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ForcePAD

Sketch structures and instantly explore how they deform, carry forces, and develop stresses.

ForcePAD is an open-source, sketch-based 2D finite element analysis tool for structural mechanics education. Draw a shape like in a paint program, add loads and supports, and see stresses and displacements update interactively.

Download ForcePAD Quick start Videos Examples

Why ForcePAD?

  • Sketch-based modelling: draw structural domains with brushes, fills, lines, rectangles, ellipses, and image-like editing tools.
  • Immediate structural feedback: inspect displacements, principal stresses, and von Mises stresses without a complex CAD workflow.
  • Interactive force exploration: move or rotate forces in Action mode and see the response update.
  • Topology optimisation: experiment with efficient structural layouts directly from a sketched design domain.
  • Educational FEM focus: useful for teaching finite element analysis, structural mechanics, stress flow, and deformation behaviour.
  • Open source: GPL-2 licensed C++ code with Qt, OpenGL, Eigen, and a C++ CALFEM implementation.

Quick Start in 60 Seconds

  1. Download the latest release.
  2. Create a new model or open a bundled example.
  3. Draw a structure in Sketch mode.

ForcePAD sketch mode

  1. Add constraints and forces in Physics mode.

ForcePAD physics mode

  1. Inspect stresses, deformations, and optimisation results in Action mode.

ForcePAD action mode ForcePAD action mode

What You Can Explore

Topic ForcePAD workflow
Beam bending Sketch a beam, constrain one side, add a load, and inspect displacement.
Stress concentrations Add openings or sharp corners and compare von Mises stress fields.
Load paths Move forces and watch principal stress directions change.
Support conditions Change boundary constraints and compare deformation patterns.
Topology optimisation Start with a design domain and let ForcePAD derive an efficient structure.

Examples

ForcePAD includes sample .fp2 models for beams, blocks, thick domains, and image-based structures. See the Examples page for links and placeholders for future curated teaching examples.

For Students and Teachers

ForcePAD is strongest when it is used as an exploratory teaching tool: ask "what changes if..." and see the answer immediately. The student guide collects small experiments for learning finite element behaviour, stress visualization, and structural deformation.

Cite This Project

If ForcePAD supports your teaching, research, or publication, see Cite ForcePAD for a suggested citation and BibTeX entry.