INTRODUCTION TO LINEAR DYNAMIC ANALYSIS USING MSC.

PATRAN/NASTRAN
Goal The goal of this exercise is to set set-up a simple linear dynamic analysis of a frame structure composed of shell and beam elements. The frame is fixed at the bottom. Simulation results (frequencies ( and mode shapes) are shown. Exercise outline Model setup Model definition
Geometry Mesh Boundary conditions (BCs) Material properties Loadcase Analysis Results evaluation

Model setup Create new working folder. Create new file, change its name and extension to *.db

Double click to open the file in default program - Patran. In Patran choose new file

choose previously created file

confirm creating new file message

choose model preferences

Model definition Try to create frame structure presented in figure below.

Each floor is 50mm high (shell elements) Floor dimensions 100x50mm For beams connecting floors use 1D beam elements

To copy shell elements you can use Transform-Element-Translate option available under Elements menu:

then you specify translation direction vector and repeat count:

Select all shell elements that you want to translate:

Click Apply button, your model should look like this:

Now create beams which will connect floors of the structure. For this purpose use Elements menu:

You can add element manually by selecting the nodes you want to connect:

Add remaining elements:

Specify boundary conditions for the structure. Fix all DOFs.

Fix all edges of the bottom floor

Your model should look like this:

Create new material. Specify material data for steel:

Create properties for shell and beam elements: For shell elements apply steel material and thickness of 5mm:

You can select all shell elements by using entity filter:

and selecting elements:

For beam elements, create second property data:

In Input Properties data create a cross section for beam elements. Choose Create Sections option:

In Beam Library choose pipe shape:

Specify section name:

and dimensions:

Once geometrical properties of cross section have been defined, attach cross section to beam properties:

The program now knows the shape of the cross section, but does not know how it is oriented with respect to the beam element. Therefore you must specify orientation vector:

You can use global coordinate system to specify orientation vector. Select "Axis 1" from filter menu.

Then select X axis.

Input Properties menu should look like this:

Select all beam elements. Again you can use filtering tool:

Add all elements and apply:

To visualize all applied properties you can go to Display menu:

In Loadcase menu check whether all constraints are attached to this loadcase:

Create analysis file (BDF). Use analysis deck option.

For solution type choose Normal Modes

In Subcases menu select Default subcase and Subcase Parameters.

Here you can specify number of natural frequencies you want to calculate.

After clicking apply in Analysis menu Patran creates BDF file in your working directory:

Open BDF file in notepad. Try to recognize elements and nodes.

Submit BDF file to analysis, use Nastran solver. When Nastran is working you should see such window. After Nastran finishes, a result file (XDB) should appear in your working directory.

Attach XDB results to your Patran model.