Alternative FEA software? 1

[Worldtraveller]

This is not a complaint thread about any existing FEA packages. I am rather happy using the commercial packages that are exist.

What I am looking for though, is a package or packages that 1) run in a Linux environment, and 2) something that comes close the a fully integrated pre and post processor with the solver. I have found some meshing software, but that requires one to build the geometry in a different 'CAD' program and import it, then load yet another program, import the meshed geometry, apply loads, restraints, material props, etc. Then load the solver as a separate task...well, you get the idea.

I think the only commercial version I've found that is Linux compatible is MSC's version of Patran (not sure if FeMAP is Linux friendly), but I would like to know if anyone is aware of an open source solver with all the other features (not necessarily ALL the bells and whistles)that might fulfill basic FEA requirements.

Thanks.

 

[DanStro]

Abaqus and ANSYS will run on Linux. The two programs that I've looked at are:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/caelinux/

http://www.salome-platform.org/

Han primo incensus

 

[rowingengineer]

strand 7 might be worth a look they were developing a linux version I believe.

http://www.nceng.com.au/

"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning."

 

[loki3000]

-calculix, it also has a much better (i've heard), but not free 3rd-party pre/post
-openfoam does some solid mechanics too, but i don't know about meshing, post, etc.
-code_aster, fully OS and free, but i hope you speak french. probably the best of them though, as it's used by a french electricity provider (that also wrote it). there is an english translation too, but i don't know about it.

 

[johnbridge231]

engissol 3d library is maybe the best for analysis of framed strctures but does not provide a gui.

 

[GregLocock]

Easy, Altair Hyperworks. This runs in Linux. You mesh in Hypermesh which is the industry standard in the auto biz, then solve in RADIOSS or optistruct, and then there's all sorts of powerful postprocessing in Hypergraph and Hyperview. It also talks to most other solvers, not just the altair ones. I personally loathe Hypermesh but I guess it is horses for courses. There again I also loathe Patran, I'm a FEMAP boy at heart.

http://www.altairhyperworks.com/hwhelp/Altair/hw11.0/help/hw/platforms_and_operating_systems.htm

I know that sounds like Hype (ahem) but I have nothing to do with Altair apart from being a reasonably satisfied end user (not FEA if I can help it).


Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[DanStro]

Caculix is very similar to Abaqus, in both the solver and input files, but it's GUI is terrible.

Han primo incensus

 

[Worldtraveller]

Thanks for the links and ideas. I'm not a fan of Patran either (to put it mildly). I much prefer the Femap interface and Ansys (those are the only other FEA packages I've really worked with). I've found a geometry builder and mesher, but it had pretty limited capability, and it couldn't do the other pre-processing stuff like apply loads and restraints. I'm just starting to really seriously consider this, as I'm convinced I want to get away from Windoze as much as possible.

 

[loki3000]

abaqus is able to run on lin and has a MUCH better UI then ansys classic for example (i don't know it ansys wb is on linux). it's pricey though.
FEMAP might be also lin friendly, as NX CAD is too...