Serving the Numerical Simulation community since 1989 
Hill Engineering and ESRD have executed a joint marketing agreement to collaboratively promote the combined use of our software tools Broad Application for Modeling Failure (BAMF) and StressCheck Professional, respectively, for the engineering applications of fatigue and damage tolerance analysis.
On July 17, 2019 a joint webinar on the latest developments in FEA-based 3D crack growth simulation, titled “3D Crack Growth Simulation: Advancements & Applications”, was provided by ESRD’s Brent Lancaster, LexTech’s James Harter and Hill Engineering’s Joshua Hodges. In case you missed it, the webinar recording is now available!
ESRD is pleased to join Hill Engineering, LLC (developers of BAMF) and LexTech, Inc. (developers of AFGROW) for a joint webinar on July 17, 2019 @ 1:00 pm EST.
This collaborative webinar will be titled “3D Crack Growth Simulation: Advancements & Applications”, and will detail the latest technological advancements for accurate simulation of three-dimensional metallic crack growth via coupled finite element analysis (FEA) and fatigue life computations.
This past week at ASIP 2019, ESRD provided a training course titled “Automated 3D Crack Beta Curve Development via Smart Sim Apps”, chatted with ASIP attendees, provided a StressCheck Clinic, and exhibited at our booth.
Read the summary of events and download the ASIP training course presentation and beta factor Sim Apps!
March 18, 2021 @ 10:00 am EST
Strategies for the democratization & standardization of recurring simulation tasks via ESRD’s CAE Handbook will be demonstrated.
ESRD’s CAE Handbook
In this 45-minute webinar, hosted by the Altair Partner Alliance (APA), we will discuss how ESRD’s CAE Handbook modernizes and streamlines the implementation of digital engineering handbooks for the standardization of corporate process workflows.
The CAE Handbook framework allows for the corporate standardization of many engineering computational simulations. This is done by allowing companies to build an electronic or digital handbook models that captures corporate intellectual property. This enables non-FEA experts to solve many basic simulations that historically have been simplified in the form of Microsoft Excel engineering computation spreadsheets, and internally developed engineering programs that are only fully understood by the engineers who develop them. CAE Handbook guarantees consistent results and provides an objective measure of the quality of the solution.
Topics covered include:
October 8, 2020 @ 1:00 pm EST
Strategies for the automation of durability and damage tolerance (DaDT) solutions, driven by Sim Apps designed for the computation of FEA-based total beta factors, will be explored.
In this pre-recorded 2 hour webinar we will discuss the creation of Sim Apps for the automatic generation of complex, solution-verified 2D and 3D beta factors via the integration of StressCheck's parametric FEA engine, the Windows Component Object Model (COM) and Microsoft Excel VBA.
In Part 1 of this webinar series, the following topics are presented:
In Part 2 of this webinar series, the following topics are presented:
July 29, 2019 @ 1:00 pm EST
Strategies will be explored for democratizing engineering simulations via Sim Apps which are: 1) based on the latest Numerical Simulation technologies, 2) available in Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) form, and most importantly 3) Simulation Governance-compliant.
When utilized by engineers without specialized training, simulation technologies (and Sim Apps) based on legacy FEA technologies struggle to deliver trustworthy solutions due to their inability to objectively measure & report solution quality, an essential requirement of Simulation Governance (Sim Gov). This uncertainty inhibits true democratization of engineering simulations. So what is needed?
In this timely webinar, we will discuss why it is essential that Sim Apps implement Numerical Simulation technologies which enable the practice of Sim Gov in order for the vision of democratization of simulations to be realized, as well as why it is important for engineering managers to get on the Sim Gov train sooner rather than later.
July 17, 2019 @ 1:00 pm EST
Strategies for seamlessly integrating the advanced fracture & DaDT capabilities of two numerical simulation software products into a state-of-the-art 3D fatigue crack growth application will be explored.
In this webinar we will detail the latest technological advancements for accurate simulation of three-dimensional metallic crack growth via coupled finite element analysis (FEA) and fatigue life computations. Additionally, we will examine why the development of more complex crack growth models requires both tighter control over numerical errors (i.e. solution verification) and rigorous benchmarking to standard handbook solutions and available experimental data (i.e. model validation).
StressCheck is a comprehensive Windows 10-compatible, 64-bit finite element analysis software (FEA) tool with a fully integrated pre- and post-processor and a suite of solver and analysis modules that support advanced engineering computations in applications of solid mechanics. Productivity tools are available to import NASTRAN bulk data file meshes and CAD geometry, perform 2D and 3D automatic meshing, automate analyses via StressCheck‘s API, and more. StressCheck is ideally suited for damage tolerance and forensic engineers who need the best representation of 2D or 3D SIF’s, ERR’s and beta factors for input in sophisticated crack growth simulations, or when analyzing repairs for mitigation of cracks.
AFGROW is a Damage Tolerance Analysis (DTA) framework that allows users to analyze crack initiation, fatigue crack growth, and fracture to predict the life of metallic structures. AFGROW (Air Force Grow), was originally developed by The Air Force Research Laboratory. It is now being developed and maintained by LexTech, Inc. AFGROW is one of the most efficient and widely used crack growth life prediction tools available today. AFGROW is mainly used for aerospace applications; however, it can be applied to any type of metallic structure that experiences fatigue cracking. AFGROW is also a very flexible and user-friendly computer program.
BAMF is used for fatigue analysis, and it is capable of predicting the growth of fatigue cracks in 3D parts. Starting from an assumed initial flaw, BAMF combines stress and crack growth analyses to predict the evolution of crack shape and size in 3D. BAMF provides a robust and automated link between two leading tools: AFGROW and StressCheck. Key features of BAMF include: natural crack shape evolution, fully 3D fatigue analysis capability, complex loading support, multiple cracks, and residual stress compatibility.
Recently at ASIP 2022 in Phoenix, AZ, ESRD provided a 2-hour training course titled “Best Practices for the Modeling and Analysis of Bonded Doubler Repairs”, presented a technical paper titled “DTA of Bonded Repairs on the Wing Skin of the C-130 Using Finite Elements”, chatted with “patients” at the StressCheck Clinic, and exhibited at our captivating booth inside the Sheraton Phoenix Hotel & Conference Center.
We are also planning a webinar for February 7, 2023 titled “What’s New and Improved in StressCheck Professional”. We hope you can attend this “must-see” event!
Read the summary of conference events, view the ASIP training course content (including the presentation and demo videos), and register for our upcoming webinar.
In late February 2021, ESRD’s CAE Handbook was officially added to the Altair Partner Alliance (APA). CAE Handbook provides an elegant and intuitive framework for deploying StressCheck-powered digital handbook solutions.
© 2026 · Engineering Software Research & Development, Inc. | Terms & Conditions | Privacy & Cookie Policy | Software License Agreement | Software Maintenance and Technical Support Policy