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Simple Cantilever Beam

Problem: Using Patran/MD NASTRAN, calculate the displacement of a cantilever beam subjected to a force of 10 lb on its free end. The beam dimensions are 12" x 1" x 0.1". The beam is made of an isotropic material with an elastic modulus, E, of 30106 psi and a Poisson's Ratio of 0.3.
Note: If you need assistance on a step, just click on it for more information. Note: Click on images to enlarge.

Step 1 - Create a new Patran database.

1. Click on New from the File menu or from the Defaults Toolbar as shown. 2. Type the name of the new database as Cantilever_Beam and click OK.

Step 2 - Create the geometry of the beam using the information from the problem statement.
1. Under the Geometry tab, click on Surface and select XYZ. 2. Input the vector of <12 1 0> in the Vector Coordinates List and click Apply. There are no units in Patran, and therefore it is important to stay consistent in units.

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MSC Software Curriculum Kit

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Step 3 - Create the isotropic material: elastic modulus of 30106 and a Poisson's Ratio of 0.3.
1. Under the Properties tab, select Isotropic. 2. Input steel as the Material Name and then select Input Properties .... 3. Input 30106 as the Elastic Modulus and 0.3 as the Poisson's Ratio. Click OK and Apply..

Step 4 - Create a 2D surface physical property and apply the isotropic material to the model.
1. 2. 3. 4. Click on Shell under the 2D Properties section. Input 2D_plate as the Property Set Name and then click on Input Properties .... Click on Select Material and select steel. Enter 0.1 as the Thickness. Click OK. Click on Select Application Region and then click on the Select Members box. Screen pick the surface. Click Add, OK then

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Apply.

Step 5 - Create boundary conditions: Constrain all translational degrees of freedom and the y-axis rotation degree of freedom along the left end of the beam.
1. Under the Load/BCs tab, select Displacement Constraint. 2. Input fixed_edge as the New Set Name and then click on Input Properties .... 3. Input <0,0,0> for Translations (to prevent any translational movement) and < ,0, > for Rotations (to prevent rotation in the y-direction). Click OK. 4. Click on Select Application Region and then click on the Select Geometry Entries box. In the selection toolbar, select Curve or Edge. Screen select the left edge of the surface. Click Add, OK then Apply.

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MSC Software Curriculum Kit

http://www.mscsoftware.com/Contents/Academia/Curriculum-kit/Simp...

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MSC Software Curriculum Kit

http://www.mscsoftware.com/Contents/Academia/Curriculum-kit/Simp...

Step 6 - Create the load of 10 lb, provided in the problem statement.

1. 2. 3. 4. Click on Distributed Load under the Element Uniform section. Input z_load as the New Set Name and set the Target Element Type to 2D. Click on Input Data... and input <0,0,-10> as the Edge Distr Load. Click OK. Click on Select Application Region and then click on the Select Surface Edges box. Screen select the right edge of the surface. Click Add, OK then Apply.

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MSC Software Curriculum Kit

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Step 7 - Create a finite element surface mesh using the Automatic Global Edge Length.
1. Under the Meshing tab, click on Surface Meshers. 2. Click on the Select Surface List box. Screen click the surface. Click Apply.

Step 8 - Run a linear static analysis using MD Nastran.

1. Under the Analysis tab, select Entire Model. Ensure that the Job Name box is filled with a name and click Apply.

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MSC Software Curriculum Kit

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Step 9 - Attach results file, then create fringe and deformation plots. Record maximum displacement and stresses.
1. 2. 3. 4. Click on XDB under the Access Results submenu. Ensure the appropriate Job Name is selected and click Apply. Under the Results tab, select Fringe/Deformation. Plot Stress Tensor and Displacements, Translational. Click Apply.

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Analytical Solution - Verify the results by calculating the analytical solution.

1. 2. Substitute: P=10 lb, L=12 in, E=30e6 psi, I=[1(0.1)3]/12 in the above equation. 3. Results: max = 2.304 inches MD Nastran results = 2.286995E+00 inches (You can open the 'Cantilever_Beam.f06' file with Notepad to view your results) 4. To make the answers more precise, local shear effects must be taken into account.
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