Salome-Platform And Salome-MECA

What is Salome? It is powerful open-source CAD/Mesher, developed by EDF (Electricity of France). There is a simple reason why it is open, because there are no reasons to make it proprietary. The goal of development is to design and build industrial things, which is much more expensive and important than possible income that can be obtained from proprietary software. Also the normal proportion for salespersons/developers in software industry is 9 to 1 (not any software, even perfect can be sold easily). You can take part in usage and testing and submit your issues to developer. Salome is mainly for Linux but there is experimental Windows version.

What is Salome-MECA? It is Salome-Platfrom + Code_Aster FEA package. Salome-MECA is for Linux only. There is a special Linux distribution (64 bit), called Caelinux  that combines Salome-MECA and other open-source software for engineers. You may get .ISO file from official website, from SF.NET or using this links:

 https://yadi.sk/d/Uwq053wjmWMKk



 Google-Drive

Sourceforge.net
 

Installation:

1) Salome For Windows: download archive (from here or from official website)
Unzip it onto C:\   and double-click salome_run.bat file.
Link for older 32-bit versions.

2) Salome-MECA For Linux 64 bit.
Download it from here:
http://www.code-aster.org/V2/spip.php?article303
(sometimes this link doesn't work)


The reason why older versions can be required is that many Code_Aster  books and examples has been created for older version of Code_Aster (v10). Some commands can be changed and the old sample will require some changes in the newer versions.

Installation of Salome-MECA under Linux is very simple (because it is generally portable software). Untar archive into any folder, and ./...run it from terminal.
The process is shown in this video: https://youtu.be/sOwKyyN7Cv0

3) Caelinux Distribution. 
Under windows you can try VirtualBox or programs like that. Google for "how to install 64 bit under virtualbox" if you're going to use 64 bit. Some extra actions can be required. In this case Linux will work as normal windows program at separate window.
If you want to install it as normal fully functional OS, google for "install linux from ISO". If you have separate flash stick, use UNetBootin from SF.NET (or similar programs) to make and run it in live mode (without installation). Also you can install linux onto usb flash drive or SSD and use it from there.

How to get started?
Salome has perfect help system in English. There are video lessons at this channel https://www.youtube.com/user/calculix09
(the series of about 40 lessons from simple examples to complex models will give you good understanding of how it works).

Lesson 1 - Basic Of Salome. Extrusion: https://youtu.be/OEmWAjE_gmY
Lesson 2 - Boss and Cut Extrusion: https://youtu.be/KV13aabdLck
(bodies will be merged when you use this option)
...
Lesson 5 - Extrusion Along Path: https://youtu.be/Akppa6PwDdY
Lesson 6 - Body Of Revolution: https://youtu.be/CxpwX07m96E
Lesson 7 - Boolean Cut: https://youtu.be/LnzA0hR_JlA
...
Lesson 11 - Thicken Of Shell: https://youtu.be/NO39yV6cEVM
...
Lesson 21 - Basic Of Python Scripting: https://youtu.be/bQVxKBf37Xo
...
Lesson 29 - Code_Aster + Eficas: https://youtu.be/XNWv7N-tZzY
...
Lesson 34 - Hexahedron(i,j,k): https://youtu.be/hqjpZ4w0CUs
Lesson 35. Hexadralization With Submesh Input.  https://youtu.be/twwsa5nt16s
...
Lesson 37 - Mixed mesh (Submesh):  https://youtu.be/btGVTKxFT9I
Lesson 38 - Radial mesh: https://youtu.be/5vezL1SvChM

Many other lessons for Salome can be found on this channel.

What you can do with Salome in general? You can build any geometry (bodies and shells) and export it into STEP/IGES standard formats. Salome is little bit less efficient in terms of productivity than Solidworks or other feature-based software but you can do the same things just slower.
What else you can do with Salome? You can prepare mesh with named groups (to apply boundary conditions) and export it into many mesh formats (like .UNV, .MED, etc) or you can use Code-Aster to make calculation inside Salome-MECA.

Open meshers are less productive than commercial ones, but it do the same thing (just little bit more sensitive to your skills and experience).

There are many programs and services (like SimScale) use opensource libraries and can be used along with Salome.

1 comment:

  1. Code_aster is also used in other platforms such as https://simulaton.com

    ReplyDelete