WORKSHOP 4

Applying Loads and

Boundary Conditions

Objectives:
■ Apply Constraints to the clevis.

■ Define a Field to describe a load distribution.

■ Use the Field to define a Variable Load.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 4-1

4-2 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook
WORKSHOP 4 Loads and B/C’s on a Clevis

Model Description:
Using the clevis model, apply Constraints and a Spatially Varying
Load. The base of the clevis is Fixed and a quadratic Load Distribution
of Fy=-100(1-x2) will be applied to the model. Figure 4.1 illustrates
the loading conditions for the model.

Figure 4-1

Fixed

y
x
z Apply a Spatially Varying Load
to the bottom faces of the holes.

Fx = Fz = 0
Fy = -100(1-x2)

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 4-3

Suggested Exercise Steps:
■ Open the database, clevis.db.

■ Create a spatially varying vector field named

quadratic_load.

■ Apply constraints to the model.

■ Define a variable load using a field.

4-4 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 4 Loads and B/C’s on a Clevis

Exercise Procedure:
1. Open the database, clevis.db.

File/Open...
Existing Database Name: clevis.db
OK

NOTE: Whenever possible, toggle off the ❑ Auto Execute option by

left clicking the check box.

2. Create a spatially varying Vector Field.

◆ Fields
Action: Create
Object: Spatial
Type: PCL Function
Field Name: quadratic_load
Field Type: ◆ Vector
Second Component: -100*(1-’X**2)
Apply

3. Constrain the model.

◆ Load/BCs
Action: Create
Object: Displacement
Method: Nodal
New Set Name: clamped
Input Data...
Translation < T1 T2 T3 > < 0, 0, 0>
OK
Select Application Region...

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 4-5

 Geometry Filter: ◆ Geometry

.
Surface or Face

To make entity selection easier, switch to a Front View using an

icon on the toolbar.

Front view

Changing the Picking preference will also help in selecting the

application region for the next step.

Preferences/Picking...
Rectangle/Polygon Picking: ◆ Enclose entire entity
Close

Turn off entity labels.

Hide labels

Drag the left mouse button to use a Rectangle Selection for applying
the constraint. Figure 4.2 highlights the Application Region for
constraining the model

Figure 4.2

Z R
1

Z X

Add

4-6 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 4 Loads and B/C’s on a Clevis

OK
Apply

4. Create an applied load named vertical_load, which uses the

quadratic_load field. Apply it to the solid faces along the bottom
half of the holes.

◆ Load/BCs
Action: Create
Object: Force
Method: Nodal
New Set Name: vertical_load
Input Data...
Force <F1 F2 F3> f:quadratic_load
OK
Select Application Region...

Be sure that the Surface icon is still highlighted in the Select Menu.
Click in the Select Geometry Entities databox, and select the
Surfaces for the load. Use the Polygon Pick method to select the
Solid Faces that bound the bottom half of the holes, as shown in
Figure 4.3.

Figure 4.3

123

123 Z R
1

123

Z X

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 4-7

 Add
OK
Apply

Vector markers representing the Applied Load will appear as shown

in the Figure 4.4.

Figure 4.4

123

123 0. Z
50.00
1 R 0.
50.00
100.0

123
Y

Z X

5. Display both the Constraint and Force on the finite element model.

Display/Load/BC/Elem. Props...

■ Show on FEM Only

Apply
Cancel

◆ Load/BCs
Action: Plot Markers
Assigned Load/BCs Sets: Displ_clamped
Force_vertical_load

4-8 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook

WORKSHOP 4 Loads and B/C’s on a Clevis

Group Filter ◆ Current Viewport

Select Groups default_group
Apply

The Loads and Constraints should be displayed at nodal locations as

shown in the Figure 4.5.

Figure 4.5

123

123

123

3.805 T
123 6.699
14.64
0.
30.86 25.000.
50.00 50.00
67.62
123 67.62 Z 81.19
81.19
90.57 90.57 R
96.31
1 99.19
99.19
96.31
100.0
123

123

123

123

Z X

6. Since the markers for the load all have the same length, scale the
markers to show the force distribution.

Display/Load/BC/Elem. Props...

❑ Show LBC/El. Prop Vectors

Vectors/Filters...
◆ Scaled-Model Relative
Apply
Cancel

Quit MSC.Patran after finishing this exercise.

MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook 4-9

4-10 MSC.Nastran 120 Exercise Workbook