# General Questions **URL:** https://prepomax.discourse.group/c/general-questions/6.md [Latest](https://prepomax.discourse.group/latest.md) · [Categories](https://prepomax.discourse.group/categories.md) · [Tags](https://prepomax.discourse.group/tags.md) --- ## [About the General Questions category](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/about-the-general-questions-category/12)
**Author:** [@Matej](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Matej)\ **Replies:** 0
A category to state general questions, give opinions and discuss interesting ideas. --- ## [How to find error element?](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/how-to-find-error-element/3695)
**Author:** [@Maxing](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Maxing)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 9:04am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/how-to-find-error-element/3695 "2026-09-25T09:04:26Z")
When the Monitor shows errors, how to find the error elements in 3D model? --- ## [Fem heat transfer](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/fem-heat-transfer/3688)
**Author:** [@mehmed.celebi](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/mehmed.celebi)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 12:21pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/fem-heat-transfer/3688 "2026-09-24T12:21:02Z")
Please can any one help. This model all symmetric but why this region shows different temp value. Waht I did: Merge Coincident Nodes tie contact. I try to solve by AI but I am really confused. --- ## [No result file, and no open](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/no-result-file-and-no-open/3696)
**Author:** [@Maxing](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Maxing)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 6:54am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/no-result-file-and-no-open/3696 "2026-09-24T06:54:05Z")
The calculation finished normally, but the result wasn’t saved. --- ## [Gasket FEA with PrePoMax](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/gasket-fea-with-prepomax/3670)
**Author:** [@fatehjit1989](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/fatehjit1989)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/gasket-fea-with-prepomax/3670 "2026-09-23T18:24:38Z")
Hi, I am running a 3D bolted joint FEA using PrePoMax. Is it possible to define 2 different Young’s modulas for a material under different conditions or steps. I was aiming for defining a loading and a separate unload… --- ## [Edges that remain](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/edges-that-remain/3686)
**Author:** [@Viertelstein](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Viertelstein)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 11:01am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/edges-that-remain/3686 "2026-09-23T11:01:30Z")
Hello PPM community! I started using PPM three weeks ago and am trying to simulate the deformation of foam bodies under load. Aside from the HYPERFOAM material issue—which apparently has only been solved by Abaqus (and… --- ## [Regarding the irradiation creep conditions](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/regarding-the-irradiation-creep-conditions/3680)
**Author:** [@nori](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/nori)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 6:44am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/regarding-the-irradiation-creep-conditions/3680 "2026-09-23T06:44:52Z")
Dear Sir or Madam I am a researcher specializing in nuclear materials, and I am particularly interested in using PrePoMax to analyze irradiation creep. Regarding gamma heating, I believe that the resulting heat generati… --- ## [How to output section forces for a beam element (B31)?](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/how-to-output-section-forces-for-a-beam-element-b31/3684)
**Author:** [@Pavel1](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Pavel1)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 6:42am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/how-to-output-section-forces-for-a-beam-element-b31/3684 "2026-09-23T06:42:46Z")
Hello everyone, I am trying to get internal section forces (forces and bending moments) for a beam element (B31) in PrePoMax. I am using this beam element to model a bolt in my assembly. --- ## [Node vs. integration point result?](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/node-vs-integration-point-result/3679)
**Author:** [@Tsvetan](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Tsvetan)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 6:55am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/node-vs-integration-point-result/3679 "2026-09-21T06:55:05Z")
Greetings, everyone! I started changing positions of recently as a mechanical engineer to a FEA analyst and focused on reading more about the nitty-gritty of PrePoMax. I stumbled across the topic of nodes and integratio… --- ## [How to analyze simply supported hollow rectangular section with point load on it?](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/how-to-analyze-simply-supported-hollow-rectangular-section-with-point-load-on-it/3676)
**Author:** [@appdotjs](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/appdotjs)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 6:43am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/how-to-analyze-simply-supported-hollow-rectangular-section-with-point-load-on-it/3676 "2026-09-21T06:43:24Z")
Hi everyone, I am new to prepomax and I want to learn prepomax. I want to analyze a simply supported beam with point load ? How do I do it ? Last time I tried to do that the entire beam was crushed --- ## [Nonpositive jacobian](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian/1712)
**Author:** [@busrasahh](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/busrasahh)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2026, 5:49am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/nonpositive-jacobian/1712 "2026-09-18T05:49:37Z")
Hello, When I analyze, I encounter a nonpositive error. I saw an error similar to this on the forum, but when I examined it, it did not answer my problem. --- ## [Transparent plot](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/transparent-plot/1392)
**Author:** [@Siggi](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Siggi)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/transparent-plot/1392 "2026-09-17T14:45:30Z")
Hi! Is it possible to make the contour plot transparent for upper/lower bound values? In inventor Fusion I can drag the contour slide bar up and down to highlight a certain range of results. The rest is transparent: … --- ## [Mesh size for optimal results](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/mesh-size-for-optimal-results/3675)
**Author:** [@calimero22](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/calimero22)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2026, 2:43pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/mesh-size-for-optimal-results/3675 "2026-09-17T14:43:07Z")
Hi everyone. It’s a general question… I designed a balcony and applied a load to it. In the first simulation (mesh max. 80 mm, min. 20 mm), the maximum stress was 67 MPa. In the second simulation (mesh max. 10 mm, mi… --- ## [Local coordinate system not working for points load or for point BC and for gravity load](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/local-coordinate-system-not-working-for-points-load-or-for-point-bc-and-for-gravity-load/3040)
**Author:** [@Michal](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Michal)\ **Replies:** 14\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 7:19am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/local-coordinate-system-not-working-for-points-load-or-for-point-bc-and-for-gravity-load/3040 "2026-09-16T07:19:45Z")
I have question why local coordinate system not working for points load or for poits BC and for gravity load? --- ## [Mesh generation error](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/mesh-generation-error/3660)
**Author:** [@Agazzotti](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Agazzotti)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/mesh-generation-error/3660 "2026-09-15T16:19:58Z")
The mesh is not being generated for the attached model, and I don’t understand why. I created a compound part to ensure the meshes making up the model are conformal. Thanks in advance to everyone for the help. A. Con… --- ## [Wrong Stress Results with function "Compound Part"](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/wrong-stress-results-with-function-compound-part/121)
**Author:** [@PhilippTheEngineer](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/PhilippTheEngineer)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/wrong-stress-results-with-function-compound-part/121 "2026-09-14T20:54:11Z")
Hi all, i recently saw that with the compound part function the stresses in parts are wrong. I set up an example for a glued connection. Here i do have 2 Steel Parts which are connected with glue: Now i modeled two… --- ## [Result Intepretation](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/result-intepretation/150)
**Author:** [@TOMIN](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/TOMIN)\ **Replies:** 11\ **Last updated:** [September 14, 2026, 10:50am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/result-intepretation/150 "2026-09-14T10:50:44Z")
There is nodal result in PrePoMax for stresses. In ANSYS we have averaged, unaveraged stress, nodal difference …etc for stress result. To which of the above stress result in ANSYS ( which I have mentioned above) is compa… --- ## [Laminate ABD matrix direct input](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/laminate-abd-matrix-direct-input/3666)
**Author:** [@Giuseppe](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Giuseppe)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 13, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/laminate-abd-matrix-direct-input/3666 "2026-09-13T12:46:56Z")
Good morning, I’d like to know if it’s possible to directly input the laminate ABD matrix, possibly with the keywords ? I know it’s possible to specify E\_L, E\_T etc of each ply , but for my analysis I want to input the… --- ## [Convergence Issue - probably because of contact definition](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/convergence-issue-probably-because-of-contact-definition/3662)
**Author:** [@gmssi](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/gmssi)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 11, 2026, 10:54am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/convergence-issue-probably-because-of-contact-definition/3662 "2026-09-11T10:54:16Z")
Hello everyone, I’m a new user to prepomax and calculix. I am running a case where you have a softer body pushed against a harder one, forming an indent. The following figure gives a good idea about the geometry (unfortu… --- ## [Contact pressure distribution](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/contact-pressure-distribution/3639)
**Author:** [@nCarma](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/nCarma)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2026, 10:06pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/contact-pressure-distribution/3639 "2026-09-07T22:06:15Z")
Hi everyone, currently I’m working on a project which requires to know the value of the tensions generated by the contact between a flat punch with rounded edges and a flat surface and I can’t get a value which is aligne… --- ## [Debugging suggestions requested for NL static w/ contact model](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/debugging-suggestions-requested-for-nl-static-w-contact-model/3653)
**Author:** [@johns\_coffee](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/johns_coffee)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/debugging-suggestions-requested-for-nl-static-w-contact-model/3653 "2026-09-05T22:36:41Z")
Hi All, First let me say thank you for a great tool and a fantastic user community. I am really enjoying the journey into more complex FEA territory and appreciate all your efforts. I am trying to build a static model… --- ## [RBE3 implementation](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/rbe3-implementation/3596)
**Author:** [@Marco](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Marco)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 5, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/rbe3-implementation/3596 "2026-09-05T16:20:53Z")
Good afternoon All, I’m trying to implement the RBE3 link in one simple model that I found on line. It’s a simple rectangular plate, fixed on one side and with a force of compression applied on the otherside. I’ve … --- ## [Reinforced carpentry angle bracket](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reinforced-carpentry-angle-bracket/3633)
**Author:** [@Optima](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Optima)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 11:14am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/reinforced-carpentry-angle-bracket/3633 "2026-09-02T11:14:16Z")
Hello everyone. To start off, I should mention that I am a beginner when it comes to advanced FEM analysis. I have a connection between a timber beam and a reinforced concrete beam using a metal connector, and I want to … --- ## [Bending of the element onto another element](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/bending-of-the-element-onto-another-element/3640)
**Author:** [@calimero22](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/calimero22)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 10:23am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/bending-of-the-element-onto-another-element/3640 "2026-09-02T10:23:59Z")
Hello everyone. When I apply a load L, the entire block moves downward. But rod B must not enter the block; it must obviously bend. How do I solve this? Thanks everyone. Giovanni qqq.pmx (5.6 MB) --- ## [Calculix 2.23 has released](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/calculix-2-23-has-released/3626)
**Author:** [@Maxing](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Maxing)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2026, 2:15pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/calculix-2-23-has-released/3626 "2026-08-30T14:15:57Z")
Why we can’t use the lastest solver Calculix 2.23? --- ## [Forces in the fixing screws](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/forces-in-the-fixing-screws/3624)
**Author:** [@Piotr](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Piotr)\ **Replies:** 18\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2026, 7:19am UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/forces-in-the-fixing-screws/3624 "2026-08-30T07:19:21Z")
Hi Guys, I have analysed dozens of different approaches, and I keep getting different results for the reactions in the fixing screws :confused: What am I doing wrong? I have a situation where an element is fixed to the… --- ## [Optimax example](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/optimax-example/2151)
**Author:** [@belov](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/belov)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/optimax-example/2151 "2026-08-24T23:08:50Z")
Good day. Tell me, is there a test example for Optimax? --- ## [Pipe Wrench Stress Concentration](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/pipe-wrench-stress-concentration/3617)
**Author:** [@Pasqualeg10](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/Pasqualeg10)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 24, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/pipe-wrench-stress-concentration/3617 "2026-08-24T15:42:12Z")
I’m simulating a Stilson wrench (pipe wrench) in PrepoMax 2.5. I fix the jaw teeth (as if gripping a pipe) and apply a load on the handle, trying to see the real stress concentration at the elbow/bend of the wrench. Wha… --- ## [Surface Interaction Non-convergence when using anything other than Tetrahedral Gmsh](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/surface-interaction-non-convergence-when-using-anything-other-than-tetrahedral-gmsh/3613)
**Author:** [@cwyco](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/cwyco)\ **Replies:** 19\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/surface-interaction-non-convergence-when-using-anything-other-than-tetrahedral-gmsh/3613 "2026-08-20T13:37:26Z")
I am new to using PrePoMax and am having issues getting surface contacts/constraints to work with any mesh other than Tetra Gmsh. I am trying to model a hydraulic piston to estimate the stresses in the piston head where … --- ## [Solar Collector](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/solar-collector/471)
**Author:** [@calimero22](https://prepomax.discourse.group/u/calimero22)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [August 11, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://prepomax.discourse.group/t/solar-collector/471 "2026-08-11T16:03:49Z")
Hi All Can I simulate a Solar Collector, shown in the photo? Can PrePoMax do this? The cold air passes from bottom to top, on the top the air is hot. The pipes are in ALluminium. Thank you very much. Giovanni [Next page](https://prepomax.discourse.group/c/general-questions/6.md?page=1)