What is S-Life FKM?
S-Life FKM is a post-processor for the rule-based strength assessment of metallic components. Stresses from FEM simulations are processed so that static and cyclic loads can be evaluated in a transparent manner in accordance with the FKM methodology.
- Automated evaluation of static and cyclic strength of metallic components.
- Post-processor for existing FEM results.
- Compliant with guidelines, understandable, and documented.
Why strength assessments often become unnecessarily time-consuming in practice
In practice, there is often a lack of standardized procedures, suitable material properties, or an efficient approach to handling variable loads. As a result, strength assessments quickly become time-consuming, conservative, and difficult to compare.
The FKM Guideline will be directly applicable
The FKM guideline is the established standard for strength analysis of metal components in mechanical engineering. S-Life FKM translates this comprehensive methodology into a practical digital workflow for daily verification.
- FKM guideline directly applicable in the evaluation process
- Structured methodology instead of individual solutions
- Standardized verification for static and cyclic evaluation
- Reproducible results based on recognized rules
Reports are generated automatically and in an understandable manner
S-Life FKM processes local stresses from structural simulations almost at the touch of a button for static and cyclic assessment. At the same time, it generates unambiguous, user-independent results with a documented procedure.
- Automated evaluation of FEM results
- User-independent results instead of room for interpretation
- Detailed report for assessment nodes and evaluation
- Simple plausibility check and communication of results
Plastic reserves are used in a targeted manner
For ductile materials, reserves in the plastic range may be utilized under certain static load conditions. S-Life FKM automatically evaluates the local stress and determines whether and to what extent this potential can be exploited.
- Automatic evaluation of the local stress situation
- Utilization of plastic material reserves instead of a purely elastic analysis
- More realistic static analyses for ductile materials
- Less oversizing and thus lower costs
Local stress peaks are assessed more realistically
In practice, local stress gradients often lead to very conservative assessments. S-Life FKM takes the supporting effect into account in the fatigue analysis, thereby enabling a significantly more realistic assessment of cyclic strength.
- Support effect is taken into account in the fatigue analysis
- Less conservative assessment than with nominal SN curves
- More realistic assessment of local stress peaks
- Lower component costs by avoiding unnecessary safety margins
Missing fatigue data no longer slows things down
For many materials, the required cyclic properties are not fully available under specific loading conditions. Using the material database and standard SN curves, these properties can be derived in compliance with guidelines without having to set up complex in-house testing programs.
- Material database with over 1,600 materials
- Steel, cast iron, and aluminum materials are directly available
- Custom materials can be added
- Standard SN curves for deriving cyclic properties
- Reduced testing and research effort when data is missing
Variable loads and critical combinations become manageable
In practice, time-varying load histories and multiple superimposed loads are often the most challenging aspect of the analysis. S-Life FKM systematically accounts for such loads and uses an algorithm to identify the most unfavorable local load combination.
- Miner damage accumulation for variable load histories
- Load Manager with standard load sets and custom load sets
- Load Combinator for superimposed loads
- Critical load combinations are automatically determined locally
- Suitable for multiaxial and non-proportional loads
Features
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Structural strength analysis Structural strength analysis using local stresses for non-welded metal components in accordance with Chapter 3 of the FKM Guideline. Fatigue strength analysis Cyclic strength assessment with local stresses for non-welded metallic components in accordance with Chapter 4 of the FKM Guideline for proportional, synchronous, and non-proportional loading. Policy Framework Calculational Strength Verification for Mechanical Components, FKM Guidelines, 7th Edition, Research Council for Mechanical Engineering, VDMA Publishing, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2020. |
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Material Data Assignment Convenient assignment of material data via the MatScape front end. Integrated materials More than 1,600 materials (steel, cast iron, aluminum) in accordance with the FKM guideline. Custom material data You can enter your own material data. |
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Stress display Display of the imported stresses as a 3D contour plot. Utilization Ratios Display of static and cyclic utilization ratios on the component surface as a 3D contour plot. |
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Stress transformation Stress transformation into a surface-tangential coordinate system for fatigue strength analysis using coordinate stresses. Critical plane method Critical plane method for identifying the damage-relevant plane for fatigue strength analysis. Plane angle increment Customizable critical plane angle increments between 5° and 45°. Non-proportional stresses Treatment of non-proportional multiaxial stresses in accordance with the guideline. |
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Assessment results per node Comprehensive nodewise reporting of assessment results. Preliminary results Presentation of all interim results in accordance with the guidelines for plausibility checks. Report Output Download the report in PDF format. |
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Load Combinator – Stress Preprocessing Load combinator for stress preprocessing (addition, subtraction, multiplication). Load Combinator – Critical Load Case Combinations Load combinator for determining critical load combinations when multiple loads occur simultaneously. Load Manager Load manager with built-in standard load sprectra functions (binomial and exponential). Custom load sprectra can be added. |
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Static and cyclic strength verification in accordance with the FKM guideline
Structural strength analysis
Structural strength analysis using local stresses for non-welded metal components in accordance with Chapter 3 of the FKM Guideline.
Fatigue strength analysis
Cyclic strength assessment with local stresses for non-welded metallic components in accordance with Chapter 4 of the FKM Guideline for proportional, synchronous, and non-proportional loading.
Policy Framework
Calculational Strength Verification for Mechanical Components, FKM Guidelines, 7th Edition, Research Council for Mechanical Engineering, VDMA Publishing, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2020.
Assign material data, use existing materials, and add your own
Material Data Assignment
Convenient assignment of material data via the MatScape front end.
Integrated materials
More than 1,600 materials (steel, cast iron, aluminum) in accordance with the FKM guideline.
Custom material data
You can enter your own material data.
Display stresses and stress levels as 3D contour plots
Stress display
Display of the imported stresses as a 3D contour plot.
Utilization Ratios
Display of static and cyclic utilization ratios on the component surface as a 3D contour plot.
Stress transformation, critical plane method, and evaluation of complex stresses
Stress transformation
Stress transformation into a surface-tangential coordinate system for fatigue strength analysis using coordinate stresses.
Critical plane method
Critical plane method for identifying the damage-relevant plane for fatigue strength analysis.
Plane angle increment
Customizable critical plane angle increments between 5° and 45°.
Non-proportional stresses
Treatment of non-proportional multiaxial stresses in accordance with the guideline.
Document validation results and output interim results for plausibility checking
Assessment results per node
Comprehensive nodewise reporting of assessment results.
Preliminary results
Presentation of all interim results in accordance with the guidelines for plausibility checks.
Report Output
Download the report in PDF format.
Combine load cases, manage load sets, and identify critical combinations
Load Combinator – Stress Preprocessing
Load combinator for stress preprocessing (addition, subtraction, multiplication).
Load Combinator – Critical Load Case Combinations
Load combinator for determining critical load combinations when multiple loads occur simultaneously.
Load Manager
Load manager with built-in standard load sprectra functions (binomial and exponential). Custom load sprectra can be added.
What our customers say
“Our mills are subjected to high dynamic loads. S-Life FKM allows us to perform a comprehensive strength analysis and component optimization quickly and easily. The software also makes it easier for us to document our calculations.”
“The extreme dynamic loads and nonlinear properties of our components result in non-proportional stresses. With S-Life FKM, we can evaluate all critical load combinations in just a few minutes.”
“We use S-Life FKM to analyze our FEM simulations of generator rotors. Its intuitive and fast operation significantly reduces the time and effort required for analysis and documentation.”
Benefits
S-Life FKM helps you perform strength analyses for metal components faster, more reliably, and with significantly less manual effort. This makes assessments in accordance with the FKM guideline easier to apply and, at the same time, allows for transparent documentation.
S-Life FKM reduced
- Costs for material testing, since strength parameters are already included or are determined in accordance with guidelines
- Development time, since the simple automated application eliminates the need for labor-intensive manual verifications
- Errors, since the automated procedure largely prevents incorrect entries and misinterpretations
- Component part and rework costs, since over- or under-dimensioning is avoided through strength evaluation in compliance with guidelines
S-Life FKM increases
- Reliability of the strength assessment, as standardized procedures in line with the state of the art are applied by adhering to the FKM guideline
- Confidence in the strength assessment, as the comprehensive documentation ensures that the procedures used are traceable and verifiable