MSC Marc is a nonlinear finite elements analysis

software Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications. The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...

used to simulate behavior of complex materials and interaction under large deformations and strains. It can also simulate multi-

physics Physics is the scientific study of matter, its Elementary particle, fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge whi ...

scenarios across structural, thermal,

piezoelectric Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied stress (mechanics), mechanical s ...

electrostatic Electrostatics is a branch of physics that studies slow-moving or stationary electric charges. Since classical times, it has been known that some materials, such as amber, attract lightweight particles after rubbing. The Greek word (), mean ...

magnetostatic Magnetostatics is the study of magnetic fields in systems where the currents are steady (not changing with time). It is the magnetic analogue of electrostatics, where the charges are stationary. The magnetization need not be static; the equat ...

, and

electromagnetic In physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge via electromagnetic fields. The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces of nature. It is the dominant force in the interacti ...

behaviors. It uses automatic

two-dimensional A two-dimensional space is a mathematical space with two dimensions, meaning points have two degrees of freedom: their locations can be locally described with two coordinates or they can move in two independent directions. Common two-dimension ...

and three-

dimension In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a mathematical space (or object) is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus, a line has a dimension of one (1D) because only one coo ...

al remeshing to analyze structures undergoing large distortions, and crack propagation.

History

Marc was the first commercial nonlinear finite element software developed by Marc Analysis Research Corporation founded in 1971 by Dr. Pedro Marcal. It was acquired in 1999 by MSC Software Corporation. Mentat is the dedicated pre- and post-processor used to support Marc.Marc Brochure
As of 2025 the packet was maintained by the Hexagon AB.

Introduction

Engineering structures and systems often use nonlinear materials and experience complex interactions between various parts. For example, the stress-strain curve of an elastomer is highly nonlinear. During installation, elastomeric components could fold onto themselves and could undergo buckling. Their properties change with temperature and time. These nonlinearities are often grouped into three major categories, namely geometric, material and boundary condition nonlinearities. Marc is used to perform Finite Element Analysis of structures accounting for all these nonlinearities, in one, two and three dimensions.

Technology

Marc can be used to run various types of mechanical simulations. * Linear

statics Statics is the branch of classical mechanics that is concerned with the analysis of force and torque acting on a physical system that does not experience an acceleration, but rather is in mechanical equilibrium, equilibrium with its environment ...

* Linear dynamics * Nonlinear statics * Nonlinear dynamics *

Buckling In structural engineering, buckling is the sudden change in shape (Deformation (engineering), deformation) of a structural component under Structural load, load, such as the bowing of a column under Compression (physics), compression or the wrin ...

* Heat transfer *

Diffusion Diffusion is the net movement of anything (for example, atoms, ions, molecules, energy) generally from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. Diffusion is driven by a gradient in Gibbs free energy or chemical p ...

* Electromagnetics * Electrostatics * Magnetostatics Marc can also simulate coupled physical phenomena like: * Themomechnical * Electrical-Thermal-Mechanical * Piezoelectric *

Induction heating Induction heating is the process of heating electrically conductive materials, namely metals or semi-conductors, by electromagnetic induction, through heat transfer passing through an inductor that creates an electromagnetic field within the coi ...

* Thermal-Electrical (Joule heating) * Magnetodynamic-Thermal * Magnetostatic-Structural * Magnetostatic-Thermal Various constitutive formulations are used during simulations to represent the behavior of materials used in the designs. Marc can be used to model materials like: *

Metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

s, below and above yield point *

Composite material A composite or composite material (also composition material) is a material which is produced from two or more constituent materials. These constituent materials have notably dissimilar chemical or physical properties and are merged to create a ...

s *

Gasket Some seals and gaskets A gasket is a mechanical seal which fills the space between two or more mating surfaces, generally to prevent leakage from or into the joined objects while under compression. It is a deformable material that is used to c ...

s * Thermomechanical shape memory

alloy An alloy is a mixture of chemical elements of which in most cases at least one is a metal, metallic element, although it is also sometimes used for mixtures of elements; herein only metallic alloys are described. Metallic alloys often have prop ...

s *

Soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...

s * Powder metals *

Concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

Elastomer An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity (i.e. both viscosity and elasticity) and with weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus (E) and high failure strain compared with other materials. The term, a portmanteau of ''ela ...

s *

Plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic polymers, synthetic or Semisynthesis, semisynthetic materials composed primarily of Polymer, polymers. Their defining characteristic, Plasticity (physics), plasticity, allows them to be Injection moulding ...

Applications

Marc is used in several industries including automotive, aerospace, machinery, electronics, biomedical, oil and gas, consumer goods and packaging, manufacturing, civil engineering and mining to solve complex nonlinear problems that involve large deformations and strains, contact interaction, damage, fracture and failure. Simulating Nonlinearity Supplemental issue Summer 2013
/ref>

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.mscsoftware.com/product/marc
MSC Software

MSC Software's Blog

MSC Software's YouTube Channel

MSC Software on Twitter
Finite element software Finite element software for Linux Computer-aided manufacturing software Computer-aided engineering software