FEA and CFD software

[Jc1981]

What what our some of the FEA and CFD software people our using?
I'm being told 20,000 range

Is there any DECENT entry level programs ?
?

 

[SWComposites]

What exact modelling capability do you need?
What exactly are you simulating?
How much experience do you have?
Is this for personal use? Company use? Other?
20k? Dollars? Lira? Rubles?

 

[GregLocock]

OpenFOAM is a free and powerful CFD, used by OEMs and racing teams. Calculix is a free and useful FEA.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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

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[Jc1981]

SWComposites
What exact modelling capability do you need?-We use NX to create the actual CAD model itself... SOMETIMES Catia

What exactly are you simulating? Typically stress loads with plastics

How much experience do you have? I had experience using FEA in I-deas but being it was I-deas that goes to tell you how long ago it was... lol

Is this for personal use? Company use? Other? - Company but we want to just get a sneak peak to see how much we will actually utilize it

Just a example, we bought a FormLabs Form 2 just to kinda see how much we will utilize, now where buying a Form 3L.. lol

20k? Dollars? Lira? Rubles? not sure the questions but USD

 

[Jc1981]

be nice with all my questions here... I'm learning... lol

do you have to have inventor to use something like this?

https://www.autodesk.com/products/inventor-nastran/overview?term=1-YEAR&tab=subscription

 

[ThomasH]

do you have to have inventor to use something like this?

For that version of Nastran I think you need Inventor. But there are other Nastran options, like Simcenter (NX) Nastran. Since you mention NX that might be worth checking out.

 

[SWComposites]

See if you can negotiate a 60-90 day trial license for NX Nastran.

(and I have vague memories of IDEAS, ugh).

Too bad NEiNastran is no longer around.

 

[ThomasH]

I don't know if you can use NX Nastran directly from NX. Otherwise you'll need a pre/post processor and the natural choice is probably FEMAP.

 

[rb1957]

I think the best idea is to try s/ware, to see how it meshes with your CAD, with your requirements, with your experience and support.

Try the free s/ware (as greg posted above) ... but don't have high expectations (you get what you pay for). Maybe tehy'll work out well for you. I'd spend a lot of time verifying that the output of the FEM is "correct" (and that it is not a random number generator).

Try talking to the major players (including SolidWorks), talk to the distributors ... they may be able to set up a licensing agreement that better fits your budget. Maybe you only need a license for a short period (during design phase ?) rather than a 12 month commitment. The distributors want to get clients, and they don't like potential clients going over to the opposition.

"Hoffen wir mal, dass alles gut geht !"
General Paulus, Nov 1942, outside Stalingrad after the launch of Operation Uranus.

 

[Jc1981]

Do any of you have expereince with AutoDesk Fusion 360 and Fusion 360 extensions?
Are Solid Edge Simulation?

I may put these into there own posts

 

[ThomasH]

You mentioned Invertor Nastran. Are you looking for a FEM-software that is integrated into some kind of geometry modeller?

 

[geesaman.d]

I won't offer any specific suggestions but you really need to know your position on these things:
- GUI vs. scripted inputs. Do you intend to get under the hood or will you be OK with building and configuring simulations based only on what you can access in a GUI?
- Integration with a 3D modeler. If you're studying your own designs, I recommend you use an integrated solution until you reach the limitations of the analytical tool. If you're studying someone else's problem sets it might not matter as much since there will be a lot less back-and-forth between the simulations and the designs.
- FEA and CFD code architecture. Structural FEA codes are pretty stable, with Creo Simulate being one that is built differently. With CFD I know of RANS and Lattice-Boltzmann methods, which have very different capabilities and advantages.
- Basic capabilities: static vs. dynamic simulations, linear vs. nonlinear, contact, structural/thermal/harmonic/etc.
- At $20k I'm going to assume coupled CFD-FEA (fluid-structure interaction) is out of the question.

 

[IceBreakerSours]

Which tool to do FEA/CFD with is one of the lesser things to worry about in my opinion.

What are your expected needs in the near and intermediate term? Says who and why? Is there buy-in from stakeholders? Has anyone actually learnt how to do FEA well in an academic and professional setting? Think through these questions because if you are going to do it, might as well do it well and add value. Otherwise, don't - Odds are someone will use the tools incorrectly and waste resources that could be put to a better use.

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