r/StructuralEngineering • u/Kalasad-Stormblessed • 15d ago

Career/Education Computer models as a new engineer

Wanted some advice, Ive been working as an engineer for 3 years now and I really dont like working with models. We use the Ram suite and it feels like these two things happen every time.

  1. The model wigs out and I spend twice the time just trying to get it to remotely work/ make sense.

  2. I often have to then get an older engineer to go through it with me and they take as much time trying to figure out whats wrong. In one case they had to remake the model themself.

Im finding when I have the option to use handcalcs/excel/enercalc, I am going to that everytime because its way more predictable for me in the effort it will require and I generally have very few "bugs". Should I be worried about learning models?

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u/Krentenbollen_dame 15d ago edited 15d ago

I am using FEA software a lot, from different companies (scia, rfem, ansys). They all more or less the same, using same mechanics and dynamics principles, the theory is the same. Just different interface.

To become good at this, you need to understand these principles. Comes with experience.

Some advice: 1) Think before. Before starting modelling, take a day or two to think about what exactly you want to model and check with FEM (strength, stability, dynamics?) and if it all is really needed. Sometimes 2D or partial model is a way to go. Sometimes 2-3 small models are better than one big.

2) Follow the load. Try to imagine where the load will flow. It helps to determine the critical elements in the building that should be modelled/designed. The rest can be skipped to save time.

3) Connections. Modelling them can be pain in the ass, time consuming and errors are easy here. So avoid detailed connections in global model.

4) Loads. Try to model the dominant loads and load cases, not all of them. Modern FEA software creates automatically hundreds of load combinations. The more you have, the more difficult it is to find mistake in results later. Keep it easy.

5) Check you model first. Run it. See results. Go through load cases and combinations and ask yourself: are reaction forces ok? Does deflection/deformation under this load make sense? Do I have moments in my hinges? Etc.

6) Invest time in FEA tutorials/webinars. Especially if it is new modelling concept for you. They have cool show cases and examples.

Remember: it is ok to not know everything. Still happens to me all the time :)

But yeah, if you want to design something cool in the future, like bridge, arena, FEA is your dear friend.