Which FEA package for piping, vessels, equipment? 1

[KernOily]

Guys have any of you used Nastran or COSMOS or ALGOR for your FEA work? Yes I know about FEPipe, NozzlePro, et al. I am looking for something a little more flexible (ha).

I know COSMOS requires more modeling time than NozzlePro but I want the flexibility of COSMOS. I'd like to hear your comments and what you all have done. Thanks! Pete

Thanks!
Pete

 

[StoneCold]

74Elsinore
You might have better luck if you post in the Finite Element Analysis forum.

Good Luck

StoneCold

 

[KernOily]

I posted it here as I am looking for those who have used COSMOS et al. specifically for pressure vessel and piping applications. How bout it guys?

Thanks!
Pete

 

[TGS4]

I have used ANSYS for 5+ years only for PVP applications and absolutely love it. Once you have a decent bcacklog of macros and input files, anything new just flies along. I can't say anything about ANSYS Workbench because I haven't used it.

 

[bvi]

COSMOS/M is fine for most jobs. In some more specialized nonlinear analysis, e.g. creep, it is not as good as software such as ABAQUS. We have used COSMOS/M for more than a decade.

 

[jte]

I've been using Cosmos/M for over 10 years. As bvi stated, the nonlinear side is not as strong as ABAQUS or Marc - but the cost is ~1/4 of a specialized nonlinear program. If you are an inexperienced FEA user, I'd stick to the linear packages first. Get that down and then start to work with the nonlinear side. Cosmos/M (and probably the others also) can be bought with only the linear side licensed and the nonlinear package can be added later.

One of the strong points for Cosmos/M is the ease of entering wierd geometry. Before you buy, ask the sales guys for each package you are considering to arrange for you to watch over one of their technical guy's shoulder as they build a shell element model of a hillside nozzle. Just for fun, rotate the nozzle towards the longitudinal axis (say a 72" id horizontal vessel with a nozzle in the horizontal plane 18" down from the centerline AND the angle between the vessel CL and nozzle CL is say 70°). If you want to have even more fun, make the nozzle cross section noncircular.

Ansys is also used frequently in the PV analysis business.

jt

 

[LSThill]

QUESTION TEAM MEMBER'S

I have use ANSYS sence 1988, but for ASME Pressure Vessel FE-PIPE is all I need at present.

PS: also, Cosmos, and ABAQUS SENCE 1990; but for ASME Pressure Vessel FE-PIPE is all I need at present.

Just getting to be an "OPIA"

Leonard Thill

http://www.thill.biz

 

[stanier]

Try

http://www.paulin.com

for specific vessel/nozzle package

 

[JohnBreen]

You probably need ANSYS, Pete. Cosmos would be a close second choice.

Be warned, however that one of the software suites mentioned in your posting has been worthy of earning itself a very high degree of dissatisfaction from those who expected it to perform as advertized. That product is also very badly supported once you send your check. Just ask around and you will hear the groans.

Regards, John.