CASE STUDY 2 NORMAL MODES

ANALYSIS OF A SATELLITE

This model uses a value of 0.00259 as the weight mass

conversion parameter - what does this mean?

MSC.Nastran requires consistent units.

Some systems of Units (including the US system) define density as being a
Weight Per Unit Volume (eg. lbs/in3).

This is not a consistent unit if used with loads of lbf and dimensions of inches.

The weight mass conversion parameter converts weight mass units to

mass units by scaling by the appropriate units of acceleration due to gravity.

So for our model defined in lbs and inches, g = 386.4 in/s2

PARAM,WTMASS,0.00259 converts the mass of the structure to the correct

units of (lbf/in/s^2).
Some industries also mix SI units for convenience, so density may be given
in N/m3 instead of the correct term Kg/m3

In this case PARAM,WTMASS,0.102 will scale by g = 9.81m/s^2

NAS122, Section 2, January 2004

Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation

S2-65

CASE STUDY 2 NORMAL MODES

ANALYSIS OF A SATELLITE

Another common method used in the industry is to

have length measured in mm for convenience, but
still want to apply forces in N.
When converting a non-standard system of units the
golden rule is to apply Newtons Law of Motion and
then dimensional equivalence

Force = Mass * Acceleration

N = (mass units) * mm/s2

Kg *m/s2 = (mass units) *mm/s2
Kg *m/s2 = (Kg*103) * mm/s2

So mass is in Kg*103 or Metric Tonnes and density is then Tonnes/mm3 and

these units should be used in the model

In this case if units of Kg mass and Kg/mm3 density are used in the
model PARAM,WTMASS,0.001 will scale the mass and density
units correctly.

NAS122, Section 2, January 2004

Copyright 2004 MSC.Software Corporation

S2-66