The most rapid and robust of finite-element solvers. Sestra is a general-purpose FE program for linear structural analysis.

Sestra is Sesam's structural analysis program. It meets the demands of the offshore and maritime industries with a range of analysis capabilities: static analysis, superelement analysis, free vibration analysis and forced dynamic analysis in frequency and time domain. Alternative reduction techniques are available for dynamic analysis.

Additional analysis features are available such as structure-pile-soil interaction analysis, stress stiffening, linear buckling and axi-symmetric analysis.

Sestra is particularly known for handling large analyses and today the problem size (structure complexity and number of load-cases) is limited by the storage capacity of your hardware sysem. There are features for splitting working files on several disks. For large analyses this may make the difference between getting the analysis done in time or not at all.

No extensive input to Sestra is required as the Sesam modellers and environmental analysis programs create the FE model and compute the loads. Most Sestra analyses are run with no manual input other than clicking options in Sesam Manager, the program controlling the analysis flow in Sesam. The results from Sestra in terms of displacements, stresses and forces are stored on file for presentation and further processing by the Sesam evaluation programs.

Benefits
The most rapid and robust of finite-element solvers.

Sestra has been used extensively within the offshore and maritime industries for 20 years. Through testing, practical use and continuous improvements it has emerged as a robust and well-proven program.

Its track record attests this claim. Recently implemented and ongoing developments within equation solving and dynamics prepare Sestra for the demands to solution speed and accuracy of the future.