Our online documentation details how to use the SPARSELAB online browser-based Finite Element Analysis (FEA/FEM) software.
SPARSELAB software provides a unique browser-based solution for performing Finite Element Analysis (FEA/FEM). The modelling engine runs natively in the browser using WebAssembly, allowing users to quickly and easily configure their projects. We provide a powerful and cost-effective cloud-based simulation service. You can reduce costs dramatically when compared to alternative software.
SPARSELAB currently supports only static linear elasticity analysis. We plan to support additional analysis types in the near future, including thermal, thermomechanical, dynamic, non-linear and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
You can get started by creating an account if you do not already have one. We offer 3 different pricing plans, including our free standard plan, which includes a free welcome bonus of 20 credits.
Our pricing plans are summarized below. Please see our pricing page for details on all the benefits provided with each plan. You can change plans at any time.
Pay for only the resources you consume with no minimum monthly payment. Receive a welcome bonus of 20 credits.
Minimum monthly payment. Includes a set number of credits and discount on purchasing additional credits.
Collaborate on projects and share the balance of credits. Includes additional credits, discounts and up to 10 users.
All new projects start by importing CAD geometry. We currently support only the STEP interchange file format, which virtually all CAD software packages can export to.
As with any finite element analysis software, it's important to ensure that your CAD geometry is suitable for simulation before importing. Fine details that do not affect the integrity or performance of the part should be removed. All geometry should be manifold and watertight.
You can apply materials to all the solid bodies at this stage. We include a standard library of common materials but you can always create and configure your own materials. Please ensure that each solid body has a material applied before attempting to solve.
Boundary conditions such as displacements can be specified by selecting the surface to which they are applied. You must ensure that you apply sufficient boundary conditions so that the geometry is not free to translate and rotate.
External loads such as forces and pressures can be imparted on solid bodies and surfaces. You can additionally specify a gravitational field which affects all solid bodies in the model.
It is good practice to generate a simple coarse mesh once your geometry has been imported. This will ensure there are no problems with your geometry. You can configure the desired number of elements and specify the meshing algorithm to be used.
All projects are solved using our high-performance cloud-computing platform. The project is packaged and uploaded to secure temporary cloud storage. It is then analyzed to generate a quote. Our cloud simulation estimator uses machine learning to predict the total running time and estimate peak memory consumption, allowing us to automatically select the appropriate hardware.
After accepting the quote, we provision the cloud computing hardware and begin to solve the project. The solution progress, represented by the estimated energy norm, is displayed continually.
Once the simulation has completed, we perform some automatic verification to detect any obvious issues. Failed simulations are automatically refunded. Canceled simulations are partially refunded according to the running time.