WORKSHOP 7

Linear Static Analysis of a Simply-Supported Truss

Objectives:
s Create a finite element model by explicitly defining node locations and element connectivities. s Define a MSC.Nastran analysis model comprised of CROD elements. s Prepare a MSC.Nastran input file for a linear static analysis. s Visualize analysis results.

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MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Model Description:
Figure 7.1 is a finite element representation of the truss structure shown on Page 7-1. The nodal coordinates provided are defined in the global cartesian coordinate system (MSC.Nastran Basic system). The structure is comprised of truss segments connected by smooth pins such that each segment is either in tension or compression. The structure is pinned at Node 1 and supported by a roller at Node 7. Point forces are applied at Nodes 2, 4, and 6. Figure 7.1
[288,144,0] 4 [140,72,0] 2 1 1 [0,0,0] Y Z X 9 5 3 [192,0,0] 10 2 6 7 3 [432,72,0] 6 4 11 7 [576,0,0]

8 5 [384,0,0]

Figure 7.2 - Loads and Boundary Conditions

1500. 1500. 3456 1300. 3456 12 Y Z X 3456 3456 3456 2 1300. 1300. 1500.

Table 7.1 - Model Properties Cross-Sectional Area: Elastic Modulus: Tension Stress Limit: Compression Stress Limit: 5.25 in2 1.76E+06 psi 1900 psi 1900 psi

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Suggested Exercise Steps:

s Open a new database. s Explicitly generate a finite element representation of the truss structure without defining any geometry, i.e., the nodes (GRID) and element connectivities (CROD) should be defined manually. s Define material (MAT1) and element (PROD) properties. s Apply simply-supported boundary constraints (SPC1) and point forces (FORCE). s Use the load and boundary condition sets to define a load case (SUBCASE). s Prepare the model for a linear static analysis (SOL 101 and PARAMs). s Generate an input file and submit it to the MSC.Nastran solver. s Post-process results. s Quit MSC.Patran.

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WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Exercise Procedure:
1. Create a new database called workshop7.db. File/New... New Database Name: OK In the New Model Preferences form set the following: Tolerance: Analysis Code: Analysis Type: OK Activate the entity labels by selecting the Show Labels button on the toolbar. Show Labels NOTE:Whenever possible, toggle off the u Auto Execute option by left clicking the check box. 2. Create the nodes by manually defining their respective coordinates: x Default MSC/NASTRAN Structural workshop7

x Finite Elements
Action: Object: Method: u Associate with Geometry Node Location List: Apply [0, 0, 0] Create Node Edit

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Repeat the previous operation to create the remaining nodes. Refer to the Figure 7.1 for the nodal coordinates. Node Location List: Apply Node Location List: Apply Node Location List: Apply Node Location List: Apply Node Location List: Apply Node Location List: Apply Next, manually define the truss segment connectivities with BAR2 elements using our newly created nodes. Again, refer to Figure 7.1 for connectivity information. [576, 0, 0] [432, 72, 0] [384, 0, 0] [288, 144, 0] [192, 0, 0] [140, 72, 0]

x Finite Elements
Action: Object: Method: Shape: Topology: Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Create Element Edit Bar Bar2 Node 1 Node 2

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MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Repeat the previous operation until all the truss segments have been created. Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 5
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Node 1 Node 2

Node 2 Node 4

Node 4 Node 6

Node 6 Node 7

Node 2 Node 3

Node 3 Node 4

Node 4 Node 5

Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply Node 1 = Node 2 = Apply

Node 6

Node 1 Node 3

Node 3 Node 5

Node 5 Node 7

The completed model resemble Figure 7.3. Figure 7.3

4 2 2 1 1 Y Z X 9 5 3 10 5 6 7 8 3 6 4 11 7

3.

Define a material using the specified modulus of elasticity and allowable stresses.

x Materials
Action:
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Create

WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Object: Method: Material Name: Input Properties... Constitutive Model: Elastic Modulus = OK Apply Constitutive Model: Tension Stress Limit = Compression Stress Limit = OK Failure ???
(Enter material limit)

Isotropic Manual Input mat_1

Linear Elastic 1.76E6

???
(Enter material limit)

4.

Reference the material that was created in the previous step. Define the properties of the truss segments using the specified crosssectional data.

x Properties
Action: Object: Method: Property Set Name: Input Properties... Material Name: Area: OK Select Members: Elm 1:11 m:mat_1
??? (Enter cross-sectional area)

Create 1D Rod rod

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Add Apply 5. Visually verify element connectivities. To make this process easier, scale down the elements by 10%. Use the Display/Finite Elements... option. Display/Finite Elements... FEM Shrink: Apply Cancel 6. Create two constraints and apply them to the analysis model. These boundary conditions represent the simply-supported ends of the truss. The left-hand support is defined as follows: 0.10

6a.

x Loads/BCs
Action: Object: Method: New Set Name: Input Data... Translation < T1 T2 T3 > OK Select Application Region... Geometry Filter: Select Nodes: Add OK Apply < 0, 0, > Create Displacement Nodal pin

x FEM
Node 1

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WORKSHOP 7 6b.

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

The right-hand constraint is located at the opposite end of the truss.

x Loads/BCs
Action: Object: Method: New Set Name: Input Data... Translation < T1 T2 T3 >
OK

Create Displacement Nodal roller

<, 0, >

Select Application Region... Geometry Filter: Select Nodes:

Add OK Apply

x FEM
Node 7

The displacement constraints are shown in Figure 7.4. Figure 7.4

4 2 2 1 1 12 Y Z X 9 5 3 10 5 6 7 8 3 6 4 11 7 2

7.

Apply forces to the upper joints of the truss as shown in Figure 7.2. Vertical forces of 1500 lbs and horizontal forces of 1300 lbs should be applied at the proper nodes.

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7a.

First, define the vertical forces.

x Loads/BCs
Action: Object: Method: New Set Name: Input Data... Force < F1 F2 F3 > OK Select Application Region... Geometry Filter: Select Nodes:
Add OK Apply

Create Force Nodal force_1

<, -1500, >

x FEM Node 2:6:2

The vertical forces should resemble Figure 7.5. Figure 7.5

1500. 4 1500. 2 1 1 Y Z X 9 5 3 10 5 2 6 7 8 3 1500. 6 4 11 7

7b.

Define the horizontal loads.

x Loads/BCs
Action:
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Create

WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Object: Method: New Set Name: Input Data... Force < F1 F2 F3 > OK Select Application Region... Geometry Filter: Select Nodes: Add OK Apply < -1300,, > Force Nodal force_2

x FEM
Node 2:6:2

The forces should resemble Figure 7.6. Figure 7.6

1985. 4 1985. 2 2 1 1 Y Z X 9 5 3 10 5 6 7 8 3 6 4 11 7 1985.

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7c.

Reset the display by selecting the Reset Graphics icon on the Top Menu Bar. Reset Graphics To display only the horizontal forces, change the Action on the Load/BCs form to Plot Markers.

x Loads/BCs
Action: Plot Markers

Select the Force_force_2 set in the Assigned Load/BC Sets box by highlighting it. Also apply the markers to the current group default_group. Assigned Load/BC Sets: Select Groups: Apply The display should appear as follows: Figure 7.7 Force_force_2 default_group

4 2 2 1 1 Y Z X 9 1300. 5 3 6 10

1300. 3 7 8 5 6 1300. 4 11 7

8.

Create a load case that references the forces and boundary conditions that have already been defined.

x Load Cases
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WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Action: Load Case Name: Load Case Type: Assign/Prioritize Loads/BCs Select Individual Loads/BCs (Select from Menu) OK Apply Displ_pin Displ_roller Force_force_1 Force_force_2 Create truss_lbcs Static

* NOTE: Do not to enter any load more than one time into the spreadsheet. Doing so will result in increasing the load by a factor equal to the number of times the load is entered into the spreadsheet. The increase in factor can be shown in two different manners. First, the LBC Scale Factor may show a value greater than one, or second, the spreadsheet may contain repeated entries of the same load. Either condition will result in erroneous loading conditions. Reset the display by selecting the Reset Graphics icon on the Top Menu Bar. Reset Graphics Plot the Load/BCs markers and post them to the current group.

x Loads/BCs
Action: Plot Markers

Select all the Load/BC sets in the Assigned Load/BC Sets box by highlighting all of them. Post the markers to the current group. Displ_pin Displ_roller Force_force_1 Force_force_2 default_group
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Assigned Load/BCs Sets:

Select Groups:

Apply The display should appear similar to the figure below: Figure 7.8

1985. 4 1985. 2 2 1 1 12 Y Z X 9 5 3 10 5 6 7 8 11 3 6 4 7 2 1985.

9.

Deactivate the entity labels by using the Display/Entity Color/ Label/Render... option. Display/Entity Color/Label/Render... Hide All Entity Labels Apply Cancel Reset the display by selecting the Reset Graphics icon on the Top Menu Bar. Reset Graphics Display the model in its unscaled state using the Display/Finite Elements... option. Display/Finite Elements... FEM Shrink: 0.0

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WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Apply Cancel

10.

Generate an input file for analysis. Click on the Analysis radio button on the Top Menu Bar and complete the entries as shown here.

x Analysis
Action: Object: Method: Job Name: Solution Type... Solution Type: Solution Parameters... x Linear Static Analyze Entire Model Analysis Deck truss

s Database Run s Automatic Constraints

Data Deck Echo: Wt.- Mass Conversion = OK OK Subcase Select... Subcases For Solution Sequence: Subcases Selected: OK Apply truss_lbcs Default
(Click on this to deselect)

Sorted 0.00259
(For English units)

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An MSC.Nastran input file called truss.bdf will be generated. This process of translating the model into an input file is called the Forward Translation. The Forward Translation is complete when the Heartbeat turns green.

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MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

Submitting the Input File for Analysis:

11. Submit the input file to MSC.Nastran for analysis. 11a. To submit the MSC.Patran.bdf file for analysis, find an available UNIX shell window. At the command prompt enter: nastran truss.bdf scr=yes. Monitor the run using the UNIX ps command. 11b. When the run is completed, edit the truss.f06 file and search for the word FATAL. If no matches exist, search for the word WARNING. Determine whether existing WARNING messages indicate modeling errors. 11c. While still editing truss.f06, search for the word:

D I S P L A C E (spaces are necessary). What are the components of the displacement vector for GRID 7 (translation only)? Disp. X = Disp. Y = Disp. Z =

Search for the word: S I N G L E (spaces are necessary). What are the components of the reaction force at GRID 1? Force X = Force Y = Force Z =

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Search for the word: S T R E S S (spaces are necessary). What is the margin of safety for CROD 2? M.S. = What is the Axial Stress for CROD 7? Axial Stress =

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WORKSHOP 7

Simply-Supported Truss (Sol 101)

12. MSC.Nastran Users have finished this exercise. MSC.Patran Users should proceed to the next step.
13. Proceed with the Reverse Translation process, that is, attaching the truss.xdb results file into MSC.Patran. To do this, return to the Analysis form and proceed as follows:

x Analysis
Action: Object: Method: Select Results File... Filter Selected Results File OK Apply When the translation is complete and the Heartbeat turns green, bring up the Results form. truss.xdb Attach XDB Result Entities Local

x Results
Action: Object: Create Quick Plot

Choose the desired result case in the Select Result Cases list and select the result(s) in the Select Fringe Result list and/or in the Select Deformation Result list. And hit Apply to view the result(s) in the viewport. To reset the display graphics to the state it was in before post-processing the model, remember to select the Reset Graphics icon. Reset Graphics

Quit MSC.Patran after completing this exercise.

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