FEM Solver

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Revision as of 06:39, 5 April 2019 by Vocx (talk | contribs) (Better redaction)

Preface

This page collects information on the finite element solvers used by the FEM Workbench. The interface between a solver and FreeCAD in pre-processing as well as post-processing is done through text files. This means that in theory any solver which can be configured and controlled by means of text files is able to work together with FreeCAD; a proper parser and writer of input and output files needs to be programmed for this communication to work.

Available solvers in various Linux distributions

The FreeCAD-dependencies repository tracks the dependencies of FreeCAD across many Linux distribution. The FEM.md page looks at available open source FEA solvers that could be used with the FEM Workbench. The page shows the version of a particular solver in the repository of a particular Linux distribution. This information is useful to know if a solver is current, or out of date and must be upgraded.

The information is also discussed in the forum: supported and not supported Solver.

Solvers with an interface in FreeCAD

These solvers are well integrated into FreeCAD, which means that it's possible to set up and run a simulation project from the graphical interface and buttons in the FEM Workbench.

CalculiX

This is the first solver that was integrated to work with the FEM Workbench. CalculiX is designed principally for static, thermo-mechanical, and modal analyses. More information about this solver is in FEM CalculiX.

Elmer

The Elmer multiphysics solver was integrated into FreeCAD as a Google Summer of Code 2017 project: Elmer Integration (GSoC) - Activity Log, main website, community portal, code repository.

Z88

The Z88 solver is designed for linear static simulations with an emphasis in teaching about the finite element method. It was integrated into FreeCAD as a Google Summer of Code 2017 project: main website, download page, source code repository (and precompiled binaries for Win, Linux, and OSX). See the release notes for the latest versions: Z88os V15 released 17.07.2017, Z88os V13 released 20.05.2009 (version in Debian Jessie, Stretch, Buster).

Help: How to use Z88 in FEM?

Solver implemented as separate Macro or Module (Workbench) in FreeCAD

OpenFoam

Dualsphysics

Solver not implemented but some development is going on

Fenics

Solver not implemented but of interest in any kind

List on Wikipedia

Agros2D

Code Aster

Felt

Frame3dd

Impact FEM

Modelica

Mumps

Nastran

OOFEM

OpenSees

Technog

XC