WORKSHOP 5

Spatial Variation of
Physical Properties
Aluminum

Steel

45°

Radius 1”

Radius 3”

Radius 4”

Objective:
■ Model the variation of physical properties as a function
of spatial coordinates.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 5-1

5-2 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook
WORKSHOP 5 Spatial Variation of Physical Properties

Model Description:
Create a model of a tapering annular plate. Due to the model’s
symmetry only a 45° slice of the plate will be modeled. Define
spatially varying material and physical properties for the plate.

Figure 5.1

Surface 2
Aluminum 45°

Surface 1
Steel
y

z x
1.0” 2.0” 1.0”
Thickness, inches

0.20

0.10

1 3 4
Radial Distance, r, inches

Table 5.1 - Finite Element Properties

Analysis Code: MSC.Nastran

Element type: Quad4
Element Global Edge Length: 0.5

Table 5.2 - Material Properties

Material: Steel Aluminum

Modulus of Elasticity: 30E+06 10E+06
Poisson Ratio: 0.30 0.20
Density: 7.324E-04 2.588E-04

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 5-3

Suggested Exercise Steps:
■ Create a new database called circular_plate.db.

■ Create geometry that represents a 45° slice of the circular

plate shown in Figure 5.1.

■ Create a finite element mesh using the information listed in

Table 5.1.

■ Define a cylindrical coordinate frame whose origin is

located at [0,0,0], where the R-, T-, Z-axis are aligned with
the X-, Y-, Z-axes respectively of the global coordinate
system.

■ Using the cylindrical coordinate frame, define a spatially

varying field named thickness_spatial, that represents the
model’s thickness. Verify the field by displaying an
XY-plot.

■ Define material properties using the material constants

shown in Table 5.2.

■ Inspect the constitutive (stiffness) matrices, Cijkl, of each

material type.

■ Define element properties assigning the material type and

element thickness to the correct region of the model.

■ Verify that the spatial variation of the element thickness has

been assigned correctly to the model by rendering a scalar
plot of the thickness.

5-4 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 5 Spatial Variation of Physical Properties

Exercise Procedure:
1. Create a New Database and name it circular_plate.db.

File/New...
New Database Name circular_plate
OK

2. Change the Tolerance to Default and the Analysis Code to

MSC.Nastran in the New Model Preferences form. Verify that the
Analysis Type is Structural.

New Model Preference

Tolerance Default
Analysis Code: MSC/NASTRAN
Analysis Type Structural
OK

NOTE: Whenever possible, toggle off the ❑ Auto Execute option by

left clicking the check box.

3. Create geometry that represents a 45° slice of the circular plate

shown in Figure 5.1.

Create the 45 degree slice of the circular plate by creating two

adjacent surfaces that lie in the global xy-plane. The two surfaces
meet along the material boundary. See Figure 5.1 for the
dimensions. The model should look similar to Figure 5.2.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 5-5

 Figure 5.2

4. Create a finite element mesh.

Finite Elements
Action: Create
Object: Mesh
Type: Surface
Global Edge Length 0.5
Element Topology Quad 4
Surface List Surface 1, 2
Apply

The mesh should resemble Figure 5.3.

5-6 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 5 Spatial Variation of Physical Properties

Figure 5.3

5. Create a cylindrical coordinate frame located at [0,0,0] with the R-,

T-, Z-axis are aligned with the X-, Y-, Z-axes, respectively, of the
global coordinate system.

Geometry
Action: Create
Object: Coord
Method: 3Point
Type: Cylindrical
Origin [0, 0, 0]
Point on Axis 3 [0, 0, 1]
Point on the Plane 1-3 [1, 0, 0]
Apply

6. Use the cylindrical coordinate frame to define a spatially varying

field named thickness_spatial, which represents the model’s
thickness. Verify the field values using an XY-plot.

Fields
Action: Create

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 5-7

 Object: Spatial
Method: Tabular Input
Field Name thickness_spatial
Coordinate System Coord 1
Active Independent Variable R
Input Data...

To describe the thickness across the plate, enter three thickness values
into the table as shown in Figure 5.4.

Figure 5.4

OK
Apply

6a. Verify the field using a XY plot.

Fields
Action: Show
Select Field to Show thickness_spatial
Specify Range...

Use Existing Points

OK
Apply

The plot should appear in a new window resembling Figure 5.5.

5-8 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 5 Spatial Variation of Physical Properties

Figure 5.5

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 5-9

 7. Close the XY Plot.

XY Plot
Action: Delete
Object: XY Window
Existing XY Windows XY Result Window
Apply

Chose Yes when asked about deleting the XY result window.

8. Define material properties.

Materials
Action: Create
Object: Isotropic
Method: Manual Input
Material Name steel
Input Properties...
Elastic Modulus 30.0E6
Poisson Ratio 0.3
Density 0.0007324
OK
Apply

Define a second material for the model.

Materials
Action: Create
Object: Isotropic
Method: Manual Input
Material Name alum
Input Properties...

5-10 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 5 Spatial Variation of Physical Properties

Elastic Modulus 10.0E6

Poisson Ratio 0.2
Density 0.0002588
OK
Apply

9. Inspect the constitutive (stiffness) matrices, Cijkl, of each material.

To verify the material constants, select Show from the Action option
menu on the Materials form.

Action: Show
Material Name steel
Show Material Stiffness...

10. Define element properties for the model using fields.

Properties
Action: Create
Dimension: 2D
Type: Shell
Property Set Name prop_1
Input Properties...
Material Name m:steel
Thickness f:thickness_spatial
OK
Select Application Region Surface 1
Add
Apply

10a. Repeat step 10 to define element properties for Surface 2.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 5-11

 11. Verify element properties using a scalar plot of the thickness.

Properties
Action: Show
Existing Properties Thickness
Display Method Scalar Plot
Group Filter Default_group
Apply

It may be necessary to reset the range to span the actual property

range.

Display/Ranges...
Fit Results
Calculate
Apply
Cancel

The Viewport will appear as follows.

Figure 5.6

5-12 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 5 Spatial Variation of Physical Properties

To clear out the scalar plot, clean up the display using the Reset
Graphics tool on the Patran menu bar.

Reset Graphics

Quit MSC.Patran after finishing this exercise.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 5-13

5-14 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook