Finite element analysis for structural engineers

A technical talk covering the following topics:

•What is an FEA model?

•What is it that you may want from the model?

•Choice of elements - why?

•Meshing - why this is important.

•How to check the FEA model (including common mistakes).

•Dealing with Advanced Analysis, code checks etc.

Speaker

Terry Cakebread, Retired Vice President North America, LUSAS

Terry Cakebread joined LUSAS the advanced Finite Element Analysis Company in December 1996 and retired in May 2023. He graduated from Southampton University with a BSc Honours Degree in Civil Engineering in 1978. He started working for a contractor (Cubitts now part of Tarmac) under the ICE Training scheme and as a Site Engineer. Amongst several projects, he worked on the refurbishment of Tower Bridge in London.

He worked in Qatar in the Middle East from 1982 to 1986 for Kenchington Little (now WSP) as a Senior Engineer moving on to run the local office. During this period he became a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE)

When he returned to the UK in 1987 he continued working for the same firm as a Senior Engineer providing advice on in house computer analysis and design software and selling the in-house developed CAD system. He was promoted to Director of what became GTS-CADBUILD. He left in 1996 to join LUSAS, a London based company specializing in Finite Element Analysis. Terry brought his expertise in bridge and structural engineering to the business.

Terry was initially looking after client accounts in the UK and then Scandinavia, but when LUSAS gained one client in the USA in 2003 the owner asked Terry to grow and look after all LUSAS business in North America whilst keeping a few clients in the UK. He was rapidly promoted to Vice President of LUSAS for North America and remained in that post until his retirement at the end of May 2023. LUSAS now has many clients across North America and Terry has given numerous presentations, attended many conferences and given many papers on the application and benefits of Finite Element Analysis in analysing and designing and load rating simple and complex structures; with some emphasis on bridges.

Hot & cold buffet will be served from 6pm for a meeting start at 6:30pm.

Please note that there is ample free parking at the hotel (please register number plate at reception).

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