Company

About SOFEA Software

SOFEA Software GmbH, Berlin, is a young, innovative company that develops and sells software products for technical engineering calculations. The goal of our products is the improvement of computer-aided design and simulation, especially in the field of the mechanical structural analysis by application of the Boundary Element Method (BEM) and other newly developed software modules.

Our clients are companies which employ highly strained mechanical parts. Reliable dimensioning of such mechanical components and the utilisation of the materials are key elements in the product development process and are becoming important factors in competition. The demands on calculation and simulation methods are rising sharply in all fields of machine design especially in lightweight structures.
Therefore SOFEA constantly enlarges and completes its BEM-software technology to meeting these demands.



Product

BEMstruct
Mechanical Structural Analysis, Solver, Pre- and Post processing
Connectable with ANSYS, I-DEAS, PRO/MECHANICA, NASTRAN, CATIA

-	BEM Zoom-Function Critical regions as BEM-Substructures within the FEM-model
-	Stress Gradient Solver Calculation of stress gradients in the volume
-	Maximum Stress Finder Localisation of maximum stress in the volume
Benefits:
-	Reliable dimensioning with more precise safety margins
-	Applications support of the German FKM-Richtlinie
-	Better utilisation of materials by exhaustion of plastic reserves
-	Alternative method of calculation for verification tasks

With the most recent software developed by SOFEA the user is now able to connect FEM- and BEM regions within one structural model for taking advantage of both methods. This offers a higher performance in product design and durability proofs with a better utilisation of material.

BEMstruct is a CAE-System based on the Boundary Element Method with the components Solver, Pre- and Post Processor, offering new opportunities for fulfilling new demands with additional software modules. The further development of the SOFEA software is focussed on the direct interfacing with well-known FEM systems. The current release allows the connection of FEM- and BEM-regions within one structural model taking advantage of both methods simultaneously.

Within a larger FEM-region critical areas with high stress gradients can be analysed more accurately with the help of BEM substructures which have interfacing regions with the FEM mesh.

FEM-BEM Simulation Interfacing
The above mentioned interfacing of FEM-BEM analysis offers various advantages. Modelling and meshing is made easier. Details which are not relevant for the flow of forces can be neglected in the overall FEM model. It can be simplified and roughly meshed. For instance the under cut in the sample shaft can be modelled for the FEM structure as a rectangular corner. Regions of special interest to be analysed with the "BEM ZOOM" function should be modelled in full detail as substructure bodies and meshed with a surface mesh only. This type of meshing is advantageous and easy to perform on very small meshing elements without any problems.

The FEM calculation of the overall FEM structure can be performed after definition of all simulation relevant boundary conditions and parameters. For all the procedures above from modelling to calculation the engineer has all the support of the FEM tool he is accustomed to. To connect the FEM structure with the BEM substructure the displacements resulting from this calculation are transferred by BEMstruct to the interface surfaces of the BEM substructure. These displacements are the boundary conditions for the BEM solver, which calculates the stresses and displacements on the surface of the BEM substructure. Various easy to use features for the data output and visualization are available in the PostProcessor to assess the results precisely.

BEMstruct is offering newly developed options for the determination of the stress conditions within the volume of the constructive part.
The program module Stress Gradient Solver calculates the stresses and their gradients by value and direction for every point within the volume of the BEM substructure precisely and in reliably. This is of high importance for the assessment and proof of durability of mechanical constructive components.

Ductile materials are able to support a structure locally, if a partial plastic deformation of the material occurs in a region of high stress gradient: the higher the gradient the stronger the supporting effect. The direction of the stress gradient is very important as well. The accurate knowledge of these values is one of the prerequisites for an optimal utilization of the ductile reserves of parts in which the region with plastic deformation has a high stress gradient. For instance BEMstruct is a powerful aid for the application of the German FKM-Richtlinie (FKM-Standard). This regulation is targeted to achieve systematic durability proofs combined with the best utilization of materials. Stresses within the volume and especially local stress maximums underneath the surface can be determined with the aid of the module Maximum Stress Finder. Such stress conditions, for instance, can be found under pressure contact area as in roller bearings or at multiple axis stress conditions.

Technical Data of BEMstruct

Program system for mechanical structural analysis and optimisation aid based on the Boundary Element Method.
BEM structures can interface with FEM models.

BEMstruct consists of the software components PreProcessor, BEM Solver and PostProcessor,
Stress Gradient Solver, Maximum Stress Finder

PreProcessor
Module for definition of parameters and boundary conditions

-	numerous editor functions with visualization aids
-	integrated import filters for I-DEAS, ANSYS, CATIA, NASTRAN, PRO/MECHANICA for the FEM model- and data
-	elements of higher order available
-	elements of different orders can be used in the same structure
-	number of nodes is not limited

BEM Solver
Module for the solution of the integral matrices of the structural model

-	run time optimized
-	multiprocessor capability

Stress Gradient Solver
Module for calculation of stresses and gradients in the volume at

-	user defined coordinates
-	along definable tracks

Maximum Stress Finder
Module for determination of

-	maximum stresses
-	stress distributions

PostProcessor
Module for presentation and assessment of results

-	menu controlled visualization tools
-	numerical and graphical output