Course Outline:

This is an introductory course for using OptiStruct to solve nonlinear problems. Both theoretical extensions of nonlinear static assumptions to include nonlinear behavior and the practical applications of those concepts in the OptiStruct solver will be covered in this course. The material focuses on approaching implicit solutions as a super-set of linear statics rather than as a subset of explicit cases.  Participants should have an established background in FEA linear statics. 

• Discretize nonlinear materials and geometry
• Describe nonlinear explicit analysis
• Setup nonlinear contact models
• Achieve convergence and model best practices