Elmer FEM
CSC — IT Center for Science, Finland
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A multiphysics finite element environment covering solid mechanics, flow, heat transfer, electromagnetics and coupled problems between them. It ships with its own graphical interface and a large set of worked examples, which makes it one of the friendlier entries into the open FEA world when you need more than a single physical field in the same model.
Download and installation
Elmer is distributed from CSC’s official site: a Windows installer and packages for Linux. The ElmerGUI graphical interface is included, along with ready-made examples.
Frequently asked questions
What can Elmer solve?
Solid mechanics, heat transfer, flow, electromagnetics and acoustics, as well as problems where several of these are coupled.
Is Elmer suitable for beginners?
More than most open solvers, thanks to ElmerGUI and the examples. For a simple structural analysis, PrePoMax is easier.
Full guide: Elmer FEM — The Complete Guide.
Ratings & Reviews
| Licence type | Completely Free, Open Source |
|---|---|
| Licence terms | Open-source licence. Free for any purpose including commercial work, with no time limit, no registration and no licence key. |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows |
| Engineering field | Environmental & Water, Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical Engineering |
| Tool type | Simulation & FEA |
| Vendor site | www.elmerfem.org |
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Last verified: 2026-09-02
