WORKSHOP 6

NORMAL MODES ANALYSIS

Workshop on FEA, 3-5 September 2013 WS6-1

 NORMAL MODES ANALYSIS

 Problem Description
 For this problem, we use the Lanczos method to find the first ten
natural frequencies and mode shapes of a flat rectangular plate.
Below is a finite element representation of the rectangular plate. It
also contains the geometric dimensions and the loads and
boundary constraints. Table 1 contains the necessary parameters
to construct the input file (see next page).

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 NORMAL MODES ANALYSIS

 Problem Description (cont.)

 Table1

Length (a) 5 in
Height (b) 2 in
Thickness 0.100 in
Weight Density 0.282 lbs/in3
Mass/Weight Factor 2.59E-3 sec 2/in
Elastic Modulus 30.0E6 lbs/in2
Poisson’s Ratio 0.3

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 NORMAL MODES ANALYSIS

 Suggested Exercise Steps

1. Create a geometry surface using the given dimensions.
2. Mesh the surface with Quad elements using Global Edge Length of
0.5.
3. Assign the boundary conditions to the model.
4. Create the appropriate material properties and call it mat_1.
5. Assign the appropriate element properties to the model and call it
prop_1.
6. Submit the model to MSC.Nastran for analysis.
7. Attach the .XDB results file.
8. Post Process results – create a quick plot for each of the 10 mode
shapes.

Workshop on FEA, 3-5 September 2013 WS6-4

 CREATE NEW DATABASE

Create a new database called

ws1.db.
a. File / New.
e
b. Enter ws1 as the file name.
c. Click OK. f
d. Choose Default Tolerance. b c
g
e. Select MSC.Nastran as the
Analysis Code.
f. Select Structural as the
Analysis Type.
g. Click OK.

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 Step 1. Geometry: Create / Surface / XYZ

Create a 5 x 2 surface.
a. Geometry: Create / Surface /
XYZ. a
b. Enter <5 2 0> as the Vector
Coordinates List.
c. Turn off Auto Execute.
d. Click Apply.

b
c

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 Step 2. Elements: Create / Mesh / Surface

Create the finite elements on a

the surface.
a. Elements: Create / Mesh
/ Surface.
b. Select Quad for Elem
Shape and IsoMesh for
Mesher.
b
c. Screen pick Surface 1
for the Surface List.
d. Uncheck the Automatic
Calculation option.
e. Change the Global Edge
Length value to 0.5. c
f. Click Apply.
d
e

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 Step 3. Loads/BCs: Create / Displacement / Nodal

Assign the boundary

constraints to the finite a
element model.
a. Loads/BCs: Create /
Displacement / Nodal
g
b. Enter constraint for
the New Set Name. d
c. Click Input Data.
d. Input the value
<0,0,0> for the h
Translation and
<0,0,> for the Rotation
i
e. Click OK.
f. Click on Select
Application Region. b
g. Change the Geometry
Filter to FEM.
h. Select all the nodes i
on the left edge of the e
c
plate.
f
i. Click Add and OK.
j. Click Apply. j

Workshop on FEA, 3-5 September 2013 WS6-8

 Step 4. Materials: Create / Isotropic / Manual Input

Create the material properties. a

a. Materials: Create / Isotropic /
Manual Input.
b. Enter mat_1 for the Material
Name. d
c. Click Input Properties.
d. Enter 3e7 for the Elastic e
Modulus and 0.3 for Poisson
Ratio.
e. Enter 0.282 for the Density.
f. Click OK.
g. Click Apply.

f
g

Workshop on FEA, 3-5 September 2013 WS6-9

 Step 5. Properties: Create / 2D / Shell

Assign element properties to the a

model.
d
a. Properties: Create / 2D / Shell.
b. Enter prop_1 for the Material
Name. e
c. Click Input Properties.
d. Click in the Material Name
icon, and select mat_1 from
the Select Material box.
e. Enter 0.1 for the Thickness. b
f. Click OK.
g. Select Surface 1 in the Select
Members box.
h. Click Add and click Apply.
c

g
f
h

Workshop on FEA, 3-5 September 2013 WS6-10

 Step 6. Analysis: Analyze / Entire Model / Full Run

Submit the model for analysis. a

a. Analysis: Analyze /
Entire Model / Full Run.
b. Click on Solution Type.
c. Select Normal Modes.
d. Click on Solution c
Parameter.
e. Enter 0.00259 for Wt-
Mass Conversion.
f. Click OK.
g. Click OK.

d
b

g
f

Workshop on FEA, 3-5 September 2013 WS6-11

 Step 6. Analysis: Analyze / Entire Model / Full Run (Cont.)

Submit the model for analysis

(cont.).
a. Click on Subcases.
b. Click on Subcase
Parameters.
c. Select Lanczos
Extraction Method.
c
d. Enter 10 as the Number
of Desired Roots.
e. Select Mass for
Normalization Method.
f. Click OK. d
g. Click Apply.
h. Click Cancel. e
i. Click Apply.
b

f
a

g h
i
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 Step 7. Analysis: Access Results / Attach XDB / Result Entities

Attach the XDB result file.

a
a. Analysis: Access
Results /Attach XDB /
Result Entities.
b. Click on Select Results
File. c
c. Select ws1.xdb.
d. Click OK.
e. Click Apply.
d

Workshop on FEA, 3-5 September 2013 WS6-13

 Step 8. Results: Create / Quick Plot

a
Create a Quick Plot of the first
mode shape.
a. Results: Create / Quick Plot.
b. Click on A1:Mode1.
b
c. Select Eigenvector,
Translational in both Fringe
and Deformation result
boxes.
d. Click Apply.

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 Step 8. Results: Create / Quick Plot

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 Summary

Summary of Frequencies and Modes for project _______________

Mode Freq Description

(Hz)

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