I recently came across this free software - OOF2 on the nist website: http://www.ctcms.nist.gov/oof/oof2/index.html I was basically looking for analyzing the effect of microstructure on the stresses in coatings, and a friend of mine mentioned this software. Since it works only on Unix or Linux (and Mac) I have not been able to install it on my PC...Have a Mac on which i will try it out soon. Will post my experience when I start using it. In the meantime wanted to know what kind of problems others tackle using this software.