> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.openbrim.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.openbrim.org/quick-guides/openbrimfea.md). # OpenBrIM.FEA This guide walks through building a small finite element model from scratch in the **FEA Workflow**: setting boundary conditions, defining geometry, assigning materials and sections, applying loads, running the analysis, and viewing results. ## Create the Project 1. Click **New** in the left sidebar. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img35.png?api=v2) 2. Choose the **Library and FEA Workflows** template. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20231026-130843.png?api=v2) 3. Click **New Project** under **FEA Workflow**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20231026-130907.png?api=v2) 4. Enter a project name and category. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img4.png?api=v2) 5. Follow the workflow tree to enter project data. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img6.jpg?api=v2) ## Define Nodes and Boundary Conditions 1. In the **Nodes** section, enter X, Y, Z all as 0. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img8.jpg?api=v2) 2. Click the icon above the analysis icon in the left sidebar. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img9.png?api=v2) 3. Click the **FEA** icon. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img10.png?api=v2) 4. Open the **DOF** tab. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-133731.png?api=v2) 5. Click the three-dot menu next to **Tx** and set the value to **Fixed**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img36.png?api=v2) 6. Click the dot at the bottom-right of the **Tx** cell. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img37.png?api=v2) 7. Drag from the **Tx** cell to the **Rz** cell to apply **Fixed** to all six DOFs (Tx, Ty, Tz, Rx, Ry, Rz). 8. Click the **Zoom Extent** icon in the right sidebar. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img38.png?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img39.jpg?api=v2) ## Define Geometry (Lines) 1. Go to **Geometry > Lines**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-134609.png?api=v2) 2. Click the three-dot menu on **Node 1** and pick a node. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img26.png?api=v2) 3. Pick the second node the same way to create the line. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-134917.png?api=v2) 4. Click the three-dot menu next to **Name** and choose **Break**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img27.png?api=v2) 5. Set the number of segments along local X. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img16.jpg?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-135221.png?api=v2) ## Assign Materials and Sections 1. Go to **Properties > Materials**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-135631.png?api=v2) 2. Click the three-dot menu next to **Name** and choose **Import Material**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img28.png?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-120350.png?api=v2) 3. Go to **Properties > Sections**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-140758.png?api=v2) 4. Click the three-dot menu next to **Name** and choose **Import Section**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img30.png?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-121120.png?api=v2) 5. Go to **Geometry > Lines**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-141608.png?api=v2) 6. Click the three-dot menu next to **Section at Start** and pick a section. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-141759.png?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-141855.png?api=v2) ## Define Loads 1. Go to **Loads > Static Loads > Load Cases**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230704-084922.png?api=v2) 2. Set **Weight Factor Z** to **−1** to apply self-weight in the negative-Z (downward) direction. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230704-085139.png?api=v2) 3. Go to **Loads > Static Loads > Nodal Loads**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-142837.png?api=v2) 4. Click the three-dot menu next to **Node** and pick a node. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img33.png?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-143139.png?api=v2) 5. Click the three-dot menu next to **Load Case** and pick a load case. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img41.png?api=v2) 6. Set **Fz** to **−5**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img42.jpg?api=v2) ## Run the Analysis 1. Click the selection box under the settings icon in the left sidebar and choose **Loading**. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img43.jpg?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img44.jpg?api=v2) 2. Click **Analysis** in the left sidebar. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-144752.png?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/image-20230703-144929.png?api=v2) ## View Results 1. Click the selection box under the settings icon in the left sidebar and choose **Deformed** to view the deformed shape. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img45.png?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img46.jpg?api=v2) 2. Go to **Loads > Results > Node Displacements** to view nodal displacements. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img47.jpg?api=v2) 3. Go to **Loads > Results > FELine Forces** to view internal element forces. ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img48.jpg?api=v2) ![](https://openbrim.atlassian.net/wiki/download/attachments/2231238670/img49.jpg?api=v2) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.openbrim.org/quick-guides/openbrimfea.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.