VisualAnalysis performers a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to determine the behavior (displacements, reactions, internal forces, etc.) of the structural model under the applied loads. Prior to analyzing complex problems, it is best to analyze simple problems with known solutions to ensure that the program is being used correctly and is producing the results as expected. The finite element analysis is performed automatically on a background-thread whenever a change is made to the model. Switch to the Result View to see the analysis results (view the Status if the results are not ready). Double-click on the Status Bar at the bottom of the window to view the Pipeline status and get more detailed information about progress of the background analysis.
The following references might be helpful to engineers who are interested in learning more about finite element analysis methods.