A computer code for the analysis of structures by the finite element method.
The program CAST3M
(aka CASTEM)
integrates the solver with the pre- and post-processing phases. CAST3M is
characterised by the
exceptional flexibility of the high level macro-language, GIBIANE, so that the
user is able to adapt
or extend the GIBIANE script to solve any kind of FE problem. The basic
structure in GIBIANE is that
of an operator acting on complex objects (data structures) to produce other
objects. The flexibility
just referred to, is enhanced, for the programmer, by means of a programming
language ESOPE (similar
to Fortran) which is used to define new GIBIANE operators and data structures.
Authors:
The CASTEM Development Team in the Laboratoire de Mécanique Systèmes et
Simulation within the
Commissariat Français à l'Energie Atomique (CEA). CAST3M contact:
Thierry Charras.
Availability:
The educational/research version of CAST3M may be
downloaded
from Club Castem ftp server using sftp. The format is:
sftp club@132.166.138.6:Cast3M
Login: club
Password: club
Installation instructions are given in README_install_exe. The current version
is
CAST3M 2003 but earlier versions are also on file. Both standard and
development versions
of the code are available.
Platforms:
Binaries are available for Linux 2.4.X; Windows
9X/NT/2K/XP;
AIX 5; Compaq-Dec Alpha 5.1; SGI 6.5; Sun 2.9.
Note:
CASTEM is extensively documented, mostly in French.
There is further documentation in English included with the CASTEM
installation, in particular the User Manual and the useful
``Beginning with CASTEM 2000''. CASTEM is not primarily a GUI-driven
application, and users should not expect to obtain quick results
without serious study of the documentation.
Although the C++ source code of CASTEM is not included
with the CASTEM distribution, the flexibility of GIBIANE/ESOPE to a
large measure compensates for this. CASTEM includes many more aspects
than can be described here. For a fuller description visit the
CASTEM 2000 homepage.
Note:
The main CASTEM website at
http://www-cast3m.cea.fr/
is currently
closed (6/4/03) for security reasons. The site will re-open "soon". Meanwhile
the
download ftp site continues to function. CASTEM users who register their
downloadeded software are provided with technical support, see the download
documents
for further details. A CASTEM mailing list is also available.
Keywords:
fracture mechanics, buckling, linear elasticity, thermomechanics, nonlinear
dynamics,
creep, plasticity, damage elastoplasticity, magnetostatics, porous media flow.
