Using MD Nastran/Patran and

MSC.Adams together
GUI Familiarity Level Required: Advanced
Estimated Time Required: 40 minutes

MSC.ADAMS 2005 r2
1
Topics Covered
In this tutorial you will learn how to:
1. Generate a .mnf file from Nastran
2. Import a .cmd file into ADAMS
3. Replace rigid body with a flexible body in ADAMS
4. Animate modes in ADAMS
5. Set damping ration in ADAMS
6. Create FEMDATA with peak.load for Nastran in ADAMS
7. Set output in ADAMS
8. Run dynamic simulation in ADAMS
9. View results in ADAMS Postprocessor
10. Perform stress recovery using Nastran
11. Process stresses using Patran
12. Attach results from a Nastran XDB file in Patran
13. View Results in Patran

You will need to download “FEMDATA_starting_files.zip“ to begin this tutorial

If you have any difficulties, import the “FEMDATA_shortcut_1_(files_exported_from_Nastran_1).zip” file and proceed from pg 6
If you have any difficulties, import the “FEMDATA_shortcut_2_(files_exported_from_ADAMS).zip” file and proceed from pg 16
If you have any difficulties, import the “FEMDATA_shortcut_3_(files_exported_from_Nastran_2).zip” file and proceed from pg 17
If you have any difficulties, import the “FEMDATA_complete_(files_exported_from_Patran).zip” file and proceed from pg 19

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Problem Statement
This example demonstrates the output peak loads from an MSC.ADAMS simulation for a flexible component using
FEMDATA. The loads are output in MD.Nastran input file format and solved for stresses. These stresses are viewed in
MSC.Patran and compared with the modal stresses in MSC>ADAMS for the same component and simulation.
The syntax for the FEMDATA and OUTPUT statements are:
FEMDATA/1, LOAD, FLEX_BODY=1, PEAK=FX:FY:FZ, FILE=peak.loads
OUTPUT/LOAD = NASTRAN

The MSC.Nastran input file to compute an MNF for the flexible component is provided (left_lca.data). This file references
an MSC.Nastran mesh file, left_lca.bdf. Left_lca_load.dat is an MSC.Nastran input file used to perform a static stress
analysis of the component using peak loads from MSC.ADAMS. It also references the same mesh file

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Model Description

The model is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) standing on a four-post test rig. Each post moves vertically and
independent of the other posts to stimulate the ATV running over rough terrain. The model files for this
example can be found in your MSC.ADAMS installation directory (…/durability/examples/ATV). All parts of
the model are rigid. An MSC.Nastran model of the left lower control arm (LCA) is provided to replace the rigid
part with a flexible body. Another MSC.Nastran input deck is provided to compute stress for this component
due to loads from MSC.ADAMS.

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Generate the flexible body MNF in MSC.Nastran

• Start MSC.Nastran
• Browse files and select left_lca.dat
b
• Click Open
The Msc.Nastran Command Information dialog
box will open
• Enter scr=yes in Optional keywords text field
(This removes the bulky .MASTER and
.DBALL database files after MSC.Nastran run
has completed) c
• Click Run
(This Nastran run may take 5-10 minutes,
depending on your computer resources. Upon
successful completion, the run will produce an
MNF names left_lca_0.mnf. If this file is not
created, scan the left_lca.f06 file for FATAL
errors.)

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To Import the Model into ADAMS/View

NOTE: the ATV model requires a huge memory setting to

simulate in ADAMS/Solver (FORTRAN). Before
starting your ADAMS/View session, make sure that
your memory setting is set to Huge. b

• Start ADAMS/View.
• Select Import a file radio button
• Click OK

The file import dialog box will appear c

• In the File To Read text field, enter ATV_4poster
• Click OK
d
(There is no need to search for the model file,
ATV_4poster.cmd, because the model is used in an
ADAMS/Durability tutorial, it is part of the
MSC.ADAMS installation (…
/durability/examples/ATV); ADAMS/View knows
how to locate it and all the .shl files it references.)

e
6
ADAMS/View Model

7
Replace the rigid LCA with a flexible LCA
• Select Build menu  Flexible Bodies  Rigid to Flex
b. In the Alignment tab, select the rigid part you want to replace and the model neutral file as
follows:
Current part = RB2_left_lca_59
MNF file = left_lca_0.mnf
Note that the flexible body defined in the MNF is already correctly positioned

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Replace the rigid LCA with a flexible LCA
• Select the Connections tab.
The table displayed compares the connection points on the flexible body with those on the rigid body. Note that
there are four bushings connecting the part to the model at these markers:
BUSHING_1 MARKER_1000052
BUSHING_2 MARKER_1000017
BUSHING_9 MARKER_1000052
BUSHING_11 MARKER_1000069
These four locations will be used later to generate peak loads for MSC.Nastran.
In the Distance column, you will notice that
there is a small offset for the four bushing a
connection points. Keep the bushings at the
points where they were originally defined in
c
the rigid model.
• Select rows 1 through 4 in the table
• Select Preserve Location button b

• Select OK
The Flexible Body defined in the .mnf has
replaced the rigid part. The flexible body
is connected to the frame, knuckle, and
damper the same way the rigid body connected.
d

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Animate the modes of the flexible LCA

c
b

• Zoom in on the left LCA in the front suspension

• Right click the flexible LCA, select Flewiblw_Body:
RB2_left_lca_59_flex  Modify
• Enter 7 in the Mode Number text field
• Click Animation tool
(You can animate any of the 40 modes calculated by MSC.Nastran
and imported from the .mnf. The first mode of interest is mode
number 7, since modes 1-6 are rigid body modes and are
automatically disabled)
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Modify the damping ration of the flexible link
• In the Flexible Body Modify dialog box, clear the default checkbox next to Damping Ration
• Enter the following function for the Damping Ration text field
STEP(FXFREQ,1000,0.005,10000,1)
This means:
Modes with a frequency below 1,000 Hz will have a 0.5% damping ratio
The damping ration will increase for modes in the range 1,000 – 10,000 Hz according to their frequency based on the
STEP function.
Modes with a frequency above 10,000 Hz will be critically damped (100%)
Note that default damping would use a 10% damping ratio for mode 7, which is too much damping for a component
made of steel.
• Click OK
b

c
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Create FEMDATA with peak loads for Nastran
• Select Build menu  Data Elements  FEMdata  New
• Select Loads On Flew Body from Type pull down menu
• Enter RB2_left_lca_59_flex in Flex Body text field
• Turn on FX, FY, and FZ checkboxes for Peak Slice
• Enter peak.loads in file text field
• Select OK to close the Create FEMDATA dialog box

b
c

d
a
e

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Set output
• Select Settings menu  Solver  Output
In the Solver Settings dialog box set:
• Save Files: Yes
• Graphics File: No
• Request File: No
• Results File: No
g
• Turn on the More checkbox
• Select Durability Files from Output Category pull down menu
• Select NASTRAN from Component Loads pull down menu h
• Select Close to close the Solver Settings dialog box

c
a d
e
f
i

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Run the MSC.ADAMS dynamic simulation
• Select Simulate menu  Scripted Controls
a
• Enter SIM_SCRIPT in Simulation Script Name text field
• Turn on the Reset before and after checkbox
• Turn off the Update graphics display checkbox
• Click Play.

The simulation will take a few minutes to complete. Each post

that the ATV is standing on will move up and down to
simulate the vehicle running on rough terrain. You could
have also done this using tire forces and a road profile.

e
A result of the FEMDATA definition is that a file named
peak.loads is generated at the end of the simulation. This b
file contains the loads acting on the flexible LCA for each c
output step when each load reached a peak (maximum or
minimum value -2 instances). These loads are defined
using MSC.Nastran load cards, and each step that is
output becomes a load case in MSC.Nastran. Because
you specified 3 load components (FX, FY and FZ). And
the flexible LCA has 4 load points, a total of 24(2*3*4) d
load cases are output. Confirm this be examining the load
file in a text editor.

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View ADAMS results
• Open ADAMS/Postprocessor (F8)
In the Dashboard, specify the following
• Source: Objects
• Filter: force
• Object: BUSHING_9
• Characteristic: Element_force
• Component: Mag
• Click Add Curves

Note that this is the force of the bushing

connecting the LCA at c d e
MARKER_1000052 to the spring f g
damper. Check the peak.loads file for
consistency.
b

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Perform Stress Recovery Using MSC.Nastran

• Start MSC.Nastran
• Browse directory for file left_lca_load.dat
• Click Open
• In the MSC.NASTRAN Command Information
dialog box, enter scr=yes in Optional keywords text b
field
• Click Run

This Nastran run should take a few minutes depending on

your computer resources. The run will create a file c
named left_lca_load.xdb. This file contains the
displacements and stresses for each load case, and
will be imported into MSC.Patran for
postprocessing.

Note: You should scan left_lca_load.f06 for FATAL or

WARN messages. You must resolve any issues
before continuing.
d

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Postprocess stresses using MSC.Patran
• Start MSC.Patran
• Create a new MSC.Patran database (.db file) by selecting File menu  New
• Enter WTSC_atv.db in File name text field
• Click OK

b c

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Attach results from a Nastran XDB file in Patran

a
• Click Analysis main icon
b
• Select Access Results from Action pull c
down menu
d
• Select Attach XDB from Object pull
down menu
• Select Both from Method pull down
menu f
• Click Select Results File button

Select File dialog box will appear e

g
• Browse directory, select
left_lca_load.xdb file h

• Click OK
• Click Apply

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View Results in Patran

• Click Results main icon

MSC.Patran displays a lit of 24 subcase that represents a time
frame from MSC.ADAMS
• Highlight all 24 subcase to see entire animation b
(you can choose 1 subcase if you would like to see a select
frame in time)
• Click Stress Tensor from Select Fringe Result
• Click Displacement, Translational from Select Deformation c
Result
• Click Apply

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Results

20
Topics Covered
In this tutorial you will learn how to:
1. Generate a .mnf file from Nastran
2. Import a .cmd file into ADAMS
3. Replace rigid body with a flexible body in ADAMS
4. Animate modes in ADAMS
5. Set damping ration in ADAMS
6. Create FEMDATA with peak.load for Nastran in ADAMS
7. Set output in ADAMS
8. Run dynamic simulation in ADAMS
9. View results in ADAMS Postprocessor
10. Perform stress recovery using Nastran
11. Process stresses using Patran
12. Attach results from a Nastran XDB file in Patran
13. View Results in Patran

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Best Practices

• Check f06 files for warnings or errors.

• Verify that when flexible body is imported it has the right orientation and location.
• Verify all variables are set correctly.
• Verify FEMDATA is created correctly.
• Verify Nastran as output.
• Make sure you are using correct files during procedure.
• Make sure that the results are correctly set.
• Verify that results are consistent.

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