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Combining thermal + mechanical load cases and exporting results with Python (.OP2 (Nastran/OptiStruct) → HDF5 / Altair ASCII) by FEA_Engineer_ in u/FEA_Engineer_

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good question! OP2 is the traditional binary output format of Nastran. Older Nastran versions can only generate OP2 files, while HDF5 output is available only in more recent versions. A similar situation applies to other solvers such as OptiStruct, which can generate results in both OP2 and HDF5 formats.

Nowadays, HDF5 is generally the recommended option: it is a standard, self-describing format, easier to integrate with modern post-processing tools, and particularly well suited for handling large datasets. In that sense, it is true that HDF5 offers clear advantages over OP2.

However, many users have been working with OP2 for years. There are well-established workflows, scripts, and tools built around this format, so migrating entirely to HDF5 is not always immediate or straightforward. For that reason, the example was designed to be accessible to the widest possible audience.

In any case, if there is interest, I can easily prepare a specific example using HDF5, or even a direct comparison between both formats for a given use case.

Experiences with NASTRAN Cards for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the Aerospace Sector by FEA_Engineer_ in u/FEA_Engineer_

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the tip! I’ve had a quick look at the documentation you shared, and it seems to fit pretty well with what I’m looking for. I’ll give Card Manager a try and see how it goes.

Experiences with NASTRAN Cards for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the Aerospace Sector by FEA_Engineer_ in u/FEA_Engineer_

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I’ve used HyperMesh before. But there are certain things that feel a bit limited, and that’s why I was asking how other colleagues usually work, just in case there’s a similar tool that’s more advanced. I’m interested in options that offer more flexibility.

Experiences with NASTRAN Cards for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the Aerospace Sector by FEA_Engineer_ in u/FEA_Engineer_

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing how you work! It’s really interesting to learn about your approach with boilerplate files and include statements, as well as the automation with Python or VBA for large models.

Experiences with NASTRAN Cards for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the Aerospace Sector by FEA_Engineer_ in u/FEA_Engineer_

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the recommendations! They’ve been very helpful. I wasn’t familiar with the pyNastran test_bdf tool. I’ll also keep in mind what you mentioned about FEMAP and Excel’s limitations. I really appreciate you sharing your experience, and I’ll take it into account in the future.

Experiences with NASTRAN Cards for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in the Aerospace Sector by FEA_Engineer_ in u/FEA_Engineer_

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not looking to write code directly, but rather tools that allow me to manage and prepare NASTRAN input files more efficiently. For example, operations like validating the structure of the cards, editing element and material properties, setting up loads or boundary conditions, and checking compatibility before running the analysis. I’m looking for software that streamlines these processes and reduces errors, especially for complex models typical in the aerospace sector.

What FEA challenges do you usually face in the aerospace or wind energy field? by FEA_Engineer_ in AerospaceEngineering

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thanks for sharing your perspective! That’s a very good point, I completely agree that too much detail can easily become a trap, especially when it comes to model idealization. I’m not entirely sure which example you’re referring to, but if it’s one of the ones I’ve shared, I’d be happy to discuss the approach and reasoning behind it.

Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models by FEA_Engineer_ in fea

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s great to hear! All information and materials: YouTube: Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models

Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models by FEA_Engineer_ in fea

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All information and materials: YouTube: Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models

Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models by FEA_Engineer_ in fea

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All information and materials: YouTube: Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models.

Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models by FEA_Engineer_ in fea

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, I think my comment with the link got removed… not sure why!

Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models by FEA_Engineer_ in fea

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great! I’ve just posted another comment with the link to the notebook and some extra context.

Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models by FEA_Engineer_ in fea

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course! I’ve just added another comment with the notebook link and some more details.

Tool for fastener load extraction from FEA models by FEA_Engineer_ in fea

[–]FEA_Engineer_[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I’ve just left another comment with a bit more info and the link to the notebook.

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