MBDyn — Multibody Dynamics

While most free FEA tools deal with one body under a static load, MBDyn answers the opposite question: how a system of connected bodies moves over time. It analyses mechanisms, drivetrains, suspensions, gearboxes and rotors, and lets flexible bodies sit alongside rigid ones in the same system. Developed at the Politecnico di Milano and used mainly in aeronautical research — analysis of helicopter rotor blades and wind turbines is among its signature uses. It is driven from a text input file, not a graphical interface.