Get started
Modules
The FEM-Design software system is a group of modules developed for different 2 and 3 dimensional structural problems, but it provides additional special features such as 2D drawing services and 3D solid modeling too.
The available FEM-Design modules depends on your license. The following tables present the features and functionality of FEM-Design modules.
| 3D Modules | ||||||
| Analysis | Foundation Design | RC Design | Steel Design | Timber Design | File format | |
3D Structure Combinations of shell elements, slabs, walls, bars, beams, columns and foundation elements with arbitrary loads.
| Linear | Isolated foundation | RC shell | Steel bar | Timber bar | .str |
3D Frame Two and three - dimensional frames and trusses with arbitrary loads.
| Linear | RC bar | Steel bar | Timber bar | .frm | |
Steel Joint Total of 51 solutions and 7 steel joint types (according to the Swedish Institute of Steel Construction).
| ||||||
| 2D Modules | ||||||
| Analysis | Foudation Design | RC Design | Steel Design | Timber Design | File format | |
Plate Slabs, slab-systems or other 2D elements loaded perpendicularly to their planes.
| Linear Non-linear Dynamic Cracked-section | RC slab RC bar Punching | Steel beam | Timber beam Timber slab | .pla | |
Start the program
FEM-Design modules can be started in one of the following ways:
- Click Start button of Windows status bar and select All Programs → FEM-Design...
- Double click the shortcut, if it is placed on the Desktop.
- From FEM Design Command Center.
 | CTRL + Left mouse button will open the last model. Shift + Left mouse button will open history in a jumplist |
We suggest to pin the command center so right clicking the icon on the tray will open a jumplist where all the modules available.
Starting a design module (or a new project) offers possibility of code selection for structure design. Code selection influences:
- the range of available modeling materials,
- automatic combination of load groups,
- the method and result of foundation, reinforcement, steel and timber design
The current code of a project can be modified any time during input process (structure and load definition) at Settings > All... > Calculation > Code, configuration. Changing a code will modify all materials and design parameters according to the selected new code by using an editable conversion table.