×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

MD NASTRAN

MD NASTRAN

MD NASTRAN

(OP)
Hi,
If you have had the chance to explore MSC Software's MD Nastran, please share your experience with the software.

1. Is there much of a difference in performance between MD and the stand alone version of Nastran in the look and feel of the program?
2. While we are looking to update, do you think that another package is worth taking the time to learn (NEI, NX, along with a mix of FEA products)?

Thank you very much,
SS

RE: MD NASTRAN

We just purchased our 3rd license of NEi Nastran and I highly recommend it.  MD Nastran is just MSC Nastran with some new packaging.  It is also very expensive and you will end up with a lot of features you do not need.  You can probably get NEi Nastran for less than your MSC maintenance.  NX Nastran is very close to the MSC 2001 release.  They do not have a native advanced nonlinear solution but you can get Adina as an add-on.  I am not sure how well they are integrated.  

RE: MD NASTRAN

Hansm2 is correct, MD Nastran is the latest release from MSC Software.  MD Nastran includes the updated Patran interface I believe.  If cost is an issue NE/Nastran is an excellent choice, but also consider your production needs for FE analysis, your requirements for nonlinear, contact, dynamics etc.  Having that capability in a robust code may save money in the long run.

Jxc

RE: MD NASTRAN

You can't compare NEI with MD.
MD includes NASTRAN, MARC and DYTRAN all in one interface.
Sure nei has nonlinear capabilities, but it's not the same as those in MARC. As well, nothing can beat dytran ls-dyna in high velocity, super deformation analysis.

RE: MD NASTRAN

I have done some amazing things with NE Nastran non-linear. You can also check out their site for some very interesting animations that are on par with dyna and marc.  I do agree with the LS-dyna comment. The NE Nastran non-linear capabilities are still very good especially surface contact and the interface through the editor.  NE Nastran is not always a fit for every application so I would advise checking it out and seeing if it meets your requirements. MD is very expensive so you may be wasting your money if you do not need all that it has.   

RE: MD NASTRAN


I concur about things already said about NEi - a lot of users claim it's cost effective and has got above average support.  So, I ordered a demo and was quite surprised to discover that at this stage it does not offer a hyperelastic material model...(not to speak about viscoelastic)  So, as the other posters already said - check out the capabilities.  Depends what you need.

RE: MD NASTRAN

exactly.

MD nastran offers the most complete package available today, with a unified interface and input file.
It lacks only CFD capabilities, and I really like the ANSYS ICEM-CFD program, but MD has the overall solution.

downside - it's VERY expensive, so hardly anyone needs it :)

RE: MD NASTRAN

Hyperelastic materials are in the version 9.1 release.  I know because I have the beta.  Ask noran support for V9.1. I think the demo CD is not the most recent version.  Not sure.  

RE: MD NASTRAN

I deal in software, so take this with a grain of salt, but for explicit solving, AMPS (amps.borowskiengineering.com or www.ampstech.com) comes at a price that is unbelievable.  It also has implicit solving capabilities and some other features that are exceptional.

I like NEiNastran and Algor, although I haven't used NE in a while.

For some basic analysis capabilities (linear static) with pretty powerful pre- and post- processing at a very reasonable price tag and the ability to interface with a variety of higher end software, look at Roshaz (roshaz.borowskiengineering.com or www.roshaz.com)

Please forgive the shameless self-promotion and feel free to use the other links which I do not control.

Garland

Garland E. Borowski, PE
Borowski Engineering & Analytical Services, Inc.
Lower Alabama SolidWorks Users Group

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources