HOLY CHRIST 40 grands?? I thought it would be at most 5,000 or something.Like Microsoft, Adobe, AutoDesk,Unigraphics, and all the programs and companys, they have a lot invested in their software. They don't give it away
Let's see-
You can get a limited I-Dea's License for about $40,000, NASTRAN and PATRAN for about 1/2 to 2/3 that, ALGOR for about $5-15000, depending on what you need,---ANSYS is quite reasonable.
And you can get whichever package you want, and imort the ANSYS model into it. Most of them will translate--but you need to double check the translation.
Have a blast. knock yourself out.

But does that mean they released the models in a ANSYS-compatible format?
THATS AWESOME, now you're officialy a step ahead of the NIST and hundreds of experts. It's not as good as mine, though.I hope I'm not late to the party, but I just finished my drawing of the fire damage to the tower!
Wanna see? It's real neat!
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5970/towerdamagelollolgd2.th.jpg
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I'm still reading btw. Woooordy.