Last month we asked our FEA-minded engineering community how we should improve StressCheck^® Professional, and the survey results are in. Many thanks to all of our participants who took the time to complete the survey and share your experiences.

Survey Results Summary

As the survey results were intended to be anonymous, we will summarize the submissions categorically based on the selected Engineering Roles & Applications and Desired StressCheck^® Improvements. The submissions by percentage of survey participants are as follows:

Engineering Roles and Applications

• Stress Analysis/Stress Concentrations – 71%
• Fracture/Cracks/DaDT – 76%
• Nonlinear/Cold-working/Residual Stress – 71%
• Fastened Joints/Contact – 59%
• Fatigue/Life – 65%
• Structural/Displacement/Deflection – 47%
• Global-Local/Breakout Modeling – 41%
• Design/Strength – 29%
• Composites/Bonded Joints/Repairs – 12%

The data suggests that many of our survey participants are focused on detailed analysis of parts & assemblies, including analysis of 3D cracks (e.g. SIF’s), 3D stress concentration factors (e.g. Kt’s), breakout model (e.g. global-local) and nonlinear behaviors (e.g. cold-working & residual stresses). These applications are challenging in traditional FEA tools, but typically less challenging with StressCheck^®‘s Numerical Simulation Technology.

Currently, StressCheck^® is optimized to satisfy the requirements of the majority of survey participants, as well as the laminated composites design & analysis engineers. This means StressCheck^®‘s development is trending in the right direction for its user community.

Desired StressCheck^® Improvements

• 3D Crack Growth Solver – 76%
• Large Deformation Contact Analysis – 47%
• Bonded Contact Analysis – 24%
• Updated GUI – 29%
• Integration with Other Software – 53%
• Improved Meshing Tools – 41%
• 3D Bolt Generator App – 47%
• Post Cold-Work Bolted Joint Analysis – 41%
• Cutting Plane Forces/Moments – 53%
• Import/Assign Tabular Displacements or Pressures – 12%
• Cyclic Symmetry/Periodic BC’s – 6%
• Tabular/Curve Fit Elastic-Plastic Material Properties – 24%
• Multi-Threaded/Cluster Solver – 24%

The survey participants were overwhelmingly in support of a 3D Crack Growth Solver application (over 3/4 of survey submissions), suggesting many participants are involved in DaDT, life extension programs (e.g. ASIP) and other fracture mechanics applications. The good news is that ESRD and other technology partners are currently working on tools to support this type of application, and ESRD is involved in the ERSI program to connect technologies in support of assessing the influence of residual stresses on crack growth.

In addition, approximately half of survey participants are interested in features like Large Deformation Contact Analysis (47%), 3D Bolt Generator App (47%), and Post Cold-Work Bolted Joint Analysis (41%), indicating that detailed analysis of fastened parts is necessary in their engineering responsibilities. We will continue to work to provide features in these applications.

Again, thanks for all of your valued feedback!

Sweepstakes Winner Notification

The $50 Amazon gift card sweepstakes winner will be notified by the e-mail address you provided when you submitted the survey, so be sure to check all your inboxes in the next week.