Nastran

Nastran
Name	Nastran
Developer	NASA, McDonnell Douglas, MSC Software, Siemens PLM Software, ANSYS, NEi Software
Released	1960s
Latest release	Various commercial versions
Programming language	Fortran, C++
Operating system	UNIX, Windows, Linux
Genre	Finite element analysis
License	Commercial, proprietary, open-source implementations

Nastran is a general-purpose finite element analysis (FEA) solver originally developed for structural analysis of aerospace structures. It evolved from a research project at NASA into a family of commercial products used across engineering disciplines, adopted by organizations such as Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, and Rolls-Royce. The software underpins simulation workflows in industries with rigorous certification regimes like FAA, EASA, DARPA, and major research centers including MIT, Stanford University, and Imperial College London.

History

Nastran began as a collaboration between NASA and contractors in the 1960s to provide standardized structural analysis for projects such as the Apollo program, Space Shuttle program, and later commercial aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A320. Early development involved companies including Douglas Aircraft Company and Grumman; later commercialization saw mergers with McDonnell Douglas and spin-offs into firms like MSC Software. Regulatory drivers from agencies such as FAA and military programs at US Air Force shaped feature priorities. The product lineage fractured into offerings from MSC Software, Siemens PLM Software (NX Nastran), ANSYS, and open-source initiatives influenced by academic groups at University of Cambridge and Caltech.

Architecture and Features

The solver architecture centers on a modular finite element kernel written primarily in Fortran with interfaces in C++ for pre/post-processing integration with platforms like CATIA, Siemens NX, PTC Creo, and SolidWorks. Key features include sparse matrix solvers, substructuring, modal reduction, and multiphysics coupling supporting thermal-mechanical analysis used by NASA Glenn Research Center and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Parallel computing support leverages MPI clusters and shared-memory SMP systems from vendors such as Intel and AMD. File formats and deck conventions reflect standards used at Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman for interoperability with meshing tools like ANSYS Meshing, HyperMesh, and Gmsh.

Analysis Capabilities

Capabilities encompass linear statics, normal modes, buckling, transient dynamics, random vibration, harmonic response, and nonlinear material and geometric analysis applied in projects at Raytheon, Thales Group, Saab AB, and BAE Systems. Advanced modules support fatigue life prediction for components in Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Toyota, and Volkswagen; aeroelasticity and flutter analysis for aircraft at Boeing and Airbus; and coupled acoustic-structural simulations relevant to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and European Space Agency. Solver algorithms implement direct factorization, iterative Krylov methods, and model order reduction techniques used in collaborations with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

Implementations and Commercial Versions

Multiple vendors offer licensed versions and integrations: MSC Software (historical reference implementations), Siemens PLM Software (branded NX Nastran), ANSYS (interoperability modules), and smaller firms providing specialized solvers for markets served by Siemens Energy and GE Aviation. Open-source and research-derived implementations have appeared in academic contexts tied to EPFL and University of Michigan. Third-party ecosystem tools for CAD/FEA pre/post-processing from Altair Engineering (HyperWorks), Autodesk, and Dassault Systèmes extend Nastran-compatible workflows for manufacturers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Honda.

Applications and Industry Use

Industries employing the solver family include aerospace, automotive, civil engineering, marine, and energy: used in projects at NASA, ESA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, and Vestas. Examples range from airframe structural certification for Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, engine component life-cycle analysis at Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney, to wind-turbine blade fatigue studies for Ørsted and GE Renewable Energy. Research applications at CERN, Max Planck Society, and national laboratories demonstrate cross-domain utility for high-fidelity simulation in design, certification, and failure investigation.

Development and Standards

Development has been influenced by standards and practices from bodies such as ASME, ISO, SAE International, and certification authorities like FAA and EASA. Interoperability initiatives reference neutral data standards used by STEP and industry consortia including NIST-led programs and trade associations like AIAA. Ongoing development involves contributions from corporate R&D centers at Siemens, ANSYS, MSC, and university research groups at Stanford University and University of Cambridge focusing on scalable solvers, uncertainty quantification, and multiphysics coupling for future engineering challenges.

Category:Finite element software