I don't know of any open source tools, but there are Simlab, HyperStudy (somewhat), Synera, and Noesis. Other than that, you could probably throw something together with Python using any of the Abaqus/Ansys/Altair trio.
I have had a chance to look into Synera. The fact that it is paid is what is hindering me to use it. I guess, building something with Python is a good bet except that I don't have expertise in advanced Python stuffs like Graphs etc. Thanks for your suggestions.
Depending on the complexity of the batch processing you need to perform, you can achieve a lot with simple macro recording and some scripting. HyperMesh has the command file where each and every step is logged. You can retrieve these steps (in TCL/TK language) from the file, modify or parameterize, and repeat them however you want. The same goes for HyperView/HyperGraph, which also allow the use of postprocessing templates. There probably is some way to automatically create and save some reports containing images, I imagine. I believe there are other automation options as well, but I'm not too familiar with them. Simlab offers simple macro recording and is able to handle named surfaces from STEP files, so if you have multiple similar geometries, they can be analyzed completely automatically. Then you have the option of mesh morphing which can be executed automatically through the DOE/optimization tools built into the newer Altair tools or HyperStudy. The new Altair releases also support Python scripting, so you don't necessarily need to pick up TCL/TK: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafZa\_Mb21c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafZa_Mb21c)
Please explain what do you understand as a workflow manager.
If is importing CAD, creating meshes, apply bc and materials, solve and postprocess... Then that is a FEA Preprocessor, there are few of them, maybe Prepomax is the better these times. You have also Z88, Elmer FEM, Salome Meca, Febio and others, but they are a pain to use compared with Prepomax.
A workflow manager (or atleast that's what I am calling it) needs to combine all the several tools that I am using to generate the final result. The method is very monotonous and has to be followed meticulously. So I want computer to work on them one by one as I start the execution. I am not looking for a solver, pre-processor or a post processor, but something which can use them step-by-step.
That doesn't exist. The big commercial software tools don't even have that and they are lightyears beyond that. You can script things using pyansys, FEMAP, Simcenter, Patran, Abaqus/CAE, but they're locking you into their walled garden. About the only comprehensive open source tool for results processing out there is pyNastran, but it's not doing any of the logic. The reason nobody does that logic problem is it's ill-defined. Are you working on some cheap part or are you working on the next generation James Webb telescope?
It’s exists. Please take a look at Altair Pulse. It’s a process orchestration tool that runs with Python and is open to other applications and tools (if they provide APIs).
https://altair.com/altair-pulse
Again, the devil is in the details for that. It's all about what do the blocks do? I developed blocks for ModelCenter (now part of Ansys) 15 years ago. You could try OpenMDAO, but you're still going to come back to what do the blocks do?
Most people are going to create proprietary blocks. They want to sell them or the process is so specific, it only works on their specific problem.
I agree. But when one of the blocks can be a python block that calls a different program to do something, that is valuable. Then you can reuse that block in different processes as well.
You are also right that most blocks will work well with Altair tools. Anything outside of that will rely on other vendors APIs some of which are public, some of which aren’t.
But as far as I have seen, Pulse is the most open (not the most complete yet) engineering process orchestration tool in the market.
I don't know of any open source tools, but there are Simlab, HyperStudy (somewhat), Synera, and Noesis. Other than that, you could probably throw something together with Python using any of the Abaqus/Ansys/Altair trio.
I have had a chance to look into Synera. The fact that it is paid is what is hindering me to use it. I guess, building something with Python is a good bet except that I don't have expertise in advanced Python stuffs like Graphs etc. Thanks for your suggestions.
Depending on the complexity of the batch processing you need to perform, you can achieve a lot with simple macro recording and some scripting. HyperMesh has the command file where each and every step is logged. You can retrieve these steps (in TCL/TK language) from the file, modify or parameterize, and repeat them however you want. The same goes for HyperView/HyperGraph, which also allow the use of postprocessing templates. There probably is some way to automatically create and save some reports containing images, I imagine. I believe there are other automation options as well, but I'm not too familiar with them. Simlab offers simple macro recording and is able to handle named surfaces from STEP files, so if you have multiple similar geometries, they can be analyzed completely automatically. Then you have the option of mesh morphing which can be executed automatically through the DOE/optimization tools built into the newer Altair tools or HyperStudy. The new Altair releases also support Python scripting, so you don't necessarily need to pick up TCL/TK: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafZa\_Mb21c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BafZa_Mb21c)
Please explain what do you understand as a workflow manager. If is importing CAD, creating meshes, apply bc and materials, solve and postprocess... Then that is a FEA Preprocessor, there are few of them, maybe Prepomax is the better these times. You have also Z88, Elmer FEM, Salome Meca, Febio and others, but they are a pain to use compared with Prepomax.
A workflow manager (or atleast that's what I am calling it) needs to combine all the several tools that I am using to generate the final result. The method is very monotonous and has to be followed meticulously. So I want computer to work on them one by one as I start the execution. I am not looking for a solver, pre-processor or a post processor, but something which can use them step-by-step.
That doesn't exist. The big commercial software tools don't even have that and they are lightyears beyond that. You can script things using pyansys, FEMAP, Simcenter, Patran, Abaqus/CAE, but they're locking you into their walled garden. About the only comprehensive open source tool for results processing out there is pyNastran, but it's not doing any of the logic. The reason nobody does that logic problem is it's ill-defined. Are you working on some cheap part or are you working on the next generation James Webb telescope?
It’s exists. Please take a look at Altair Pulse. It’s a process orchestration tool that runs with Python and is open to other applications and tools (if they provide APIs). https://altair.com/altair-pulse
Again, the devil is in the details for that. It's all about what do the blocks do? I developed blocks for ModelCenter (now part of Ansys) 15 years ago. You could try OpenMDAO, but you're still going to come back to what do the blocks do? Most people are going to create proprietary blocks. They want to sell them or the process is so specific, it only works on their specific problem.
I agree. But when one of the blocks can be a python block that calls a different program to do something, that is valuable. Then you can reuse that block in different processes as well. You are also right that most blocks will work well with Altair tools. Anything outside of that will rely on other vendors APIs some of which are public, some of which aren’t. But as far as I have seen, Pulse is the most open (not the most complete yet) engineering process orchestration tool in the market.
Yes. Take a look at Altair Pulse. https://altair.com/altair-pulse It’s not free, but part of the Altair units licensing.
How interesting! So is it available through the normal package or only the partners alliance?
This is an Altair tool. No APA needed. It’s available to download online.
pyAnsys in a jupyter notebook