Available code for nonlinear finite-element analysis

Stuff from 2001/2002

Based on reviewing the section on Freeware with source code in Young & MacPhedran's Internet Finite Element Resources and the SAL list of software for discrete methods and related tools, looking for code for nonlinear structural analysis. This list may not include all such software from the lists, but includes ones that seemed worth pursuing. Some links have been updated but the information is old.

• DANFE: 1-4 dimensions, triangles, bricks, not shells; nonlinear. Fortran. Source available. Last version 2001 Jun.
• FELIB: Used to be marketed by NAG as FE03. Linear and nonlinear. 2-D but supposedly 'can be easily extended' to 3-D. Fortran 77.
• PSU: 1-3D, geometric and material nonlinearities; in German
• TOCHNOG: linear and nonlinear, fluid/structure, contact; no shell elements. C++
• WARP3D: nonlinear analysis of fracture in solids. Fortran. No shell elements.
• SLFFEA: 4-node shell, 4-node tetrahedron; nonlinear for 8-node brick only; can't mix element types. C (GPL). Version 1.2, 2001 Nov.
• FElt: linear only, no shells or tetrahedra. Last release 2000 Mar.
• NFEA: Code from 1991 and 1997 books by M.A. Crisfield. Truss elements only. Fortran.

NIKE3D is available, as are DYNA3D, the mesh generator INGRID and the postprocessor GRIZ. I made a first enquiry 2001 Oct 27 and a detailed request Nov 3. My request was approved Dec 21, and I received order forms Dec 26. The following table summarizes the costs, version dates, supported platforms and languages (source is included for all four):

NIKE3D	US$2260	1991 Feb	Sun, IBM & SGI	Fortran & C
DYNA3D	US$2260	2000 May	Sun & IBM	Fortran
INGRID	US$1229	1992 Sep	Sun	Fortran
GRIZ	US$1695	1996 Apr	Sun, IBM & SGI	C

Some software is available through Open Channel Software (including some old NASA software). Finite-element programmes that might be interesting include:

• NASTRAN [2006 Sep: executables available for DEC Alpha, HP9000, IBM RS/6000 & Sun Solaris for US$2 000–4 000/year, source code for Sun Solaris & SGI IRIX for US$7 000–10 000/year]
  As of 2001 Dec 6, a 1-year commercial license for MSC Nastran costs US$23 400 for statics & modes (plus buckling), plus US$20 700 for dynamics & nonlinear (plus heat transfer & DMAP), plus more for optimization, superelements and aeroelasticity. MSC Marc is US$12 960/year.
• FECAP
• STARS