Workshop

Spacecraft Fairing

Spacecraft Fairing 1 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 • Workshop Objectives
– Use groups and lists to isolate subsets of your model.
– Perform a boolean operation to intersect two Lists.
– Use fields to define variable attributes such as element thickness and
temperature loading.
• Software Version
– Patran 2018.0
• Files Required
– None

Spacecraft Fairing 2 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 • Problem Description
– In this exercise, you will build a spacecraft fairing. The finite element model
will consist of 2-dimensional elements for the surface of the cylinder and 1-
dimensional elements for the 3 circumferential edges that represent
stiffeners for the structure.
– The thickness of the quad elements will vary from 1.5 inches at the base to
0.5 inches at the top.
– A linearly varying temperature load will be applied.

Material: alum_1 alum_2

Modulus of Elasticity: 1.05E7 1.18E7
120
Poisson Ratio: 0.33 0.33
Density: 2.6E-4 2.4E-4
Application Region: Upper Tapered
cylinder base
40

60

100

Spacecraft Fairing 3 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 • Suggested Exercise Steps
1. Create a new database called fairing.db.
2. Create the model geometry according to the dimensions in the Problem
Description.
3. Create mesh seeds:
• Define 36 elements around the circumference.
• In the vertical direction (y-direction), define a smoothly transitioning mesh density.
The elements along the top of the cylinder are 2.5 times as large as those at the
bottom of the tapered end of the fairing.
4. Mesh the model:
• Mesh the surfaces with Quad4 elements.
• Mesh the circumferential edges of each surface with Bar2 elements.
5. Merge coincident nodes. Verify that there are no free edges interior to the
model.
6. Create two material properties as described in the table on the Problem
Description page.
7. Create two fields:
• Define a variable thickness such that the model thickness is 1.5 inches at the base
varying linearly to 0.5 inches at the top. (t = 1.5-Y/160).
• Define a variable temperature loading using the equation T = 200.0-
(150.0/160.0)*X.
Spacecraft Fairing 4 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation
 • Suggested Exercise Steps (Cont.)
8. Create two element properties:
• Assign the materials as shown in the Problem Description.
• Apply the variable thickness defined in Step 7.
9. Create a variable temperature load:
• Apply the load to the entire model.
• Use the variable temperature defined in Step 7.
10.Create two lists:
• List A contains elements made up of the material alum_1.
• List B contains elements with thickness greater than 0.98 in.
11.Intersect Lists A and B to create a list of elements that are associated with
material alum_1 and are greater than 0.98 thick.
12.Create a new list containing the elements with an applied temperature load
greater than 230.0°
13.Intersect the lists from Steps 11 and 12 to produce a group of elements.
Place these elements in a group called common_quad and give them the
following properties.
• Material: alum_1
• Thickness: > 0.98
• Temperature: >230.0

Spacecraft Fairing 5 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 • Suggested Exercise Steps (Cont.)
14.Post the common_quads group.
15.Create 2 new groups, one for each of the property sets. Use a different
color for each group. Modify the display attributes.
16.Post each group separately, and then post both groups together.

Spacecraft Fairing 6 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 1. Create New Database
a

Create a new database and set the

model preferences:
a. Under the Home tab, click New
from Defaults group.
b. Enter fairing for File name.
c. Click OK.
d
d. Select Default as Tolerance.
e. Select
• MSC.Nastran as Analysis
Code
• Structural as Analysis
Type e
f. Click OK.

f
b c

Spacecraft Fairing 7 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 2. Create Model Geometry

a
Create the curves that
represent the outline of the Point 2 h
fairing:
a. Under the Geometry tab,
click Select (from Curves f
group) > Point.
b. Enter [30 0 0] for Starting
Point List. g
c. Enter [50 40 0] for Ending
Point List.
d. Click Apply.
e. Under the Geometry tab,
click Select (from Curves e
group) > LineByXYZ.
f. Enter <0 120 0> for Vector
Coordinates List.
g. Click in Origin i
These curves represent
b
Coordinates List text box.
h. Select the point at the top the basic geometry for
the fairing. They will be
c
of the first curve.
revolved 360° in order to d
i. There should now be two
get the final model.
curves created as shown
in the diagram on the right.

Spacecraft Fairing 8 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 2. Create Model Geometry (Cont.)

Create surfaces by sweeping the

curves about the fairing’s vertical
center line:
a. Under the Geometry tab,
a
click Select (from Surfaces
group) > Revolve. i
b. Click in the Axis text box.
c. Select Axis 2 from Picking
Filters toolbar, so rotation will
be about the Y-axis.
d. Select basic coordinate
system.
e. Enter 360.0 for Total Angle. b
f. Disable Auto Execute. j
g. Click in the Curve List text
box.
e
c
h. Select both curves.
k
i. Select Viewing > Angles.
h f
j. Select Model Relative for the
Method. g
d
k. Enter 30 0 0 under Angles.
l l
l. Click Apply and then Cancel.

Spacecraft Fairing 9 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 2. Create Model Geometry (Cont.)

a
Change the display in order to see b
the surfaces more clearly:
a. Select Display > Geometry.
b. Enter 3 for Number of Display
Lines.
c. Click Apply and then Cancel.

c c

Spacecraft Fairing 10 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 3. Create Mesh Seeds
a

Create a finite element mesh so

that four nodded Quad elements
are created every 10o around the
d
circumference. Start by creating
mesh seeds along the top
circumference of the cylinder:
a. Under the Meshing tab, click
Uniform in the Mesh Seeds
group.
b. Select Number of Elements.
c. Enter 36 for Number.
b
d. For the Curve List, select the
top circumferential edge of the
fairing. c

Spacecraft Fairing 11 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 3. Create Mesh Seeds (Cont.)
a

In the vertical direction

(y-direction), define a smoothly
transitioning mesh density by
using mesh seeds. The
elements along the top of the
cylinder are 2.5 times as large
as those at the bottom of the d
tapered end of the fairing.
a. Click One Way Bias in the
Mesh Seeds group.
b. Select L1 and L2.
c. Enter 7 and 10 for L1 and b
L2, respectively.
d. For the Curve List, select c
e
the vertical edge of the
cylindrical surface.
e. Enter 4 and 7 for L1 and
L2, respectively. f f d
f. For the Curve List, select
the vertical edge of the
tapered surface.

Spacecraft Fairing 12 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 4. Create a Mesh for the Model
a

Now that the mesh seeds have c

been created, mesh the model
using Quad4 topology:
a. Under the Meshing tab, click
Surface from Meshers group.
b. Select
• Quad as Element Shape. b
• IsoMesh as Mesher
• Quad4 as Topology
c. Click in the Surface List text
box and drag a rectangle to
select both surfaces.
c
d. Click Apply.

Spacecraft Fairing 13 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 4. Create a Mesh for the Model (Cont.)
c

Mesh the horizontal (circumferential) edges of

each surface with two-noded bar elements:
a. Under the Home tab, click Plot/Erase FEM
in the Misc. group. This will turn off the
display of FEM entities.
b. Click Display lines so only the boundaries
of the surfaces are displayed.
c. Under the Meshing tab, click Curve in the e
Meshers group.
d. Verify that Topology is Bar2. d
e. For the Curve List, shift select the 3 edges
as indicated.
f. Click Apply. e
g. Under the Home tab, click Plot/Erase FEM
again in the Misc. group to redisplay the
Finite Elements.

a
g
b
f

Spacecraft Fairing 14 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 5. Merge Coincident Nodes
d
a

Remove any interior free edges from the model. Ensure that the
bar elements are connected to the quad mesh:
a. Under the Meshing tab, click Verify in the FEM Actions
group.
b. Click Apply.
c. Note that there are unshared edges in this model.
d. Click Equivalence in the FEM Actions group.
e. Click Apply.
f. Repeat steps a and b. Note that the cylinders are now
continuous

c b

Spacecraft Fairing 15 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 6. Create Material Properties
a

Create the first material for the

model. Material alum_1 will be d
applied to the top (cylindrical)
portion of the fairing. e
a. Under Properties tab, click
Isotropic from Isotropic
group.
b. Enter alum_1 for Material
Name.
c. Click Input Properties.
d. Select Linear Elastic as b
Constitutive Model.
e. Enter 1.05e7, 0.33, and 2.6e-4,
for Elastic Modulus, Poisson
Ratio, and Density,
respectively.
f. Click OK.
g. Click Apply. c

f g

Spacecraft Fairing 16 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 6. Create Material Properties (Cont.)

Create the second material for the

model. Material alum_2 will be
applied to the bottom (tapered)
portion of the fairing. c
a. Enter alum_2 for the Material
Name.
b. Click Input Properties.
c. Enter
• Elastic Modulus = 1.18e7
• Poisson Ratio = 0.33
• Density = 2.4e-4
d. Click OK. a
e. Click Apply.

b
d
e

Spacecraft Fairing 17 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 7. Create Fields
a

Define a variable thickness such that the model

thickness is 1.5 inches at the base varying linearly to b
0.5 inches at the top:
a. Under the Properties tab, click Spatial from
Fields group.
b. Select PCL Function as Method. f
c. Enter thickness for Field Name.
d. Enter 1.5-’Y/160 for Scalar Function.
e. Click Apply. c
g
Verify the function defined in the field:
f. Select Show as Action.
g. Select thickness for Select Field To Show.
h. Click Specify Range.
i. Enter 160 for Maximum and 20 for No. of h
Points.
d
j. Click OK.
k. Click Apply.

j k e
Spacecraft Fairing 18 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation
 Step 7. Create Fields (Cont.)

Verify the function defined in the field

continued:
a. Verify that the thickness varies
between 1.5 inches at Y=0 and 0.5
inches at Y=160.
b. Click Cancel.
c. Click Delete All Curves.
d. Click Unpost Current XYWindow. a

d
c

Spacecraft Fairing 19 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 7. Create Fields (Cont.)
a

Define a field that represents the

varying temperature distribution:
a. Select Create as Action
b. Select PCL Function as
Method. c
c. Enter temperature for Field
Name.
d. Enter 200.0-(150.0/160.0)*'X
for Scalar Function.
e. Click Apply.

Be sure to enter the decimal

points to identify the numbers as
real values rather than integers.
Without them the function will not
evaluate correctly.

Spacecraft Fairing 20 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 7. Create Fields (Cont.)

Plot the function defined in the field: a

a. Select Show as Action.
b. Select temperature under Select Field To g
Show.
b
c. Click Specify Range.
d. Enter
• Minimum = -50.0
• Maximum = 50.0
• No. of Points. = 11
e. Click OK.
f. Click Apply. h
c
g. Note the proscribed temperature distribution
across the diameter of the fairing.
h. Click Cancel.
i. Click Delete All Curves.
j. Click Unpost Current XYWindow.

j
i
d
f
e

Spacecraft Fairing 21 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 8. Create Element Properties
a

Create two element properties which include

the material definitions and varying
thickness:
d
a. Under the Properties tab, click Shell
from 2D Properties group. g
b. Enter prop_1 for Property Set Name. f
c. Click Input Properties.
d. Click Mat Prop Name.
e. Select alum_1 from Select Existing
Material.
f. Select Element Nodal as Thickness
Value Type.
g. Click the Select Field icon.
b
h. Select thickness as the Scalar
Spatial Field.
i. Click OK.
e
i
h
c

Spacecraft Fairing 22 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 8. Create Element Properties (Cont.)

Finish creating the first property set:

a. Click Select Application Region.
b. Select the top (cylindrical) surface.
c. Click Add.
d. Click OK.
e. Click Apply.

b
c

d
a

Spacecraft Fairing 23 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 8. Create Element Properties (Cont.)

e
Create the second property set:
a. Enter prop_2 for Property Set
Name.
b. Click Input Properties.
c. Click the Mat Prop Name icon.
d. Select alum_2 from Select
Existing Material.
e. Click the Select Field icon.
f. Select thickness as the
Scalar Spatial Field.
g. Click OK. a

d
f
b

Spacecraft Fairing 24 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 8. Create Element Properties (Cont.)

Finish creating the second property set:

a. Click Select Application Region.
b. Select the bottom (tapered) surface.
c. Click Add.
d. Click OK.
e. Click Apply.

b c

e
d
b

Spacecraft Fairing 25 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 9. Create Temperature Boundary Condition
a

Define the model’s varying temperature

distribution:
a. Under the Load/BCs tab, click
Temperature from Nodal group.
b. Enter temp for New Set Name.
c. Click Input Data. g
d. Select temperature from Spatial
Fields. h
e. Click OK.
f. Click Select Application Region.
g. Select both surfaces.
d
h. Click Add.
i. Click OK.
j. Click Apply.
i b

e c
h f

Spacecraft Fairing 26 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 10. Create Lists

Create a list of elements that are

associated with material alum_1:
a
a. Select Tools > List > Create.
b. Select c
• Element as Object
• Attribute as Method
c. Under Attribute, select Material.
d. Under Existing Materials, select
alum_1.
e. Set the Target List to “A”.
d
f. Click Apply.

List A is composed of e
elements that satisfy
the first condition: they
are made up of the f
material alum_1.

Spacecraft Fairing 27 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 10. Create Lists (Cont.)
a

Define List B to include only the

elements that have a thickness
greater than 0.98. First create a
fringe plot of element thickness:
a. Under Properties tab, click
Show Properties from
Property Actions group
b
b. Under Existing Properties,
select Thickness.
c. Select Scalar Plot as Display
Method.
c
d. Click Apply.

Shown above, is a fringe plot

of the model thickness.
Those elements that are
thicker than 0.98 will be
included in the next list.

Spacecraft Fairing 28 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 10. Create Lists (Cont.)
a

Add the elements with thickness

greater than 0.98 in to List B:
a. Click the Create List tab. b
b. Under Attribute, select Fringe
Value.
c. Under Fringe Tools, select
default_Fringe. c
d. Select > for F.
e. Enter 0.98 for fringe value.
f. Select “B” for Target List.
g. Click Apply.
d
e

The contents of List B

include all elements
thicker than 0.98. f

Spacecraft Fairing 29 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 11. Intersect Lists

Create a List of elements that are

associated with material alum_1
b
and are greater that 0.98 thick. To
accomplish this, intersect Lists A a
and B and replace the contents of
List A with the elements found in
the Intersection:
a. Select Tools > List > Boolean.
b. Click on the Intersect icon.
c. Click Replace A.

The new List A is

composed of elements c
that satisfy both
requirements: they are
made up of alum_1 and
have a thickness
greater than 0.98.

Spacecraft Fairing 30 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 12. Create List
a

Perform a final classification of the elements. Isolate the elements that

satisfy the third condition of the applied temperature load > 230.0. b
First create a fringe plot of the temperature load:
a. Under Loads/BCs tab, click Plot Contours from LBC Actions group.
b. Select Temperature as Object.
c. Select temp under Existing Sets.
c
d. Select Temperature under Select Data Variable.
e. Select default_group under Select Groups.
f. Click Apply.
d

Spacecraft Fairing 31 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 12. Create List (Cont.)
a

Create List B containing the

elements with applied temperature
load > 230.0:
a. Click the Create List tab.
b. Enter 230.0 for the fringe
value.
c. Select “B” for Target List.
d. Click Clear on the List B form
to remove any current
contents.
e. Click Apply on the Create List
form. b
d

Spacecraft Fairing 32 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 13. Intersect Lists

Isolate the quad elements that

have the following attributes: a
• Material: alum_1 c
• Thickness: > 0.98
• Temperature: >230.0
Lists A and B will be intersected
again to create a List C. This list
will contain the elements that
satisfy all three conditions. The
contents of List C will then be
placed into a new group called
common_quads:
b
a. Click Boolean List tab.
b. Click Clear on the Boolean d e
List form to remove the current
contents. f f
c. Click the Intersect icon (If the
list contents don’t populate,
click on any of the other
Operation icons first).
d. Click Add To Group.
e. Enter common_quads for
Group Name.
f. Click Apply and then Cancel.

Spacecraft Fairing 33 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 14. Post Group

Post the common_quads group.

This is the group of elements that
satisfies all three conditions
defined earlier.
a. Select Group > Post.
b. Select common_quads under b
Select Groups to Post.
c. Click Apply.

This is the Iso 1 view of

the elements in the
common_quads group.
These are elements
that satisfy all three
conditions.

Spacecraft Fairing 34 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 15. Create Groups
b
a
c
d
Group the elements based on
property.
a. Click Reset Graphics from Quick
Access Toolbar.
b. Select Create as Action. e
c. Select Property Set as Method.
d. Select Multiple Groups as
Create.
e. Enable Post Groups, Unpost All f
Other Groups and Automatically
Color Groups.
f. Select prop_1 and prop_2 from
Property Sets.
g. Click Apply.
h. Click Yes to switch to Group
Display Mode.

Spacecraft Fairing 35 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 15. Create Groups (Cont.)

For both new groups, change the display a

attributes:
a. Select Display > Entity Color
/Label/Render.
b. Select prop_1 from Target Group(s).
c. Select Shaded/Smooth for the
Render Style and select dark blue for
the Shade Color.
d. Click Apply. b
e. Select prop_2 for the Target e
Group(s).
f. Select Hidden Line for the Render c
Style. f
g. Click Apply and then Cancel.

d g g

Spacecraft Fairing 36 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 16. Post Groups

Change view and post the prop1

group: b
a. Under Home tab, click Iso 3
View from Orientation group.
b. Select Post for Action.
c. Under Select Groups to Post,
select prop_1.
c
d. Click Apply.

Spacecraft Fairing 37 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 16. Post Groups (Cont.)

Post only the prop2_group:

a. Under Select Groups to Post,
select prop_2.
b. Click Apply.
a

Spacecraft Fairing 38 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation

 Step 16. Post Groups (Cont.)

Post both, prop1_group and

prop2_group:
a. Under Select Groups to
Post, select both prop_1
and prop_2.
b. Click Apply.
a

Spacecraft Fairing 39 Copyright© 2018 MSC Software Corporation