ESRD is very excited to announce the release of StressCheck Professional Version 12.0! Read below for details on the what’s new and a link to download.

This major release of our flagship FEA solution delivers substantial refinements to the user interface and greatly improves your modeling, simulation, and post-processing workflows. You will experience immediate benefits to your analyses — from start to finish.

Watch the StressCheck Professional v12.0 Video Tour!

Key Features and Enhancements in StressCheck v12.0

StressCheck Professional 12.0 delivers an extensive list of new features and upgraded capabilities, including:

• Newly refreshed toolbar icons
• New right-click contextual menus
• New assembly meshing with automatic contact detection
• New mesh seeding feature for improved auto meshing results
• Multiple new features for improved simulation post-processing
• Introduced parameter and formula name input validation
• Introduced independent control over solid body colors
• Enhanced index controls for geometry and mesh objects
• Parameter and object set dependency feedback enhancements
• Object and record selection feedback enhancements

Want to know more?

Browse the Release Notes for detailed descriptions of what you’ll see in StressCheck v12.0:

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Get Familiar with the New Toolbar Icons!

StressCheck v12.0 delivers refreshed Toolbars that improve clarity and offer a consistent design aesthetic. We have not altered their arrangement, but to ensure you’re oriented in the new look of the interface we’ve created a Toolbar Guide. Take a look!

Ready to Download?

Download the StressCheck v12.0 MSI from our StressCheck software download page (Software Downloader membership is required):

Note: To run StressCheck v12.0, a license upgrade (and active Software Maintenance & Technical Support contract) is required. If you have not already requested your upgraded license, please do so using the Request for ESRD Support form.

ESRD is pleased to announce that we’ve officially released StressCheck v11.1. With the release of StressCheck v11.1, we have made tremendous improvements to model rendering, load arrow drawing and load record updating performances to provide the user with maximum efficiency. This release also provides new mixed element meshing functionality in the Crack Front and Boundary Layer methods as well as the all-new Thin Section method, which allow the user to utilize pentahedral and hexahedral elements together with a traditional all-tetrahedral automesh. These improved, high-quality meshes can provide the user more accurate results with less computational cost, especially for fracture and contact problems.

Mixed meshing, integration layer and grade toward ends options in the enhanced Crack Front automesh method

Symmetric thru-crack mode I SIF’s for different Crack Front automeshing options (tetra only, mixed, mixed + graded)

StressCheck v11.1 also boasts improvements for Global-Local analysis in the form of TLAP scaling parameters and improved GUI options for point load/constraint rendering, as well as updates to the COM API functionality and the StressCheck Offline Documentation.

Key Features and Enhancements in StressCheck v11.1

StressCheck v11.1 includes the following key features and enhancements since the release of StressCheck v11.0 Update 1 in June 2021:

• General GUI Tune-ups for Improving the User Experience
• Performance Improvements for Model Rendering & Load Display/Updating
• New Thin Section Automesh Method with Penta or Hexa-Dominant Option
• Boundary Layer Automesh Method Now with Mixed Mesh (Hexa/Penta/Tetra) and Shrink-To-Fit/Trim-to-Fit Options
• Crack Front Automesh Method Now with Curvature D/H, Mixed Mesh, Integration Layer, and Grade Toward Ends Options
• New Global-Local Features for Load Scaling/Reversal
• Improvements to COM API Functionality and Online Documentation
• New Getting Started and Offline Documentation Available in Help Menu
• Upgrades to Spatial Interop and MeshSim Libraries

Watch the StressCheck v11.1 Demo

Watch this short video for a demonstration of some of the new features and enhancements available in StressCheck v11.1:

Learn More About StressCheck v11.1

Scroll through the below PDF to view detailed descriptions of the new StressCheck v11.1 features and enhancements:

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Download StressCheck v11.1

Download the StressCheck v11.1 MSI from our StressCheck software download page (Software Downloader membership is required):

Note: StressCheck v11.1 may be installed concurrently with StressCheck v10.x. Installing StressCheck v11.1 will automatically uninstall StressCheck v11.0.

Note: StressCheck v11.1 requires a license upgrade so if you have not already received it from the ESRD support team, please contact support@esrd.com or fill out our Request for ESRD Support form to request your license upgrade.

ESRD is pleased to announce that we’ve released StressCheck Professional v11 Update 1. In addition to all the improvements introduced with the release of StressCheck v11, in Update 1 we have optimized the Solve and Results panes for maximum efficiency and improved user flow. Each solver tab now contains all the appropriate solver inputs, user-defined solution settings, and commands to seamlessly perform the desired analysis. Similarly, all extraction settings are automatically labeled and available directly on each tab.

StressCheck v11 Update 1 includes the following key features and enhancements since the release of StressCheck v11 in December 2020:

• General GUI Cleanup, Tune-ups, Optimizations & Fixes
• Optimized Solve and Results Panes for Improved User Flow
• Dockable Panes Extended to Display Objects, View Controls, & More
• New Feature for Exporting & Importing Solution and/or Extracting Settings
• Significantly Improved Accuracy of Mesh Region Assignments
• Offline Documentation Now Available

Watch the StressCheck v11 Update 1 Demo

Watch this short video for a demonstration of some of the new features and enhancements available in StressCheck v11 Update 1:

Learn More About StressCheck v11 Update 1

Scroll through the below PDF to view detailed descriptions of the new StressCheck v11 Update 1 features and enhancements:

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Download StressCheck v11 Update 1

Download the StressCheck v11 Update 1 MSI from our StressCheck software download page (Software Downloader membership is required):

Note: StressCheck v11 Update 1 may be installed concurrently with StressCheck v10.x. Installing StressCheck v11 Update 1 will automatically uninstall StressCheck v11. StressCheck v11 Update 1 does not require a license upgrade if StressCheck v11 licenses are already installed.

In February 2020, ESRD presented a webinar titled “Mastering StressCheck: Practical Training Approaches & Online Resources for A&D Engineers” in order to provide a roadmap for success in StressCheck Professional.

With the release of StressCheck v11 in December 2020, ESRD unveiled a significantly improved user interface experience, a voluminous online documentation portal, and a re-written Getting Started Guide with a companion video tutorial. In addition, we’ve revamped our Getting Started page, with helpful links for member registration, licensing & installation, the basics of StressCheck usage, and other key links & resources. In short, it’s never been easier to learn StressCheck!

Below are a few tips and links to help you become more acquainted with StressCheck Professional and its latest features. Note: Customer-level membership may be required to access certain e-Learning resources. Not yet a customer? Contact us to get started with a trial evaluation or request pricing information.

New Tutorials to Boost StressCheck v11 Proficiency

To better explore the new features and enhancements in StressCheck v11, we have recently published a variety of video demos and tutorials to the ESRD Resource Library. Click any of the below links to view the latest StressCheck demos and tutorials:

• StressCheck Demo: What’s New in StressCheck v11
• StressCheck Tutorial: v11 GUI Improvements Overview
• StressCheck Tutorial: Getting Started Guide
• StressCheck Tutorial: Automeshing Controls and Refinement Guidelines (Customer-level login required)
• StressCheck Tutorial: Crack Front Automeshing/Auto Integration Radius Features (Customer-level login required)
• StressCheck Tutorial: Multi-Body Contact Solver Options/Plot Functions (Customer-level login required)

As of this post, 150+ StressCheck tutorials and demos have been uploaded to the ESRD Resource Library, with more coming soon! To view the full list of tutorials and demos, click the button below:

View All Videos

Introducing the StressCheck e-Learning Video Showcase

To shorten the learning curve for new (and rusty!) StressCheck users, we have curated and published a suite of 20+ e-Learning videos (Customer-level login is required). This approximately 4-hour e-Learning video collection provides an introduction to the technology and usage of StressCheck Professional, with selected presentations, tutorials, demos and practical applications.

The following introductory topics are covered in the e-Learning showcase:

• Why Use StressCheck?
• StressCheck GUI Overview
• Object Selection & Visualization
• Parametric Modeling
• Automeshing Tips & Tricks
• Traction & Bearing Loads
• Material Property Definition & Assignment
• 2D & 3D Stress Concentration Factors
• Multi-Body Contact Setup & Analysis
• Global-Local Analysis Methods, Tips & Tricks

The following is a short video on how to use the e-Learning showcase to gain proficiency in StressCheck Professional within a matter of several hours:

To view the e-Learning video showcase, click the button below:

View the e-Learning Showcase

Note: the e-Learning showcase is not a substitute for an instructor-led basic training course, it provides enough guidance and examples to get you comfortable with the software. To schedule a web-based training course with an ESRD instructor, contact ESRD Training.

Browse the StressCheck Online Documentation

The static documentation associated with previous StressCheck installations (Master Guide) has been replaced by a dynamic, responsive and media-rich documentation portal.

This searchable, user-friendly resource is available to registered customers, and is populated with helpful feature descriptions, relevant graphics, examples, links, embedded video demos and more! The documentation is regularly updated to ensure our customers have the latest content.

Check out the StressCheck online documentation by clicking the button below (Customer-level login required to view articles):

View the Documentation

Note: a PDF of the StressCheck v10.5 Master Guide is included in the StressCheck v11 installation, and may also be accessed here.

We would like to thank NAFEMS for allowing us to co-sponsor, exhibit and present at the NAFEMS 2017 Aerospace Simulation Engineering conference in Wichita, KS on November 8th.  It was a pleasure to meet the other vendors, co-sponsors, attendees and NAFEMS community.

ESRD’s President and CEO Dr. Ricardo Actis presented on how Simulation Governance is a requirement for Democratization of Simulation, and ESRD Project Engineer Mr. Eric Buettmann presented on improving global-local simulation workflows for detailed Aerospace Simulation Engineering.  Both presentations spent time addressing several Big Issues in the Aerospace & Defense industry.

These presentations are now available to download from our ESRD Resource Library:

• The Role of Simulation Governance in the Democratization of Simulation Through Sim Apps in the A&D Industry.
• Improving Global-Local Simulation Workflows for High-Fidelity Stress and Damage Tolerance Analysis.

Reminder: ESRD will be attending and exhibiting at ASIP 2017 next week.  We hope to see you there!

ESRD’s Matt Watkins (left) talks to an ASIP 2017 attendee.

This past week at ASIP 2017, ESRD provided a training course titled “How to use the Crack Propagation Analysis Tool for 3D Crack Simulation”, presented a track presentation titled “Pros and Cons of 3D Crack Growth Simulation using Finite Elements” and exhibited at our booth (above image).

We enjoyed meeting many of the attendees, connecting with our customers and colleagues, and sharing our perspective on DaDT analysis with the ASIP community. Thanks to those that stopped by to say hello, and attend the training.

You can view Mr. Watkins’ ASIP training presentation here: Crack Propagation Analysis Tool for 3D Crack Simulation: A Simulation App Case Study

You can view Mr. Watkins’ ASIP track presentation here: Pros and Cons of 3D Crack Growth Simulation using Finite Elements

Upcoming Webinar…

Don’t forget to sign up for our December 14th webinar “High-Fidelity Stress Analysis for S.A.F.E.R. Structural Simulation“:

StressCheck Result for NAFEMS LE1: Plane Stress – Elliptic Membrane

To compliment and bolster our recent S.A.F.E.R. Simulation articles, and to provide the engineering analysis community quantifiable insight into the performance of our Numerical Simulation technology, verified StressCheck results for “The Standard NAFEMS Benchmarks” are now available for download in our Resource Library.

In the first volume of the StressCheck Benchmarks Guide, we focused on solving the Linear Elastic Test benchmarks referenced in “The Standard NAFEMS Benchmarks”, Rev. 3, October 1990.  In accordance with Simulation Governance rules, we ensured the benchmark’s target extraction converged before reporting our results or comparing with the NAFEMS benchmark reference.

You can download the first volume here:

View Benchmark Results

About Our Results

• ESRD defines a “Minimum Mesh” as the least-refined mesh required to achieve numerical convergence within 1% of the target extraction, and “Dense Mesh” as an overly-refined mesh relative to the “Minimum Mesh” to demonstrate that adding more elements produced insignificant changes in the target extraction.
• The discretization error was reported to be < 1% for all StressCheck results in all benchmark models.  This means that the results no longer changed significantly as the degrees of freedom were increased, thus providing solution verification in our results.
• The StressCheck results and the NAFEMS reference benchmark solutions differed by < 3% for all benchmarks.  Differences in results were justified in the notes for each problem.

Benchmark Suggestions/References?

Do you have a benchmark challenge for ESRD?  If you can provide a reference, and it is within our current capabilities, we will be happy to consider it for future publication!

This past year, ESRD’s Drs. Barna Szabó and Ricardo Actis collaborated with Naval Air Systems Command’s Mr. Dave Rusk on a technical paper titled “Fatigue Life Prediction of Flaw-Tolerant Damaged Rotorcraft Structures”.  This paper was presented at the American Helicopter Society Annual Forum 74 in Phoenix, Arizona May 14-17, 2018.

The presentation and paper report the work done by ESRD and NAVAIR under a SBIR program to develop an analytical approach to predicting the remaining useful fatigue life of metallic rotorcraft structural components with surface flaws.  Below is the paper’s abstract:

A phenomenological model has been developed to predict the remaining useful life of flaw-damaged Ti 6Al-4V Beta-STOA titanium and 7075-T73 aluminum rotorcraft components. The model extends the use of traditional notched fatigue analysis methods that were developed for machined notches, down to the scale of small surface flaws such as dents, dings, scratches, gouges and corrosion pits. The highly stressed volume in the vicinity of flaws is used for reference in the model calibration. This eliminates the requirement to define an equivalent notch root radius for an arbitrary flaw shape. Calibration of the model was performed using sets of dogbone fatigue coupons with embedded surface flaws. Validation of the model was performed using other sets of dogbone and double-edge notched tension (DENT) flawed coupon fatigue test data, under both constant amplitude and spectrum loading. Validation results have shown that the model provides reasonably accurate life predictions within the range of calibration of the model, when compared to a reference S-N working curve. The analytical capability demonstrated here has important implications for current life management practices of rotorcraft dynamic components. Fatigue life prediction of flaw damaged components is a key enabling technology for the application of Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) practices to rotor system structures.

The paper and presentation can be downloaded below:

Fatigue Life Prediction of Flaw-Tolerant Damaged Rotorcraft Structures

The Standard NAFEMS Benchmarks: LE1 Solution Fringe Plot

In the coming weeks, ESRD will publish our first set of FEA-based numerical simulation results from “The Standard NAFEMS Benchmark Solutions“.  Our initial publication will focus on the Linear Elastic (LE) benchmarks from this reference.

All of ESRD’s solutions were modeled and solved in StressCheck Professional, with the minimum meshes necessary to achieve convergence in the data of interest, as well as denser meshes for comparison.  Benchmarking against any reference solution is not useful unless the numerical simulation’s discretization errors are proven to be small, a feature inherent to ESRD’s Numerical Simulation technology.

Check back shortly on our ESRD Benchmarks page and stayed tuned to ESRD News for updates on these NAFEMS benchmark solutions.

Benchmark Suggestion?  We’re Up to the Challenge!

Do you have a benchmark solution, NAFEMS or otherwise, you would like us to solve?  Fill out the below form, and if the benchmark request is within our capabilities, your benchmark may be considered by ESRD for future publication:

As evidenced by our growing Resource Library, ESRD strives to provide the highest-quality support to our users, including categorical video demos, video tutorials, white papers and best practices.

To that end, in the past week we have uploaded more than a dozen new StressCheck tutorial videos to our Resource Library.  These tutorial videos cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Extracting gradients of stresses using a curve
• Improving mesh refinement at a specific region
• Formulaic fringe plotting
• Extracting results in Cylindrical coordinate systems
• Using sets for displaying element groups
• Improving SIF convergence
• 3D crack with curve refinement
• More!

We look forward to creating more StressCheck tutorial videos for you so that you can get up to speed faster and be more efficient.

Any suggestions for tutorial videos? Contact us!