Filament winding
	Braid
	Weave
	Stitched 2D/3D

Other capabilities of the software are:

	Probabilistic Design
	Time Dependent Reliability
	Random Fatigue
	Progressive Failure Dynamic Analysis (PFDA)
	Progressive Failure Optimization (PFO)
	Virtual Testing
	Virtual Crack Closure Technique (VCCT)
	Discrete Cohesive Zone Model (DCZM)
	Power Spectrum Density (PSD)
	Material Constituent Analyzer (MCA)
	Material Uncertainty Analysis (MUA)
	Material Characterization Optimizer (MCO)

What are typical areas of application of GENOA?
GENOA is ideal for aerospace structures, pressure vessels, cryogenic storage tanks, turbo machinery, automotive applications (i.e., crash and crush problems, and chopped fibers), virtual testing, manufacturing simulation, construction projects, sporting good design, and biomedical applications.

Does GENOA have pre- and post-processing capabilities?
Yes. GENOA utilizes an advanced post- and limited pre-processor to set up the input data and post processors to:

	Pre-Processor
	No Mesh Generator: FE models can be imported from NASTRAN; ABAQUS or ANSYS
	The material properties and ply schedules, thermo-mechanical boundary and loading conditions can be edited or defined from scratch using GENOA pre-processor
	Surfaces, node sets and several contact can also be defined in GENOA pre-processor
	FE models can be easily set/modified for static, fatigue, impact or other type analysis
	Post-Processor
	Output data
	Animate output
	Produce contour plots of stresses, strains, and displacements
	Damage progression and fracture animation
	Detailed anatomy of damaged plies and associated failure modes
	Energy release rate plots

Can GENOA be used for general structural analysis?
Yes, GENOA can perform: static, buckling, dynamic, modal, fatigue (low and high cycle), creep, impact, and random vibration.

Can GENOA be used to predict damage progression in buckled structures?
Yes. GENOA can be used to predict damage progression in buckled and post-buckled structures.

What type of loadings can GENOA handle?
GENOA is devised to handle static (force, pressure, and edge traction), body force (centrifugal), time dependent, and temperature loading.

What does a typical GENOA model look like?
A typical GENOA model will contain finite element description (nodes, elements, loads and boundary conditions), ply schedules and material specifications. For example, starting with a traditional NASTRAN finite element model, the GENOA graphics user interface (GUI) will generate for you the composite ply schedules and the fiber/matrix/interface or lamina properties.

What is a ply schedule?
A ply schedule specifies the composite architecture at selected nodal locations in the structure. In the ply schedule, you may assign different materials for different plies and the appropriate composite architecture. For each ply, manufacturing details are specified, such as ply thickness, ply orientation, fiber volume fraction, and void volume fraction. The GUI in GENOA is designed to assist the user in making the selections.

How do I supply the material properties in GENOA?
The material properties are assigned in a databank. Just make sure that the material selected for a ply schedule has associated properties in the databank. The material properties can be specified as fiber/matrix/interface constituent properties or as lamina properties.

Can GENOA handle finite element models from other commercial software?
Yes, GENOA is designed to import models developed for or by other programs such as MSC NASTRAN. Additionally GENOA allows you to import models from other programs, such as MSC MARC, LSDYNA, ABAQUS, and ANSYS. GENOA ensures that the translation process is inclusive of all options selected by the user.

What are the main criteria for ply damage?
Ply damage criteria include:

	Ply failure occurs because the fiber strength or ply strain limits have been exceeded
	Matrix failure due to transverse tensile
	Transverse compressive, or shear failures. In such event, only the matrix stiffness is degraded and the longitudinal stiffness of the fiber is retained
	Modified distortion energy (MDE)
	Relative rotation

Does GENOA have its own finite element analyzer?
Yes, GENOA has its own finite element analyzer. The solution is obtained using a dedicated module in GENOA. The FEM analysis is based on well established mixed iterative techniques. Its library of elements is comparable to those of commercial codes.

What if I wish to have the FEM analysis done by other programs?
GENOA offers its users the option of utilizing commercial codes such as MSC NASTRAN, MSC MARC, LSDYNA, ABAQUS, and ANSYS as the finite element solver. The interface between GENOA and the other programs is automatic. No user interference is required. The user selected FEM solvers will be used to supply GENOA with the generalized stresses. The GENOA processors update the FEM model as needed based on damage progression analysis.

Can GENOA handle non-uniform geometry?
Sure, GENOA is designed to accommodate all types of geometry. It can also easily handle thickness and step changes by assigning appropriate ply schedules to critical regions.

Are there any limitations on the model size in GENOA?
No, there are no limitations. The model can be of any size.

Are there any limitations on the number of ply schedules in GENOA?
No, there are no limitations. GENOA can handle any number of ply schedules.

Troubleshooting and Installation Problems

1) GENOA won't start up when executing "genoa" from the command line or double-clicking the icon.
GENOA's GUI requires Java and Java3D for its user interface. Please be sure that Java 1.5 minimum and Java3D 1.3.1 minimum are installed.

2) After the GENOA screen appears upon start-up, a dialog displays "JAVA3D is not installed or has been corrupted. Please re-install Java3D before proceeding." I thought Java3D was installed on my system already.
Sometimes the Java3D on your system can be corrupted due to automatic updates of Java 1.5+ or other system events. To easily solve this, just quickly re-install Java3D only. If this is a first time installation of Java, please be sure to install Java first and then Java3D second.

3) I installed Java3D 1.4 or Java3D 1.5 and GENOA seems to crash before showing the FEM graphics. What's the problem?
Unfortunately Java3D 1.4 and 1.5 both require OpenGL Version 1.2 as a minimum from your video card driver where before Java3D 1.3.1 required OpenGL Version 1.1 minimum. There are two solutions to this problem:

1) Install an updated video card driver from your video card manufacturer's website that has OpenGL Version 1.2 capability.
or
2) Un-install Java3D and install the earlier Java3D 1.3.1 version.

Some systems will have Microsoft's default OpenGL Version 1.1 as their only graphics support. Therefore they will need to install Java3D version 1.3.1.

4) How much memory is recommended for GENOA?
It is recommended to have a minimum of 1 GB of RAM for GENOA to effectively run the analysis jobs.

5) The file loading and graphics seem to be very slow in GENOA.
When double clicking or executing "genoa", the following command is executed:

java -mx512m -ms512m -jar "%GENOA%\genoa.jar"

where the 512 represents the minimum memory stack that is allocated for Java in the GENOA GUI. This file can be found by editing the "genoa" file in the "bin" directory of where GENOA is installed. To increase the memory allocation, change the number "512" to a higher number such as:

java -mx1000m -ms1000m -jar "%GENOA%\genoa.jar"

Be sure to save the "genoa" file and try to run GENOA again to hopefully see faster results.