Chapter 21: Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Occupant Safety and

21 Airbag Deployment


Summary 375

Introduction 376

Requested Solutions 376

FEM Solution 376

Results 379

Pre- and Postprocess with SimXpert 380

Input File(s) 418

Animation 418
 CHAPTER 21 375
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Summary
Title Chapter 21: Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment
Features Airbag Deployment with Occupant
Geometry Unit dimensions: mm, kg, ms, KN,
GPa, K, J

Material properties Car frame: Rigid

Airbag: Fabric (MATD034)
Density = 8.76E-07
Ea = 0.3; Eb = 0.2
nab= 0.2; Gab = 0.04
CSE = 1; EL = 0.06; PRL = 0.35
LRATIO = 0.1; DAMP = 0.4
Initial airbag gas: Density = 1.2E-9; Pressure = 0.000101; Temperature = 294.34
Gamma gas constant = 1.4; R gas = 286.98; CP gas = 1004
Inflator: Rigid
R gas inflator = 353.78; CP gas inflator = 1191
The Inflator Mass Flow Rate and the Temperature of the gas as a
function of time are defined by tables.
Dummy: Hybrid 3 - 50 (LSTC.H3.022908_Beta_Rigid.50th
Seatbelt: fabric (MATD034) and seatbelt material (MATDB01)
Analysis type Transient explicit dynamic analysis (SOL 700)
Boundary conditions Fixed except an airbag and a dummy
Applied loads Initial velocity 15 mm/ms to a dummy.
Prescribed Mass Flow Rate and Temperature of Inflator Gas
Element type 1-D beam element, 2-D shell element, 3-D solid element
FE results Plots of deformed shapes at various steps.
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Introduction
Automotive companies perform crash simulations including airbags and dummies to predict the forces that would be
exerted on the passenger. For people of average size, the airbag can be simulated using a uniform gas bag method
where a pre-determined pressure profile is applied inside the airbag surface. In some crash scenarios, such as Out-of-
Position (OOP), the passenger is already leaning forward at the time of airbag deployment, in which case the flow is
not uniform and the pressure method is not accurate. Instead, Full Gas Dynamic approach (CFD method) is used to
accurately simulate the gas jet, and its pressure distribution inside the bag. This crash example is based on the full gas
dynamic approach where an occupant dummy impacts the airbag.

Requested Solutions
A numerical analysis will be performed to predict the behavior of an airbag and an occupant dummy during crash
simulation.

FEM Solution
The units of this model are mm, kg, msec, KN, GPa, K, and J.TSTEPNL describes the number of time steps (20) and
time increment (2 msec) of the simulation. End time is the product of the two entries. Notice here that the time
increment is only for the first step, and in this analysis, it is overruled by the addition of an initial time step parameter:
PARAM, DYINISTEP, 1.E-7.
The actual number of time increments and the exact value of the time steps are determined by SOL 700 during the
analysis. The time step is a function of the smallest element dimension during the simulation.
TSTEPNL 1 20 2.
AIRBAG instructs SOL 700 to create an airbag using either the full gas dynamic (CFD) method or using a uniform gas
bag method. Here, the CFD method will be used. Inflow of gas into the airbag is defined by the entries following the
INFLATOR key word.

AIRBAG 3 7 ON
+ CFD 1 1.2E-9 20. 20. 20.
+ NONE
+ INITIAL0.000101 294.34 286.98 1004.
+ INFLATOR 9 1 2 1.
+ 353.78 1191.
+ GAS 2
+ 0.0 0.02897CONSTANT 1004.
+ GAS 4
+ 0.0 0.0235CONSTANT 1191.

MATD034 represents SOL 700 Material #34. It is used to model fabric material.
 CHAPTER 21 377
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

For the airbag and the Seatbelt the following fabric materials are used respectively:
MATD034 2 8.76E-7 0.3 0.2
0.2
+ 0.04
1. 0.06 0.35 0.1 0.4
+ 3.
0.0 0.0 0.0
+
0.0 0.0 0.0
+ 1. 0.0 0.0
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
MATD034 292 1.E-6 2.9 2.9
+
+
+
The ends of the Seatbelt are modeled with Seatbelt elements (CBELT), Seatbelt property (PBELTD), and Seatbelt
material (MATDB01). The loading and unloading curves (force vs. strain) are defined in the following tables:
MATDB01 293 1.E-6 61 62 3.
TABLED1 61
+ 0.0 0.0 0.05 1.7
0.1 4.2 0.45 6.7
+ 0.5 7.6 1.00 8.2
ENDT
TABLED1 62
+ 0.0 0.0 1.00 8.2
ENDT

The dummy is modeled by using many element types and joints: CPENTA, CHEXA, RBJOINT, RBJSTIFF, CBAR,
CBEAM, HGSUPPR, CSPR, PSPRMAT, MAT1, MATRIG, and several of MATD0**.

EOSGAM defines the ideal gas inside the airbag.

EOSGAM 1 1.4 286.98

Bulk Data Entries that Define Contact Relations and Contact Bodies
BCTABLE defines Master-Slave as well as self contact.

BCTABLE 1 1
+ SLAVE 1 0.5
+
+ +
+ 2 3 5
+
+ 0.5 YES+
+ MASTERS 1
+ SLAVE 5 0.3
+
+ 0.3 SS2WAY
+
+ 2
378 MD Demonstration Problems
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+ 20.
+ 1. 1. YES+
+ MASTERS 6
..

BCBODY is a bulk data entry that defines a flexible or rigid contact body in 2-D or 3-D. It could be specified with a
BSURF, BCBOX, BCPROP, or BCMATL entry.

BCBODY 1 3D DEFORM 2
BCBODY 5 3D DEFORM 13
..
Two types of entries are used to define 3-D contact bodies.
BPROP and BSURF define 3-D contact regions by element properties and a contact surface or body by element IDs,
respectively.
BCPROP 2 1 2 3 4 7
..
BSURF 6 1 THRU 2516
2527 THRU 10922
..
Using the BCTABLE and several BCBODY, BCSEG, and BCSURF entries, the following contacts are defined as:

Contact
Number Slave Master
1 Airbag Airbag
2 Pelvis Connection bones to legs
3 Neck ring Neck
4 Ribs Torso
5 Ribs Breast
6 Airbag Dummy upper parts
7 Seatbelt Torso - lower body - neck
8 Lower body Chair
9 Feet - hands Frame
10 Airbag Frame

Boundary conditions are specified for the car frame, and chair. Because the car frame is rigid, enforced motion entry
(SPCD2) is used.
$ Constraint for Frame chair floor
SPCD2 6 RIGID MR289 1 0 555 1.
SPCD2 6 RIGID MR289 2 0 555 1.
SPCD2 6 RIGID MR289 3 0 555 1.
SPCD2 6 RIGID MR289 5 0 555 1.
 CHAPTER 21 379
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

SPCD2 6 RIGID MR289 6 0 555 1.

SPCD2 6 RIGID MR289 7 0 555 1.
TABLED1 555
+ 0. 0. 1000. 0. ENDT

Results

Figure 21-1 Occupant and Airbag at Various Positions

380 MD Demonstration Problems
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Pre- and Postprocess with SimXpert

In this example, a folded airbag and its interaction with a dummy with a seat belt are shown. Also, an animation of the
deformation of the airbag and the displacement of the dummy is shown.
To enter the MD Explicit Workspace:

a. Click MD Explicit
b. File: Save As
c. File name: airbag
d. Click Save

c d
 CHAPTER 21 381
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Specify the Model Units

a. Tools: Options
b. Select Units Manager
c. Click Standard Units
d. Select the line with mm, kg, ms, ...
e. Click OK
f. Return to User Options screen and click OK

e
382 MD Demonstration Problems
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Specify Input/Output

a. Tools: Options
b. Select Input/Output
c. Click Nastran Structures
d. Unselect Reduce Parts
e. Click Apply
f. Click GUI Options
g. Click Solver Card
h. Click OK

b d

a e

g
f

h
 CHAPTER 21 383
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Import the Airbag Model

a. File: Import
b. Select Nastran
c. Look in: AIRBAG
d. Select airbagconstant_new_spiral_simx.bdf
e. Click Open

b
c
d

e
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Import the Airbag Model

a. Tools: Transform
b. Select Rotate
c. R.Axis: For X, enter 0; for Y, enter 1; for Z, enter 0
d. For Angle, enter 90
e. Select Elements
f. Click All
g. Click Done
h. Click Exit

d
a
e

f
g h
 CHAPTER 21 385
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Check the Airbag Data

To rotate the airbag Rigid Wall.

a. Right click Rigidwall Planar_2

b. Click Properties
c. Modify WALL: For XP, enter -1.5; for ZP, enter 0; for NX, enter 1; for NZ, enter 0
d. Click Modify

a
b

c c c c

d
386 MD Demonstration Problems
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Check the Airbag Data (continued)

To Change Damping Coefficient Fabric Material

a. Right click Material MATDO34

b. Click Properties
c. For DAMP, enter 0.4
d. Click Modify

a
b

d
 CHAPTER 21 387
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Import Dummy Model

a. File: Import
b. Select Nastran
c. Select LSTC.H3.022908_Beta_RigidFE.50th.dat
d. Click Open

d
388 MD Demonstration Problems
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Import Car Frame Model

a. File: Import
b. Select Nastran
c. Select Body_Final.bdf
d. Click Open
e. Right click Model Views, select Right

d e
 CHAPTER 21 389
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Import Car Frame Model (continued)

a. View: Entity Display

b. Select Coordinate Frames Shown
c. Select Rigid Elements
d. Select Unreferenced Nodes Shown

a b

c
d
390 MD Demonstration Problems
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Dummy Positioning

a. Safety: Positioner Panel

b. Select Parts by clicking Torso
c. Dummy Positioning: select Dummy H-Point
d. For H Point Location, change X to 560; change Y to -279.90; change Z to 55
e. For Rotation, change Y to 10; change Z to 180

b
d e

b
 CHAPTER 21 391
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Dummy Positioning (continued)

a. Component Positioning: For FullArm_UpDown_, change X to -10.00 (do once for each arm)
b. For lower_arm_right, change Z to -90.0
c. For lower_arm_left, change Z to -90.0
d. For neck_head, change Y to 7.0

a
b

c
d
392 MD Demonstration Problems
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Dummy Positioning (continued)

a. Component Positioning: For Upper_leg_left, Curr. X = 5.00

b.For lower_leg_left, change to -21.0
c. For upper_leg_right, Curr. X = 10.00
d. For lower_leg_right, Curr. X = -32.00
e. For foot_right, change to 15.0
f. Click Exit
g. Right click Render, select FE Shaded

a
b
c
d
e
f

g
 CHAPTER 21 393
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Create Seat Belt

Plot dummy and chair only:

a. Right click LSTC.H3.022908_..., select Show Only

b.Right click PSHELL_2468_..., select Show
c. Tools: Options, Window
d. Color: Entity, select Edge Color, Gray
e. Click OK
f. Shift Right mouse, Screen Rotate

b
a
b

c
d

e
394 MD Demonstration Problems
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Create Seat Belt (continued)

Create seat belt:

a. Safety: Route Seat Belt

b.Click Torso
c. Click Pelvis
d. Click Upper Leg Left
e. Click Done
f. Click Node 1
g. Click Node 2
h. Click Node 3
i. Click Done
j. Click Exit

b h

c
d g

j
e

i
 CHAPTER 21 395
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Check Seat Belt: Shell Property

Create seat belt:

a. Right click SeatBeltShellMaterial

b.Click Exit
c. Right click SeatBeltShellProperty
d. Double click MID
e. Select SeatBeltShellMaterial 290
f. Click OK
g. Click Modify

f
396 MD Demonstration Problems
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Check Seat Belt: 1D Element Property

Create tables for seat belt load and unloading curves (Force vs. Strain):

a. Field/Tables: TABLED1
b. Click ADD six times to make six rows
c. Fill in X-Y values
d. Click Update
e. Click Create
f. Click Exit
g. Repeat a. through d. for the second table except for step b.
For step b., click ADD two times to make two rows

c
g

b
d

e f
 CHAPTER 21 397
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Check Seat Belt: 1D Element Property (continued)

Add tables for seat belt load and unloading curves (Force vs. Strain) to SeatBeltMaterial:

a. Right click SeatBeltMaterial

b.Double click LLCID
c. Select TABLED1_60_60
d. Click OK
e. Double click ULCID
f. Select TABLED1_61_601
g. Click OK; then click Modify
h. Right click SeatBeltProperty
i. Double click MID1
j. Select SeatBeltMateriaL 291
k. Click OK; then click Modify
398 MD Demonstration Problems
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b e

c
f
d g

i
k

k
 CHAPTER 21 399
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Delete Imported Simulation Data and Some Incorrect

Contact Definitions

a. Under LSTC.H3.022908_Beta_RidigFE.50th.dat tree, right click Simulation; select Delete

b. Under LSTC.H3.022908_Beta_RidigFE.50th.dat tree, select DEFORM_5 through
BCTABLE (click and Shift click); right click and select Delete
c. Under eulerbagconstant new spiral simx.bdf tree, select BCPROP_1 through BCPROP
(click and Shift click); right click and select Delete

b c
400 MD Demonstration Problems
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Check Duplicate ID’s

a. Tools: ID Management
b.Select Duplicate ID Manager
c. Click OK

c
 CHAPTER 21 401
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Create Contact Bodies

a. LBCs tab: Deformable Body

b. Name: Deform_2; click PSOLIDD_72_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_79_...; click Apply
c. Name: Deform_3; click PSOLIDD_49_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_50_...; click Apply
d. Name: Deform_4; click PSOLIDD_25_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_26_...;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_28_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_29_...
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_86_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_262_...
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_263_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_264_...
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_265_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_267_...
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_268_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_269_...;
Click Apply
e. Name: Deform_5; click PSOLIDD_10_...; click Apply

c
b

b Pelvis c Axes

d e

e Ring Neck
d Ribs
402 MD Demonstration Problems
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Create Contact Bodies (continued)

a. Name: Deform_6; click PSOLIDD_25_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_26_...;

click PSOLIDD_28_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_29_...;
click PSOLIDD_268_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_269_...; click Apply
b. Name: Deform_7; click PSOLIDD_65_...; click Apply
c. Name: Deform_8; click PSOLIDD_98_...; click Apply
d. Name: Deform_9; click PSOLIDD_263_...; click Apply
e. Name: Deform_10; click PSOLIDD_18_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_65_...;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_72_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_93_...;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_68_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_69_...;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_70_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_71_...
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_267_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_268_...
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_269_...; click Apply
f. Name: Deform_11; click SeatBelt_Shell; click Apply

a b

b Torso
a Ribs Shoulder

c d

d Breast
c Plate Neck

e f

e Dummy f Seatbelt
 CHAPTER 21 403
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Create Contact Bodies (continued)

a. Name: Deform_12; click PSHELL_22468_...; click Apply

b. Name: Deform_13; click PSOLIDD_73_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_74_...;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_75_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_76_...;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_79_...; click Apply
c. Name: Deform_14; click PSHELL_2376_...; Ctrl click PSHELL_2377_...; click Apply
d. Name: Deform_15; click PSOLIDD_80_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_87_;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_70_; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_71_; click Apply
e. Name: Deform_16; click PSOLIDD_65_...; Ctrl click PSOLIDD_72_...;
Ctrl click PSOLIDD_93_...; click Apply

a b

a Chair b Lower Body

c d

d Hands Feet
c Frame
e

e Body
404 MD Demonstration Problems
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Modify BCTABLE

a. Right click: BCTABLE_1; select Properties

b. # NGROUP = 10
c. Click # NGROUP
Group 0 : Airbag - Airbag (Imported) (not shown)
Group 1 : Pelvis - Leg Bones
d. Double click +c19 IDSLAV,1
e. Click and select Deform2_2; click OK
f. Click +c19 FRIC,1, enter 0.3
g. Click +c25 METHOD,1, select SS2WAY
h. Click +c27 SOFT,1, select 2
i. Click +c29 SFS,1, enter 1; click +c29 SFM,1, enter 1;
click +c29 AUTO,1, select Yes
j. Double click +c36 IDMA,1
k. Click and select Deform3_3; click OK
Continue with Groups 2 through 9 (see the following page)
l. Click Modify
 CHAPTER 21 405
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

a
c b

e d f

k j

l
406 MD Demonstration Problems
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Modify BCTABLE (continued)

Contact: Contact Table -> BCTABLE

Contact GROUP IDSLAVE FRIC Method SOFT SFS SFM AUTO IDMA

airbag 0 1 0.3 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 1

Pelvis 1 2 0.3 ss2way 2 5 5 yes 3

bones

Ring plate 2 5 0.45 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 8

neck

Ribs torso 3 4 0.3 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 7

Ribs 4 6 0.3 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 9

breast

Airbag 5 1 0.3 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 10

dummy

seatbelt 6 11 0.3 blanks 2 1 1 yes 16

dummy

Dummy 7 13 0.3 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 12

chair

Dummy 8 15 0.3 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 14

frame

Airbag 9 1 0.3 ss2way 2 1 1 yes 14

Frame
 CHAPTER 21 407
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Define SPCD2 for Chair-ground-frame

a. Fields/Tables: Tabled: TABLED1

b. Click Add twice to make two rows
c. In Row 1, for X, enter 0.; for Y, enter 0.0; in Row 2, for X, enter 1000.; for Y, enter 0.0
d. Click Create
e. Click Exit

d e
408 MD Demonstration Problems
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Define SPCD2 for Chair-ground-frame (continued)

a. Click LBC, select Part BC, select B Presc Motion Rigid

b. Right click Part, select Material
c. Click [020] MAT_RIGID
d. Ctrl click PSHELL_2468_Body_Final.bdf,
PSHELL_2377_Body_Final.bdf,
PSHELL_2376_Body_Final.bdf
e. Click Done
f. Click D1, D2, D3, D5, D6, D7
g. Click SPCD2
h. Double click LCID
i. Click TABLED_62 62; click OK
j. Click Store
k. Click Exit
l. Click Exit

d
e f

h
g

i j k
 CHAPTER 21 409
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Initial Dummy Velocity

a. Right click LSTC.H3..., click Show Only

b. Click LBC, select Nodal BC, click Initial Transient Condition
c. Click Define App Region
d. Using the mouse, select the complete dummy in the window
e. Click XVEL, enter -15
f. Click Create
g. Click Exit2

d
c

f g
410 MD Demonstration Problems
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Create SimXpert Analysis File

a. In the Model Browser, right click eulerbagconsta.......

b. Select Create new Nastran job
c. Click Solver Input File
d. For File name:, enter Chapter21
e. Click Save
f. Click OK
g. Observe that there is a Newjob in the Model Browser tree

a
b

g f

d e
 CHAPTER 21 411
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Create SimXpert Analysis File (continued)

a. In the Model Browser under Newjob, right click Displacement Output Request
and click Delete
b. In the Model Browser under Newjob, right click Element Output Request
and click Delete
c. In the Model Browser under Newjob, right click Loadcase Control
and click Properties
d. For Ending Time:, enter 40
e. For Number of Time Steps:, enter 20
f. Click Apply

c
a
b

d
e

f
412 MD Demonstration Problems
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Export the SimXpert Analysis File

a. In the Model Browser under Newjob, right click Newjob

b.Click Export

Analysis Deck Corrections

This step becomes obsolete as soon as the following CR’s are solved:
CR 1-136647181 : BCTABLE issues Airbag-Dummy
CR 1-192117741 : Incorrect numbering Seatbelt elements
Edit Chapter21.bdf and modify the following values:
Row 12 : BCONTACT = 1
1234567$1234567$1234567$1234567$1234567$1234567$1234567$
Row 39833 : CBELT 50001 2470 79297 80456 0 0.0
Row 39834 : CBELT 50002 2470 79267 80457 0 0.0
 CHAPTER 21 413
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Run MD Nastran Solver

a. Double click the desktop icon

b. For the input file, select Chapter21.bdf
c. Click Open
d. Click Run

b
a

d
414 MD Demonstration Problems
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Access the MD Nastran Analysis Results File

Access the results by attaching the d3plot file.

a. File: Attach Results

b. Click File Path icon
c. Select Chapter21.dytr.d3plot
d. Click Open
e. Click OK

a
b

Note: If SimX can’t access the results, do the following:

File -> Save
File -> New
File –> Attach Results
Attach Options: BOTH
OK
 CHAPTER 21 415
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Access the MD Nastran Analysis Results File (continued)

Change the model visualization.

a. Right click Model Views; click Right

b. Right click on the vertical line (wall); click Hide
c. Right click Render; click FE Shaded with Edges
d. Click Hide Unreferenced nodes

c d
416 MD Demonstration Problems
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Animate a Deformed Plot

Create a deformed plot with animation

a. Results: Deformation
b. To select all Result Cases, click ch21a.dytr
c. Result type: select Displacement Components
d. Click Deformation
e. For Deformed display scaling, select True
f. For Deformed shape, Render style, select Shaded
g. For Deformed shape, Edge color, select cyan
h. Click Plot Data
i. Click Animate
j. Click Update

j
c
i b

Updated (Deformed)

Original e
f

g
 CHAPTER 21 417
Occupant Safety and Airbag Deployment

Animate a Deformed Plot (continued)

Animation

a b

c d

e f
418 MD Demonstration Problems
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Input File(s)
File Description
Chapter21.dat MD Nastran input file for airbag FSI
example
Body_Final.bdf Frame model
eulerbagconstant_new_spiral_simx.bdf Airbag model
LSTC.H3.022908_Beta_RigidFE.50th.dat Dummy model

Animation
Click on the figure below to play the animation, Esc to stop.

Figure 21-2 Deployment of Airbag Animation