This is the README file for version 3.00 of FElt  - a package for
introductory level finite element analysis.

See the file README.old for a basic descriptions of previous versions of FElt
and what it's all about.  See the file CHANGELOG for a detailed list of
what's new/fixed in this release - there are a fairly large number of 
substantial changes with this release.  The list of frequently asked 
questions (and their answers) is in FAQ.

The big jump from 2.30 to 3.00 is based on the incorporation of burlap in
this release.  burlap is an entirely new appliation designed to combine
the ease of use of FElt with the power and flexibility of command-line
driven, scripting environments like Matlab.  burlap allows the easy
incorporation and testing of new element types, new analysis types, and
new ways to use the existing analysis types.  There are two brand new chapters
in the manual that describe it and we'd really like people to give it a try
and let us know what they think.  

Based largely on the two new burlap chapters, the manual has grown to 220
something pages; part of the growth is also due to a new chapter near the
front that tries to give some of the mathematical basis for each of the
analysis types.  We've also done some extensive proofreading for the first
time in several releases.  The xfelt chapter is gone because xfelt is gone
from the source and binary distributions.  You can still get it from old
ones if you really want it (and don't for some reason already have it).

Three new analysis types have been added: static and transient thermal
analysis and spectral analysis (transfer functions, spectral response).
Modal analysis has some new capabilities (like the ability to do actual
modal analysis as opposed to just calculating eigenvalues and vectors).
The only new element is a one-dimensional spring.  

The configure process and Makefile scheme is all new.  We're still sort
of fine tuning it so if you have any problems or complaints we'd really
like to hear about them.

For installation instructions see the file INSTALL.  The best way to get a
feel for the package is to use it.  Several examples are provided in the
etc/Tests/ directory.  A simple modal example can be found in 
etc/Tests/modal.flt and simple example using a brick element is in 
etc/Tests/brick.flt.

As usual, we would like to stress that feedback is always appreciated ... we
welcome all comments as to usability and functionality.  If you're using the
package please drop us a note and let us know what you think, even if you've
got no complaints whatsoever.  Mail bug reports, comments, hints, suggestion,
complaints, etc. to one of us at the email addresses below.

Jason Gobat					Darren Atkinson
jgobat@mit.edu					atkinson@ucsd.edu
