Zencrack
Finite Element Interfaces
Overview
Find out more about the way that Zencrack interfaces to commercial finite element codes.
Abaqus
Find out more about the Zencrack interface to Abaqus/Standard - tested with versions up to and including Abaqus 2024.
Zentech International Limited is a member of the Dassault Systèmes Software Partner Scheme.
Abaqus, the 3DS logo, and SIMULIA are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or
other countries.
Ansys
Find out more about the Zencrack interface to Ansys/Mechanical APDL - tested with versions up to and including Ansys 2024R1.
Zentech International Limited is a member of the Ansys Preferred Solution Partner program.
Ansys and its logo are trademarks of SAS IP, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A
Simcenter Nastran
Find out more about the Zencrack interface to Simcenter Nastran - tested with versions up to and including 2312.5.
NX Nastran 10.0, 11.0 and 12.0 are also supported.
Zentech International Limited is a member of the Technology Partner program of Siemens Digital Industries Software.
NX™ NASTRAN® software and Simcenter™ NASTRAN® software are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Siemens Industry Software Inc., or its
subsidiaries or affiliates, in the United States and in other countries.
Zencrack's crack growth prediction capabilities require a suitable contour integral facility within the finite element code OR the use of
nodal displacements to calculate stress intensity factors. Hence
Zencrack can, in theory, interface to any finite element code if using
the displacement based method. Interfaces are currently available to the finite element packages listed on this page.
Each copy of Zencrack Standard or Professional may be licensed with one or more of the available finite element interfaces.
The finite element package is not supplied with Zencrack and must be licensed from an appropriate supplier.
Some capabilities are available in limited form in some of the finite element interfaces:
| Item | Abaqus | Ansys | Simcenter Nastran |
| Remeshing method | Yes | Yes | Not yet |
| J-integral calculation | Yes | Yes (1) | Yes (2) |
| Ct-integral calculation | Yes | Yes (3) | No |
| SIF-integral calculation | Yes | Yes (4) | No |
| T-stress integral calculation | Yes | Yes (5) | No |
| Automatic generation of contact on the crack faces (crack-block method) | Yes (6) | Yes (6) | No |
| Transition elements around large crack-blocks (crack-block method) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Output 20 noded target CB elements as 8 noded (crack-block method) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Restrictions on the use of some crack-blocks (crack-block method) | No | Yes (7) | No |
| User defined growth direction | Yes | No | No |
1. J-integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 11.0SP1 or later.
2. The interface to Simcenter Nastran requires NX Nastran version 10.0
or later or any version under the new Simcenter Nastran brand. Solution
types SOL101 and SOL401 are supported. J-integral calculation requires
SOL401 capability.
3. Ct-integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 16 or later.
4. SIF-integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 15 or later.
5. T-stress integral evaluation in Ansys requires Ansys version 15 or later.
6. Some manual effort is required in symmetry models, but fully automatic in full models.
7. Some crack-blocks contain elements that are collapsed in a way that
some Ansys versions do not permit.
Zencrack
F.E. Interfaces
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