ABSTRACT
The structural integrity and stability of any building or structure is only as good as its individual parts. Much of engineering relies on the use of standards and codes to provide uniformity in design, as well as to ensure the safety of all structural components and the structure as a whole. The standard design practice utilizes traditional analytical tools in making design decisions. Several educational, open-source commercial packages are available today that facilitate the learning and deployment of finite element method. Civil engineers use these tools for projects such as high-rise buildings, bridges, dams, and stadiums, among others. By experimenting with innovative design in a virtual environment, engineers and designers can enforce safety, strength, comfort, and environmental considerations. ANSYS uses proprietary solvers to solve a set of equations allowing to visualize simulation results, such as deformation and the stresses on the step and frame.
