NEi Nastran - Finite Element Anaysis (FEA)
NEi Nastran is a comprehensive finite element analysis (FEA) tool developed by NEi Software based on NASA's popular NASTRAN finite element analysis software. NEiNastran offers a complete suite for structural analysis: linear statics, modal analysis, buckling, prestress, advanced dynamics, non-linear analysis, thermal analysis. It can handle large complex structural analysis problems on your personal computer using Intel or AMD processors running any Windows platform without requiring large amounts of resources. Versions are also available for the UNIX and Linux platforms for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. NEi Nastran is compatible with MSC.Nastran, NX Nastran, FEMAP, Patran and many more FEA tools.
What is NEi Nastran
NEi Nastran is a finite element analysis solver that is able to solve a wide range of structural problems. NEi Nastran offers tools that provide answers for the following topics:
- Structural Mechanics - Static deformation and stress state of a product under design loads.
- Vibrations - Identify the resonant frequencies and mode shapes, calculation of frequency response functions.
- Structural Dynamics - Transient analysis (direct or modal), random response, shock response, impact analysis.
- Elastic un-stability - Calculate the linear bucking limit, identify a post-buckling equilibrium state (non-linear analysis).
- Non Linear problems - Material plasticization, large displacements, contact problems.
- Thermal Flow - steady and un-steady thermal analysis, material dependent properties.
NEi Nastran is used in every structural engineering field: industry, automotive, aerospace, defense, marine, civil.
A modern NASTRAN
NEi Nastran owns a state-of-art FEA technology for the mathematical algorithms, the element library and formulation, the material models. That technology make NEi Nastran different from the other finite element products. Here are some key features:
- Shell elements with 6 degrees of freedom per node.
- 3D surface contact.
- Manage assemblies with surface tied contact.
- Real-time manipulation of solver parameters and settings.
- Advanced First-Ply-Failure criteria for composites.
- 3D solid composite element.
- Progressive failure of composites.
- Parallel solvers for 32 and 64 bit computers.
- Nastran Editor for easy model management.
Those and many more features grant the best available FEA quality.
Wide element and material library.
NEi Nastran has a complete element library for structural problems. NEi Nastran allows the modeling using solids, plates (homogeneous or laminated composite), beam, or lumped elements like mass, spring, damper, or kinematic connection elements (RBE2, RBE3).
NEi Nastran supports a number of material model: isotropic, hortotropic 2D and 3D, anisotropic, hyper-elastic with linear and non-linear properties, function of stress, frequency or temperature.
Performance
NEi Nastran uses the latest in solver technology providing fast results for the largest and most complex FEA models. Three linear solvers (PCGLSS, VSS, VIS and PSS) and two eigensolvers (LANCZOS and SUBSPACE) are included. The PCGLSS (Preconditioned Conjugate Gradient Linear System Solver) is an advanced iterative solver licensed from CA&SI and used in many other leading FEA products. The VSS (Vector Sparse Solver) and (Vector Iterative Solver) are based on NASA developed technology and have been enhanced to provide better performance and accuracy. The PSS (Parallel Sparse Solver) is a modern technology that exploits the advantages of 64 bit multi-core architecture. NEiNastran with PCGLSS runs model larger than 7.000.000 degrees of freedom on PC Windows 32bit, while with PSS it runs nuch more large models on PC Windows 64 bit. Both the solvers can operate on parallel mode, exploiting the newest multi-core architecture of Intel and AMD processors.
Compatibility with NASTRAN World
NEi Nastran is compatible with the mainstream finite element modelers such as Nastran FX, FEMAP, Hypermesh, Ideas, PATRAN, ANSA.
Compatibility is granted by the standard Nastran Bulk Data File (BDF) input format and e by different output formats like FNO (Femap Neutal Output), OP2 (Nastran Output2), XDB (Nastran Access Database).
Models created for MSC.Nastran or NX Nastran can be used with NEi Nastran, and viceversa, assuring data legacy in your organization and with external collaborators or customers and suppliers.
