FRANC3D - 3D Crack Growth and Fracture Mechanics Simulation Software

Advanced 3D fracture mechanics and crack growth simulation software for aerospace, power generation, defense, and high-performance structural applications. For licensing inquiries, contact Process Optimization or your regional vendor.

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Overview

FRANC3D provides three-dimensional, finite-element-based crack growth simulation capabilities for arbitrary, non-planar cracks in complex engineering components and structures.

The software integrates advanced fracture mechanics methodologies with high-fidelity finite element analysis to enable accurate prediction of crack growth and life assessment under realistic loading conditions.

FRANC3D graphical user interface showing 3D crack growth simulation and stress intensity factor results

FRANC3D GUI showing crack growth simulation and stress intensity factor evaluation along a crack front.

Download & Installation Guide

FRANC3D 9.2.1 executable packages are available - Sept 11, 2026.
The installation guide provides instructions for downloading and installing FRANC3D, along with platform requirements, RLM licensing configuration, and environment setup.

⚠ Ver 9 requires an updated franc3d license file; we migrated to RLM Ver 18.
Your RLM server software should not have to be updated.

View changes for Version 9.2 Download Installation Guide Download FRANC3D Brochure

FRANC3D Capabilities

Reference Documentation

Reference Manual

Provides a detailed description of the FRANC3D GUI; all menus and dialogs are described, along with program setup and preference settings.

Download PDF (14 MB)

User Manual

Describes underlying concepts, advanced user instruction, and potential issues and error messages.

Download PDF (15 MB)

Commands & Python Reference

Command language and Python module reference, with an example Python script for extending the built-in crack growth capabilities.

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Finite Element Integration

FRANC3D depends on commercial FEA codes; at least one supported FEA package is required.

Tutorials

FRANC3D/ABAQUS Tutorial

Basic tutorial for ABAQUS users showing crack insertion and growth in a simple cube.

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FRANC3D/ANSYS Tutorial

Basic tutorial for ANSYS users showing crack insertion and growth in a simple cube.

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FRANC3D/NASTRAN Tutorial

Basic tutorial for NASTRAN users showing crack insertion and growth in a simple cube.

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FRANC3D/SIERRA Tutorial

Basic tutorial for Sierra Mechanics users showing crack insertion and growth in a simple cube.

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FRANC3D Tutorials 2-15

Tutorials 2-15 with subsections for ABAQUS/ANSYS/NASTRAN. Model files for all tutorials can be downloaded.

Download PDF (16 MB)

Tutorial model files, along with benchmark files and scripts to run them, are available from the FAC downloads folder.

Python and Other Scripts

FRANC3D has a Python interface that can be used to automate and script crack growth simulations. Example scripts are provided along with some other scripts that can aid users in setting up FE analyses on HPC clusters.

Example Scripts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FRANC3D?

FRANC3D is a finite-element-based fracture mechanics software package used to simulate 3D crack growth, compute stress intensity factors, and estimate fatigue life in complex engineering structures.

What types of cracks can FRANC3D model?

FRANC3D can model arbitrary three-dimensional cracks, including non-planar crack growth in complex geometries. A library of flaw shapes is available to define the initial crack, and user-defined cracks can be created from surface meshes.

Does FRANC3D support mixed-mode fracture analysis?

Yes. FRANC3D computes Mode I, Mode II, and Mode III stress intensity factors and supports mixed-mode crack growth predictions.

Can FRANC3D automatically grow the crack?

Yes. FRANC3D can automatically extend the crack front and remesh the crack region as cracks propagate through a structure.

How do I know if the FRANC3D results are correct?

As with all finite element simulations, the analyst should check all the results carefully. The uncracked model displacements can be compared with the initial crack model displacements. Benchmark analyses can be repeated during training to learn how the crack-front template mesh affects SIF accuracy.

How does FRANC3D differ from or compare with NASGRO, AFGROW, DARWIN ?

FRANC3D is generally used to simulate crack growth that these codes weren't designed to model. Customers can decide for themselves if a more rapid NASGRO solution is appropriate. FRANC3D requires a 3D FE mesh and FE solver and requires more time and computational effort. One comparison is available from the literature, a Masters Thesis from Chalmers University of Technology.

Is remeshing during crack growth a computational bottleneck ?

A common misconception in computational fracture mechanics literature is that 3D automated remeshing is computationally expensive. In the FRANC3D workflow, the local geometric insertion of the crack and remeshing of the local region surrounding the crack is fully automated and generally takes very little time (seconds to minutes depending on the uncracked model and the size of the crack and the local submodel). The actual computational overhead of a fatigue simulation loop is mostly dictated by the background matrix inversion within the external Finite Element solver (e.g., Ansys, Abaqus, or Nastran) during successive iterations. The FE solver time can also be reduced, using submodeling or superposition.

What industries use FRANC3D?

FRANC3D is used in aerospace, power generation, defense, research laboratories, universities, and other industries where fracture mechanics and damage tolerance analyses are required.

Can I try FRANC3D before purchasing a license?

Contact your regional distributor for licensing and evaluation information.