I remember very first impact with Salome-Aster, at the beginning of this year:
It is french, but with english language... challenging, but ok
It is quite complicated, ok, I try to follow tutorials...
At this point it is "mandatory" to cite very useful Cyprien Rusu (FEAforAll) videotutorial, I think fundamental to understand basis of Salome-Meca logic. Aster has a lot of documentation and training material, but it is necessary to understand it's "language", its logic. It is useful also to have a previous significant experience in FEA with codes at level of NASTRAN or ANSYS and a good experience in meshing and modelling. Code-Aster is at this same level, but with the advantages of an OpenSource.
Code-Aster is an advanced code, Salome is a good user interface, very good being an OpenSource, but not at level of last User Interfaces available for ANSYS or similar software, i.e. APEX for MSC NASTRAN, it has not the same level of "automation" in meshing and model definition, but in any case we are comparing an OpenSource with very very expensive software.
After first learning months, I began to appreciate Code_Aster capabilities: a very nice management of stresses and efforts in elements, very precise results. Code_Aster demands an input .comm file perfect, it is much less tolerant than nastran for example, but when it runs it is a swiss clock.
I apreciate management of the mesh, of its elements from 0d to 3d, it provides very easy management of composite models with plates and solids, for example.
Also the use and results accuracy of RBE3 I found a bit better than in other codes.
The only true defect I found, that I wrote in this forum few time ago, is that solid linear mesh displacement results seems to provide a result not so precise when compared with other software and with hand calculation (where possible). This aspect wold need a further deep investigation...
At his point I am vey satisfied of starting learning cod_Aster, I start to use it for my jobs where possible, and I am thinking to use it for some research studies I have in mind. At the end, the best way to learn is to apply it.
