Flexcom is a premium structural analysis software package which has underpinned the engineering design on some of the world’s most demanding offshore projects. Developed by Wood's software solution specialists, the program is designed and maintained by engineers who are immersed in the offshore energy industry. Flexcom’s design philosophy is based on the provision of advanced computational techniques to provide confidence in the engineering design, coupled with a user-friendly interface which facilitates optimum productivity. Flexcom is a highly versatile software package, capable of simulating risers, mooring lines, umbilicals, CALM buoys, offloading lines, pipelines, installation processes, offshore wind turbines and wave energy devices. With almost 40 years' experience, Flexcom has been delivering advanced engineering solutions to all the major operators, contractors, construction companies, manufacturers, and engineering consultants. The first version was released circa 1985, and a continuous update program has been maintained since then.

The software uses an industry-proven finite element formulation, incorporating a hybrid beam-column element with fully coupled axial, bending and torque forces. Up to 10 integration points are used within each finite element to ensure a precise distribution of applied forces. Third order shape functions are used to predict solution variable (e.g. moment, curvature) variations within each element. Flexcom uses a consistent mass formulation which integrates the mass along the length of each finite element, consistent with the fundamental principles of the finite element method, stiffness matrix assembly and shape functions. This results in a fully populated mass matrix with off-diagonal terms that include coupling terms between different degrees of freedom and different nodes, and represents a complete numerical definition of the structural mass in reality. A consistent mass definition is important for implicit time domain solvers which simulate dynamic structures, and is particularly important in accurately capturing rotational inertia effects.

Benefits of using Flexcom

•Supreme confidence in the engineering design: Flexcom’s renowned computational technique is widely acknowledged as best-in-class

•One stop solution: Flexcom’s versatile nature makes it suitable for use in a variety of scenarios, ranging from FEED studies, detailed engineering design, fatigue life assessment, structural installation and decommissioning

•Quality assurance: Mathematical equations are fully supported within the software, allowing users to develop and validate template models, streamlining the QA process. Flexcom’s keyword style input also readily lends itself to QA inspection

•Advanced visualisation: Powerful visual aids such as colour contouring of stresses provide the user with an intuitive visual representation of engineering data

•Trust and reliability: Flexcom is bolstered by a premium technical support service, with over 90% of queries fully resolved within one working day

•Cost effective solution: Affordable cost structure and very flexible licensing options. Plus our user interface does not require a licence, maximising the number of licences available for numerical simulation.

Advanced user experience

•Quick and easy model building via the Line component and automatic mesh-creation facility

•Fully integrated keyword editor facilitates rapid data specification, with helpful input prompts and command auto-completion

•Parameters and mathematical equations are supported, effectively providing spreadsheet type functionality within the Flexcom environment

•Streamlined post-processing enables assembly of results from a large load case matrix into a single spreadsheet

•Enhanced visualisation of engineering data such as stress contouring and 3D surface plotting

•Direct interface to Microsoft Excel, with optional access to VBA code which enables power users to develop specialised post-processing tools

•User defined plug-ins allow power users to create intelligent models which automatically adjust to instantaneous conditions which develop over time during dynamic simulations

•Dedicated video creation studio which allows users to create customised videos of finite element models and showcase innovative engineering designs. It's even possible to create a fully immersive virtual reality experience using the Unity Plug-In.

Simulation capabilities

•Static, quasi-static, time and frequency domain analysis, plus Fatigue life assessment

•Modal analysis, interfacing with Shear7 (enabling the assessment of fatigue damage caused by vortex induced vibration)

•Recognised industry leader in finite element solution techniques. Up to 10 integration points per element to ensure precise distribution of applied forces. Third order shape functions used to predict solution variations within each element

•Several non-linear material models, including hysteretic bending effects and plastic hardening. Plus pipe-in-pipe, pipe-on-pipe and multiple riser bundle configurations

•Fully coupled aero-hydro-structural modelling of floating offshore wind turbines via coupling with OpenFAST

•Detailed internal fluid and slug flow models, including centrifugal, Coriolis and dynamic pressure effects

•Range of contact modelling options, including contact surfaces and line clashing

•Wake interference, including Huse and Blevins’ formulations, plus a generic user-defined wake model

•User defined plug-ins which allow power users to adjust the constitutive finite element matrices and directly control the numerical solution at run-time

•Financial appraisals of Wave Energy Converters via coupling with ExceedenceFinance, a third party techno-financial software product.

Further Information

Refer to Getting Started for further information on getting to grips with Flexcom, building your own models and running your own simulations. In order to help novice users to up-skill and improve their proficiency with Flexcom, we have compiled a series of online tutorial videos.

Check out our extensive video library for illustrations of Flexcom's modelling capabilities and broad range of applications.

Learn about our flexible licensing options and get your hands on a free trial version of the software.

We have over 5,400 followers on LinkedIn and we encourage everyone to sign up. We'll keep you update with news of latest releases and new modelling features as they become available. You’ll also find some very interesting simulation videos which are shared on our forum.

There is a Flexcom page on Wikipedia and we welcome contributions from Flexcom users or any other interested parties. Flexcom also has a dedicated landing page on the Wood company website.

Enjoy working with Flexcom!

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