FEA Overview
Fern's CAE Division is a primary supplier of world leading process plant FEA solutions specific to piping and vessels.
With many years of experience, we supply a broad service which is highly appreciated by our customers.
Supply and implementation, plus training and support, are professionally delivered for all products provided. We offer a consultancy design, customisation and bureau service for customers where the need arises.
Our aim is to develop a proactive relationship with our customers and to provide the appropriate infrastructures and support to enable them to improve the competitiveness and quality of the products and services that they provide.
Our software partner for FEA solutions is Paulin Research Group, renowned for their excellent products, pro-active development, service and value.
FEPipe
FEPipe is a template-driven Finite Element software package, designed specifically for the needs of the piping and pressure vessel industries. FEPipe plus its associated modules in the PRO series, generates automatic code compliance reports such as comparisons to ASME Section VIII, Division 2, Appendix 4 and 5 rules and stress categories. Build models, such as intersections, flanges, saddles, low tank settlement, structural steel, are all created in a matter of minutes. FEPipe brings engineering to the real world.
Other codes/methods are considered for comparative calculations, including
- SIFs and Flexibilities for B31.1, B31.3 and any other piping code
- WRC 107/297 Nozzle Stress Calculations
- N-318 Lug Calculations
- N-392 Round Attachment Calculation
- Code area replacement calculations at nozzles
- Zick calculation for saddle supported vessels (satisfies new Division 2 and PD 5500)
- Nozzle Flexibilities per WRC297 and NB3685
In addition to 'standard' analyses, FEPipe can perform calculations to assess
- Buckling
- Plasticity
- Thermal Flow
- Boundary Conditions to Simulate LNG or LN2 or Liquid Evaporation & Flow
- Uniform Soil Stiffness Modeling
FEPipe automatically calculates stress intensification factors, flexibilities and allowable loads on nozzles, and interfaces with the structural model for CAESAR II and other pipe stress programs.
Included in FEPipe are
- StressPLOT linearises 2D and 3D stress results according to WRC429. Plot features allow visualisation of stress values through the thickness. Plot transient thermal temperatures, displacements or stresses.
- PlasPLOT is a real-time monitor for plastic solutions. While a non-linear solution is running, view the convergence, elastic and elastic-plastic strains.
Each copy of FEPipe also includes the NozzlePRO and AxiPRO modules.
NozzlePRO
NozzlePRO is designed to quickly and easily evaluate nozzles, saddles, pipe shoes and clips. A variety of head types are allowed including spherical, elliptical, ASME dished, cylindrical and conical. The FE model is generated quickly and easily in a matter of minutes with a minimum of input. The engineer is able to include loads such as thermal, weight, operating, occasional, pressure, wind and earthquake.
NozzlePRO includes the Saddle Wizard and has an interface with PV-Elite such that nozzles created in PV-Elite may be assessed quickly and easily using FEA with minimum additional input.
NozzlePRO should be used by piping and vessel designers in a variety of everyday situations where long established methods such as WRC or PD 5500 are over or under conservative, or are simply not applicable due to the imposed limitations on geometry.
NozzlePRO is included with FEPipe.
AxiPRO
AxiPRO is an axi-symmetric and brick finite element modeller that is designed to analyse flanged joints and other axi-symmetric geometries. It combines power with ease of use.
Bolts, nuts and holes may be included in the 3D brick models, allowing users to see the results of hole spacing on the stress distributions.
Dimensionally accurate flange models including studs and nuts are generated automatically. AxiPRO incorporates 6 of the most popular flange standards, plus a 'user designed' option. Databases included are
- ANSI B16.5
- API 605
- DIN 16.47 Series A
- DIN 16.47 Series B
- DIN 2600 Row 1
- DIN 2600 Row 1
Analysis results include graphical representations of ASME stress intensities, resultant bolt axial loads, gasket stress distribution, overall displacements and flange separation.
Plots show bending stress in the bolt as the flanges rotate. Code calculations only include the bolts as line items that do not provide bending resistance to flange rotations. FEA calculations show that bolt bending is often a major stress point in the joint.
AxiPRO enables the creation of automatic 3D models for code evaluations to ASME Section VIII Division 1 Appendix 2, ASME BFJ and EN 13445.
AxiPRO is included with FEPipe.
Additional PRG Modules
MatPRO is a materials database that goes beyond the standard properties provided in most other programs. In addition to the usual temperature dependent material properties and allowable stresses for various design codes MatPRO includes
- High Temperature Curves
- Creep-Fatigue Interaction using output from CAESAR II or FEPipe
- Allowable Stress Plots (ASME VIII Div 1 & 2) for
- Yield Stress
- Elastic Modulus
- Isynchronous and Plasochronous Stress/Strain Curves
- Creep Stress
- Creep Rupture
- Creep/Fatigue Interaction
MatPRO NH text report evaluations include the linear elastic tests (T-1320) A2 and A3 and Simplified inelastic tests (T-1330) B2 and B3, (with input data cell for computed inelastic strains).
MatPRO is included with FEPipe and can be purchased as an additional module for NozzlePRO and AxiPRO.
MeshPRO is an Interface between FEPipe and AutoCAD.
Create models in AutoCAD and import into FEPipe for analysis or edit existing FEPipe models in AutoCAD to add complexity to your design.
FE107 uses finite element technology to provide stress analysis of nozzle connections on piping and pressure vessel. It replaces WRC 107 as a calculation tool that can be applied when WRC 107 correlational methods are limited. FE107 is useful for piping and pressure vessel engineers and designers.
FE107 can be applied to a wide range of geometries. Download full product overview.
FE-SIF brings finite element analysis to the piping designer's toolkit to provide accurate SIF and flexibility factor calculations for all geometries and load conditions. FE-SIF can be used to calculate correction factors for components outside the correlational limits of standardized design codes and for components with no guidance in the design codes.
Download the full product overview