Abstract: The invention concerns a method for generating a calculation model, in particular a finite element calculation model, for a mechanical structure, in particular a mechanical structure of a motor vehicle, such as a body-in-white, said method involving the following steps: a) preparing the mechanical structure from which a calculation model is to be generated; b) cleaning the mechanical structure; c) applying reference points to the cleaned and assembled mechanical structure; d) scanning the assembled mechanical structure in order to generate geometric data pertaining to the assembled mechanical structure, from the individual parts of the assembled mechanical structure and the reference points; e) at least partly dividing the assembled mechanical structure into individual parts, which cannot be completely detected when scanning the assembled mechanical structure; f) scanning the individual parts alone or in conjunction with at least one add-on part attached to each individual part in order to generate correspond