Computer Assisted Design and stress simulation programs?

[Icefire]

Are there any alternatives to Autodesk inventor, a mechanical CAD program that is capable of simulating the stresses applied to the object (maybe fluid dynamics and combustion simulation, but I'm not holding my breath)?

Because Autodesk inventor seems like a good program, but I want to see if there are any other programs that will compare, possibly Macintosh compatible.

thanks.

Edited March 18, 2010 by Icefire

[vordhosbn]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolidWorks

http://www.solidworks.com/

[Newbies_Kid]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nastran

[darkenlighten]

I agree, Solidworks COSMOS and Unigraphics NX with Nastran are really good programs for FEA. Solidworks might be easier to get a hold of, since Unigraphics is a more high end program (for example GM uses this).

 

If you have any questions about these, I am pretty familiar with COSMOS and really familiar with Nastran.

[InigoMontoya]

I use Alibre which can be had with a verison of Algor. I love Alibre. Algor I'm not horribly impressed with, but I understand there are better versions than what I have a license for.

[multiphysics]

COMSOL Multiphysics http://www.comsol.com is an FEA Software package that can handle stress simulation. It excels at simulating models where coupled multiphysics are needed and can import from Solidworks, PRO/E, Inventor, and many other CAD file formats.