FEA Compare

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	Price	Graphical geometry modeler	Graphical manual meshing	CAD import	Units aware	Linear static	Nonlinear - large displacements	Nonlinear - contact	Transient linear	Transient nonlinear	Natural frequency	Linear buckling	Acoustic	Heat transfer	Electric/magnetic	Fluid flow	Fluid structure interaction	Solid elements	Shell elements	Beam/rod/tie	Anisotropic materials	Composites	Hyperelastic/rubber	Plasticity	Viscoplastic/creep	Piezoelectric
ANSYS Mechanical	no
Part of a suite of simulation products www.ansys.com OS: License/options: Support:
Abaqus/CAE	no
www.3ds.com OS: License/options: Support:
COMSOL Multiphysics	no
www.comsol.com OS: License/options: Support: Workshops in many countries, web form and forum
ADINA	no
www.adina.com OS: Windows, Linux, AIX License/options: Free 900 node student version available Support: Email, phone for full version
Mecway	$100 - $350
mecway.com OS: Windows License/options: Free version with 1000 node limit. $350 for full version with over 1,000,000 nodes. $100 non-commercial option. Support: Email and forum
midasNFX	no
www.midasnfx.com OS: License/options: Support: Training courses available
Strand7	$4,500 - $11,000
www.strand7.com OS: Windows License/options: Free version limited to 20 beams, 100 plates and 100 solid elements. Base Package: $4500 and $500-$1300 each for options like nonlinear and moving loads. Support: 12 months with initial purchase. Renewable annually.
AMPS	no
Fully coupled multiphysics www.ampstech.com OS: Windows License/options: Support:
LS-DYNA	no
www.lstc.com OS: Windows, Linux, AIX, HP-UX, Super-UX, IRIX License/options: Per core Support:
NISA Mechanical	no
nisasoftware.com OS: License/options: Support:
CalculiX	Free
www.calculix.de OS: Linux. Windows ports also available License/options: GPL Support:
MSC Nastran	no
www.mscsoftware.com OS: License/options: Support: Phone, forum, training courses, webinars, conferences
NX Simcenter 3D	no
Formerly NX CAE siemens.com OS: License/options: Support:
PZFlex	no
www.pzflex.com OS: Windows, Linux License/options: Support:
Samcef	no
siemens.com OS: License/options: Support:
Solvia	no
www.solvia.com/ OS: Windows, Linux, Unix License/options: Support:
CAEFEM	no
www.caefem.com OS: Windows License/options: 30 day free trial Support: For support program customers: phone, fax, email
Code_Aster	Free
www.code-aster.org OS: Linux, FreeBSD. Windows and MacOS X ports available from 3rd parties License/options: GPL Support: Online training courses
Autodesk Simulation Mechanical	no
Formerly ALGOR www.autodesk.com OS: License/options: Support:
NX Nastran	no
siemens.com OS: License/options: Support:
SolidWorks Simulation	no
Integrated with SolidWorks www.solidworks.com OS: License/options: Support:
Cast3M	no
www-cast3m.cea.fr OS: Windows, Linux, Mac License/options: Free for education and research use Support:
FEAP	$1500
For research and educational use. Source code available www.ce.berkeley.edu/projects/feap OS: UNIX, Linux, Mac, Windows License/options: Support:
PERMAS	no
www.intes.de OS: Linux, Windows, AIX License/options: Support: Training courses in Germany
StressCheck	no
www.esrd.com OS: Windows License/options: Free student version available Support: Training workshops
Elmer	Free
General purpose PDE solver www.csc.fi/english/pages/elmer/ OS: Linux, Windows License/options: GPL Support: Forum
LUSAS Analyst	no
www.lusas.com OS: Windows License/options: $700 academic version available Support:
OptiStruct	no
Part of the Altair HyperWorks suite www.altairhyperworks.com OS: License/options: Support:
RamSeries	no
www.compassis.com OS: Windows, Linux License/options: Support:
SimScale	$3000-$12000 / year
Cloud based service www.simscale.de OS: Web browser License/options: Minimum period of 6 months. Includes a free option for linear static analysis Support: Their employees may assist creating a simulation
KeyCreator Analysis	no
Integrated with KeyCreator Direct CAD kubotek3d.com OS: Windows License/options: Support:
Tochnog	Free
tochnog.sourceforge.net OS: Linux, Windows, MacOS X License/options: GPL Support: Through a third party
VisualFEA	$1,800
www.visualfea.com OS: Mac OS, Windows License/options: Support:
SfePy	Free
General purpose PDE solver sfepy.org OS: License/options: BSD Support:
WELSIM	$6.98-$1000
welsim.com OS: Windows License/options: Free for academic use. $1000 license gives feature request priority. Support:
Zebulon	no
OS: License/options: Support:
AutoFEM Analysis	$1495 - $4995
Integrated with AutoCAD www.autofemsoft.com OS: License/options: Free AutoFEM Lite available Support:
FEBio with PreView	Free
For biomechanics and biophysics febio.org OS: Linux, Mac OS X, Windows License/options: Support:
FEMdesigner	$300 - $900
www.femdesigner.com OS: Windows License/options: $299/$899 plus $79/$199 annual maintenance Support:
RADIOSS	no
Part of the Altair HyperWorks suite www.altairhyperworks.com OS: Windows, Linux License/options: Support: Online training courses
Z88 Aurora	Free
www.z88.de OS: Windows, Linux, Mac OS X License/options: Free use Support: Forum
MEANS	$1,700-$5,500
www.fem-infos.com OS: Windows License/options: Support:
MSC Marc	no
www.mscsoftware.com OS: License/options: Support:
PAFEC-FE	no
www.vibroacoustics.co.uk OS: License/options: Support: Phone/fax for 6 months
PAK-S	no
fempak.fink.rs OS: License/options: Support:
Range	$60 - $500 / year
www.range-software.com OS: Windows, Linux License/options: Support:
CADRE Pro	$370
www.cadreanalytic.com OS: Windows License/options: Support:
Solid Edge Simulation	no
NX NASTRAN integrated with Solid Edge. The functionality exposed through Solid Edge is limited to simple loads and analyses. www.plm.automation.siemens.com OS: License/options: Support:
CONSELF	$0-$12,000 / year
conself.com OS: Web browser License/options: Support: Online
Creo Elements/Direct FEA	no
Integrated with PTC Creo Elements/Direct Modeling www.ptc.com OS: Windows License/options: Support:
FlexPDE	$495 - $1,995
General purpose PDE solver that can solve elasticity problems in 1D, 2D or 3D www.pdesolutions.com OS: License/options: Support:
Impact	Free
www.impact-fem.org OS: Linux, Windows License/options: GPL Support:
M3d	Free
A base program intended to be customised for bespoke solutions. m3d.org.uk OS: Windows License/options: Free use Support:
SLFFEA	Free
slffea.sourceforge.net OS: License/options: LGPL Support:
2D Frame Analysis Dynamic Edition	$270
www.engissol.com OS: Windows License/options: Support:
Fedem Mechanical	no
Multibody nonlinear dynamics. Also sold as NEi Motion www.fedem.com OS: Windows, HP-UX, SGI-IRIX License/options: Support:
FElt	Free
Appears to be abandoned. Meant for teaching. felt.sourceforge.net OS: Linux, Windows License/options: GPL Support:
FesaWin	$35 - $200
Suitable for very old computers www.fesawin.com OS: Windows License/options: Free with 100 node limit. €75 with 1000 node limit. Support:
LapFEA	$99 - $1,999
Limited to 30,000 nodes but can export to NASTRAN format. www.lapcad.com OS: Mac OS 9, Windows License/options: Support:
Sesam GeniE	no
For offshore structures www.dnv.com OS: License/options: Support:
SimWise FEA	$3,500-$5,000
Also available combined with SimWise Motion for coupled motion and FEA. Has adaptive mesh refinement. www.design-simulation.com OS: Windows 7 or 8 License/options: Commercial or Educational licenses. Annual maintenance fees exist. Support:
FEATool	no
A FEM toolbox for Matlab and Octave www.precisesimulation.com OS: License/options: Free license for students or trial use. Paid license for teaching or research Support:
Frame3DD	Free
Static and dynamic analysis of beams and trusses frame3dd.sourceforge.net/ OS: Linux, Windows and OS X License/options: GPL Support:
ParaFEM	Free
Fortran library for parallel computing with MPI. Additional features are described in the book "Programming the Finite Element Method" ISBN: 978-1-119-97334-8. parafem.org.uk OS: Linux License/options: MIT-like Support:
Analysis for Windows	Free
Beams and trusses cuylaerts.net OS: Windows License/options: Support:
CAEplex	$0-$50 / month
Cloud based service www.seamplex.com OS: Web browser License/options: Models made with the free plan are public. Price includes a limited amount of CPU and RAM time. Support:
EngiLab Beam.2D	$180
www.engilab.com OS: Windows License/options: Free version with 10 node limit Support:
FELIPE	Free
Educational program which displays the element assembly process. Old fashioned, partially text-based interface. www.felipe.co.uk OS: Windows License/options: Support:
FEniCS	Free
General purpose PDE library fenicsproject.org OS: License/options: LGPL Support:
Grape GBW32	$190
For beams and trusses www.grapesoftware.mb.ca OS: Windows License/options: Shareware. Bulk and academic discounts Support:
Roshaz FEA	$595 - $695
Mainly a pre/post-processor. More solver capabilities are available by interfacing with Calculix, Abaqus, Lusas, Nastran or Mystran. www.roshaz.com OS: License/options: Demo version with 5000 node limit Support:
SC03	no
Rolls Royce in-house code OS: License/options: Support:
SimForDesign	$3-$10 / compute hour
Cloud based service. Simplified process aimed at designers, not engineers. www.sim4design.com OS: Web browser License/options: Support:
ED-Elas2D	$110
2D educational program www.cimne.com OS: Windows 95 or later License/options: Support:
FreeFEM	Free
www.freefem.org OS: Windows, MacOS X, Linux License/options: Support:
FEMTA	Free
Very simple truss program. Define just nodes, constraints, elements, area and Young's modulus and node forces. sourceforge.net/projects/femta OS: License/options: GPL Support:
MATruss	$150
www.masoftware.se OS: Windows License/options: Demo with 30 day limit Support:
W-Trite	Free
For beams and trusses wtrite.net OS: Windows License/options: Freeware Support: