Some Examples for Advanced Numerical Solutions Pushing the Limits of Commercial Software

The finite element method has proven its versatility in vast areas of engineering disciplines. Nevertheless, there are still many applications that require augmenting the standard functionality of commercial software, e.g., by providing user subroutines. This paper shows three examples of non-classical finite element applications. First, the calibration of an advanced material model for transformation induced plasticity that can later be used for the second application, namely a one dimensional user element representing the behavior of a heavy steel plate after accelerated cooling very efficiently but nonetheless accurately. The third example is thematically slightly different in that it shows the potential of numerical methods in an up-to-now merely experimentally investigated field, i.e. the simulation of a rockfall protection system.