Consideration and strategies in developing finite element software for desktop computers

During the revolution in the field of engineering which is based on the use of computers and numerical methods of calculation, an evolution has emerged. This concerns the development of desktop computers and finite element software suited for the small and cheap machines. By that it became possible to utilize this highly effective tool with only low investments necessary. Described are the way to and the characteristics of such a software package, consisting of a preprocessor, a temperature field analysis part, a linear‐elastic rigidity calculation part, a non‐linear elastic—plastic structural analysis part and a postprocessor.