• wada
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  • Registered: 10-06-2010
  • Posts: 2

Topic: How to add new heat transfer element?

Hi,

I am impressed by the functionalities provided by OOFEM.  However, I have the need to convert models from another commercial FEM package that has resistor (rod), and prism (brick that is divided into 2 and resulting in a 5 sided element with 6 nodes).  I will also need to add interface elements from bricks to 2d tria and 2d quads.

My question is how hard would it be for me a semi-proficient C++ programmer to add those only for heat transfer?

Thanks,

wada

  • Registered: 28-07-2008
  • Posts: 71

Re: How to add new heat transfer element?

Wada,
My experience working with OOFEM, is that it pretty well organized and documented (especially via Doxygen). However, there is a definite learning curve to really understand the structure and how things are organized.

The bigger issue is that you will need a pretty solid understanding of FEA theory. If the hope is to adapt some code from a reference, without a pretty solid background, I think it will be difficult. All codes are organized somewhat differently. The object oriented nature of OOFEM makes it feasible to do quite a few things in a straightforward way. But, it is not necessarily the way they are presented in a text.

I would suggest taking a look at the code, and following the discussion in the programmers guide, with the Doxygen stuff handy.

If it all more or less makes sense. It may not be too hard.

If most of it makes no sense, it will be extremely difficult to add the elements you need.

I have written non-object oriented FEM codes in the past, and it was not too difficult to build on OOFEM.

I hope that helps.

-Erik

  • wada
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  • Registered: 10-06-2010
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Re: How to add new heat transfer element?

Erik,

Thanks for your constructive comments.  I will have to weight all others OOFEM implementations out there (including Java) and pick the one that most natural for me.

Cheers-

wada