[kanaba]

> I'm a mechanical engineer. My point is that stress analysis is the oldest, simplest, and most well understood application of finite element analysis.

I am not a mechanical engineer.

My understanding is that some composite materials used in modern aircraft manufacturing can fail in ways unlike classic aircraft aluminum (i.e. suddenly, without prior visible signs of stress/wear).

Is that relevant here?

[goatinaboat]

I am a mechanical engineer, and yes it is. The composites are simply too new to have all their properties adequately modelled yet. And they are a moving target.