WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat

Plate

Objectives
Produce a MSC.Nastran input file.
Submit the file for analysis in MSC.Nastran.
Find the first five natural frequencies and mode shapes of the
flat plate.

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-1

1-2

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

Model Description:
For this example, use Lanczos method to find the first five natural
frequencies and mode shapes of a flat rectangular plate. One of the edges
is fixed, (See Figure 1.2.). Below is a finite element representation of the
rectangular plate. It also contains the geometric dimensions and the loads
and boundary constraints. Table 1.1 contains the necessary parameters to
construct the input file.

Figure 1.1-Grid Coordinates and Element Connectivities

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-3

Figure 1.2-Loads and Boundary Conditions

1-4

Table 1.1
Length (a)

5 in

Height (b)

2 in

Thickness

0.100 in

Weight Density

0.282 lbs/in3

Mass/Weight Factor

2.59E-3 sec2/in

Elastic Modulus

30.0E6 lbs/in2

Poissons Ratio

0.3

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

WORKSHOP 1

Natural Frequency: Hertz

2
12
3
ij
Eh
f ij = ------------ ---------------------------2
2
2a 12 ( 1 )
where i= 1,2,3, ...
j= 1,2,3, ...
Description: Clamped-Free-Free-Free

a
a = length of plate
b = width of plate
h = thickness of plate
i = number of half-waves in mode shape along horizontal axis
j = number of half-waves in mode shape along vertical axis
C = clamped edge
E = modulus of elasticity
F = free edge
S = simply supported edge

= mass per unit area of plate ( h for a plate material with density )
= Poisson ratio
MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-5

ij2 and (ij)

Mode Sequence
a/b

0.40

3.511

4.786

8.115

13.88

21.64

23.73

(11)

(12)

(13)

(14)

(21)

(22)

3.502

6.406

14.54

22.04

26.07

31.62

(11)

(12)

(13)

(21)

(22)

(14)

3.492

8.525

21.43

27.33

31.11

54.44

(11)

(12)

(21)

(13)

(22)

(23)

3.477

11.68

21.62

39.49

53.88

61.99

(11)

(12)

(21)

(22)

(13)

(31)

3.456

17.99

21.56

57.46

60.58

106.5

(11)

(12)

(21)

(22)

(31)

(32)

2/3

1.0

1.5

2.5

= 0.3

1-6

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

Suggested Exercise Steps

Explicitly generate a finite element representation of the plate
structure. (i.e., The grids (GRID) and element connectivities
(CQUAD4) should be defined manually.)
Define material (MAT1) and element (PSHELL) properties.
Apply the fixed boundary constraints (SPC1).
Prepare the model for a normal modes analysis (SOL 103 and
PARAMs).
PARAM, WTMASS, 0.00259
PARAM, COUPMASS, 1
Generate an input file and submit it to the MSC.Nastran solver
for normal modes analysis.

Review the results, specifically the eigenvalues.

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-7

ID SEMINAR,PROB1
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

CEND
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

BEGIN BULK

1-8

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-9

10

ENDDATA

1-10

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

10

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

Exercise Procedure:
1. Users who are not utilizing MSC.Patran for generating an input file
should go to Step 11, otherwise, proceed to step 2.
2. Create a new database named prob1.db.
File/New
prob1

New Database Name

OK

In the New Model Preferences form, set the following:

Tolerance

Default

Analysis Code:

MSC/NASTRAN

OK
3. Activate the entity labels by selecting the Show Labels icon on the toolbar.
Show Labels

4. Create a surface.
Geometry
Action:

Create

Object:

Surface

Method

XYZ

Vector Coordinates List

<5, 2, 0>

Origin Coordinates List

[ 0, 0, 0]

Apply

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-11

Figure 1.3-The surface should resemble the output below.

Surface 1.2

Surface 1.3
Y

5. Create the finite element model and mesh the surface.

Finite Elements
Action:

Create

Object:

Mesh Seed

Type:

Uniform

Number of Elements
Number =

10

Curve List

Surface 1.2

(see Figure 1.3)

Apply
5a. Change the number of mesh seeds to 4 and select the right edge.
Number =

Curve List

Surface 1.3

(see Figure 1.3)

1-12

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

Apply
5b. Mesh the surface.
Action:

Create

Object:

Mesh

Type:

Surface

Surface List

Surface 1

Apply
Figure 1.4-The model should appear as below.

6. Create a set of material properties for the plate.

Materials
Action:

Create

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-13

Object:

Isotropic

Method:

Manual Input

Material Name

mat_1

Input Properties...
Elastic Modulus =

30.0E6

Poisson Ratio =

.3

Density =

.282

OK
Apply
7. Define the plate thickness.
Properties
Action:

Create

Dimension:

2D

Type:

Shell

Property Set Name

plate

Input Properties...
Material Name

m:mat_1

(Select from Material Property Sets box.)

Thickness

0.100

OK
Select Members

Surface 1

Add
Apply
8. Apply constraints to the model.
8a. Constrain the left edge from moving through all degrees of freedom.
Load/BCs
Action:
1-14

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

Create

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

Object:

Displacement

Type:

Nodal
fixed

New Set Name

Input Data...
Translations <T1 T2 T3>

<0, 0, 0>

Rotations <R1 R2 R3>

<0, 0, >

Analysis Coordinate Frame

Coord 0

OK
Select Application Region...
Select the curve or edge icon.
Curve or edge

Select Geometry Entities

Surface 1.1

(see Figure 1.5)

Add
OK
Apply

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-15

Figure 1.5

Surface 1.1

9. Run the analysis.

Before the complete input deck is generated for this analysis, a file that
contains only the model data needs to be created. This file is to be used in
later workshops.
Analysis
Action:

Analyze

Object:

Entire Model

Method

Model Only

Job Name

plate

Apply
10. Now, you will generate the input file for analysis.
Analysis

1-16

Action:

Analyze

Object:

Entire Model

Method

Analysis Deck

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

prob1

Job Name
Translation Parameters...
Data Output:

XDB and Print

OK
Solution Type...
NORMAL MODES

Solution Type:
Solution Parameters...
Mass Calculation:

Coupled

Data Deck Echo:

Unsorted

Wt. -Mass Conversion =

.00259

OK
OK
Subcase Create...
Available Subcases

Default

Subcase Parameters...
Number of Desired Roots =

OK
Output Requests...
Under Output Requests, highlight:
SPCFORCES(SORT1,Real)=All FEM
Delete
OK
Apply
Cancel
Apply

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-17

An MSC.Nastran input file called prob1.bdf will be generated. The

process of translating your model into an input file is called Forward
Translation. The Forward Translation is complete when the Heartbeat
turns green. MSC.Patran Users should proceed to step 12.

1-18

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 1

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

Generating an input file for MSC.Nastran Users:

MSC.Nastran users can generate an input file using the data from Table
1.1. The result should be similar to the output below.
11.

MSC.Nastran Input File: prob1.dat

ID SEMINAR, PROB1
SOL 103
TIME 600
CEND
TITLE = NORMAL MODES EXAMPLE
ECHO = UNSORTED
SUBCASE 1
SUBTITLE= USING LANCZOS
METHOD = 1
SPC = 1
VECTOR=ALL
BEGIN BULK
PARAM
COUPMASS 1
PARAM
WTMASS .00259
EIGRL
1
PSHELL
1
1
.1
CQUAD4
1
1
1
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
CQUAD4
11
1
12
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
CQUAD4
21
1
23
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
CQUAD4
31
1
34
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
MAT1
1
3.+7
GRID
1
0.
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
GRID
12
0.
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
GRID
23
0.
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9

5
1
2

13

1
12

13

24

23

24

35

34

35

46

45

.3
0.

.282
0.

.5

0.

1.

0.

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

1-19

GRID
34
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
GRID
45
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
SPC1
1
ENDDATA

1-20

12345

0.

1.5

0.

0.

2.

0.

12

23

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

34

45

WORKSHOP 1

11a.

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

We will also create an input file plate.bdf, which contains all
the relevant model data. This file is to be used in later
workshops.

GRID
1
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
GRID
12
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
GRID
23
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
GRID
34
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
GRID
45
=,*1,=,*0.5,==
=9
PSHELL
1
1
CQUAD4
1
1
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
CQUAD4
11
1
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
CQUAD4
21
1
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
CQUAD4
31
1
=,*1,=,*1,*1,*1,*1
=8
MAT1
1
3.+7
SPC1
1
12345

0.

0.

0.

0.

.5

0.

0.

1.

0.

0.

1.5

0.

0.

2.

0.

.1
1

1
2

13

1
12

12

13

24

23

23

24

35

34

34

35

46

45

.3
12

.282
23

34

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

45

1-21

Submitting the input file for analysis:

12.

Submit the input file to MSC.Nastran for analysis.

12a. To submit the MSC.Patran .bdf file for analysis, find an
available UNIX shell window. At the command prompt
enter: nastran prob1.bdf scr=yes. Monitor the run using
the UNIX ps command.
12b. To submit the MSC.Nastran .dat file for analysis, find an
available UNIX shell window. At the command prompt
enter: nastran prob1 scr=yes. Monitor the run using the
UNIX ps command.

13.

When the run is completed, edit the prob1.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.

14.

While still editing prob1.f06, search for the word:

R E A L (spaces are necessary)

1st = __________Hz
2nd = __________Hz
3rd = __________Hz
4th = __________Hz
5th = __________Hz

1-22

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

8.400591E+02
4.334088E+03
5.302327E+03
1.389859E+04
1.494802E+04

E I G E N V A L U E S
CYCLES
GENERALIZED
MASS
1.336996E+02
1.000000E+00
6.897916E+02
1.000000E+00
8.438915E+02
1.000000E+00
2.212030E+03
1.000000E+00
2.379052E+03
1.000000E+00

GENERALIZED
STIFFNESS
7.056994E+05
1.878432E+07
2.811467E+07
1.931709E+08
2.234434E+08

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

7.056994E+05
1.878432E+07
2.811467E+07
1.931709E+08
2.234434E+08

R E A L
RADIANS

WORKSHOP 1

EIGENVALUE

Compare the results obtained in the .f06 file with the follwoing
results:

EXTRACTION
ORDER
1
2
3
4
5

Comparison of Results

15.

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

MODE
NO.
1
2
3
4
5

1-23

16. MSC.Nastran Users have finished this exercise.

MSC.Patran Users should proceed to the next
step.
17.

Proceed with the Reverse Translation process, that is attaching

the prob1.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

prob1.xdb

OK
Apply
To simplify the view, turn off the entity labels using the toolbar.
Hide Labels
In addition, switch to a 3 view isometric view point.
Iso 3 View
When the translation is complete bring up the Results form.
Results
Action:

Create

Object:

Deformation

Select Results Cases

Default, A1:Mode 1 : Freq. = 133.7

Select Deformation Result

Eigenvectors, Translational

Apply
The results should resemble Figure 1.6.

1-24

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

Modal Analysis of a Flat Plate

WORKSHOP 1

Figure 1.6

45
46
31
34
47
32
35
48
21
33
23
49
36
34
50
22
24
37
51
35
11
23
12
38
52
36
25
53
24
39
12
37
13
26
54
38
40
25
1
13
27
39
41
26
14
40
42
27
14
28
2
2
15
43
29
28
15
44
3
29
16
30
16
3
30
31
4
17
17
32
4
18
18
5
33
19
19
5
6
20
20
7
6
21
7
8
22
9
8
10
9
10
11

55

Z
Y
X

To reset the graphics, click on this icon:

Reset Graphics
Repeat the procedure to view the other mode shapes.
Quit MSC.Patran when you are finished with this exercise.

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook

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1-26

MSC.Nastran 102 Exercise Workbook