Abaqus Learning Edition — The Complete Guide: Learn Nonlinear FEA in Abaqus for Free
Abaqus Learning Edition is a free version of Abaqus, Dassault Systèmes’ well-known finite element program for nonlinear analysis of structures, materials and contact. It is meant for anyone who wants to get started with Abaqus before moving to the full version.
Abaqus Learning Edition
Dassault Systèmes (SIMULIA)
A free version of Abaqus for learning nonlinear finite element analysis — for personal and educational use, on models up to 1000 nodes.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Model building — geometry, materials, loads and boundary conditions.
- Running analyses — including nonlinearity and contact.
- Results viewing — stresses, displacements and animations.
- Full documentation — the complete documentation collection in HTML.
- The same interface — what you learn carries straight over to the full version.
Who may use it and what is limited
Anyone who is learning may use it, but for personal and educational use only — not for professional or commercial work. Structural models are limited to 1000 nodes, so it is a learning environment, not a project tool. A 3DEXPERIENCE ID and joining the SIMULIA Community are needed to download. It runs on 64-bit Windows.
Related tools
For a larger student bundle — Ansys Student. For an open solver whose input syntax resembles Abaqus — CalculiX with PrePoMax.
Ansys Student
Ansys (Synopsys)
Ansys’ free student bundle — Mechanical, Fluent, CFX, Discovery and more, for size-limited structural, thermal and CFD analysis.
Get it from the vendor
CalculiX
CalculiX Project
Open-source FEA with syntax close to Abaqus. The solver behind the FreeCAD FEM workbench.
Get it from the vendor
PrePoMax
University of Maribor
Full graphical front end for CalculiX — meshing, materials, loads and results in one window.
Get it from the vendor
Code_Aster
EDF
EDF industrial finite element solver — nonlinear, dynamic and thermo-mechanical, open source.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
The official free way to get to know Abaqus — excellent for learning, but not for professional work.