2.

5-1

BASIC ANALYSIS
2.5

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-2 Gap Contact - Cantilever
 Gap Contact - Cantilever 2.5-3

Model Description:
This example uses a simple cantilever beam model with a gap element to demonstrate the nonlinear
gap contact capability within MSC/NASTRAN for Windows. The cantilever model, under the

BASIC ANALYSIS
applied bending load, deflects until the gap closes, and continues to deflect with the gap closed.
The model consists of a cantilever beam; 10 in long, divided into 10 elements, fully fixed at one
end and subjected to a vertical bending load of 30 lb at the free end. The beam has a square cross-
section and the element properties are as follows:
A = 0.04 in2
I1 = I2 = 1.333x10-4 in4
J = 2.25x10-4 in4
The material is AISI 4340 Steel, the properties can be obtained from the MSC/NASTRAN for Win-
dows material library.
2.5-4 Gap Contact - Cantilever

Exercise Procedure:
1. Start MSC/NASTRAN for Windows 3.0.2 by double-clicking on the MSC/NASTRAN for
Windows icon.
For this exercise, you will select the New Model option.

Open Model File: New Model

2. The modeling steps to create the model are as follows:

Create the cantilever beam.

Geometry/Curve - Line/Coordinates...

X: 0 Y: 0 Z: 0 OK
X: 10 Y: 0 Z: 0 OK

Cancel

View/Autoscale (Ctrl+A)

3. Define the mesh.

Mesh/Mesh Control/Custom Size Along Curve...

ID: 1
OK
Num Elements: 10
OK
Cancel

4. Now define the material properties.

Model/Material...
Load...
Library Entry: AISI 4340 Steel
OK
 Gap Contact - Cantilever 2.5-5

OK
Cancel

BASIC ANALYSIS
5. Create the section properties.

Model/Property...
Title: Property_1
Material: 1..AISI 4340 Steel
Elem/Property Type...
Line Elements: ● Beam
OK
Shape...
Shape: Rectangular Bar
H: 0.2
Width: 0.2
Orientation Direction (y): ● Up
The polar moment of inertia is not calculated automatically and has to be entered manually.
2.5-6 Gap Contact - Cantilever

OK
Torsional Constant, J: 2.25E-4
OK
Cancel

6. Mesh the curve, and define the element orientation vector to be parallel to the
basic y-axis.

Mesh/Geometry/Curve...
Pick Node 1 (left end) from the graphics screen.
OK
Property: 1..Property_1
OK

Base: X: 0 Y: 0 Z: 0
Tip: X: 0 Y: 1 Z: 0
 Gap Contact - Cantilever 2.5-7

Preview
OK

BASIC ANALYSIS
7. Apply the 30 lb end load to the free end of the beam.

Model/Load/Nodal...
Title: End Load
OK
Pick Node 11 (right end) from the graphics screen.
OK
Highlight Force from the load type list.

Load: FY Value: -30

OK
Cancel

8. Create the gap element.

Model/Node...

X: 7 Y: -0.5 Z: 0
OK
Cancel

This will be the position of the "stop" when the gap closes under the applied loading.
9. Create the gap properties.

Model/Property...
Title: Gap Property
Elem/Property Type...
Line Elements: ● Gap
2.5-8 Gap Contact - Cantilever

OK
Initial Gap: 0.5
Compression Stiffness: 1,000,000
Tension Stiffness: 0.0001

These properties will define a gap which, at the start of the analysis, will be open with the ends of
the gap 0.5 in apart. When the gap is closed it has a high stiffness (1,000,000.), and when it is open
it has a very low stiffness (0.0001). Care must be taken when selecting these stiffness values. The
difference between the open and closed should be great enough so that the gap functions properly,
but not too great to cause numerical problems in the solution.

OK
Cancel

10. The gap element can now be created.

Model/Element...
Type...
Line Elements: ● Gap
OK
Property: 2..Gap Property
Nodes: 8 12
 Gap Contact - Cantilever 2.5-9

Vector...

This dialog box requests information to create the gap orientation vector, as the gap is connected in

BASIC ANALYSIS
the basic y-axis, a suitable vector definition would be the basic x-axis.

Base: X: 0 Y: 0 Z: 0
Tip: X: 1 Y: 0 Z: 0

Preview
OK

OK
Cancel

11. Apply the constraints. Completely fix one end of the cantilever (Node 1) and the
bottom of the gap element (Node 12).

Model/Constraint/Nodal...
Title: Fixed End and Stop
OK
Pick Nodes 1 and 12 from the graphics screen.
OK
Fixed
OK
Cancel

The model should now look similar to the following:

2.5-10 Gap Contact - Cantilever

12. Set the nonlinear solution parameters.

Model/Load/Nonlinear Analysis...
Solution Type: ● Static
Defaults...
Number of Increments: 10
Intermediate: 3.ALL
 Gap Contact - Cantilever 2.5-11

OK

BASIC ANALYSIS
It is possible to change the nonlinear solution parameters, to select solution strategy overrides for
example, but usually unnecessary. For certain problems however, the default settings may not lead
to a solution convergence.
13. Analyzing the model.

File/Analyze...
Analysis Type: 10..Nonlinear Static
Additional Info: Large Disp
Output Types: 2..Displacements and Stresses

OK

When asked, "OK to Save Model Now?," select Yes.

Yes
File name: Gap Contact.mod
Save

When asked, “OK to Read Nonlinear Stresses and Strains?," select Yes.

Yes
2.5-12 Gap Contact - Cantilever

When the MSC/NASTRAN manager is through running, MSC/NASTRAN will be restored on

your screen, and the Message Review form will appear. To read the message(s), you could select
Show Details. Since the analysis ran smoothly, we will not bother with the details this time.

Continue

14. Process the results.

View/Select...
Deformed Style: ● Deform
Deformed and Contour Data...
Output Set: 10..Case 10 Time 1.
Deformation: 1..Total Translation
OK
OK

Present the model to actual scale.

View/Options...
Category: ● PostProcessing
Options: Deformed Style
% of Model (Actual)
Scale Act: 1

OK

This ensures that the deformed shape is set to the actual scale.
 Gap Contact - Cantilever 2.5-13

BASIC ANALYSIS
The deformation shape indicates that the gap did close under the applied loading.

View/Select...
Contour Style: ● Beam Diagram
Deformed and Contour Data...
Contour: 3141..Beam EndA Pt3 Comb Stress
OK
OK
2.5-14 Gap Contact - Cantilever

You should now have the following figure in your view screen.

15. Animate the beam.

This beam diagram can be animated right through the loading process.

View/Select...
Deformed Style: ● Animate-MultiSet
Deformed and Contour Data...
Output Set: 1..Case 1 Time 0.1
Final Output Set: 10..Case 10 Time 1.

OK
OK
The animation can be controlled with the following menu.

View/Advanced Post/Animation...
Use the Next > or < Previous buttons at your discretion.

It can be observed that the highest stresses do not occur at the maximum loading position, but at the
position just before the gap closes.
 Gap Contact - Cantilever 2.5-15

BASIC ANALYSIS
OK

Stop the animation.

View/Select...
Deformed Style: ● None - Model Only
Contour Style: ● None - Model Only
OK

16. Finally, exit the program.

File/Exit

When asked of you wish to save the model, select Yes.

Yes
2.5-16 Gap Contact - Cantilever