Nastran FX: any comments/experience? 1

[gfbotha]

Any comments/experience on how Nastran FX shapes up against other mid-range (design) software like Cosmos DesignStar or NEi Fusion? Capabilities we are interested in include regular type of non-linear and dynamic functionality. Will try it out if it makes our short list. Have seen the brochures, etc, but what about accuracy, user interface and support?

Thanks.

PS: As I understand FX involves Korean pre and post processors with solvers from NEi.

 

[kellnerp]

DesignStar is orphanware now. While you can whip up a model very quickly, it is limited in the types of elements and what it is actually doing is not well documented.

Noran Engineering has a good product and good contact and other types of non-linear capability.

Neither DesignStar nor NENastran can deal with axisymmetry very well.

TOP
CSWP, BSSE

http://www.engtran.com

http://www.niswug.org

"Node news is good news."

 

[gfbotha]

Yes, but trust me - we achieved more than what you might think using our orphanware..! ;-) Up to v4.5 of DS it actually had 2D axisymmetry capability. Have to admit I do miss the 2D axi capability when doing NL analysis.

I am a bit surprised about you saying NENastran is not good handling axisymmetry; or rather I would like to belief you are only referring to their Fusion product? If you are indeed referring to NEiNastran's main product, then do you mind please explain a bit more?

Thanks anyway, but as my subject line suggests, I am still hoping for some comments specifically about FX.

 

[kellnerp]

AFAIK Nastran doesn't do true axisymmetry. In NENastran you model a pie slice. This was so in DStar, but not in Cosmos/M. I think you are right, they did eventually put the axisymmetric element in DStar.

I looked at Nastran FX at waveaxis.com and it looks like NENastran bundled with Midas FX instead of FEMAP. So I would wonder more about the functionality of Midas FX. It appears to be FEMAP like.

TOP
CSWP, BSSE

http://www.engtran.com

http://www.niswug.org

"Node news is good news."

 

[BlasMolero]

Hello!!,
I don't know FX Nastran, but I run FEMAP & NX Nastran since more than five years ago and I am very happy with the current software capabilities of both Femap & NX Nastran, not limits, really professional software & support people and best developpers behind NX Nastran code, more than 300 engineers are working, improving & enhancing continuously the NX Nastran code and Femap pre&postprocessor, for me this is the most important.

Paul, please note that NX Nastran since version 6.0 supports Axisymmetric Solid Elements (CTRAX3, CQUADX4, CTRAX6, CQUADX8, CTRIAX6, CTRIAX, CQUADX):
• Fully linear & nonlinear, hyperelastic material only
• SOLs 101, 103, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 153, 159

Best regards,
Blas.