Steven,
Yes I agree they are updated and the account for stiffness check box does exactly what it is intended to do.
BUT the software keeps the required preload values secret.
... unless I have missed it.
I want to know these values and update the input stiffness. If I don't do this, every time I run the model with account for stiffness on I have implicitly and extra run while the software works out what the fastener preloads should be. Every time.
To make the point,, this doubles the analysis time. Once is acceptable. More is not.
Therefore if more than 1 run with external loads is likely, it is cheaper to carry out a stand alone preload analysis and update the preloads by hand.
It is a nuisance when there are 64 fasteners.
What I want is a check boxes or config options that allow me to see what the software has calculated as the required input preload and/or automatic updating of the preloads to take human error out of the equation. I mentioned these to Tad D before the functionality was implemented (here on this forum somehwere).
Besides, knowing the required preload inputs to get the desired preloads at each fastener helps us debug a model and when debugged tells us a lot about the local stiffness of the structure. It is remarkable how local features change the amount someone assembling parts has to turn the wrench,
bfn