Tutorial 6 – Analyze 11- Member Truss with Patran/Nastran

By: Graham Mustoe

Date: September, 2005
750 750 750
3: (0,36,0) 2: (48,36,0)

1: (0,0,0) x
z

Figure 1: 11 Member 2D Truss System

DATA:
Note, The applied forces are defined in Newtons, and the spatial dimensions are in cm., in
Figure 1. Note, the Young’s modulus value should be input in N/cm2, and the computed
stress values are stated in N/cm2.

Black members: A = 4 cm2, E = 250 GPa, Yield stress = 200 MPa

Blue members: A = 2 cm2, E = 200 GPa, Yield stress = 150 MPa

ANALYSIS STEPS:

1. Open new PATRAN data base file in a new folder c:\temp\tutorial_gm

2. Generate two GEOMETRY curves (from pts 1,2 and 3)
3. Generate 6 black member elements, a) using a mesh seed option with number = 3,
and apply to the two curves, b) using element generation with mesh, curve option
4. Generate 5 blue elements using the element generation, edit option. This is
performed by simply clicking on the end nodes of the elements to be generated.
Also remember to use the equivalence command to remove any duplicate element
and geometrical entities!

5. Generate two material sets, a) black_metal for the black members, and b)
blue_metal for the blue members.

6. Generate two sets of element properties for 1d-rod type elements for the black and
blue members.
 7. Generate three sets of displacement conditions. The first two sets are the same as in
tutorial 5. The third set defines the condition at node 1 where only the x-translation
is fixed.

8. Generate a load set to apply 3 nodal forces of 750 N as shown.

9. Analyze the model using NASTRAN in the usual manner.

Analysis Results

1. From the initial FEA calculation, report the following:

a) The location and value of the absolute maximum nodal vertical displacement
component
b) The absolute maximum axial stress in the black members
c) The absolute maximum axial stress in the blue members
d) Produce a cursor plot showing the axial stresses in all the structural members

2. Determine the modified x-sections in the black and blue members such that
a) the minimum SF against yielding in the black members is 3
b) the minimum SF against yielding in the blue members is 2
NOTE: See lecture 6, for details on designing a truss (rod) structure.

3. Re-analyze the structure with the modified x-sections of the black and blue members
determined in task 2., and produce a cursor plot showing the axial stresses in all the
structural members.

4. Write a short memo describing the analysis including the two cursor plots produced in
tasks 1 and 3 above. Note, the TA will review your completed memo on-line in the next
class.