FEM FrontISTR Workbench
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The FEM FrontISTR Workbench is a FreeCAD addon that enables FrontISTR, an open-source large-scale parallel FEM program for nonlinear structural analysis.
Intended work-flow[edit | edit source]
- Set up an analysis model by FEM module (in the same way as CalculiX).
- Switch to the workbench FrontISTR and create a FrontISTR solver object by clicking on the toolbar button
.
- Double-click on the solver object in the document tree and set the working directory.
- Click on the button Write input file
- Click on the button Run FrontISTR
- Check FISTR_Results for post-processing.
Features[edit | edit source]
- static analysis, element check
- geometrical linear|nonlinear analysis
- elements: 1st/2nd order tetrahedron
- loads: mechanical concentrated and distributed loads, gravity
- boundary: points fixed or displacement
- step control: auto time increment and cutback
- linear equation solver
- iterative
- preconditioner: AMG, SSOR, Diagonal, ILU(k)(k=0,1,2)
- method: CG, BiCGSTAB, GMRES, GPBiCG
- direct: MUMPS
- iterative
- output file format: AVS, VTK (ParaView required)
Features to be supported in the future[edit | edit source]
- analysis: thermal transfer, dynamic, eigenfrequency
- materials(mechanical): elastoplastic, hyperelastic, creep, viscoelastic
- contact
- MPC(TIE)
- elements: prism, hexa, beam, shell, truss, etc.
Limitations[edit | edit source]
- FISTR_Results only contains results for surfaces. If you need the interior results, change the Output File Format to VTK and visualize the results with ParaView.
- The FEM FrontISTR workbench does not yet support thermal analyses. FISTR itself can perform thermal analyses and support for this is planned in the near future.
- Mechanical analyses with different materials in the model are not yet possible.
Benchmark results[edit | edit source]
See https://github.com/FrontISTR/FEM_FrontISTR/tree/master/sample/benchmarks.
Installation[edit | edit source]
Addon Manager[edit | edit source]
FEM_FrontISTR can easily be installed via the FreeCAD Addon Manager from the Tools → Addon Manager menu.
FEM_FrontISTR is under active development and will get new features frequently. Therefore you should update it regularly using the menu Tools → Addon Manager.
The FEM_FrontISTR code is hosted and developed on GitHub.
Manual[edit | edit source]
See How to install additional workbenches.
Prerequisites[edit | edit source]
- FreeCAD 0.19 or newer
- ParaView (optional)
FrontISTR Solver Installation[edit | edit source]
FrontISTR binaries will be automatically downloaded and installed on the first run. If the download does not proceed, please follow the steps below to install the solver.
Windows[edit | edit source]
- Download FrontISTR-latest.zip
- Create directory FEM_FrontISTR/bin
- Extract FrontISTR-latest.zip and put all files in FEM_FrontISTR/bin directory.
Linux[edit | edit source]
Under preparation.
Mac[edit | edit source]
Under preparation.
Tools[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- Author: kinagaki rigarashi
- Source code: Github.com
- FreeCAD Forum: 58019
- Tutorials: https://frontistr-commons.gitlab.io/FEM_FrontISTR/en/
- FrontISTR solver documentation: https://manual.frontistr.com/en/
- Report bugs: Please report bugs at Github.com