Hand Calculation Correlation Checklist
Review prompts for comparing FE results with hand calculations — location, stress definition, assumptions and tolerance.
Purpose
For checking the correlation between FE results and hand calculations.
Correlation
- Is the hand calculation at the same location and for the same stress component as the FE result? — Not comparing different things
- Is the hand calculation assumption consistent with the FE model? — Same boundary conditions and loads
- Is the correlation within an expected tolerance (typically 5% for nominal stress)? — Larger differences need explanation
- If the difference is large, is the cause investigated — not just noted? — Model error or hand calc limitation
- Is the hand calculation documented with equations and intermediate values? — For reproducibility