Sizing FEM with various types of panels and bar elements?

[Craig]

If I construct FE model with plates and bars without consideration of stiffeners and obtain internal load for each element, then can we do sizing of the panel for the same internal load with various types of panels, sandwich, hat stiffened or blade stiffened panels, and with different number of stiffeners? (This question is one typical reason why we use the software in advance.)

[Craig]

The answer is yes, you can make such a FEM using plate shell elements for the stiffened and sandwich panels, and bar elements for the ringframes and a beams, and size using various types of panels. Keep in mind you will need to iterate at least one time between FEA and HyperSizer to get the FEM internal loads to converge to the newly selected panel concept.