Hi

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, i.e. I don't know about 'best' as this implies lots of things unique for your case, where, I assume, the ability to get help greatly matters.

I believe Code Aster (CA) can do the job. CA is freeware, has an active and helpful user community, training material, lots of verification examples that can be used as a starting point and it des have special cable elements.

See here for training material

http://web-code-aster.org/V2/spip.php?rubrique68

and here for elements

http://www.code-aster.org/UPLOAD/DOC/Formations/08-structural-elements.pdf

Take a look here for download

http://web-code-aster.org/V2/spip.php?article303

The user group

http://web-code-aster.org/forum2/viewforum.php?id=12

There is also a multiphysics code calles Elmer which is part of the CAELinux distibution where you download a runtime DVD (no need even to install it) that contains lots of freeware. http://caelinux.com/CMS/

However, you can take a look also at this Simscale site where software already is installed, you can get a free account and there is a support organization

https://www.simscale.com/

See - just a small pick of what the CAE world has in offer and it just started to get difficult to choose. :)

Have fun

Claes