SUMO — The Complete Guide: Free Traffic and Transport Simulation
SUMO from the German Aerospace Center simulates traffic vehicle by vehicle: junctions, signals, public transport and pedestrians. OpenStreetMap networks.
Guides and Articles
Elmer FEM — The Complete Guide: Open-Source Multiphysics Simulation
Elmer FEM from Finland's CSC solves multiphysics problems: heat, structures, flow, electromagnetics and acoustics, coupled too. ElmerGUI, meshing and the gaps.
OpenModelica — The Complete Guide: Free Modelling and Simulation of Physical Systems
OpenModelica simulates multi-domain physical systems — electrical, mechanical, thermal, hydraulic — in the Modelica language. OMEdit, library and gaps.
Scilab — The Complete Guide: Free Numerical Computing and Simulation With Xcos
Scilab is open-source numerical computing with Xcos, block-diagram simulation in the style of Simulink. What it does, how it differs from MATLAB, who it suits.
OpenSCAD — The Complete Guide: Free Parametric 3D Modelling in Code
OpenSCAD builds 3D parts from code: dimensions are parameters, change one number and the part updates. Ideal for 3D printing. How to start and limits.
Gmsh — The Complete Guide: Free Finite Element Mesh Generation
Gmsh is an open-source mesh generator for FEA and CFD: geometry, 2D and 3D meshes, physical groups and export to solvers. Using .geo scripts, Python, GUI.
Blender for Engineers and Architects — The Complete Guide: Free Renderings, Animations and Models
Blender is professional-grade free 3D software. How engineers and architects use it for renderings, construction animations and presentations, and its limits.
Bonsai (BlenderBIM) — The Complete Guide: Free Open BIM and IFC Modelling
Bonsai (formerly BlenderBIM) turns Blender into a BIM tool working natively on IFC: walls, slabs, openings, drawings and quantities. How to start and the gaps.
Sweet Home 3D — The Complete Guide: Free Floor Plans and Interior Design in 3D
Sweet Home 3D lets you draw a floor plan and see it in 3D at once, with furniture, windows and light. How to start and why it is not engineering CAD.
ParaView — The Complete Guide: Free Visualisation of Simulation Results and Scientific Data
ParaView is the standard open-source viewer for CFD and FEA results: slices, streamlines, isosurfaces and animations, even huge models. Filters and Python.
CloudCompare — The Complete Guide: Free Point Cloud and Laser Scan Processing
CloudCompare is open-source software for point clouds from laser scans and drones: registration, comparison, sections and volumes. How to use it in engineering.
Ftool — The Complete Guide: Fast 2D Frame Analysis for Students and Engineers
Ftool from PUC-Rio analyses 2D beams and frames in minutes: moment, shear and axial diagrams, deflections and influence lines. How to use it and its limits.