WORKSHOP 1a

Getting Started
Creating A Model

Objectives:
■ Create a new database defined for MSC .Nastran thermal analysis.

■ Define geometry for a rectangular plate.

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-1

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

Model Description:
In this exercise you will first create a aluminum plate. Shown below
is a drawing of the model you will be building and suggested steps
for its construction.

Figure 1a.1

1m
Aluminum Plate

K = 204 W/m-oC

Cp = 896 J/kg-oC

ρ = 2707 kg/m3

h = 10.0 W/m2-oC
3m q = 5000.0 W/m2
o
Tamb = 20.0 C

Thickness = 0.1 m

T = 50 oC

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-3

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

Suggested Exercise Steps:

■ Create a new database defined for MSC.NASTRAN thermal analysis.

■ Define geometry for a rectangular plate.

■ Mesh the structure with quadrilateral elements.

■ Modify the mesh.

■ Define the plate’s material as aluminum. Specify a thermal conductivity of

204 W/m-oC, specific heat of 896 J/kg-oC, and a density of 2707 kg/m3.

■ Define the plate’s thickness to be 0.1 m.

■ Clean up the display.

■ Apply a temperature of 50 oC to the bottom edge of the plate.

■ Apply heat flux of 5000 W/m2 to the right edge of the plate.

■ Apply to the left edge of the surface a convection boundary condition with
heat transfer coefficient of 10.0 W/m2-oC and ambient temperature of 20
oC.

■ Perform a steady-state thermal analysis using MSC.NASTRAN within the

MSC.PATRAN system.

■ Visualize the temperature distribution as a contour plot.

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

Exercise Procedure:
1. Open a new database. Name it ex1a.

File/New...
New Database Name: ex1a
OK

The viewport (PATRAN’s graphics window) will appear along with

a New Model Preference form. The New Model Preference sets
all the code specific forms and options inside MSC.PATRAN.

In the New Model Preference form set the Analysis Code to

MSC.Nastran

Tolerance: ◆ Based on Model

Analysis Code: MSC/NASTRAN
Approximate Maximum Model Dimension: 10.0
Analysis Type: Thermal
OK

2. Create the Model.

◆ Geometry
Action: Create
Object: Surface
Method: XYZ
Vector Coordinates List: <1 3 0>
Origin Coordinates List: [0 0 0]
Apply

3. Mesh the surface with elements.

◆ Finite Elements
Action: Create
Object: Mesh

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-7

 Type: Surface
Global Edge Length: 0.1
Mesher: IsoMesh
Surface List: Surface 1
Apply

At this point, we will invoke MSC.PATRAN’s undo feature so that

we can make a coarser mesh. The mesh we have just created (300
elements) is excessive for our example.

Your model should look like the following figure.

Y
Z X

At this point, we will invoke MSC.PATRAN’s undo feature so we

can make a coarser mesh. The mesh we have just created (300
elements) is excessive for our example.

Click on the Undo icon.

Undo

Click on the Refresh Graphics icon.

Reset Graphics

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

Note that the Finite Elements form is still visible. Change the
Global Edge Length from 0.1 to 0.2. This will create elements of 0.2
units (meters) in length, which will result in a coarser mesh of 75
quadrilateral elements.

◆ Finite Elements
Global Edge Length: 0.2
Apply

Your model should look like the following figure.

Y
Z X

4. Specify Material Properties.

Our material for this exercise will be aluminum. Click on the

Materials application. The Material form will appear with certain
default options.

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

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-9

 Input Properties...
Thermal Conductivity: 204
Specific Heat: 896
Density: 2707
Apply
Cancel

5. Our next task is to specify a thickness of 0.1 to our aluminum

elements.

◆ Properties
Action: Create
Object: 2D
Type: Shell
Property Set Name: plate
Input Properties...
Material Name: m:alum
Thickness: 0.1
OK

From the Element Properties form, click on the Select Members

databox. MSC.PATRAN will display two icons to the left of the
Element Properties form. The first icon represents surface or face,
the second represents 2D element. The two options allow you to
apply properties either on the geometric entity (in this case, the
surface) or on the finite elements.

Click on the Surface or Face icon.

Surface or Face

Now click anywhere on the geometric surface. The surface will be

highlighted in red. The Select Members databox will now appear as
Surface 1.

Add

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

Apply

6. Apply the load and boundary conditions.

◆ Load/BCs
Action: Create
Object: Temp(Thermal)
Type: Nodal
New Set Name: tempbc
Input Data...
Boundary Temperature: 50
OK
Select Application Region...
Geometry Filter: ◆ Geometry

Click on the Curve or Edge icon.

Curve or Edge

With your mouse, position the cursor on the bottom edge of the
surface. Click on the edge. You will see Surface 1.4 appear in the
Select Geometry Entities databox. This means we have selected
Edge number 4 in Surface number 1.

Add
OK
Apply

7. We will now apply heat flux to the model using the Loads/Boundary
Conditions form.

◆ Load/BCs
Action: Create
Object: Applied Heat
Type: Element Uniform

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-11

 Option: Normal Fluxes
Analysis Type: Thermal
New Set Name: flux
Target Element Type: 2D

Because the problem is a 2D one, we need to toggle that Target

Element Type setting to 2D. Even though we are applying heat flux
along an edge, which we normally think of as 1D, our finite element
problem is 2D; i.e., we are modeling heat conduction in two
dimensions.

Input Data...
Form Type: Basic
Surface Option: Edge
Edge Heat Flux: 5000
OK
Select Application Region...
Geometry Filter: ◆ Geometry

Click on the Edge icon.

Edge

Position the cursor over the right edge of the surface and click on this
edge with the mouse. MSC.PATRAN will insert Surface 1.3 in the
databox under the heading Select Surfaces or Edges.

Add
OK
Apply

A yellow flag will appear on the right edge of your surface indicating
that a heat flux of 5000 W/m2 has been applied along the right
edge.

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

Your model should look like the following figure.

5000.

Y
Z X 50.00 50.005000.

8. We will now apply a convention boundary condition to the left edge

of the plate-- again, using the Loads/BCs form.

◆ Load/BCs
Action: Create
Object: Convention
Type: Element Uniform
Option: To Ambient
Analysis Type: Thermal
New Set Name: conv
Target Element Type: 2D
Input Data...
Surface Option: Edge
Edge Convection Coef: 10
Ambient Temperature: 20
OK

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-13

 Select Application Region...
Geometry Filter: ◆ Geometry

Click on the Edge icon.

Edge

Position the cursor over the left edge of the surface and click on the
edge with the mouse. MSC.PATRAN will insert Surface 1.1 in the
databox under Select Surfaces or Edges

Add
OK
Apply

A green label will appear confirming that you have applied a

convection coefficient of 10.0W/m2-oC at this location of your
model.

Your model should look like the following figure.

10.00 5000.

Y
Z X 10.00 50.00 50.005000.

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

9. We are now ready to submit the model for MSC.NASTRAN steady-

state thermal analysis. Click on the Analysis application located on
the MSC.PATRAN main form.

◆ Analysis
Action: Analyze
Object: Entire Model
Method: Analysis Deck
Job Name: ex1a
Apply

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-15

Submitting the Input File for Analysis:
10. Submit the input file to MSC.NASTRAN for analysis.

To submit the MSC.PATRAN .bdf file for analysis, find an available

UNIX shell window. At the command prompt enter: nastran
ex1a.bdf scr=yes. Monitor the run using the UNIX ps command.

11. When the run is completed, edit the ex1a.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.

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WORKSHOP 1a Getting Started – Creating A Model

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
ex1a.xdb results file into MSC.Patran. To do this, return to the
Analysis form and proceed as follows:

◆ Analysis
Action: Attach XDB
Object: Result Entities
Method: Local
Select Results File...
Select Results File ex1a.xdb
OK
Apply

14. Display the Results.

◆ Results
Select Results Cases: Default, PW Linear: 100. % of Load
Select Fringe Result: Temperatures
Apply

A contour plot displaying temperature distributions will appear.

MSC.Nastran 104 Exercise Workbook 1a-17

 Your model should look like the following figure.

Select the Save and Close operations from the Fil menu to save your
plate.db file. We will perform a transient thermal analysis on this
model in the next workshop.

15. Close database and quit MSC.Patran to complete this exercise.

File/Quit...

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