APPENDIX M

Coordinate Systems

10

10

Objectives:
Discuss the effects of different Reference Coordinate Systems.

Discuss the effects of different Displacement Coordinate Systems.

Discuss the influence of the Displacement Coordinate System on nodal

results.

Modify the Displacement Coordinate System and Reference Coordinate

System within the MSC.Patran interface.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook M-1

M-2 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook
APPENDIX M Coordinate Systems

Model Description:
Model an aluminum plate with a constant thickness. Once the plate
is meshed, generate an MSC.Nastran input file and examine its
contents. Determine which coordinate system is used to define Node
locations and nodal results. Remesh with surface with a different
reference coordinate system and regenerate an MSC.Nastran input
file. Inspect the nodal coordinates in the input file. Finally, modify
the Analysis Coordinate System for every Node and regenerate the
MSC.Nastran input file. Verify that the Displacement Coordinate
System has been updated in the MSC.Nastran input file.

Figure M.1

10 in

10 in

0.125 in 0.125 in

Table M.1 - Plate Properties

Material: Aluminum
Elastic Modulus, E = 10E6 psi
Poissons Ratio, v = 0.3
Thickness, t = 0.125 in

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook M-3

Suggested Exercise Steps:
Define Geometry for the finite element model.

Mesh the Geometry to create finite elements.

Generate an MSC.Nastran input file.

Verify the coordinate system and node locations in the MSC.Nastran input
file.

Remesh the geometry with a different coordinate system.

Generate an MSC.Nastran input file.

Verify that the node locations have been updated in the MSC.Nastran input
file.

Modify the Analysis Coordinate System for every Node in the model.

Generate an MSC.Nastran input file.

Verify that the Displacement Coordinate System has been updated in the
MSC.Nastran input file.

M-4 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

APPENDIX M Coordinate Systems

Exercise Procedure:
1. Create a new database called coord.db.

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

In the New Model Preference form set the following:

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.

2. Create a user defined coordinate system.

Geometry
Action: Create
Object: Coord
Method: 3 Point
Origin: [23 34 0]
Point on Axis 3: [24 34 0]
Point on Plane 1-3: [23 34 1
Apply

3. Create a 10 x 10 surface.

Geometry
Action: Create
Object: Surface
Method: XYZ

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook M-5

 Vector Coordinates List: <10 10 0>
Origin coordinates List: [23 34 0]
Apply

4. Mesh the surface to define finite elements.

Finite Elements
Action: Create
Object: Mesh
Method: Surface
Global Edge Length: 4
Surface List: Surface 1
Apply

5. Define material properties.

Materials
Action: Create
Object: Isotropic
Method: Manual Input
Material Name: alum
Input Properties...
Elastic Modulus: 10e6
Poisson Ratio: 0.3
OK
Apply

6. Define element properties.

Properties
Action: Create
Object: 2D
Type: Manual Input

M-6 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

APPENDIX M Coordinate Systems

Property Set Name: property

Input Properties...
Material Name: m:alum
Thickness: 0.125
OK
Select Members: Surface 1
Add
Apply

7. Create an MSC.Nastran input deck and examine the GRID entries.

Analysis
Action: Analyze
Object: Entire Model
Method: Analysis Deck
Apply

An MSC.Nastran input file called coord.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.

8. Examine the MSC.Nastran input file (coord.bdf) that was just

created. The input deck is shown in Figure M.2.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook M-7

 Figure M.2
$ Elements and Element Properties for region : plate
PSHELL 1 1 .1 1 1
CQUAD4 1 1 1 2 6 5
CQUAD4 2 1 2 3 7 6
CQUAD4 3 1 3 4 8 7
CQUAD4 4 1 5 6 10 9
CQUAD4 5 1 6 7 11 10
CQUAD4 6 1 7 8 12 11
CQUAD4 7 1 9 10 14 13
CQUAD4 8 1 10 11 15 14
CQUAD4 9 1 11 12 16 15
$ Referenced Material Records
$ Material Record : alum
$ Description of Material : Date: 07-Oct-97 Time: 13:37:19
MAT1 1 1.+7 .3
$ Nodes of the Entire Model
GRID 1 23. 34. 0.
GRID 2 26.3333 34. 0.
GRID 3 29.6666 34. 0.
GRID 4 33. 34. 0.
GRID 5 23. 37.3333 0.
GRID 6 26.3333 37.3333 0.
GRID 7 29.6666 37.3333 0.
GRID 8 33. 37.3333 0.
GRID 9 23. 40.6666 0.
GRID 10 26.3333 40.6666 0.
GRID 11 29.6666 40.6666 0.
GRID 12 33. 40.6666 0.
GRID 13 23. 44. 0.
GRID 14 26.3333 44. 0.
GRID 15 29.6666 44. 0.
GRID 16 33. 44. 0.

9. Delete the mesh.

Finite Elements
Action: Delete
Object: Mesh
Type: Surface
Surface List: Surface 1
Apply

10. Remesh the surface with a different coordinate system.

Finite Elements
Action: Create
Object: Mesh
Method: Surface

M-8 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

APPENDIX M Coordinate Systems

Global Edge Length: 4

Surface List: Surface 1
Node Coordinate Frames...
Refer. Coordinate Frame: Coord 99
OK
Apply

11. Create an MSC.Nastran input deck and examine the GRID entries.

Analysis
Action: Analyze
Object: Entire Model
Method: Analysis Deck
Apply

The input deck is shown in Figure M.3.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook M-9

 Figure M.3
PSHELL 1 1 .1 1 1
CQUAD4 1 1 1 2 6 5
CQUAD4 2 1 2 3 7 6
CQUAD4 3 1 3 4 8 7
CQUAD4 4 1 5 6 10 9
CQUAD4 5 1 6 7 11 10
CQUAD4 6 1 7 8 12 11
CQUAD4 7 1 9 10 14 13
CQUAD4 8 1 10 11 15 14
CQUAD4 9 1 11 12 16 15
$ Referenced Material Records
$ Material Record : alum
$ Description of Material : Date: 07-Oct-97 Time:
14:30:05
MAT1 1 1.+7 .3
$ Nodes of the Entire Model
GRID 1 99 0. 0. 0.
GRID 2 99 0. -3.33333 0.
GRID 3 99 0. -6.66666 0.
GRID 4 99 0. -10. 0.
GRID 5 99 0. 0. 3.33333
GRID 6 99 0. -3.33333 3.33333
GRID 7 99 0. -6.66666 3.33333
GRID 8 99 0. -10. 3.33333
GRID 9 99 0. 0. 6.66666
GRID 10 99 0. -3.33333 6.66666
GRID 11 99 0. -6.66666 6.66666
GRID 12 99 0. -10. 6.66666
GRID 13 99 0. 0. 10.
GRID 14 99 0. -3.33333 10.
GRID 15 99 0. -6.66666 10.
GRID 16 99 0. -10. 10.
$ Referenced Coordinate Frames
CORD2R 99 23. 34. 0. 64.0487 34. 0. +A
+ A 23. 34. 41.0487

12. Modify the analysis coordinate system of the Nodes to Coord 99.

Finite Elements
Action: Modify
Object: Node
Method: Edit
Analysis Coordinate Frame
Node List: Node 1:16
Apply

13. Create an MSC.Nastran input deck and examine the GRID entries
again.

The third input deck is shown in Figure M.4.

M-10 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

APPENDIX M Coordinate Systems

Figure M.4 - MSC.Nastran input deck: coord.bdf

PSHELL 1 1 .1 1 1
CQUAD4 1 1 1 2 6 5
CQUAD4 2 1 2 3 7 6
CQUAD4 3 1 3 4 8 7
CQUAD4 4 1 5 6 10 9
CQUAD4 5 1 6 7 11 10
CQUAD4 6 1 7 8 12 11
CQUAD4 7 1 9 10 14 13
CQUAD4 8 1 10 11 15 14
CQUAD4 9 1 11 12 16 15
$ Referenced Material Records
$ Material Record : alum
$ Description of Material : Date: 07-Oct-97 Time: 14:30:05
MAT1 1 1.+7 .3
$ Nodes of the Entire Model
GRID 1 99 0. 0. 0. 99
GRID 2 99 0. -3.33333 0. 99
GRID 3 99 0. -6.66666 0. 99
GRID 4 99 0. -10. 0. 99
GRID 5 99 0. 0. 3.33333 99
GRID 6 99 0. -3.33333 3.33333 99
GRID 7 99 0. -6.66666 3.33333 99
GRID 8 99 0. -10. 3.33333 99
GRID 9 99 0. 0. 6.66666 99
GRID 10 99 0. -3.33333 6.66666 99
GRID 11 99 0. -6.66666 6.66666 99
GRID 12 99 0. -10. 6.66666 99
GRID 13 99 0. 0. 10. 99
GRID 14 99 0. -3.33333 10. 99
GRID 15 99 0. -6.66666 10. 99
GRID 16 99 0. -10. 10. 99
$ Referenced Coordinate Frames
CORD2R 99 23. 34. 0. 64.0487 34. 0. +A
+ A 23. 34. 41.0487

Quit MSC.Patran after finishing this exercise.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook M-11

M-12 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook