Simulation & FEA

Simulation here means any tool that solves physical equations on a model — finite elements, dynamics, coupled systems and multiphysics. This is the strongest category in the open-source world, and in several fields these tools are the research standard rather than an alternative.

How the workflow is built

Unlike a commercial package that gives you everything in one window, work here is usually split into three separate stages: mesher, solver, and post-processor. The advantage is that each part is replaceable; the cost is that you assemble the chain yourself.

If you want the experience of a single program with a full graphical interface, there are also tools here that wrap the whole chain and hide it — and that is the right starting point if you do not come from a research background.