{"id":68015,"date":"2025-08-26T13:39:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T17:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/?p=68015"},"modified":"2026-03-26T06:47:24","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T10:47:24","slug":"simcenter-femap-2506-aeroelastic-solution-enhancements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/simcenter-femap-2506-aeroelastic-solution-enhancements\/","title":{"rendered":"Simcenter Femap 2506 &#8211; Aeroelastic solution enhancements"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Modern aircraft are pushing the boundaries of design with lighter materials, more flexible structures, and complex active control systems. Although this innovation offers significant improvements in performance, it also amplifies the critical importance of&nbsp;<strong>aeroelasticity<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 the intricate interaction between aerodynamic forces, structural flexibility, and inertial forces. Unchecked aeroelastic phenomena like flutter, divergence, or control reversal can have catastrophic consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2538\" height=\"1412\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Flut3-1.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68296\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At Siemens Digital Industries Software, we are committed to empowering engineers with the most advanced tools to tackle these challenges. Following the strategic acquisition of Zona Technology, we&#8217;ve integrated world-class aeroelastic capabilities into Simcenter Femap 2506.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Simcenter Zona ZAERO &#8211; A new graphical workflow<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before version 2506, the ZAERO process was primarily text input file based. The updated workflow enables users to create and modify both the structure and the aeroelastic model within the Simcenter Femap interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-600x338.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-2048x1152.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-395x222.png 395w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/ZAERO-1-900x506.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Simcenter Zona ZAERO utilises input &#8220;cards&#8221; to define both the aeroelastic model and its interface with the structural model, similar to Simcenter Nastran. The workflow includes creating the structural model, specifying aero panels, airfoil sections if required, and aero bodies. Aero components are connected to the structural model through aero splines. The Zona Aeroelasticity feature is accessible from a recently introduced menu located below the Nastran Aeroelasticity commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"606\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Zona-Menu-and-Model-Info-Tree-1024x606.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Zona-Menu-and-Model-Info-Tree-1024x606.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Zona-Menu-and-Model-Info-Tree-600x355.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Zona-Menu-and-Model-Info-Tree-768x454.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Zona-Menu-and-Model-Info-Tree-1536x908.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Zona-Menu-and-Model-Info-Tree-2048x1211.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Zona-Menu-and-Model-Info-Tree-900x532.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>ZAERO panel<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A Panel specifies the principal aerodynamic surfaces of the structure, including the wing, rudder, and elevator. Surfaces may be defined by inputting coordinates or selecting points from the structural geometry. Mesh size is managed via the Chord Divisions and Span Divisions settings. Additionally, when the analysis incorporates bodies such as the fuselage, the attachment point is designated at this stage. In the present example, the wing root is affixed to the fuselage body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Panel-dialog-1024x440.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Panel-dialog-1024x440.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Panel-dialog-600x258.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Panel-dialog-768x330.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Panel-dialog-1536x660.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Panel-dialog-2048x880.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Panel-dialog-900x387.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>ZAERO section<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Airfoil Section assigns airfoil profiles to these surfaces, facilitating more detailed analysis and higher fidelity results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dynamically display panels with aero thickness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Excel like functionality to enter data directly into cells<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Option to have different root\/tip section<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preview button to show 2D plot of section data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"867\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Airfoil-Section-1024x867.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68261\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Airfoil-Section-1024x867.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Airfoil-Section-600x508.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Airfoil-Section-768x650.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Airfoil-Section-1536x1301.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Airfoil-Section-2048x1735.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Airfoil-Section-900x762.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>ZAERO spline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Aero Splines connect the structural mesh to the aeroelastic mesh.&nbsp; It\u2019s a simple connection from specific \u201cboxes\u201d or an entire CAERO7 to nodes from the structural model.&nbsp; Nodes can be picked manually with all the node selection options, or from a FEMAP group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Spling-with-dialog-1024x600.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68262\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Spling-with-dialog-1024x600.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Spling-with-dialog-600x352.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Spling-with-dialog-768x450.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Spling-with-dialog-1536x900.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Spling-with-dialog-2048x1200.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Spling-with-dialog-900x527.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:39px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Output tables for post-processing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The introduction of ZONA ZAERO Post-Processing functionality required a revised approach to managing tabular output data. In earlier versions of FEMAP, tabular results were stored within FEMAP functions, which are suitable for handling simple X, Y pairs of data. However, combining input functions and output results in the same location created potential confusion. As a result, FEMAP functions will be designated as Pre-Processing items, while Output Tables will serve as Post-Processing items. The FEMAP development team opted to retain Functions for input operations, while implementing the new Output Tables as a dedicated format for storing solver results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Output-Tables-2-1024x370.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Output-Tables-2-1024x370.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Output-Tables-2-600x217.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Output-Tables-2-768x277.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Output-Tables-2-1536x555.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Output-Tables-2-2048x740.png 2048w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Output-Tables-2-900x325.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With their metadata, Output Tables know where they came from, we can now customize charting to leverage this, and even tabular listings to present the data more clearly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interpreting flutter analysis<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In flutter analysis, velocity vs. damping ratio graphs help engineers identify the critical flutter point where a structure&#8217;s damping becomes zero or negative. These graphs show how a structure&#8217;s stability changes as airspeed increases, revealing the transition from stable to unstable regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When examining these graphs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Negative damping indicates stable conditions where vibrations naturally decay<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zero damping represents the flutter boundary (neutral stability)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Positive damping indicates unstable regions where vibrations amplify without external energy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These plots are crucial because they help engineers determine the flutter speed &#8211; the speed at which a structure becomes unstable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The V-g-\u03c9 (velocity-damping-frequency) plots show how damping changes with airspeed for different vibration modes, helping identify which specific structural modes might lead to flutter issues and allowing engineers to implement targeted design modifications to improve aeroelastic stability before physical testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Damping-vs-velocity-from-troy-1024x686.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-68293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Damping-vs-velocity-from-troy-1024x686.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Damping-vs-velocity-from-troy-600x402.png 600w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Damping-vs-velocity-from-troy-768x514.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Damping-vs-velocity-from-troy-1536x1029.png 1536w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Damping-vs-velocity-from-troy-900x603.png 900w, https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Damping-vs-velocity-from-troy.png 1983w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you so much for your attention and time. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to me, so please feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Simcenter Femap community<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Connect with other Simcenter Femap users, share experiences, and ask product questions in the <a href=\"https:\/\/community.sw.siemens.com\/s\/topic\/0TO4O000000MikcWAC\/simcenter-femap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Simcenter Femap community<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Modern aircraft are pushing the boundaries of design with lighter materials, more flexible structures, and complex active control systems. See how the new Zona ZAERO capabilities empower engineers to tackle these challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84482,"featured_media":68279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,179],"tags":[5,243,82,572,298,18503,251,683,10820,17764,18629,86],"industry":[125],"product":[501,581],"coauthors":[10817],"class_list":["post-68015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-product-updates","tag-cae-simulation","tag-computer-aided-engineering-cae","tag-digital-twin","tag-durability","tag-electric-vehicle","tag-fea","tag-finite-element-analysis","tag-nvh","tag-product-updates","tag-simcenter-cae-solutions","tag-simcenter-mechanical","tag-simulation","industry-aerospace-defense","product-simcenter-femap","product-simcenter-nastran"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/08\/Iso-Private-Aircraft-w-aero-panels-scaled.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84482"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68015"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68513,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68015\/revisions\/68513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68015"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=68015"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=68015"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/simcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=68015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}