release notes

MAESTRO is a finite element analysis program for rationally-based analysis, evaluation, and structural optimization of ships, offshore structures, and other large complex thin-walled structures.

MAESTRO Requirements

  • Operating Systems tested: 32-bit Windows XP and Vista, 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7
  • Operating Systems not supported: Windows ME, 98, 95, NT
  • Mac: The Intel Mac with Bootcamp or Parallels has not been tested
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, SP1.
  • Valid license (without this, MAESTRO will operate in the demonstration mode)
  • Installation of Sentinel System Driver and Sentinel Protection Server 7.6.3. (Automatically installed with MAESTRO).

Version 9.1.0

New and Enhanced Features:

  • User Defined Extreme Design Wave: Capability to facilitate Extreme Load Analysis has been added to the MAESTRO main menu. This includes the ability to graphically review an imported load database (via complex Ship Motion file) and the creation of extreme design loads.
  • Ship Motion File Complex Form: The Ship Motion file has been expanded to allow the importing of Complex displacement, acceleration, and pressure data calculated by 3rd party seakeeping software. This file is backward compatible with the legacy Ship Motion file. 
  • Weight Distribution Load Pattern: Added the ability generate a weight distribution by either entering weights or weight densities at their corresponding longitudinal locations. This load patter can be combined with other existing load patterns.
  • New Midship Section Design Tutorial: This tutorial will walk through the complete process of creating and analyzing a midship section given a basic set of design parameters and hull geometry.
  • Group Creation & Modification:
    •  Added a method to facilitate the identification of wetted elements
    • Added several methods for creating General groups and Volume groups including an automatic search algorithm
    • Added methods to automatically generate consistent normals within a group
    • Ability to add elements during group creation from the groups view
  • Nastran Import/Export: The following functionality has been added to the Nastran import/export capability:
    • Significantly improved the importing speed
    • Import Spherical and Cylindrical coordinate
    • Import/Export PBARL/PBEAML cards
    • Export "boundary only" data file (filename.nas.spcd)
    • Import Nastran model as a Group
  • Hull Girder Cross Section Property Calculation: A new method for defining cross section locations has been added. This functionality allows you to recover hull girder section properties outside of the traditional endpoint locations. This includes recovering hull girder properties from an imported Nastran finite element model.
  • Equation Solver Method: The mechanism to choose a different Equation Solver method (Sparse, Iterative, or Skyline) has been moved to the File/Preferences dialog. Previously, this mechanism was located in the Analysis/Evaluation dialog.
  • Longitudinal Effectiveness: Added the ability to assign longitudinal effectiveness to finemesh models and General groups.
  • ALPS/ULSAP: This module has been significantly updated to the version 2010.4. Additional reference papers have been added to the Help system as well as updated verification models.
  • ALPS/HULL: This module has been updated to allow the user to impose pressures (i.e., hydrostatic, volume, linpress, etc.) on the defined ALPS/HULL analysis model.
  • Simple Object Mesh Template: Added the ability to auto-generate the following MAESTRO models:
    • Stiffened Panel with Initial Deflection
    •  Sphere
    • Cylinder with/without rings
    • Sample Models: Security changes have been made in Windows 7. Therefore, if MAESTRO is installed on a Windows 7 OS, the Models and Samples directory will be located in C:\ProgramData\MAESTRO directory.
    • Ply-Polygon File Format Import: MAESTRO now has the ability to import ply-polygon mesh geometry files (*.ply). This feature will create a new module of the quad and triangle elements in the mesh, all with the same plate and material property.

Bug Fixes: A number of minor bugs have been fixed.

Known Issues:

  • Cutting Planes: Cutting planes deleted when user chooses View/Refresh.
  • Quick Create: The creation of additional nodes via Quick Create fails on the first attempt in some cases.
  • Color Legend: In some plotting scenarios, the titles and/or values are cutoff. The user can use the View/Options to change the font if necessary.
  • Default Material: The default material property is deleted when the user creates a new model (via the File/New menu item) in one running instance of MAESTRO.
  • View Refresh: In plotting different views, MAESTRO will hang on the current view. In most cases this can be resolved by the user choosing View/Element Type followed by View/Refresh.
  • Cylindrical Coordinates: The cylindrical coordinates were intended for purposes of inputting the data but not modifying existing Endpoints/Additional Nodes.

Version 9.0.8

New and Enhanced Features:

  • Sparse Out-Of-Core (OOC) Solver: Added Sparse Out-Of-Core (OOC) solver that can solve very large models. The limitation of the solver is based on the computer’s hard disk space. Models up to 700,000 degrees of freedom have been tested.
  • Inertia Balance: Added automated inertia balancing for models having hydrostatic loading. Previously, automated inertia balance was only available for models not having hydrostatic loading. The details of the load balance methodology are available under Load Balance in the Verification and Validation section of the manual.
  • Longitudinal Bending Moments: Axial forces for longitudinal bending moment calculations are now included. Previously, the bending moment distribution was based on the classical beam theory, where the contributions from axial forces were ignored. In some cases, this resulted in bending moment distributions that did not close at the ends. This only affects the bending moment distribution plot and does not change the model’s loads; therefore, this will not change previous model response results. The details of the longitudinal bending moment calculations are available under Load Balance in the Verification and Validation section of the manual.
  • Bending Moment/Shear Plots: Bending moment and shear force are now plotted at the base line. Previously, these plots were located at the waterline.
  • Load Balancing Verification Documentation: An extensive explanation and verification of the load balancing methodology is presented in the Help file.

Bug Fixes:

  • Legacy Solver: Fixed a few synchronization bugs for the legacy solver.
  • Load Creation: Fixed a bug related to the numbering of load cases. If the user only had two load cases, ID 2 and ID 3, but missing ID 1, a third load case could not be created unless ID 3 was renumber to 1 or 4.
  • Fine Mesh Models and Corrosion: Fixed a bug when solving un-corroded fine mesh models of a corroded global model.
  • ALPS/HULL: Fixed a bug that did not allow the user to execute an ALPS/HULL analysis a second time in a given session.
  • RSpline: Fixed an RSpline display bug that caused computer crashing when creating/deleting RSplines

Graphical Bugs Fixed:

  • Stress Reporting: A bug when reporting stress for transversely stiffened elements.
  • Group View Deformation: Deformation plots when viewing groups were not correct.
  • Adequacy Plots: Fixed a bug when displaying adequacy parameters of irregular evaluation patches.

Version 9.0.7

New and Enhanced Features:

  •  Layout Organization: Many of the menu items and icons have been reorganized, renamed or changed to provide the user with a more consistent and effortless experience. Please see the documentation for a complete description of menus and icons.
  • RBE3: A new element, RBE3 has been added to MAESTRO. The intended use of the RBE3 is to transmit forces and moments from a primary node to one or more secondary nodes without adding any stiffness to the structure.
  • Transverse Bending Moments: A newly designed Hull Menu includes options to view transverse plots of bending moments. This is especially useful when designing multi-hulls.
  • Transparency: This new feature allows the user to choose to set a module or substructure as transparent for easier viewing of the model.
  • Groups Creation/Operation: New functionality has been added to allow a user to create a new group from existing groups using the Group Operation dialog. Also, a new feature has been added within the groups dialog to add additional elements that are similar to an already selected element. Combined, these features provide the user with a more robust way to create groups.
  • Wetted Group: To assist in exporting “wetted” elements to FEMAP, new functionality in the Groups menu was added that will automatically create a general group of "wetted" elements.
  • Select by Box: To expedite the selection of elements, a select-by-box capability has been added.
  • Directional Stress: A new feature has been added which allows the user to align all element local stress vectors to a global direction. This functionality will enable the presentation of stress in a uniform manner to the analyst can better assess the stress patch in a given direction.
  • Export Stiffness Matrix: MAESTRO can now export the stiffness matrix in Nastran format through the export Nastran options. This feature will allow advanced users to process analysis runs in Nastran by using the MAESTRO generated stiffness matrix.
  • Batch Execution: MAESTRO has the ability to perform batch processing, which allows the user to sequentially solve any number of models, each of which may have any number of load cases without having to manually launch each model.
  • AutoSave: A new auto save feature has been added to MAESTRO. The user can select the number of executed commands in between auto saves from File > AutoSave Frequency...
  • Recover Model: A new feature has been added under File > Recover, which automatically recovers a model after an unexpected closing of MAESTRO.
  • Documentation: The documentation has been completely overhauled with a focus more on “how to.” Additionally, all of the documentation is now in a single location, which can be found via the Help menu or help icon.
  • Sentinel Security Drivers/Servers: The Sentinel System Driver (both for USB) and Sentinel Protection Server (for Network locks) are now integrated into the MAESTRO installation process. Therefore, there is no need for the user to install security drivers/servers separately. The integrated installation checks to determine the necessity of installing the Sentinel Driver/Sentinel Protection Server.
  • Help Menu: The new Help menu now includes links to the website, forum, support email, and FAQ.
  • FAQ: Updated FAQ section in the help file and on the website.
  • "Null" Beam and Stiffener Properties: There are now predefined "null" beam and stiffener layouts when creating a new model. This eliminates the need to define these for an unstiffened panel or unframed strake.
  • Set Current & View Part: There is now an icon and a right-click menu option in the parts tree to set the current and view part for a module or substructure at the same time. There is also a new icon to set current part and set view part .
  • Background Color: The new MAESTRO default background color is light gray with gradient north. To change back to a black background, or another color, open the Preferences dialog from File > Preferences.
  • Capture View: A new feature has been added under the File menu which allows the user to copy a screenshot of the modeling space to their clipboard which can then be pasted into another program.
  • Importing Legacy Results: A new mechanism has been added to facilitate the importing, i.e. opening *.PLG files, of legacy MAESTRO results.
  • Hull Menu: A newly designed Hull Menu with options to view horizontal and transverse plots.
  • Solving Fine Mesh Models: Multiple top down Fine Mesh models can be solved at once from the File > Analysis/Evaluation menu or Analysis/Evaluation dialog.
  • Groups: A new feature has been added within the groups dialog to add additional elements that are similar to an already selected element.
  • Check & Merge Dialog: The functionality found in the Check & Merge Dialog (namely Update: FE Tags, Free Edges and Evaluation Patches) has been moved to the Tools > Renumber FE-Tag, View > Edges > Free Edges and Model > Evaluation Patch > Auto-Generate menu items respectively.
  • Model Summary: Functionality used to report number of elements and nodes has been moved to the Model > Summary menu item.

Bug Fixes:

  • Update FE Tags: Fixed a bug so that FE Tags are updated when a module or substructure is moved or rotated.
  • Collapsed Quad: Fixed a bug so that a quad collapsed to a triangular element correctly distributes mass and force to the appropriate nodes.
  • Sort Volume Table: Fixed a bug so the Volume Table can now be sorted by the Volume Group Name.
  • Deletions Dialog: Fixed a bug that would cause a hard crash when deleting large amounts of elements from the deletions dialog.
  • Sort Element List by ID: Fixed a bug that allows elements to be sorted in the Grid tab without information disappearing.
  • Sort Nodes List by ID: Fixed a bug that caused a hard crash when trying to sorted listed nodes by ID in Grid tab.
  • Warped Quad: Fixed a bug to take the average face normal of the two triangles making up a warped quad for area, weight, volume, etc. calculations.
  • Trochoidal Wave: Fixed a bug so that the trochoidal wave profile definition now uses the formulas provided in DDS-100-6 i.2.
  • Parts Tree in Parts Dialog: Fixed a bug so that the parts tree within the Modules and Substructures dialog is consistent with the main parts tree.
  • Brackets: Fixed a bug so that leg lengths are automatically populated for the listed property, and are returned to the automatic lengths if “user defined” is unchecked.
  • Find FE-Tag: Fixed a bug so a search can now be performed for a nodal or elemental FE-Tag.
  • Deletions Filters: Fixed a bug so that the filters in the deletions dialog work as expected.
  • Saving/Loading Results: Fixed a bug so results consistently save and load with a .mdl file.
  • ULSAP Results: Fixed a bug so that ULSAP results are automatically saved and loaded with a .mdl file.
  • ULSAP Adequacy Parameters: Fixed a bug so only ULSAP Adequacy parameters are shown in an ULSAP analysis.

Graphical Bugs Fixed:

  • "Show This Thickness Only": Fixed a bug that allows user to switch back to all "thicknesses" using the dynamic query once the "Show this thickness only" option is selected.
  • Corner Stress: Fixed a bug so now the check box for "Corner Stress" changes the stress contour plot between nodal and elemental contour plots.
  • Compound Element Effectiveness: Fixed a bug so now non-transverse compound elements can be defined as longitudinally effective using the dynamic query.
  • Bending Moment when Switching Load Cases: Fixed a bug so the hull bending moment plot updates when different load cases are selected.
  • Load Case Selection: Fixed a bug to make sure queried loads are consistent with the load case from the load case selection drop-down menu.
  • Pressure Plots when Switching Load Cases: Fixed a bug so the color plot and legend updates each time a different load case is selected from the load case drop-down menu.
  • Deformed Model Changes: Fixed a bug that prevented model from being undeformed if structure was changed in the "deformed" mode.
  • Contour Stress Plot: Fixed a bug so that the stress legend updates correctly between load cases when viewing a contoured stress plot.
  • Hide Elements Outside Range: Fixed a bug that now has Hide Elements Outside Range icon functionally properly. This option will now hide elements that are not within the range of displayed values.
  • Stiffeners on Wetted Elements View: Fixed a bug so that when stiffeners are turned on, they remain in view on the wetted elements when selecting View > Wetted Elements.
  • Mirrored Wetted Elements: Fixed a bug so the wetted faces of wetted elements in a mirrored module or substructure are shown correct graphically.
  • Adequacy “User Defined” Range Plot: Fixed a bug so results update correctly when switching between load cases.