Extracting Internal Loads

1. Introduction

NEiNastran supports a wide range of results output measures. One of these is the extraction of internal
loads along a boundary. As an example consider the cantilever beam in Figure 1.

Thickness = 0.1 in.

E = 10.0x106 psi
v = 0.3 Py = 60 lbs

2.0 in.

10.0 in.

Figure 1. 2-D Cantilever Beam

It is desired to determine the force distribution along the dotted line at the mid-span. In NEiNastran this
is accomplished by requesting element forces (FORCE or ELFORCE Case Control command) for
elements along one side of the boundary and requesting a grid point force balance (GPFORCE Case
Control command) for the grid points along the boundary. This will then extract the internal loads for
those elements and nodes specified. If GPFORCE was specified for ALL elements and grid points, the
internal loads would be near zero because the structure is in equilibrium and all forces from all sources
must sum to zero.

2. Extracting Internal Loads

A model is generated in FEMAP using a 6x20 Mesh as shown in Figure 2. The elements with circles in
them and all the grid points that make up the right edge of those elements define the boundary where
internal loads are to be extracted.

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Figure 2. FEA Model of 2-D Cantilever Beam

The required FORCE and GPFORCE settings are made using the Advanced Menu in the NASTRAN
Analysis Control window.

Figure 3. Nastran Analysis Control

On the NASTRAN Case Control menu we define the element and grid point sets that define the
boundary. First we define the sets using the Set Definition buttons. Be careful to use the Elem Set…
for the Element Force request and the Node Set… for the GP Force Bal request.

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Figure 4. Nastran Case Control

Next, after the model is run, we select Vector under Deformed Style in the View Select menu and click
on the Deformed and Contour Data…button.

Figure 5. View Select

Then select 61. TOTAL INTERNAL FORCE for the Deformation and click OK.

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Figure 6. Selecting Total Internal Force

The internal load distribution along the specified boundary is now displayed.

Figure 7. Internal Loads

To add labels and specify components go to the View – Options menu, PostProcessing – Vector
Style, and pick Output Value and Component Vectors.

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Figure 8. View Options

The Model Results Output File (.OUT) contains the Internal Load Vector Resultant which is the
summation of internal forces (boundary) about the point specified by PARAM, GRDPNT or PARAM,
GPWEIGHT. The default point is the original of the basic coordinate system.

I N T E R N A L L O A D V E C T O R R E S U L T A N T

SUBCASE T1 T2 T3 R1 R2 R3
ID
1 0.000000E+00 6.000000E+01 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 0.000000E+00 6.000000E+02

Figure 9. Internal Load Vector Results from the Output File

3. Conclusion

The Internal Load Vector Resultant can be very useful for extracting total internal forces and moments
along a specific line in a structure.