Structural analysis program SAFE — special features and advanced finite element models

Abstract Program SAFE (Structural Analysis by Finite Elements) — an advanced industrial version of a former academic prototype (ELFIN) — is a comparatively large FE system including nearly 20 families of elements, automatic mesh and data generators, free format input with simple command language and extensive graphical pre- and post- processing. The program is written in FORTRAN 77, has a modern modular architecture and is easy to modify. A large part of the program's element library is formed by essentially conventional assumed displacement elements, some of which present various improvements and particularities (e.g. an original technique to represent accurately stress concentrations or singularities in the vicinity of concentrated loads). The most attractive feature of the program is, however, its non-conventional concept of using the so-called large finite elements. This concept presents an elegant possibility to solve efficiently, complex engineering problems involving various stress concentrations and singularities and is ideally suited for implementation on low capacity computers. Practical efficiency of the program is illustrated by some examples.