CALCULIX: A Three-Dimensional Structural Finite Elemente Program
CALCULIX
Free Software Three-Dimensional Structural Finite Element Program
Version<br>2.23 is available
Last updated: 1. Nov 17:46:29 CET 2025
CalculiX<br>is a package designed to solve field problems. The method used is the<br>finite element method.
With<br>CalculiX Finite Element Models can be built, calculated and<br>post-processed. The pre- and post-processor is an interactive 3D-tool<br>using the openGL API. The solver is able to do linear and non-linear<br>calculations. Static, dynamic and thermal solutions are available.<br>Both programs can be used independently. Because the solver makes use<br>of the abaqus input format it is possible to use commercial<br>pre-processors as well. In turn the pre-processor is able to write<br>mesh related data for nastran, abaqus, ansys, code-aster and for the<br>free-cfd codes dolfyn, duns, ISAAC and OpenFOAM. A simple step reader is<br>included. In addition external CAD interfaces are<br>available. The program is designed to run on Unix platforms like<br>Linux and Irix computers but also on MS-Windows.
The<br>CalculiX package was developed by a team of enthusiasts in their rare<br>spare time. They are employees of MTU Aero Engines in Munich, Germany which<br>granted the publication. Contact information can be found at the<br>bottom of the "Download" page.
For<br>a quick overview of the capabilities of CalculiX the results of an<br>investigation of a small jet engine are presented. The jet engine was built<br>around a turbo-charger rotor in the early 90's by Andreas Funke and the author Klaus Wittig. The FE-model was built<br>from scratch with CalculiX and the compressor- and turbine models together with<br>solver input files can be found in the distribution. The calculations<br>were done to determine the burst-speed and the highest allowable<br>rotational speed concerning low cycle fatigue and creep. In addition the<br>eigenfrequencies were calculated to determine possible resonances<br>with the vanes. The models are meshed with 20 noded<br>brick elements with reduced integration. The right and left side of<br>the disks are connected by cyclic symmetry equations which allow to<br>calculate eigenvalues and mode-shapes for certain<br>nodal diameters of a rotational symmetric volume based only on a<br>segment of the structure. The compressor is made of casted aluminum alloy (AlSi -<br>C355) and the turbine of a high temperature alloy (Inco 713C).
CalculiX FE-Model of a jet engine with turbo-charger compressor (blue) and turbine (red).
Click<br>HERE<br>for<br>the jet-engine-model and documentation
Click<br>HERE<br>to<br>see the example of the turbo-charger compressor
Click<br>HERE<br>to<br>see the example of the turbo-charger turbine
Click<br>HERE<br>for further examples (with thanks to Prof. Martin Kraska, Brandenburg University Of Applied Sciences)
Click<br>HERE<br>for<br>DOWNLOADS<br>and to see more about the finite element and graphic<br>capabilities of CALCULIX
Click<br>HERE<br>for<br>the list of professional CalculiX users who contributed to the<br>development
Copyright<br>(C) 1998 Guido Dhondt and Klaus Wittig
This program is<br>free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the<br>terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free<br>Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your<br>option) any later version.
This program is<br>distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY<br>WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or<br>FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License<br>for more details.
You<br>should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along<br>with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,<br>Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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