Patran 2008 r1

Interface To PATRAN 2 Neutral File

Preference Guide

Main Index
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Main Index
 Contents
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

1 Overview
Purpose 2
What is Included with this Product? 3

PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Integration with

Patran 4

2 Building A Model
Introduction to Building a Model 6

Coordinate Frames 8

Finite Elements 9
Nodes 9
Elements 10
Multi-Point Constraints 11

Material Library 25
Materials Form 26
Element Properties 46
Element Properties Form 47

Loads and Boundary Conditions 53

Structural Displacement 54
Structural Force 57
Structural Pressure 60
Structural and Thermal Temperature 64
Thermal Convection 71
Thermal Heat Flux 75
Thermal Heat Source 81
Thermal View Factor 85
Load Cases 89

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 ii PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
==

3 Running an Analysis
Review of the Analysis Form 92
Analysis Form 93

4 Results Templates
Introduction 96

Generic Nodal Results File 97

Generic Element Results File 99

5 Files
Files 102

6 Unsupported Neutral File Packets

Unsupported Neutral File Packets 104

Main Index
 Chapter 1: Overview
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

1 Overview


Purpose 2
 What is Included with this Product? 3

PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Integration with Patran 4

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 2 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Purpose

Purpose
Patran is an analysis software system developed and maintained by MSC.Software Corporation. The core
of the system is Patran, a finite element analysis pre- and postprocessor. A key feature of Patran’s
predecessor, PATRAN 2, was the ability to interface third party software through the Neutral System.
The PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference provides a ready-to-use interface allowing third party codes that
support the PATRAN 2.5 Neutral File to have immediate access to Patran as a pre- and post-processor.
As much of the PATRAN 2 neutral file is supported as is possible. For more information, see Neutral File
Format (p. 715) in the Patran Reference Manual.

This Preference is fully integrated into Patran. The user can either create a new finite element model (e.g.,
import CAD geometry, define a mesh, assign element properties, materials and loads/boundary
conditions) or import an existing Neutral File. All of Patran’s model editing capabilities are available.
Results postprocessing is available. The results files should be stored in PATRAN 2 results file formats
(e.g., .dis, .els formats). Two generic template files are provided for importing nodal and element results.
For more information on results template files, see File Types and Formats (p. 46) in the Patran
Reference Manual.

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 Chapter 1: Overview 3
What is Included with this Product?

What is Included with this Product?

The PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference includes all of the following items:
• A PCL function contained in patran2nf.plb which will add the PATRAN 2 Neutral File
Preference specific definitions to any Patran database (not already containing such definitions) at
any time.
• This user manual is included as part of the product. An on-line version is also provided to allow
the direct access to this information from within Patran.

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 4 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Integration with Patran

PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Integration with

Patran
Creation of a PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Template Database
Two versions of the Patran database are delivered with Patran. Both occur in the <installation_directory>
directory and they are named base.db and template.db. The base.db database is a Patran
database into which no analysis code specific definitions, such as element types and material models,
have been stored. The template.db database is a version of the Patran database which contains every
analysis code specific definition needed by all of the MSC supplied interfaces. In order to create a
template database which contains only PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference specific definitions, the user
should follow these steps:
1. Within Patran open a new database using base.db as the template.
2. Enter load_patran2nf() into the command line.
3. Save this database under a name such as patran2nf.db to be your new “PATRAN 2 Neutral
File Preference only” template database.
4. From then on, when opening a new database, refer to patran2nf.db as your template
database.
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference specific definitions can be added to any database by simply typing
load_patran2nf() into the Patran command line while the target database is the currently opened
by Patran. Due to the savings in size and for the sake of simplicity it is highly recommended
template.db not be used as a template database and that the user create his own unique template
database which contains only the analysis code specific definitions pertaining to the analysis codes of
immediate interest. For more details about adding analysis code specific definitions to a database and/or
creating unique template databases, refer to Modifying the Database Using PCL (Ch. 1) in the PCL and
Customization or to the Patran Installation and Operations Guide.

Main Index
 Chapter 2: Building A Model
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

2 Building A Model


Introduction to Building a Model 6
 Coordinate Frames 8

Finite Elements 9

Material Library 25
 Element Properties 46

Patran

Load Cases 89

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 6 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Introduction to Building a Model

Introduction to Building a Model

There are many aspects to building a finite element analysis model. In several cases, the forms used to
create the finite element data are dependent on the selected analysis code and analysis type. Other parts
of the model are created using standard forms.
Under Preferences on the Patran main form is a selection for Analysis Preferences.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 7
Introduction to Building a Model

To use the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference, set the analysis code selection to the appropriate selection.
The analysis type may be set to either Structural or Thermal. Corresponding materials and LBCs will be
presented for finite element modeling.

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 8 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Coordinate Frames

Coordinate Frames
Coordinate frame information is stored in Neutral File Packet 05 (see Packet Type 05: Coordinate
Frames (p. 722) in the Patran Reference Manual). The coordinate frame ID is stored on the Header Card
in entry ID. Coordinate frame types are stored on the Header Card in entry IV and are rectangular (IV =
1), cylindrical (IV = 2) and spherical (IV = 3). Three points (A, B, C), each located by three coordinates
(1, 2, 3) in the global system, are required to define a coordinate frame. A 3x3 rotation matrix (R) is
computed and stored in Packet 05. Four data cards, each containing 5 entries, are used to store the
coordinate points and rotation matrix: Data Card 1 (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2), Data Card 2 (B3, C1, C2, C3,
R11), Data Card 3 (R21, R31, R12, R22, R32), Data Card 4 (R13, R23, R33).

For more information on creating coordinate frames see Creating Coordinate Frames (p. 393) in the
Geometry Modeling - Reference Manual Part 2.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 9
Finite Elements

Finite Elements
Finite elements in Patran allows the definition of basic finite element construction. Created under Finite
Elements are the=åçÇÉë, element topology and multi-point constraints.

For more information on how to create finite element meshes, see Mesh Seed and Mesh Forms (p. 25)
in the Reference Manual - Part III.

Nodes
Nodes in Patran will generate Packet 01 entries in the neutral file (see Packet Type 01: Node Data
(p. 718) in the Patran Reference Manual). Nodes can be created either directly using the Node object, or
indirectly using the Mesh object. The Node ID is stored on the Header Card, entry ID. Each node location,
defined relative to a coordinate frame, is defined by 3 values. These values are stored on Data Card 1,
entries X, Y and Z. The coordinate frame is stored on Data Card 2, entry CID. If no reference frame is
assigned, the global system (CID = 0) is used. Nodes that are exported to the neutral file are always
resolved relative to the global system (CID = 0). The condensation flag, entry ICF on Data Card 2,
indicates whether nodes are referenced by one or more elements (ICF = 1) or are unreferenced (ICF = 0).
Data Card 2 contains entries which currently cannot be referenced within Patran and are set to default
values. These include the Node Type (GTYPE = G), Number of Degrees of Freedom (NDF = 6), Node
Configuration (CONFIG = 0) and the 6 permanent single point constraint flags (PSPC = 000000).

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 10 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

Elements
Finite Elements in Patran assigns element connectivity, such as Quad/4, for standard finite elements. The
type of element to be created is not determined until the element properties are assigned. Elements can
be created either discretely using the Element object, or indirectly using the Mesh object. Each element
results in the creation of a Neutral File Packet 02 (see Packet Type 02: Element Data (p. 719) in the
Patran Reference Manual). The Element ID is stored on the Header Card, entry ID. The shape (bar=2,
tri = 3, quad = 4, tet = 5, wedge = 7, hex = 8) is stored on the Header Card, entry IV. The element’s nodes
are listed on Data Card 2, entry LNODES.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 11
Finite Elements

Multi-Point Constraints
Multi-point constraints (MPCs) can be created from the Finite Elements menu. These are special element
types which define a rigorous behavior between several specified nodes. The forms for creating MPCs
are found by selecting MPC as the Object on the Finite Elements form. Each defined MPC results in the
creation of a Neutral File Packet 14 (see Packet Type 14: MPC Data (p. 725) in the Patran Reference
Manual). The MPC ID is stored on the Header Card, entry MPC ID. The MPC Set ID--Header Card,
entry MPC SID--always equals 1.

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 12 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 13
Finite Elements

MPC Types
To create an MPC, first select the type of MPC to be created from the option menu. The explicit and
implicit MPC types defined for PATRAN 2.5 are available and described in the following table.

MPC Type Analysis Type Description

Explicit Structural Creates an explicit MPC between a dependent degree-of-freedom
and one or more independent degrees-of-freedom. The dependent
term consists of a node ID and a degree-of-freedom, while an
independent term consists of a coefficient, a node ID, and a
degree-of-freedom. An unlimited number of independent terms
can be specified, while only one dependent term can be specified.
An optional constant term can be specified.
Rigid (Fixed) Structural Creates a rigid MPC between one independent node and one or
more dependent nodes in which all six structural degrees-of-
freedom are rigidly attached to each other. An unlimited number
of dependent terms can be specified, while only one independent
term can be specified. Each term consists of a single node. There
is no constant term for this MPC type.
Rigid (Pinned) Structural Creates a rigid MPC between one independent node and one or
more dependent nodes in which all three translational degrees-of-
freedom are rigidly attached to each other. An unlimited number
of dependent terms can be specified, while only one independent
term can be specified. Each term consists of a single node. There
is no constant term for this MPC type.
Linear Surface Structural Creates an implicit MPC intended to connect topologically
to Surface incompatible elements to model a continuum. Each dependent
(LSS) term consists of a node while two nodes describe the independent
term. There is no constant term for this MPC type.
Linear Surface Structural Creates an implicit MPC intended to connect a plate model to a
to Volume solid model. The plate node displacements and rotations are
(LSV) defined in terms of the displacements of the solid element nodes.
Each dependent terms contains one node while each independent
terms consists of two nodes. There is no constant term for this
MPC type.
Linear Volume Structural Creates an implicit MPC intended to connect topologically
to Volume incompatible solid elements to model a continuum. Each
(LVV) dependent term contains one node while each independent term
consists of a minimum of three nodes and a maximum of four
nodes. All three translational structural degrees-of-freedom are
automatically specified. There is no constant term for this MPC
type.

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 14 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

MPC Type Analysis Type Description

Quadratic Structural Creates an implicit MPC intended to connect topologically
Surface to incompatible elements to model a continuum. Each dependent
Surface (QSS) terms consists of a node and each independent term consists of
three nodes. There is no constant term for this MPC type.
Quadratic Structural Creates an implicit MPC intended to connect a shell model to a
Surface to solid model. The plate node displacements and rotations are
Volume (QSV) defined in terms of the displacements of the solid element nodes.
Each dependent term contains one node and each independent
term consists of three nodes. There is no constant term for this
MPC type.
Quadratic Structural Creates an implicit MPC intended to connect topologically
Volume to incompatible solid elements to model a continuum. Each
Volume (QVV) dependent term containing one node while each independent term
consisting of eight nodes. All three translational structural
degrees-of-freedom are automatically specified. There is no
constant term for this MPC type.
Slide Structural Creates an implicit MPC intended to define a vector between two
nodes along which a dependent node must move. Each dependent
term consists of a node while each independent term consisting of
two nodes. There is no constant term for this MPC type.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 15
Finite Elements

Degrees-of-Freedom
Whenever a list of degrees-of-freedom are expected for an MPC term, a listbox containing the valid
degrees-of-freedom is displayed on the form. The following degrees-of-freedom are supported by the
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference for MPCs:

Degree-of-freedom Analysis Type

UX Structural
UY Structural
UZ Structural
RX Structural
RY Structural
RZ Structural

Important: Care must be taken to make sure that a degree-of-freedom that is selected for an MPC
actually exists at the nodes. For example, a node that is attached only to solid structural
elements will not have any rotational degrees-of-freedom. However, Patran will allow
you to select rotational degrees-of-freedom at this node when defining an MPC.

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 16 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

Explicit MPCs
This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Explicit is the selected type. The name EXPLICIT will appear in Packet 14, Data Card 1, entry
TYPE.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 17
Finite Elements

Rigid (Fixed, Pinned)

This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Rigid (Fixed or Pinned) is the selected type. The name RIGID will appear in Packet 14, Data
Card 1, entry TYPE.

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 18 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

Linear Surface to Surface (LSS) MPCs

This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Linear Surf-Surf is the selected type. The name LSS will appear in Packet 14, Data Card 1,
entry TYPE.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 19
Finite Elements

Linear Surface to Volume (LSV) MPCs

This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Linear Surf-Vol is the selected type. The name LSV will appear in Packet 14, Data Card 1,
entry TYPE.

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 20 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

Linear Volume to Volume (LVV) MPCs

This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Linear Vol-Vol is the selected type. The name LVV will appear in Packet 14, Data Card 1, entry
TYPE.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 21
Finite Elements

Quadratic Surface to Surface (QSS) MPCs

This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Quadratic Surf-Surf is the selected type. The name QSS will appear in Packet 14, Data Card
1, entry TYPE.

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 22 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

Quadratic Surface to Volume (QSV) MPCs

This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Quadratic Surf-Vol is the selected type. The name QSV will appear in Packet 14, Data Card 1,
entry TYPE.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 23
Finite Elements

Quadratic Volume to Volume (QVV) MPCs

This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Quadratic Vol-Vol is the selected type. The name QVV will appear in Packet 14, Data Card 1,
entry TYPE.

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 24 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Finite Elements

Slide MPCs
This subordinate MPC form appears when the Define Terms button is selected on the Finite Elements
form, and Slider(12) is the selected type. The name SLIDE will appear in Packet 14, Data Card 1, entry
TYPE.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 25
Material Library

Material Library
The Materials form will appear when the Material toggle is chosen. The selections made on the Materials
menu will determine which material form appears, and ultimately, which material will be created.
Two analysis types are available for the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference: Structural and Thermal. If
the analysis type is structural, the following material types may be defined: Isotropic (type 1), 2D
Anisotropic (type 2), 3D Anisotropic (type 6), 2D orthotropic (type 3), 3D Orthotropic (type 3), and
Composite (types 11 to 13). If the analysis type is thermal, the following material types may be defined:
Isotropic (type 4) and Anisotropic (type 5). Structural materials include thermal material properties (e.g,
conductivity and specific heat) while thermal materials only include the thermal material properties. Each
material definition will be stored in a unique Neutral File Packet 03 (see Packet Type 03: Material
Properties (p. 720) in the Patran Reference Manual.

The following pages discuss the Materials forms, and details of all the material property definitions
supported by the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference.

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 26 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

Materials Form
This form appears when Materials is selected on the main menu when the analysis type is Structural. The
analysis type may also be Thermal.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 27
Material Library

Structural Isotropic

Linear Elastic
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
Structural Isotropic is selected on the Material form, and when Linear Elastic is the selected Constitutive
Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the linear elasticity values and other
miscellaneous values for an Isotropic material (material type = 1). All entered values appear in Packet
03, Data Card 2.

Thermal Properties
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
Isotropic is selected on the Material form, and when Thermal Properties is the selected Constitutive
Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the linear thermal values for an Isotropic
material (material type = 1). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 28 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

2D Orthotropic

Linear Elastic
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form
when 2D Orthotropic is the selected Object, and Linear Elastic is the selected Constitutive Model on
the Input Options form. Use this form to define the elasticity properties, and other miscellaneous data
for a 2 dimensional Orthotropic material (material type = 3). All entered values appear in Packet 03,
Data Card 2.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 29
Material Library

The remaining Linear Elastic properties for 2D Orthotropic materials and their location in the PATRAN
2 Neutral File are shown.

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 30 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

Thermal Properties
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
2D Orthotropic is selected on the Material form, and when Thermal Properties is the selected Constitutive
Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the linear thermal values for an 2D Orthotropic
material (material type = 3). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 31
Material Library

3D Orthotropic

Linear Elastic
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
3D Orthotropic is the selected Object, and Linear Elastic is the selected Constitutive Model on the Input
Options form. Use this form to define the elasticity properties and other miscellaneous data for a 3D
Orthotropic material. (material type = 3). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 32 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

The remaining Linear Elastic properties for 3D Orthotropic materials and their location in the PATRAN
2 Neutral File are shown.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 33
Material Library

Thermal Properties
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
3D Orthotropic is selected on the Material form, and when Thermal Properties is the selected Constitutive
Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the linear thermal values for an 3D Orthotropic
material (material type = 3). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 34 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

2D Anisotropic

Linear Elastic
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
2D Anisotropic is the selected Object, and Linear Elastic is the selected Constitutive Model on the Input
Options form. Use this form to define the elasticity properties and other miscellaneous data for a 2D
Anisotropic material (material type = 2). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 35
Material Library

The remaining Linear Elastic properties for 2D Anisotropic materials and their location in the PATRAN
2 Neutral File are shown.

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 36 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

Thermal Properties
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
2D Anisotropic is selected on the Material form, and when Thermal Properties is the selected
Constitutive Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the linear thermal values for an
2D Anisotropic material (material type = 2). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 37
Material Library

3D Anisotropic

Linear Elastic
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
3D Anisotropic is the selected Object, and Linear Elastic is the selected Constitutive Model on the Input
Options form. Use this form to define the elasticity properties and other miscellaneous data for a 3D
Anisotropic material (material type = 6). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 38 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

More of the Linear Elastic properties for 3D Anisotropic materials and their location in the PATRAN 2
Neutral File are shown.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 39
Material Library

The remaining Linear Elastic properties for 3D Anisotropic materials and their location in the PATRAN
2 Neutral File are shown.

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 40 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

Thermal Properties
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
3D Anisotropic is selected on the Material form, and when Thermal Properties is the selected
Constitutive Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the linear thermal values for an
3D Anisotropic material (material type = 6). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 41
Material Library

Composite
The Composite forms provide alternate ways of defining the linear elastic properties of materials. All
composite options, except for Laminated Composite, will always result in a homogeneous elastic
material. Three composite material types are currently supported in the neutral file: Halpin-Tsai (HAL,
type = 11), Laminate (LAM, type = 12) and Rule of Mixtures (MIX, type = 13). The HAL and MIX
options are stored in Neutral File Packet 03 as are the other homogeneous materials. The LAM option is
also stored in Packet 03; however, an additional data card, Data Card 3, is used to store the associated ply
data (thicknesses, orientation angles and material IDs). The number of associated ply data values (the
number of defined plies) is stored on the Header Card, entry N1.
Patran will compute and store, for a composite material, in Packet 03 the equivalent engineering
properties (Data Card 2, Material Constants 27 to 35), 21 material stiffness matrix terms (Data Card 2,
Material Constants 37 to 57), 6 2D membrane stiffness (A) matrix terms (Data Card 2, Material
Constants 58 to 63), 6 2D bending stiffness (D) matrix terms (Data Card 2, Material Constants 64 to 69)
and 9 2D membrane/bending (B) coupling terms (Data Card 2, Material Constants 70 to 78).
Neutral file import of a Halpin-Tsai (HAL) material will be converted to a 3D Orthotropic material in
Patran. Similarly, import of a neutral file containing a Rule of Mixtures (MIX) material will be converted

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 42 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

to a 3D Anisotropic material in Patran. The reason for the conversion is that, although Patran supports
creation of these material types, the PATRAN 2 Neutral File does not provide for a complete definition.
This is also the reason that a neutral file export of these material types results in the creation of a
homogeneous elastic material. The PATRAN 2 Neutral File only supports full definition of a Laminated
(LAM) composite material.
For detailed discussions on how to build composite materials, please refer to Composite Materials
Construction (p. 116) in the Patran Reference Manual.

Laminated
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
Composite is the selected Object, and Laminate is the selected Method. Use this form to define the
laminate lay-up data for a composite laminate material (LAM, material type = 12). Each defined
composite laminate material will be stored in a unique Neutral File Packet 03. The total thickness,
number of plies and offset are defined on Data Card 2, Material Constants 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The
total number of associated ply data values is stored on the Header Card, entry N1.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 43
Material Library

Thermal Isotropic

Linear Elastic
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
Thermal Isotropic (TIS) is selected on the Material form, and when Linear Elastic is the selected
Constitutive Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the linear elastic thermal material
values for an Thermal Isotropic material (material type = 4). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data
Card 2.

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 44 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Material Library

Thermal Anisotropic

Linear Elastic
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Materials form when
Thermal is the analysis type, Anisotropic is the selected Object, and Linear Elastic is the selected
Constitutive Model on the Input Options form. Use this form to define the elasticity properties Thermal
Anisotropic (TAN) material (material type = 5). All entered values appear in Packet 03, Data Card 2.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 45
Material Library

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 46 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Element Properties

Element Properties
The Element Properties form appears when the Element Properties toggle is chosen.There are several
option menus available when creating element properties. The selections made on the Element Properties
menu will determine which element property form appears, and ultimately, which element will be
created.
Element properties are simply categorized as Generic 0D, Generic 1D, Generic 2D and Generic 3D. An
element configuration ID, required for each property set definition, is used to distinguish element types
(e.g., Generic 3D, Configuration 8 might represent an 8-node hexahedral while Generic 3D,
Configuration 10 might represent a 10-node tetrahedral). Each category of element dimension has a
number of pre-defined property definitions. For example, Generic 1D properties include Configuration
ID, Orientation, Offset at Nodes 1 and 2, and Pinned degrees-of-freedom at nodes 1 and 2. The remaining
properties are generically defined as Prop 1, Prop 2, etc. Each of the generic properties can contain real
scalar, string, integer or material property name data.
Element property data is stored in Neutral File Packet 04 (see Packet Type 04: Element Properties
(p. 721) in the Patran Reference Manual). Finite element definitions, stored in Packet 02, reference the
associated Packet 04 element properties by the property ID.
Two analysis types are available under the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference: Structural and Thermal.
Element property sets can reference materials. For those element property sets created under the
Structural type, the following materials are available: Isotropic, 2D Orthotropic, 3D orthotropic, 2D
Anisotropic, 3D Anisotropic and Composite. Element property sets created under the Thermal type can
only reference Thermal Isotropic (TIS) and Thermal Anisotropic (TAN) materials. For more details about
these materials, please refer to the Material Librarysection of this document.
The following pages give an introduction to the Element Properties form, and details of all the element
property definitions supported by the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 47
Element Properties

Element Properties Form

This form appears when Element Properties is selected on the main menu. There are four option menus
on this form, each will determine which element type will be created, and which property forms
will appear.

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 48 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Element Properties

Generic 0D
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Element Properties
form. The data entered is stored in Neutral File Packet Types 02 (Element Data) and 04 (Property Data).
The shape code will be 2 (Packet 02, Header Card, entry IV and Packet 04, Header Card, entry N1).
In addition to the Configuration Id entry, the remaining entries are generically described as “Prop N”
where N = 1, 2, ...39. The data entered in these boxes is stored in Packet 04 Data Cards. Each Data Card
contains five data entries. Thus, Prop 1 through Prop 5 are on the first Data Card, Prop 6 through Prop
10 on the second Data Card, etc. All of these entries are optional. Only the first data entry up to the largest
data box number with entered data are stored in Packet 04. The number of data fields stored is indicated
in Packet 04, Header Card, entry N4.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 49
Element Properties

Generic 1D
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Element Properties
form. The data entered is stored in Neutral File Packet Types 02 (Element Data) and 04 (Property Data).
The shape code will be 2 (Packet 02, Header Card, entry IV and Packet 04, Header Card, entry N1).

The remaining entries are generically described as “Prop N” where N = 1, 2, ...34. The data entered in
these boxes is stored in Packet 04 Data Cards. Each Data Card contains five data entries. Thus, Prop 1
through Prop 5 are on the first Data Card, Prop 6 through Prop 10 on the second Data Card, etc. All of
these entries are optional. Only the first data entry up to the largest data box number with entered data
are stored in Packet 04. The number of data fields stored is indicated in Packet 04, Header Card, entry N4.

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 50 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Element Properties

Generic 2D
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Element Properties
form. The data entered is stored in Neutral File Packet Types 02 (Element Data) and 04 (Property Data).
The shape code will be 3 or 4 for a triangle or quadrilateral, respectively (Packet 02, Header Card, entry
IV and Packet 04, Header Card, entry N1).
In addition to the Configuration Id and Material Orientation entries, the remaining entries are generically
described as “Prop N” where N = 1, 2, ...38. The data entered in these boxes is stored in Packet 04 data
cards. Each data card contains 5 data entries. Thus, Prop 1 through Prop 5 are on the first data card, Prop
6 through Prop 10 on the second data card, etc. All of these entries are optional. Only the first data entry
up to the largest data box number with entered data are stored in Packet 04. The number of data fields
stored is indicated in Packet 04, Header Card, entry N4.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 51
Element Properties

Generic 3D
This subordinate form appears when the Input Properties button is selected on the Element Properties
form. The data entered is stored in Neutral File Packet Types 02 (Element Data) and 04 (Property Data).
The shape code will be 5, 7, or 8 for a tetrahedral, wedge or hexahedral, respectively (Packet 02, Header
Card, entry IV and Packet 04, Header Card, entry N1).
In addition to the Configuration Id entry, the remaining entries are generically described as “Prop N”
where N = 1, 2, ...39. The data entered in these boxes is stored in Packet 04 Data Cards. Each Data Card
contains five data entries. Thus, Prop 1 through Prop 5 are on the first Data Card, Prop 6 through Prop
10 on the second Data Card, etc. All of these entries are optional. Only the first data entry up to the largest
data box number with entered data are stored in Packet 04. The number of data fields stored is indicated
in Packet 04, Header Card, entry N4.

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 52 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Element Properties

Main Index
 Chapter 2: Building A Model 53
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Loads and Boundary Conditions

The Loads and Boundary Conditions (LBCs) form will appear when the Loads/BCs toggle, located on
the Patran application selections, is chosen. When creating a loads and boundary condition there are
several option menus. The selections made on the Loads and Boundary Conditions menu will determine
which loads and boundary conditions form appears, and ultimately, which loads and boundary conditions
will be created.
Each defined LBC will result in the creation of one or more associated neutral file packets. Currently
available Structural LBCs include Displacement (Packet 08), Force (Packet 07), Pressure (Packets 06 and
07) and Temperature (Packets 10 and 11). The following Thermal LBCs are available: Heat Flux (Packets
15 and 16), Heat Source (Packet 16), Convection (Packet 17), Temperature (Packets 10 and 11) and View
Factor Data (Packet 19).
The following pages give an introduction to the Loads and Boundary Conditions form, and details of all
the loads and boundary conditions supported by the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference.

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 54 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Structural Displacement
This form defines the Displacement LBCs. The associated data will be stored in Neutral File Packet 08.
The constraint set ID (Packet 08, Header Card, entry IV) is controlled by the associated Load Case (see
the Load Cases documentation for more details).

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the LBCs form when the Current
Load Case Type is Static and the LBC Type is Displacement.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 55
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the Loads and
Boundary Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static and the Loads and Boundary
Condition Type is Displacement. The nodes can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or
indirectly through their association with one or more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry).
In either case, each selected node will generate a Packet 08. The node ID is stored in the Header Card,
entry ID.

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 56 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Main Index
 Chapter 2: Building A Model 57
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Structural Force
This form defines the Force LBCs. The associated data will be stored in Neutral File Packet 07. The Load
Set ID (Packet 07, Header Card, entry IV), is controlled by the associated Load Case (see the Load Cases
documentation for more details).

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the Loads and Boundary
Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static and the LBC Type is Force.

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 58 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the Loads and
Boundary Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static and the LBC Type is Force. The
nodes can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association
with one or more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected node
will generate a Packet 07. The node ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 59
Loads and Boundary Conditions

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 60 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Structural Pressure
This form defines the Pressure Loads and Boundary Conditions. The associated data will be stored in
Neutral File Packet 06. The Load Set ID (Packet 06, Header Card, entry IV), is controlled by the
associated Load Case (see the Load Cases documentation for more details).

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the Loads and Boundary
Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static, the Target Element Type is 3D and the Loads
and Boundary Condition Type is Pressure. This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable
pressures. If the load type is Uniform, then only one pressure value is stored; otherwise, three or four
pressure values, for triangles or quadrilaterals, are stored for Variable load types.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 61
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the Loads and Boundary
Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static, the Target Element Type is 2D and the Loads
and Boundary Condition Type is Pressure. This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable
pressures. If the load type is Uniform, then only one pressure value is stored; otherwise, three or four
pressure values, for triangles or quadrilaterals, are stored for Variable load types.

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 62 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the Loads and
Boundary Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Pressure and the
Target Element Type is 3D. This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable load types.
The elements’ faces can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their
association with one or more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each
selected element will generate a Packet 06. The element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 63
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the Loads and
Boundary Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Pressure and the
Target Element Type is 2D. This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable load types.
The elements and element’s edges can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly
through their association with one or more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either
case, each selected element will generate a Packet 06. The element ID is stored in the Header Card,
entry ID.

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 64 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Structural and Thermal Temperature

This form defines the Structural and Thermal Temperature LBCs. The associated data will be stored in
Neutral File Packets 10 (nodal) and 11 (element uniform). The Load Set ID (Header Card, entry IV), is
controlled by the associated Load Case (see the Load Cases documentation for more details). The
locations of data within either Packet 10 or 11, as input on these forms, are discussed below.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 65
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the Loads and Boundary
Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static and the Loads and Boundary Condition Type
is Temperature. This input data form is applicable for nodal, element uniform and variable temperatures
loads. Nodal temperature data will be stored in Packet 10 and element temperature data in Packet 11.

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 66 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the Loads and
Boundary Conditions form when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Nodal Temperature.
The nodes can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their
association with one or more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each
selected node will generate a Packet 10. The node ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 67
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Temperature and the Target Element Type is
3D. This form is applicable for both uniform and variable element temperature loads. The elements can
either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one or
more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). Each selected element will generate a Packet
11 for uniform loads and one or more Packet 10’s, one for each element node, for variable loads. The
element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 68 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Temperature and the Target Element Type is
2D. This form is applicable for both uniform and variable element temperature loads. The elements can
either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one or
more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). Each selected element will generate a Packet
11 for uniform loads and one or more Packet 10’s, one for each element node, for variable loads. The
element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 69
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Temperature and the Target Element Type is
1D. This form is applicable for both uniform and variable element temperature loads. The elements can
either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one or
more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). Each selected element will generate a Packet
11 for uniform loads and one or more Packet 10’s, one for each element node, for variable loads. The
element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 70 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Main Index
 Chapter 2: Building A Model 71
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Thermal Convection
This form defines the Thermal Convection LBCs. The associated data will be stored in Neutral File
Packet 17. The Convection Coefficient Set ID (Header Card, entry IV), is controlled by the associated
Load Case (see the Load Case documentation for more details).

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the LBCs form when the Current
Load Case Type is Static, the Target Element Type is 3D and the LBC Type is Thermal Convection.This
form is applicable for both element uniform and variable convection coefficients. If the load type is
Uniform, then only one convection coefficient is stored; otherwise, from one to four convection
coefficients are stored for Variable load types. Uniform load types are indicated by setting the node flag

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 72 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

NFLAG = 0 (Data Card 1). Variable load types are indicated by setting the node flag NFLAG = 1 (Data
Card 1) and identifying the location and number of element nodes with the eight integer node flags
NODE (Data Card 1); each node flag is 0 if no coefficient is defined and 1 for a defined coefficient.

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the LBCs form when the Current
Load Case Type is Static, the Target Element Type is 2D and the LBC Type is Thermal Convection. This
form is applicable for both element uniform and variable pressures. If the load type is Uniform, then only
one pressure value is stored; otherwise, from one to four heat flux values are stored for Variable load
types.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 73
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Pressure and the Target Element Type is 3D.
This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable load types. The element’s faces can either
be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one or more
geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected element will generate a
Packet 17. The element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 74 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Thermal Convection and the Target Element
Type is 2D. This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable load types. The elements can
either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one or
more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected element will
generate a Packet 17. The element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 75
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Thermal Heat Flux

This form defines the Thermal Heat Flux LBCs. The associated data will be stored in Neutral File Packet
16. The Heat Flux Set ID (Header Card, entry IV), is controlled by the associated Load Case (see the
Load Case documentation for more details). The locations of data within Packet 16, as input on these
forms, are discussed below.

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 76 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the LBCs form when the Current
Load Case Type is Static, the Target Element Type is 3D and the LBC Type is Thermal Heat Flux. This
form is applicable for both element uniform and variable heat flux. If the load type is Uniform, then only
one heat flux value is stored; otherwise, from one to four values are stored for Variable load types.
Uniform load types are indicated by setting the node flag NFLAG = 0 (Data Card 1). Variable load types
are indicated by setting the node flag NFLAG = 1 (Data Card 1) and identifying the location and number
of element nodes with the eight integer node flags NODE (Data Card 1); each node flag is 0 if no heat
flux is defined and 1 for a defined flux. As heat flux is currently only supported as a per unit area value,
the dimension code N3 = 2 on Packet 16’s Header Card.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 77
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the LBCs form when the Current
Load Case Type is Static, the Target Element Type is 2D and the LBC Type is Thermal Heat Flux.This
form is applicable for both element uniform and variable pressures. If the load type is Uniform, then only
one pressure value is stored; otherwise, from one to four heat flux values are stored for Variable load
types.

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 78 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Thermal Heat Flux and the Target Element Type
is 3D. This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable load types. The element’s free faces
can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one
or more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected element will
generate a Packet 16. The element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 79
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Thermal Heat Flux and the Target Element Type
is 2D. This form is applicable for both element uniform and variable load types. The elements and
element’s edges can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their
association with one or more geometrical entities
(Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected element will generate a Packet 16. The
element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 80 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Main Index
 Chapter 2: Building A Model 81
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Thermal Heat Source

This form defines the Thermal Heat Source LBCs. The associated data will be stored in Neutral File
Packet 15 (Nodal) or 16 (Element Uniform). The Heat Source Set ID (Header Card, entry IV), is
controlled by the associated Load Case (see the Load Case documentation for more details).

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 82 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the LBCs form when the Current
Load Case Type is Static and the LBC Type is Thermal Heat Source. This form is applicable for both
nodal and element uniform heat sources. If the load type is Nodal, then the heat source data is stored in
Packet 15 with the node stored on the Header Card, entry ID and the heat source value in entry HEAT on
Data Card 1. Uniform heat source loads are stored in Packet 16 and are indicated by setting the node flag
NFLAG = 0 (Data Card 1). The Element ID is stored on the Header Card in the entry ID and the heat
source value on Data Card 2, entry HEAT. If a uniform element heat source is defined, the dimension
code N3 = 3 on Packet 16’s Header Card, indicating a per unit volume value.

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static and the LBC Type is Thermal Heat Source. The nodes can
either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one or
more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected node will generate
a Packet 15. The node ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 83
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs form
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Element Uniform Thermal Heat Source. The
elements can either be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association
with one or more geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected
element will generate a Packet 16. The element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 84 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 85
Loads and Boundary Conditions

Thermal View Factor

This form defines the Thermal View Factor Loads and Boundary Conditions. The associated data will be
stored in Neutral File Packet 19.

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 86 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

This subordinate form appears when the Input Data button is selected on the LBCs form when the Current
Load Case Type is Static and the LBC Type is Thermal View Factor. This form is valid for 1D, 2D and
3D elements.

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 87
Loads and Boundary Conditions

The remaining input on the previous form is as follows.

This subordinate form appears when the Select Application Region button is selected on the LBCs for3m
when the Current Load Case Type is Static, LBC Type is Thermal View Factor. The elements can either
be explicitly selected (Geometry Filter = FEM) or indirectly through their association with one or more
geometrical entities (Geometry Filter = Geometry). In either case, each selected element will generate a
Packet 19. The element ID is stored in the Header Card, entry ID.

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 88 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Loads and Boundary Conditions

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 Chapter 2: Building A Model 89
Load Cases

Load Cases
Load Cases in Patran are used to group a series of Loads and Boundary Conditions (LBCs) into one load
environment for the model.

Load Cases
Load case names can be used to control the Loads and Boundary Conditions Set IDs in the neutral file.
If a load case name is of the format “load_case_name.xxx” where xxx is a valid integer, all associated
LBCs will retain this number as a Set ID upon export to the neutral file. If no Load Case names use the
valid integer extension, then the non-empty Load Cases (ones with assigned LBCs) will be sequentially
numbered beginning from 1. If one or more Load Cases exist with a valid integer extension, the largest
integer extension is used as the base and all subsequent non-empty Load Cases without a valid integer
extension are numbered as sequential increments off this value. For more detailed discussions of this
form, refer to Create Load Cases (p. 166) in the Patran Reference Manual.

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 90 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Load Cases

Main Index
 Chapter 3: Running an Analysis
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

3 Running an Analysis


Review of the Analysis Form 92

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 92 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Review of the Analysis Form

Review of the Analysis Form

The Analysis form appears when the Analysis toggle, located on the Patran switch, is chosen. Currently,
the available options on the Analysis form are to export and import a PATRAN 2 Neutral File. The
following pages describe these forms.

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 Chapter 3: Running an Analysis 93
Review of the Analysis Form

Analysis Form
This form appears when the Analysis toggle is chosen on the main menu. The Apply button simply
accesses the File Export or Import form under the File option on the Patran control panel.

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 94 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Review of the Analysis Form

Main Index
 Chapter 4: Results Templates
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

4 Results Templates


Introduction 96
 Generic Nodal Results File 97

Generic Element Results File 99

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 96 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Introduction

Introduction
The PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference provides two generic PATRAN 2 type results file templates.
PATRAN 2 provided for the import of results, defined in a text file and defined by a template file. Patran
also supports this means of results import.
Two generic results templates are delivered with this Preference. The intention is to provide a mechanism
to import both nodal and element based results. These templates can be copied and edited to match
specific results file formats. For more information on results file templates, please refer to Patran 2.5
Results Files (p. 46) in the Patran Reference Manual.

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 Chapter 4: Results Templates 97
Generic Nodal Results File

Generic Nodal Results File

The PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference includes a generic nodal results template,
p2nf_nod.res_tmpl. Typically, this template is located in the directory
$P3_home/res_templates. The following documents the results file contents expected by the
generic nodal results template.

Record Description
Record 1 TITLE, NNODES, MAXNOD, VALMAX, NDMAX, NWIDTH
Record 2 SUBTITLE 1
Record 3 SUBTITLE 2
Record 4 to NODID, VAL(1), VAL(2), VAL(3), VAL(4), VAL(5), VAL(6)
NNODES+3

Record Description (Format)

Record 1 TITLE
(80A1)
Record 2 NNODES, MAXNOD, VALMAX, NDMAX, NWIDTH
(2I9, E15.6, 2I9)
Record 3 SUBTITLE 1
(80A1)
Record 4 SUBTITLE 2
(80A1)
Record 5 to NODID, (VAL(J), J =1 TO NWIDTH)
NNODES+4 (I8, (5E13.7))

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 98 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Generic Nodal Results File

where the parameters are:

Parameter Description
TITLE Title (up to 80 characters)
SUBTITLE 1 Same format as TITLE.
SUBTITLE 2 Same format as TITLE.
NNODES Number of nodes (integer)
MAXNOD Highest node ID number (integer)
VALMAX Maximum absolute nodal result value (real)
NDMAX Node ID where VALMAX occurs (integer)
NWIDTH Number of columns of data (integer)
NODID Node ID (integer)
VAL(J) Result value #J (J =1 TO 6) for Node # NODID (real)

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 Chapter 4: Results Templates 99
Generic Element Results File

Generic Element Results File

The PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference includes a generic element results template,
p2nf_els.res_tmpl. This template is modeled after the PATRAN 2 element stress results file
template. Typically this template is located in the directory $P3_home/res_templates. The
following documents the results file contents expected by the generic element results template.

Record Description
Record 1 TITLE, NWIDTH
Record 2 SUBTITLE 1
Record 3 SUBTITLE 2
Record 4 to N+3 ID, NSHAPE, (VAL(J), J=1 TO NWIDTH)
Record N+4 ID = 0 or end-of-file

Record Description (Format)

Record 1 TITLE
(80A1)
Record 2 NWIDTH
(I5)
Record 3 SUBTITLE 1
(80A1)
Record 4 SUBTITLE 2
(80A1)
Record 5 to ID, SHAPE, (VAL(J), J =1 TO NWIDTH)
NNODES+4 (2I8, /, (6E13.7))

where the parameters are:

Parameter Description
TITLE Title (up to 80 characters)
SUBTITLE 1 Same format as TITLE.
SUBTITLE 2 Same format as TITLE.
NWIDTH Number of columns of data (integer)
ID Element ID (integer)

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 100 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Generic Element Results File

Parameter Description
NSHAPE Essential shape code (BAR = 2, TRI = 3, QUAD = 4, TET = 5, PYR = 6,
WEDGE = 7, HEX = 8; integer)
VAL(J) Result value(s) (real)

The generic element results template is defined such that NWIDTH = 20 where the columns 1 - 6 are
labeled as “Generic Tensor 1,” columns 7 - 12 as “Generic Tensor 2” and columns 13 - 20 as “Scalar 1,”
“Scalar 2,”...”Scalar 8,” respectively. The intent of providing this format for the generic elements results
template is not to force a particular results file format but rather provide an illustration as to how an
element results file template can be defined to describe a results file format containing both tensor and
scalar results.

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 Chapter 5: Files
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

5 Files


Files 102

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 102 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Files

Files
These files are associated with the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference.

File Name Description

*.db This is the Patran database. This file typically resides in the
current directory.
*.out This is the PATRAN 2.5 neutral file. These files typically reside in the
current directory.
p2nf_nod.res_tmpl The generic nodal results template. This file typically resides in the
<installation_directory>/res_templates directory.
p2nf_els.res_tmpl The generic element results template. This file typically resides in the
<installation_directory>/res_templates directory.

Main Index
 Chapter 6: Unsupported Neutral File Packets
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

6 Unsupported Neutral File

Packets

 Unsupported Neutral File Packets 104

Main Index
 104 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide
Unsupported Neutral File Packets

Unsupported Neutral File Packets

The intent of the PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference is to support as much of the PATRAN 2 Neutral File
contents as possible. However, a few Data Packets remain unsupported.

Packet Description
Packet 09 Bar element initial displacements
Packet 12 Degree-of-freedom (DOF) lists
Packet 13 Mechanism Entities
Packet 36 Data-line data
Packet 37 Data-patch data
Packet 38 Data-hyperpatch data
Packet 40 LIST card
Packet 41 DATA card
Packet 46 Primitive data
Packet 47 Primitive face data
Packet 48 Field data (PCL format)

Main Index
 jp`Kc~íáÖìÉ=nìáÅâ=pí~êí=dìáÇÉ

Index
PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

fåÇÉñ A load and boundary conditions, 53

Index analysis, 92 convection, 53, 71
Analysis Preferences, 6 displacement, 53, 54
analysis type, 7 force, 53, 57
structural, 7, 25 heat flux, 53, 75
thermal, 7, 25 heat source, 53, 81
pressure, 53, 60
temperature, 53, 64
B view factor, 53, 85
base.db, 4
load cases, 89
load_patran2nf(), 4
C
composite materials
Halpin-Tsai, 41
M
materials, 25
Rule of Mixtures, 41
2D anisotropic, 25, 34
coordinate frame, 8
2D orthotropic, 25, 28
3D anisotropic, 25, 37
E 3D orthotropic, 25, 31
element properties, 46 composite, 25, 41
generic 0D, 46, 48 composite, also see composite materials,
generic 1D, 46, 49 41
generic 2D, 46, 50 isotropic, 25
generic 3D, 46, 51 laminate, 41
structural isotropic, 27
F thermal anisotropic, 44
finite elements, 9 thermal isotropic, 43
MPCs, see multi-point constraints
multi-point constraints, 11
H degrees-of-freedom, 15
Halpin-Tsai, 41
explicit, 13, 16
linear surface to surface (LSS), 13, 18
L linear surface to volume (LSV), 13, 19
LBCs, see load and boundary conditions linear volume to volume (LVV), 13, 20
quadratic surface to surface (QSS), 14, 21
quadratic surface to volume (QSV), 14, 22
quadratic volume to volume (QVV), 14, 23
rigid (fixed), 13, 17
rigid (pinned), 13, 17
slide, 14, 24

Main Index
 106 PATRAN 2 Neutral File Preference Guide

N T
neutral file template.db, 4
export, 93 thermal, 7
import, 93
Packet 01, 9 U
Packet 02, 10 unsupported neutral file packets, 104
Packet 03, 25
Packet 04, 46
Packet 05, 8
Packet 06, 60
Packet 07, 57
Packet 08, 54
Packet 09, 104
Packet 10, 64
Packet 11, 64
Packet 12, 104
Packet 13, 104
Packet 14, 11
Packet 15, 81
Packet 16, 75, 81
Packet 17, 71
Packet 19, 85
Packet 36, 104
Packet 37, 104
Packet 38, 104
Packet 40, 104
Packet 41, 104
Packet 46, 104
Packet 47, 104
Packet 48, 104
unsupported packets, 104
nodes, 9

P
patran2nf.plb, 3

R
results file templates, 96
Rule of Mixtures, 41

S
structural, 7

Main Index