Use element types and meshing in FEA

Being able to utilize the various element types will add a useful skillset when performing Finite Element Analysis while knowing the options available to you in regard to meshing can make for a more efficient model. Finally, knowing how to obtain a converged mesh is important for the accuracy of the solution.

This content takes approximately 50 minutes to complete. By the end, you should be able to: 

• Know when and how to leverage various element types. 
• Have an understanding of element order. 
• Know how to review and impact the element quality. 
• Know how to control the global mesh size of your geometry. 
• Know how to adjust the mesh refinement locally. 
• Understand what a converged mesh means and know why it matters. 

About the author

Before you start

• Please make sure you have the Autodesk Inventor software loaded and installed.
• Install Autodesk Nastran from Autodesk Account as a part of your contract or download a trial.
• If you have technical difficulties, please reach out to product support.