Simcenter Nastran
The structural solver industry has trusted for half a century
Simcenter Nastran (formerly NX Nastran / MSC Nastran) is one of the most widely used structural solvers, covering linear, nonlinear, dynamic, thermal and fatigue analysis.
Nastran is close to a universal language for structural analysis. Many company standards and certification processes in aerospace, automotive and heavy industry were written around it. As a solver it is agnostic to pre/post processors: Femap, Simcenter 3D and third-party pre-processors can all drive it.
Its strengths are solver robustness and the standing of its results. When a report goes to a customer, a classification society or a certification body, Nastran numbers tend to be accepted without argument. Decades of tuning also make it dependable for large models, batch runs and parametric sweeps.
Key capabilities
Linear statics and buckling
Basic strength, stiffness and stability checks — the most frequently run analysis type.
Nonlinear analysis
Material, geometric and contact nonlinearity for large-deformation cases.
Dynamics
Modal, harmonic, transient, random vibration and response spectrum, including common NVH load cases.
Thermal and thermal stress
Steady-state and transient heat transfer plus resulting distortion and stress.
Fatigue and durability
Stress- or strain-based life prediction, including multiaxial and random loading.
High-performance solving
Multi-core and distributed solving for large models and batch parametrics.
What it delivers
- Results carry industry authority, easing customer and certification review
- Robust solving — long batch runs are unlikely to diverge or abort
- Not tied to a pre-processor: pairs with existing Femap or Simcenter 3D
- Broad analysis coverage means one solver handles most structural questions
- Existing Nastran decks and models are reusable, keeping migration cheap
Modules & components
Typical applications
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