Resources

1D Elements (www.structuralfea.com)

An Excel based program for 1D Elements (truss, beam, spring) in 2D space, which uses MYSTRAN as the solver. This program is not only functional, but can be an excellent learning tool for CFEA (using and reading input decks and working with output files).

F06CSV

MYSTRAN and Nastran can create a F06 file (ASCII) with the output results. The F06CSV tool parses the F06 and can be used to create a custom output file that is separated by commas (or other delimiters).

INP to BDF Converter (Solid Elements in M3D)

Convert INP (Abaqus/CalculiX) format to MYSTRAN/Nastran BDF for SOLID elements only. Mecway, PrePoMax, and Gmsh can read in the STEP format (created from a CAD) program and then create a solid element mesh. Those programs can either directly create a BDF or a INP file. If an INP is created, the converter can be used and the DAT/BDF can be read into M3D.

Additional Pre/Post/Viewers

Mecway (www.mecway.com)

Mecway is a low-cost pre/post processor that supports MYSTRAN/Nastran in the future. It is not a classical “bottom-up” pre-processor, but it has lower-level functionality. More importantly, you can import a STEP file and create a solid or surface mesh that can be exported to a BDF (and imported to M3D).

Create mesh with only some surfaces:
After making a surface mesh from the entire solid, go to the geometry view (not mesh) and use Ctrl to multi-select the surfaces you wish to keep. Right click one of them, pick Add surfaces to a new named selection. Then click that new named selection in the outline tree and it will show the selected faces. Select Edit -> Select elements then Edit -> Invert selection then Edit -> Delete (or Delete Key).

pyNastran

pyNastran is a post-processor for MYSTRAN/Nastran.

FEX

FEX is a MYSTRAN/Nastran deck (BDF/DAT) viewer.