PLUG: Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

This month we will hear from Alpheus Madsen.

The idea behind FEA is that it's very difficult to calculate the differential equations that determine stress, fatigue, heat conduction, and distortions on complex 3D parts (say, an engine block), but it's relatively easy to divvy up a model into simple shapes (particularly cubes and tetrahedrons), apply the equations, and then put everything together to see what happens.

This isn't necessarily a Linux-centric topic. The original work utilized a closed-source program called Ansys with some learning about another called SolidWorks, but we will be briefly talking about open source options (particularly FreeCAD) as well.

The Provo Linux Users Group (https://plug.org) meet monthly to discuss Linux, Linux-related topics, and technologies of interest to Linux users. If you enjoy Linux, or would like to learn more, join us.

Just go in the front doors, and follow the signs. We're usually in a conference room just off the main foyer to the right.