# Software for modelling elastic surfaces **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-for-modelling-elastic-surfaces/598593 "2011-10-04T19:24:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-for-modelling-elastic-surfaces/598593/1 "2011-10-04T19:24:23Z")
I think I’ve invented something, but don’t have the wherewithal to manufacture a prototype, yet. It’s an inflatable something - I know it must be possible to model this in software, but are there solutions available to the amateur? I want to design a hollow polyhedron, define the tensile and elastic properties of the surface, then test what happens when it’s inflated. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-for-modelling-elastic-surfaces/598593/2 "2011-10-05T16:27:58Z")
I get one free bump, right? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-for-modelling-elastic-surfaces/598593/3 "2011-10-05T18:31:19Z")
Finite-element analysis software like ANSYS, NASTRAN or PASTRAN or the larger modelling programs like CATIA might be able to do what you are interested in. I think SolidWorks might be able to do some FEA analysis; there’s a free student download but I’m not sure it’s the complete package. They aren’t cheap or particularly user-friendly/intuitive software packages for someone without FEA experience and/or enough understanding of the mechanics of the problem to correctly parameterize the problem. It will spit back an answer based on what you provide it; but you need to know that what parameters you’re providing make sense and whether the output makes sense. Perhaps contacting an experienced contract engineering firm would be your best bet; otherwise maybe dealing with researchers at a university? Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/software-for-modelling-elastic-surfaces/598593/4 "2011-10-05T21:27:19Z")
Thanks for that advice - I suspected the entry curve might be a bit steep for what I want to achieve. I think I need to talk to my friend the intellectual property lawyer before I start commissioning prototypes…