MYSTRAN — The Complete Guide: A Free Finite Element Solver That Reads Nastran Input
MYSTRAN is a general-purpose structural finite element solver that was once a commercial product and became an open community project (MIT). Its standout advantage: it reads BDF files in Nastran syntax, so many models prepared for Nastran run in it with little or no change.
MYSTRAN
MYSTRAN community
A general-purpose finite element solver that reads Nastran-format input — linear statics, modes and linear buckling.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Linear statics — stresses and displacements under load.
- Modal analysis — natural frequencies and mode shapes.
- Linear buckling — elastic buckling loads.
- 1D, 2D and 3D elements — beams, plates and solids.
- Composite laminates — models of multi-layer materials.
What to know
MYSTRAN is a solver only: you build the model and view the results in a separate pre- and post-processor. A ready executable is provided for Windows; on Linux building from source is recommended. It does not cover nonlinear analysis — for that you need other solvers.
Related tools
For structural analysis with a graphical interface — PrePoMax with CalculiX. For a broad solver including nonlinear analysis — code_aster.
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 vendor
Gmsh
Gmsh Project
FEA mesh generator with built-in geometry and scripting — standard infrastructure for open numerical work.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
If you work with Nastran models and need a free linear solver, MYSTRAN is a serious option — open and suitable for commercial use too.