Requires Basic StressCheck and Linear Modules 

Combines a nonlinear load step analysis with the parametric formula to compute margins of safety (MS) at specified locations (regions) in the model.  Failure criteria (MS equations) are constructed as formula and associated with a region (area or volume) in the model.  The formula is evaluated at each load increment to determine if the failure criteria has been exceeded.  Returns a table showing the margins of safety at each load level.

• First, run a linear analysis for a load value that produces little or no plasticity.  By running a p-extension, say p=1 to 8, the use can assess the quality of the linear solution.
• Second, setup a Margin Check analysis based on user defined values for load step and limit load.  You can choose to stop the analysis upon reaching the first negative margin of safety or you can opt to let the analysis continue up to the limit load.
• Third, select a linear solution as a starting solution and provide a tolerance for convergence. In this case we would want to select p=6 as our starting solution since convergence is verified
• SOLVE! - a summary table is generated that list the names of each of the acceptance criteria along with the calculated margin of safety for the failure load or limit load depending on which option was selected.