

MECA and give it information as
We are adding a Force in Z direction
with the value of 2000. As per our
units, this is 2000N.
Give it a name ForceZ
79

#
Description
Figure
Next we define the type of Analysis and

give it all the required information.
20
Add MECA_STATIQUE (Static

Mechanical Analysis) to the file and
then add information as shown in
adjacent figure.
Note that we are adding two EXCIT
commands to cater for two types of
Boundary Conditions.
Give it a Name result
Next we define the types of results

to be calculated from the initial
displacements calculated.
Add CALC_CHAMP to the file,
and add the information as shown in
adjacent figure.
21
Give it a name result, same as

previous.
Here we are trying to get two
information calculated,
SIPO_NOEU (Stress at Node) and
REAC_NODA (Reaction at Nodes)
80

#
Description
Figure
Next we define the information to be

written to MED file.
22
Add IMPR_RESU to the file and add

the information as shown in adjacent
figure.
Here we want DEPL (Deflection),
REAC_NODA (Reaction at Nodes)
and SIPO_NOEU (Stress at Node).14
24
25
Last we Add FIN to show that this is

the end of the file.
Once you add FIN, Case3.comm
turns Green.
Save this file and get ready to Run the Analysis.
81
Step 10: Run the analysis

John started the Aster Module in Salome-Meca and said Next we need to define a Study case in Aster that will do
the Analysis.
#
Description
Click Aster -> Add study case.
Figure
A new window will pop up.

Give a Name Guide2kN
For Command File, Select from

disk from the drop down menu and
then select the Case3.comm file we
created earlier.
For Mesh File, Select from Object
Browser from the drop down menu
and then select the Mesh_1 file we
created earlier.
Keep ASTK services as default.
Change Total memory to 1024MB and
Time to 1200s15
When you Click OK a new Branch gets
added to Object Browser named Aster.
Open it and you will be able to see

Guide2kN as a Node within.
Right Click Guide2kN and Select
Run
82

#
Description
If you have done everything correctly,

Analysis should complete and you
should be able to see Post-Pro branch
added to the Object Browser
Figure
Save this study and next we will have a look at the Results, said John.
83

Now lets have a look at what does the FE Analysis tell about our 1D Analysis of the Guide.
#
Description
Figure
First John enabled Deformed Shape for DEFI, showing the Deflection of the Free end of Guide.
Open Branch Result__DEPL._ and Right Click on 0, -. From the Pop up menu Select Deformed
Shape. Leave everything default and Click OK.
As can be seen from the figure below, the Maximum deflection of the Right side edge is 1.29017 and based
on our Units, it is 1.29017mm
Then John enabled Stress in SIPO_NOEU. This has many results embedded in it, but the one we are
interested in is SMFY (Stress due to bending Moment MY).
2
As the beam is longitudinal to Global X axis, and so fortunately for us, Local and Global X, Y and Z
direction for this beam are the same16.
As can be seen from the figure below, the Maximum stress generated at the Fixed point (left side) is -180
and based on our Units, it is -180MPa.
84

#
Description
Figure
Result
Esha quickly made a Table to show the difference between Hand Calculated values and that obtained by FE Analysis.
Result
Deflection
Stress
Hand Calc. Value

1.2857mm
180MPa
FE Analysis Value
1.29017mm
180MPa
Difference
0.3%
0%
John explained that the difference in Deflection is mainly due to rounding error and also due to density of Mesh.
If Esha wants, she can perform the analysis again with increased Segments in the Mesh and compare results.
Summary
John asked Esha what she had learnt in this Case Study. Esha summarised her learnings
1. How to do 1D Geometry Modelling in Salome-Meca
2. How to create Groups of Nodes and Lines in Salome-Meca
3. How to Mesh 1D Geometry in Salome-Meca
4. How to create command (.comm) file in Efficas
5. How to run FE Analysis by using Aster without the Wizard
6. How to do Post Processing of 1D FE Analysis
John said, next we will take this 1D analysis to 2D Frame Analysis.
85

#
Description

default
Figure
86

#
Description
In Analysis Tab, Change the

Analysis Type to Mechanical
Beam
Figure

adjacent figure.
87

#
Description
Figure
For the Element Tab,

Select Beam for Type of
Element.
Select Rectangle for Section
Type
4
Enter Guide for Is Assigned

to
Enter 100 for Section Width
(HY)
Enter 10 for Section Height
(HZ)
Click Add
In Boundary Condition(s) Tab,

Select D.O.F (DDL) on Node
Group
5
Enter the information for

restricting face Fix in All
directions as shown in the
figure.
Click on Add
88

#
Description
Figure
Next we need to add Loads in

the Load(s) tab.
We need to add Load of 2000N
in Z direction. Change the
Load Type to Force on Node.
6
Enter ForceZ as Load Name

and Load as Is Assigned to.
Enter 2000 for FZ.
Click Add
to step the load cases.

7
Here we just want to add

SIPO_NOEU and REAC_
NODA so select them from the
top list and click Add button
to add them to this analysis.
89

#
Description
Figure

8

90
Chapter notes
1
Stable version is version 11.x
You can also have PORSUIT which means a continuation from previous file.
Code_Aster can read IDEAS, GMSH and MED formats.
Code_Aster results can be exported as a Text file with particular result or in a MED file, here we will save the result in
MED file.
If you do not understand what the word means, try to translate from French to English and most of the time you will
be able to understand it.
In defining material there are other parameters that can be defined as well, viz. Density, Thermal Conductivity etc., but
as this is an Elastic Static Analysis only two properties are required.
More than one material can be defined and added to the study. To define another material just add DEFI_MATERIAU
again and give it a different name.
The reason we need to define Mesh group is to convert it to Node group in the next step
As we will add Force and Fix boundary condition on the Nodes we need to define them before we use them
10
If you are having a model that has a 1D element, a sheet metal and a 3D model, you can define different types of
modelling for each different type of element here. Instead of TOUT = OUI in AFFE, you need to select each GROUP_
MA and give it a different MODELISATION.
11
Different types of Modelisation for Beams can be done viz POU_D_E etc
12
As we only have a 1D representation of the beam, we need to explicitly tell the dimensions of the beam to Code_Aster
13
Beams and Shells have 6 degrees of freedom. Three in Translation and Three in Rotation.
14
Instead of specifying what we want, we can ask Code_Aster to add all results that it calculated in the MED file. This
will be shown in 3D case of Pipe Guide.
15
To start with, you can leave default of 128MB memory but soon, for bigger analysis, Code_Aster will complain of
having insufficient memory and stop running, so it is good to give around quarter or half of the total memory of the
computer.
16
Local Co-ordinates for Beams are really interesting and worth investing time in. Local x axis always runs in the
longitudinal direction of the beam. Local y axis is perpendicular to local x axis and if local x axis is not parallel to
Global Y axis, then local y axis it is parallel to Global Y axis and local z axis is perpendicular to both.
91

Notes:
92
What will be covered in Volume 2
What will be covered in Volume 2

After Esha learnt how to perform FEA using Open Source Software like Salome-Meca and Code_Aster, she started
her professional career in the same firm that she did her internship. She was happy that John was her mentor all
the way long. Esha started gaining more experience with Linear Static Finite Element Analysis, and with more
experience she needed less reliance on Johns guidance. Esha started doing her FE Analysis with more confidence.
After several months, John caught up with Esha to find out how she was feeling regarding the use of Open Source
Software for Finite Element Analysis. Esha was very excited to tell John all about her experiences while they met
for coffee. Then Esha told John that every now and then a different type of FE Analysis comes to her for which she
is not ready yet. She has to pass them to her other colleagues as she is not feeling confident and she is feeling a bit
lost. As usual John was listening to her words carefully and asked her if he could help. Esha was waiting for John
to say that and she listed the analysis which she felt were a bit tough for her to do.
Parametric Modelling in Salome for Geometry and Mesh generation

Esha said that John had taught her how to Dump the study so that if she wants to recreate the geometry and
mesh, it becomes easy for her. But what if she wants to change some of the parameters. What if Esha wants to
generate geometry of the Pressure Vessel and Nozzle junction with different PV Diameter and Nozzle Diameter?
What if she wants to change the mesh density in the PV Shell thickness or in the Nozzle thickness?
Editing and Generating Mesh in Salomes Mesh Module

Sometimes it is a requirement that Geometry need not be changed, as it might come from a different software, but
some of the Meshes needs to be edited. In some instances, mesh faces needs to be extruded or nodes moved. Esha
wanted to know if there was a way to do it in Salome.
Combining element types in a single FE Analysis

Esha said that sometimes the models are too big and it would really help her if she could combine 3D elements
with shell elements and Beam elements. This would make FE Analysis run faster without compromising her
results. Was there a way to do this in Salome and Code_Aster?
Non Linear Material Analysis

Esha said that what John taught her in Chapter 9 for checking against Allowable stress of the material was good,
but she wanted to know if she could put the Graph of the Material Properties in Salome or Code-Aster and if the
Analysis could take care of checking when the Allowable stress has been reached and stop the analysis?
Sliding Contact instead of Glued

Esha said that she was happy to perform Assembly FE Analysis, but sometimes there is a requirement where she
needs sliding contact between surfaces instead of glued. Was there a way to do it in Code_Aster?
Modal Analysis
Sometimes in her career, Esha had come across a FE problem where she needed to find the Natural frequencies of
a given shape of the object. Esha asked John, if it was possible in Code Aster to find out the Natural frequencies of
the object by performing Modal Analysis?
Thermal Analysis
Esha remembered that once she was asked if there was a way to perform Thermal analysis in Code_Aster. As
Esha didnt know, she had to again pass it along to her colleague. Is there a way to conduct Thermal Analysis in
Code_Aster?
These were some of the example problems that she had the opportunity to do but was not able to due to her limited
knowledge. There were some more problems that she wanted to discuss with John but first she wanted to know if
her existing problems can be solved.
John told Esha that both Salome and Code_Aster were capable of conducting the analysis she asked for and much
more.
Volume 2 Book Promotion - 35% Off

Volume 2 is comming out soon and to receive 35% discount on the list price, register your interest by writing an
email to engineering@moonish.biz with subject vol2-35p-off and you will be sent a Coupon to avail 35% off on
the check out basket for Volume 2.
Appendix A
Appendix A
Other sources of information
This section is provided here for motivated users who are hungry for more information on the software covered
in this book. Links are provided to the Software home page and also to the User Forums. Links provided to the
websites are correct at the time of writing this; if by any chance these links dont work, just use any search engine
to find relevant software.
1. Salome website http://www.salome-platform.org/
2. Code Aster website http://www.code-aster.org/V2/spip.php?rubrique2
3. Efficient website http://engineering.moonish.biz/efficient/
4. Salome forum http://www.salome-platform.org/forum
5. Code_Aster forum http://www.code-aster.org/forum2/
Appendix B
Installing Software required for this book
All case studies mentioned in this book can be performed on a computer that has Ubuntu 12.04 Operating
System and which has Salome-Meca and Efficient installed on it.
Ubuntu 12.04 Configuration

Ubuntu 12.04 can be installed on a computer alongside Windows 7 or it can be installed as a Virtual Operating
System. Decision of how to install Ubuntu is left to the readers.
I have installed Ubuntu 12.04 in a virtual environment using Virtual Box.
Configuration of Ubuntu on Virtual Box is shown below
Appendix B
Salome-Meca 2013.2 installation

Download Salome-Meca 2013.2 from their website
http://www.code-aster.org/V2/spip.php?article303
It downloads as a rar file and it is in my Downloads folder as shown below.
Now Open Terminal and go to Downloads Folder
Appendix B
Enter the command by typing in Terminal

tar xvf SALOME-MECA-2013.2-LGPL.tgz &&./SALOME-MECA-2013.2-LGPL.run
Follow the prompt and install Salome-Meca 2013.2 in desired location.

Once Salome-Meca installation is complete, a desktop icon will be created which can be double clicked to start
Salome-Meca 2013.2
Have fun.
If you have any trouble installing the software, consult Code_Aster Forums on
http://www.code-aster.org/forum2/viewforum.php?id=26
Efficient Install
Efficient is developed in Java and to run it in Ubuntu, you will need OpenJDK Java 7 runtime.
To download and install it go to
https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/precise/openjdk-7-jre/
Install it on your Ubuntu installation.

Download Efficient version 0.1.0 from http://engineering.moonish.biz/efficient/
Appendix B
On the right hand side of the website latest version of Efficient software can be downloaded. Click on
Download v0.1.0 and a Java Jar file named Efficient_v0-1-0.jar will be downloaded on your computer. Copy
it to a proper location.
To run Efficient, Right Click on Efficient_v0-1-0.jar and Select Open With OpenJDK Java 7 Runtime

Second Edition
By
Dharmit Thakore
CPEng, RPEQ, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Features:
1. Step by Step procedure to conduct Finite Element Analysis
2. Screen shots to help users visualise the procedure and understand efficiently
3. Real world examples used in the book to make users confident of their knowledge and the power of
Open Source software being used in real world
4. Each chapter introduces a new concept of conducting FE Analysis so that the user is not bombarded
with too much information in one Chapter.

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Finite Element Analysis using

Open source Software

Finite Element Analysis with

Finite Element Analysis with

Dharmit Thakore, CPEng, RPEQ

Moonish Enterprises Pty Ltd

Credits and Copyright

About the Author

What are the steps in Finite Element Analysisxv

Getting to know Salome-Meca1

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem2

Editing command (.comm) file39

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem40

1D Finite Element Analysis61

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem62

2D Frame Finite Element Analysis93

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem94

Axi-Symmetric Finite Element analysis115

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem116

2D Shell Finite Element analysis149

Step 10: Run the analysis161

Basic 3D Finite Element Analysis175

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem176

3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Linear Mesh195

Step1: Description of the problem196

3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Quadratic Mesh221

Step1: Description of the problem222

Finite Element Analysis of Pseudo Assembly269

Step 1: Description of the problem270

Finite Element Analysis of 3D Assembly291

Step 1: Description of the problem292

What will be covered in Volume 2a

Parametric Modelling in Salome for Geometry and Mesh generationa

What motivated me to write this book

This book is written for

Finite Element Analysis using Open Source Software

This book is not written for

What software would you need to follow through

What are the steps in Finite Element Analysis

What are the steps in Finite Element Analysis

Finite Element Analysis using Open Source Software

Case 1: Getting to know Salome-Meca

Case 2: Editing command (.comm) file

Finite Element Analysis using Open Source Software

Case 3: 1D Finite Element Analysis

Case 4: 2D Frame Finite Element Analysis

Case 5: Axi-symmetric Finite Element Analysis

Case 6: 2D Shell Finite Element Analysis

Case 7: Basic 3D Finite Element Analysis

Case 8: 3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Linear Mesh

Case 9: 3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Quadratic Mesh

Case 10: Finite Element Analysis of a Pseudo Assembly

Case 11: Finite Element Analysis of a 3D Assembly

Finite Element Analysis using Open Source Software

Getting to know Salome-Meca

Finite Element Analysis using Open Source Software

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem

Step 2: Input values for the FE analysis

Getting to know Salome-Meca

Step 3: Model Geometry

Finite Element Analysis using Open Source Software

The toolbar of Salome-Meca looks like figure below.

A window pops up like the adjacent

Getting to know Salome-Meca

What are the steps in Finite Element Analysisxv

Getting to know Salome-Meca1

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem2

Editing command (.comm) file39

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem40

1D Finite Element Analysis61

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem62

2D Frame Finite Element Analysis93

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem94

Axi-Symmetric Finite Element analysis115

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem116

2D Shell Finite Element analysis149

Step 10: Run the analysis161

Basic 3D Finite Element Analysis175

Step 1: Purpose of the FE Analysis / Description of the problem176

3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Linear Mesh195

Step1: Description of the problem196

3D Finite Element Analysis with Hexahedral Quadratic Mesh221

Step1: Description of the problem222

Finite Element Analysis of Pseudo Assembly269

Step 1: Description of the problem270

Finite Element Analysis of 3D Assembly291

Step 1: Description of the problem292

What will be covered in Volume 2a

Parametric Modelling in Salome for Geometry and Mesh generationa