Finite element interfaces - overview

Zencrack's crack growth prediction capabilities require a "change in strain energy" facility within the finite element code OR the use of nodal displacements to calculate stress intensity factors. Hence Zencrack can, in theory, interface to any finite element code if using the displacement based method. Each copy of Zencrack Standard or Professional may be licensed with one or more of the available finite element interfaces.

Zencrack has interfaces to:

Abaqus/Standard - tested with versions up to Abaqus 6.11
Ansys/Classic - tested with versions up to Ansys 13.0

Some capabilities are available in limited form in some of the finite element interfaces:

	Abaqus	Ansys
Energy based j-integral method	Yes	Yes¹
Transition elements for large crack-blocks	Yes	Yes
Extraction of temperatures from the f.e. analysis	Yes	Yes
Automatic generation of contact on the crack faces	Yes²	No
Restrictions on the use of some crack-blocks	No	Yes³
Controlling output steps in whiuch results sets are generated	Yes	No

1. Requires Ansys 11.0SP1 (or later).
2. Some manual effort required in symmetry models, but fully automatic in full models.
3. Some crack-blocks contain elements that are collapsed in a way that Ansys does not permit.

Licensing of the finite element code(s)

The finite element package is not supplied with Zencrack and must be licensed from the appropriate supplier.

Abaqus, the 3DS logo, and SIMULIA are trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries. Zentech International Limited is a member of the Abaqus Solution Partner scheme.
http://www.simulia.com

Ansys is a trademark of SAS IP, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
http://www.ansys.com