Solving a Simple Pin-jointed Truss Problem using FEMAP

You need to solve the problem illustrated below by hand and using FEMAP. Let E=200 GPa for
each bar. Suggested steps for an FEMAP solution are listed below. We will use units of
millimeters, kilograms, and milli-Newtons for length, mass, and forces, respectively.

1. Start up FEMAP. We will first create the three nodes. Select the menus Model/Node as
shown below. In the window that pops up, enter X=0, Y=0, and Z=0 and press OK.

2. As with most input windows in FEMAP, the window does not go away. You have created
the first node and the program is waiting for coordinates of a second node. Enter X=500,
Y=0, and Z=0. Next enter the coordinates X=500, Y=400, and Z=0. Press the Cancel button
to terminate creation of nodes. From the menus, select View/Autoscale/Visible (or the keys
Ctrl A). You should now see the three nodes.

3. Select the menus Model/Material. In the Define Material window, Key in a title and 200E6
kPa for Youngs Modulus as shown below. The remaining material properties can remain
zero (why?). Click OK and then Cancel.

4. Select the menus Model/Property. In the window that pops up, key in a title, select the
material we just created, and then click the

button as shown below.

5. In the Element/Property Type window, click the Rod radio button and click OK. Rod
elements in NASTRAN are truss type elements with pinned joints. The can not transmit
bending moments.

6. Back in the Define Property window, we will enter the physical properties. They are cross
sectional area and torsion constant. The torsion constant is the polar moment of inertia for an
assumed circular cross section. Key in the values as shown below and click OK. In the next
window change the title and the area and torsion constant values as shown below. Note the
ID values in the upper left hand corner are 1 and 2. Click OK and Cancel.

7. On the left hand side of the FEMAP window, notice the Model Info window. Expand the +
in front of Model and again in front of Materials and Properties. This is a quick way to
access and follow the development of you finite element model by right clicking on these
items.

8. Select from the menus Model/Element. In the window that pops up, make sure the Property
is set to 1..Rod Area 200 mm^2 and then click in the first node box on the left as shown
below. Now select the two bottom nodes as shown below and click OK. Next, change to
Property 2, click in the first node box, and click the two vertical nodes as shown below.
Click OK and Cancel.

Pick this
node first

Pick this node

second

Pick this node

second

Pick this
node first

9. We can turn on a representation of the cross section of these rod elements. FEMAP assumes
the cross section is round. From the icons on the ribbon bar, select the Thickness/Cross
Section option as shown below. Your mesh should look like the one below. The horizontal
element is a bigger diameter than the vertical element, as expected. Toggle the cross section
display off by selecting this icon again.

10. Now we will create the nodal restraints (supports). From the menus, select
Model/Constraint/Nodal. Because a constraint set has yet to be created, a window opens to
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give the new constraint set a name. In the first window that pops up, key in a title for the
restraint set and click OK.

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11. Another window pops up and you are now ready to select the left and upper nodes to provide
a ball joint type of restraint. Pick the two nodes shown below and then click OK. In the
new window that pops up, click the Pinned button. Notice that the check boxes TX, TY, and
TZ become checked noting that translations in the X, Y, and Z directions will be restrained.
Click OK.

Pick these two

nodes

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12. We need to restrain the lower left hand node in the Z direction (why?). Next click this node
as shown below and then click the checkbox for the TZ and click OK and Cancel. Your
screen should now look like the view below.

Pick this node

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13. We will now apply the 10,000 N load. From the menus select Model/Load/Nodal. In the
window that pops up, key in a title for the load set and click OK.

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14. A new window pops up to select nodes. Pick the node shown below and click OK. In the
Create Loads on Nodes window, make sure force is selected and key in the force componets
as shown below (note units are mN). Click OK and then Cancel.

Pick this node

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15. We are now ready to solve the model. From the menus select Model/Analysis. In the
window that pops up, click the New button.

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16. In the Analysis Set window that pops up, key in a title for the analysis. The Analysis
Program and Analysis Type pull-down menu items should be as shown below. Click OK.
Back in the Analysis Set Manager window, now click the Analyze button.

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17. A window titled NX Nastran Analysis Monitor shows up on the left side and allows you to
monitor the progress of the solution. Give the program a few seconds to solve and when
complete, the status message changes to Complete as shown below. Click the X button to
close this window.

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18. You can quickly display the deformed grid by clicking the

icon.

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19. Lets look at the axial forces in each member. Press the key F5. In the View Select window
that pops up, click the Deform radio button under Deformed Style and the Criteria radio
button under Contour Style as shown below. Next click the Deformed and Coutour
Data button. In the Select PostProcessing Data window, set the parameters as shown in the
second window below and click OK twice to close both input widows.

20. Your screen display should look like the following. Clearly these are the correct results.
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21. Now examine element stresses. Click the

icon from the ribbon bar (or press the F5 key
again and click the Deformed and Coutour Data button). In the Select PostProcessing
Data window. Set the Contour parameter as shown below and click OK to close the input
widows.

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22. Select from the menus File/Print to print out a black and white (or grayscale) copy of the
screen hand in for this homework assignment. In all your FEMAP problems, you do not
need to make color copies to hand in.
23. To examine the computed displacements of node 2, select from the menus List/Output/Query.
In the window that pops up, select from the Category pull-down menu select Displacement,
click the Node radio button and lastly click in the ID input box. Now select node 2 (the one
that moves). Note that node number 2 is put into the ID box as shown below. Click OK.
The Messages box at the bottom of your FEMAP window lists displacement data for node 2
as shown below.

24. On the page you previously printed, perform a hand calculation to verify the computed
stresses and displacements. Hand in the results.

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