Structural Analysis

Use this dialog to set up the solver parameters.

Access

Dialog elements

Method of solving a system of equations

Select which method should be used to solve the system of linear equations K * U = F.

Automatic - Relies on a set of rules to select the appropriate method.
Frontal - Uses the Gauss elimination method.
Skyline - Uses the Cholesky LDLt factorization method.
Sparse
Sparse M
Click Parameters to select a renumbering method for the SparseM solver.
multithreaded (solver from the Intel® Math Kernel Library)
Iterative
Click Parameters to select a type of Iterative solver.

Stop analysis after verification

Select the condition under which the analysis must be stopped. Three choices are available.

Select Never if you want to run the calculations even if errors or warnings are found.

Ignore analysis warnings

Specify if you want to display or ignore the analysis warnings.

When option requires calculation results

Select how the program prompts you when an option that requires results is called up and prior calculations have not been run.

Such options include result tables and diagram or map selection dialogs. Prior to running calculations the following dialog displays:

This dialog also displays after opening a file saved without results, but with a table, diagrams or result maps active.

Automatic freezing of results of structure calculations

Protects the structure calculation results.

Automatic bar merging during import of geometry

Merges overlapping bars into one bar when opening a DXF-format file.

DSC algorithm

Enables the discontinuity element during calculations of a structure where releases are defined.

RLINK elements

Enables elements of the RLINK type during calculations of a structure where rigid links are defined.

The Automatic option of the structure analysis parameters relies on a set of rules.

The Frontal method is used if the following conditions are met:
- The number of equations is smaller than 500.
- The load case list does not include an eigenvalue analysis.
- The structure includes plane stress elements, shell elements or solid elements and does not include bars.
The Skyline method is used if the following conditions are met:
- The number of equations is smaller than 500.
- The load case list includes an eigenvalue analysis such as a modal or buckling analysis.
- The structure contains bars.
The Sparse or SparseM methods are used if the number of equations is equal to 500, or greater.
In this case, the program performs a fast symbolic factorization procedure. The number of non-zero elements is defined for both renumbering methods: NDM and MDA.

The NDM method activates the Sparse solver, and the MDA method activates the SparseM solver. If neither the NDM nor the MDA method is selected, then the program uses either the skyline solver or the frontal solver.
The automatic option never uses the iterative solver.