LISA - Free / Affordable Finite Element Analysis Software

Import AutoCAD, COSMOS files

Pre-processor Description

Classic FE modeling

Pressure vessel component templates

Hydrodynamic bearing modeler

Display

Polyline sketch tool

Mesh generators

Mesh refinement tools

Component groups / Explorer side-bar

Extruded & revolved solids

CAD models
LISA does not have a CAD kernel like Parasolid or ACIS to recognize CAD entities like solids & surfaces, so you will not be able to import your CAD models into LISA. You will need to re-create your part using LISA's modelling tools.

DXF import
DXF import is possible but it's use is deprecated because it requires quite an effort to prepare the file in a form that is understood by LISA, it's much quicker to re-create the model within LISA itself.

Importing AutoCAD drawings

You can use AutoCAD to lay-out a coarse mesh of quadrilateral & triangle elements which can then be loaded into LISA and refined into a finer mesh using LISA's meshing tools. If you are laying-out a 2D profile for creating extruded solids or solids of revolution use only quadrilateral elements in your 2D profile.

From the download section of the website you may download a package with the required autolisp files and a Readme.doc file with the instructions on preparing AutoCAD drawings for use with the LISA program.

Importing COSMOS files

Some CAD programs like ProENGINEER are able to generate an FE mesh from CAD models in a format for use with the COSMOS finite element analysis program. LISA has a COSMOS port by which data in the COSMOS file format can be loaded into LISA.