• Automatic convergence studies provide error estimation without remeshing
• All results are computed “on the fly” – no need to specify the quantities of interest before solving
• View convergence of any quantity at any location without averaging or interpolation
• Unique point extractions for gradients of stress or strain anywhere in the mesh
  • For example, extracting the radial stress at 360 locations around around a hole
  • Extractions not limited to nodes, edges or faces

StressCheck^® Core integrates the MeshSim automesher from Simmetrix, allowing users to jump right into meshing their complex geometries with curved elements. The automesher supports 2D and 3D meshing of sheet and solid bodies, imported or generated by StressCheck^® Core’s geometry modeling engine.

• Supports triangular and quadrilateral element generation
• Provides advanced controls for 3D automeshing
• Generates midside node elements for improved representation of geometry
• Creates efficient mesh grading through local refinements

StressCheck^® Core contains powerful Parasolid kernel functionality for fully-parametric CAD modeling, either from “scratch” or by modification of imported geometry. This includes operations such as blends, Booleans, chamfers, embedding of surfaces, imprints and more.

• Create and edit 3D parts using a variety of Parasolid solid modeling functions
• Describe any geometric operation using a parametric or formulaic expression
• Modify imported geometry with new features to allow for maximum flexibility in analysis
• Export geometry in Parasolid format for use in other tool

Included in StressCheck^® Core is the functionality to set up multi-body contact analyses quickly and easily.  Simply declare the contact regions for each part to be analyzed, connect the regions via contact constraints, and solve elastic or elastic-plastic materials.  No gimmicks, no special elements required.  There can be one contact pair or many, as there is no limit to the number of parts in the analysis.

• The meshes on the mating surfaces do not need to match
• The formulation, based on the augmented Lagrangian algorithm, delivers high efficiency
• Elastic-plastic solutions are supported using a dual-iteration procedure
• Neat fit, interference fit and clearance conditions can be specified

Support for breakout, or Global-Local, analysis in StressCheck^® Core is a life-saver for companies needing to transfer structural loads to detailed models quickly and accurately, and obtain reliable solutions for detailed stress, fracture or composites analyses. Import point forces/moments a variety of ways, and use Global-Local features to apply to detailed parts.

• Total Load at a Point (TLAP) functionality for transferring nodal forces/moments to detailed model cut sections
• Translate shell running loads or displacements to StressCheck^® solid or shell elements
• Statically equivalent traction distributions computed from point forces/moments
• Utilities available for translation of point forces/moments to StressCheck^® formats

The Design Study feature of StressCheck^® Core is the most efficient way to computationally determine the influence of independent design variables on the data of interest.  Independent variables can include geometric sizings, material properties, loads, constraints and more.

• Vary one or more independent design parameters simultaneously
• Access all solution information from a completed Design Study for any post-processing function
• Make instant decisions on the most influential variables
• Solve linear, modal or buckling problems using any number of steps and any p-level

Develop custom applications tailored for your organization through the StressCheck^® API. From simple Excel VBA scripts to .NET programs with WPF front ends, StressCheck^® Core’s Application Development toolkit supports solutions for the most creative engineers.

• Automate repetitive processes with scripting
• Perform optimizations and “what if” studies for even the most complex analyses
• Design customized “Smart Apps” similar to StressCheck^® Tool Box’s SFAT, MFAT and LCAT.
• Plug-in with other tools such as AFGROW and MATLAB.

StressCheck^® Core supports shell-solid connections for improved efficiency in the analysis of laminated composites.  Include thin structural features (skins, webs, etc.) without compromising the quality of the solution in the region of primary interest.

• Connect StressCheck^® shells (quads/tris) to standard solids (pentas/hexas)
• Decrease degrees of freedom significantly by modeling thin regions with StressCheck^® shells
• Automatically enforce kinematic compatibility at the shell-solid connections

Need to model thin and thick solids at the same time?  The concept behind the thin solid formulation is to reduce the degrees of freedom (DOF) where they are not needed, and to keep them where they are.  Thin parts need fewer DOF through the thickness because stress distributions are expected to be simpler.  With StressCheck^®‘s hierarchic modeling, skins, webs and lamina problems become easy to handle.

• Analyze thin structures efficiently without sacrificing quality
• Increase the in-plane DOFs while keeping the thru-thickness DOFs fixed during the analysis
• Convert a standard solid to a thin solid by point and click