WORKSHOP 8B

MODELING HONEYCOMB WITH

SOLID AND SHELL ELEMENTS

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-1

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-2

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
Unlike the previous workshop that involved modeling the

honeycomb structure using the MSC.Laminate Modeler, this

workshop is used to show how to model the honeycomb
structure using solid and shell elements. Solid hexahedral
elements are to be used to represent the core, and shell
elements are to used to represent the laminate backing. Similar
constraints and loading are to be applied to the model. After the
MD.Nastran analysis the results are to be looked at, and
perhaps compared to those for the previous laminate model.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-3

SUGGESTED EXERCISE STEPS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

14.
15.
16.

Create a new database

Import two surfaces from an IGES File
Create a solid from the two imported surfaces
Mesh the solid using IsoMesh
Mesh surfaces of the solid using IsoMesh
Equivalence the solid and surface meshes
Cantilever one end of honeycomb model
Apply the force load at the free end of the model
Create material properties using a session file
Create the isotropic material for the core
Create a composite material using laminate in Patran
Create 3D element property for core material
Create element property for upper lamina
Create element property for lower lamina
Analyze the model and attach the results file
Verify the stress tensor and displacement results

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-4

Step 1. Create a New Database

a

Create a new database.

a. File / New.
b. Enter 2nd_Honeycomb as
the file name.
c. Click OK.
d. Select MD.Nastran or MSC
Nastran as the Analysis
Code.
e. Select Structural as the
Analysis Type.
f. Click OK.
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

d
e

WS8B-5

Step 2. Import Two Surfaces from an IGES File

a
b

d
e
Import 2 surfaces from IGES
a.
File / Import
b.
Select IGES from the
Source.
c.
Select exercise8b.igs.
d.
Deselect Import to
Parasolid
e.
Click Apply
f.
Click OK when the IGES
Import Summary appears.
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

f
WS8B-6

Step 2. Import Two Surfaces from an IGES File (Cont.)

This is how the geometry

should look like after
importing the file.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-7

Step 3. Create a Solid from the Two Imported Surfaces

Create a parametric solid using

the two surfaces.
a.
Geometry: Create / Solid
/ Surface.
b.
Select 2 Surfaces as the
Option.
c.
Uncheck the Auto
Execute toggle.
d.
Select Surface 1 as the
Starting Surface List.
e.
Select Surface 2 as the
Ending Surface List.
f.
Click Apply.

c
d
e
f

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-8

Step 4. Mesh the Solid Using IsoMesh

a

Mesh the geometric solid.

a.
Elements: Create / Mesh /
Solid.
b.
Select Hex as the Elem
Shape.
c.
Select IsoMesh as the
Mesher.
d.
Select Hex8 as the
Topology.
e.
Uncheck the Automatic
Calculation.
f.
Enter 5.0 as the Global
Edge Length Value.
g.
Select Solid 1 as the
Solid List.
h.
Click Apply.

b
c
d

g
e
f

h
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-9

Step 5. Mesh Surfaces of the Solid Using IsoMesh

Mesh the surfaces (at inner and outer free

faces of the hex elements) with shell
elements.
a.
Elements: Create / Mesh / Surface.
b.
Select Quad as the Elem Shape.
c.
Select IsoMesh as the Mesher.
d.
Select Quad4 as the Topology.
e.
Uncheck the Automatic Calculation.
f.
Enter 5.0 as the Value.
g.
Select Surface 1 as the Surface List.
h.
Click Apply.
i.
Select Surface 2 as the Surface List.
e
j.
Click Apply.

b
c
d

Note that both surfaces

could have been meshed
simultaneously.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

h
WS8B-10

Step 5. Mesh Surfaces of the Solid Using IsoMesh (Cont.)

Shell element

Solid element
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-11

Step 6. Equivalence the Solid and Surface Meshes

Equivalence the solid and

surface mesh nodes.
a.
Elements: Equivalence /
All / Tolerance Cube.
b.
Click Apply.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

b
WS8B-12

Step 7. Cantilever One End of Honeycomb Model

a

Fixed nodes at one end using a

solid face as the application
region..
a.
Loads/BCs: Create /
Displacement / Nodal.
b.
Enter Fixed_surface as
the New Set Name.
c.
Click Input Data
d.
Enter < 0, 0, 0 > as the
Translations.
e.
Enter < 0, 0, 0 > as the
Rotations.
f.
Click OK.
g.
Click Select Application
Region
h.
Select Surface Picking
Icon.
i.
Select the small lower
face as the geometry
entity.
j.
Click Add.
k.
Click OK.
l.
Click Apply.
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

d
e
i
j

b
h
c

k
l
WS8B-13

Step 7. Cantilever One End of Honeycomb Model (Cont.)

The nodes at solid

face Solid 1.1 are
constrained.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-14

Step 8. Apply the Force Load at the Free End of the Model
a

Apply loads at four points.

a.
Loads/BCs: Create /
Force / Nodal.
b.
Enter Load as the New
Set Name.
c.
Click on Input Data.
d.
Enter < 0.5, 0, 0 > as
the Force.
e.
Click OK.
f.
Click Select
Application Region

c
f
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

e
WS8B-15

Step 8. Apply the Force Load at the Free End of the Model (Cont.)

a.
b.

c.
d.

Select Point Picking

Icon.
Select Point 3 4 7 8
from the geometry as
the Select Geometry
Entities.
Click Add.
Click OK.

b
c
a

d
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-16

Step 8. Apply the Force Load at the Free End of the Model (Cont.)

a.

Click Apply.

Now the model has been

assigned a load of 0.5 at
four different points, a total
of 2.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

a
WS8B-17

Step 9. Create Material Properties Using a Session File

Read(play) session file

materials.ses.
a.
File / Session / Play
b.
Select materials.ses.
c.
Click Apply.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-18

Step 10. Create the Isotropic Material for the Core

a

Create a material to represent

the core
a.
Materials: Create /
Isotropic / Manual Input.
b.
Enter Core as the
Material Name.
c.
Click Input Properties
d.
Select Linear Elastic as
the Constitutive Model.
e.
Enter 215 as the Elastic
Modulus.
f.
Enter 150 as the Shear
Modulus.
g.
Click OK.
h.
Click Apply.

d
e
f

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

h
WS8B-19

Step 11. Create a Composite Material Using Laminate in Patran

a
Create an inner(upper) laminate in
Patran.
a.
Materials: Create /
Composite / Laminate.
b.
Enter upper_ply as the
Material Name.
c.
Click ud_t300_n5208 four
times to upload to the
Stacking Sequence
Definition.
d.
Click Thicknesses.
e.
Enter 4(0.12) in the
Overwrite Thickness.
f.
Press Enter.
g.
Click Orientations.
h.
Enter -45 / 90 / 45 / 0 in the
Insert Orientations.
i.
Press Enter.
j.
Click Apply.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

e h

j
WS8B-20

Step 11. Create a Composite Material in Patran (Cont.)

a.
b.

c.
d.
e.

f.
g.
h.

i.
j.
k.

Enter lower_ply as the

Material Name.
Click Delete Selected
Rows many times so that
the Stacking Sequence
Definition becomes empty.
Select ud_t300_n5208 four
times as the Material.
Click Thickness.
Enter 4(0.12) in the
Overwrite Thicknesses text
box.
Press Enter.
Click Orientation.
Enter 0 / 45 / 90 / -45 in the
Overwrite Orientations text
box.
Press Enter.
Set the Offset to 0.48.
Click Apply.

j
e h
c

a
b

k
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

WS8B-21

Step 12. Create 3D Element Property for Core Material

f
Create element properties for
3D solid core.
a.
Properties: Create / 3D /
Solid.
b.
Enter 3D_Solid as the
Property Set Name.
c.
Select Standard
Formulation as the
Options.
d.
Click Input
Properties
e.
Click Select Material.
f.
Select Core from
Existing Material.
g.
Click OK.
h.
Click Select
Application Region
i.
Select Solid 1 for the
Select Members.
j.
Click Add.
k.
Click OK.
l.
Click Apply.
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

e
a

i
j
g

c
d
h
l

k
WS8B-22

Step 13. Create Element Property for Upper Lamina

Create 2D element properties

for plies above the core.
a.
Properties: Create / 2D
/ Shell
b.
Enter 2D_upper_shell
for Property Name.
c.
Select Thin, Laminate
and Standard
Formulation under
Options.
d.
Click Input
Properties
e.
Select upper_ply.
f.
Enter Coord 0 on
Material Orientation
g.
Click OK.
h.
Click Select
Application Region.
i.
Select Surface 1 under
Select Members.
j.
Click Add.
k.
Click OK.
l.
Click Apply.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

e
f

i
j

b
c
d

h
l

WS8B-23

Step 14. Create Element Property for Lower Lamina

Create 2D element properties for

plies below the core.
a.
Properties: Create / 2D /
Shell
b.
Enter 2D_bottom_shell as
the Property Set Name.
c.
Select Thin, Laminate and
Standard Formulation
under Options.
d.
Click Input Properties
e.
Select lower_ply as the
Material Name.
f.
Enter Coord 0 on Material
Orientation
g.
Click OK.
h.
Click Select Application
Region.
i.
Select Surface 2 for the
Select Members.
j.
Click Add.
k.
Click OK.
l.
Click Apply.
PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010
Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

e
f

i
j

b
c
d

h
l

WS8B-24

Step 15. Analyze the Model and Attach the Results File
a

Run the analysis and attach

the results file.
a.
Analysis: Analyze /
Entire Model / Full Run.
b.
Click Apply.
c.
Analysis: Access
Results / Attach XDB /
Result Entities.
d.
Click Select Results
File
e.
Select 2nd
_Honeycomb.
f.
Click OK.
g.
Click Apply.

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

d
b

g
WS8B-25

Step 16. Verify the Stress Tensor and Displacement Results

a

Check the deformation results.

a.
Results: Create / Quick
Plot.
b.
Select Default,
A1:Static Subcase from
the Select Result Cases.
c.
Select Stress Tensor as
the Select Fringe Result.
d.
Select Layer 1, or some
other layer.
e.
Select Displacement,
Translational as the
Select Deformation
Result.
f.
Click Apply.

c
d

Comparing WS8A vs WS8B

Maximum
Displacement
WS8A

0.0182

WS8B

0.0328

PAT325, Workshop 8B, March 2010

Copyright 2010 MSC.Software Corporation

f
WS8B-26