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Tutorial 11: Normal Modes Analysis of a Splash Shield.

In this tutorial, an existing finite element model of an automotive splash shield will be used to demonstrate how to
set up and perform a normal modes analysis. HyperMesh post-processing tools are used to determine mode
shapes of the model.
The following exercises are included:

Retrieving the RADIOSS input file.

Setting up the model in HyperMesh.
Applying Loads and Boundary Conditions to the Model.
Submitting the job.
Viewing the results.

The following file is needed to perform this tutorial: sshield.fem.

Step 1: Launch HyperMesh and set the RADIOSS (Bulk Data) User Profile.
1. Launch HyperMesh.
A User Profiles Graphic User Interface (GUI) will appear.
2. Select RADIOSS in the User Profile dialog.
3. From the extended list, select BulkData.
4. Click OK.
This loads the User Profile. It includes the appropriate template, macro menu, and import reader, paring
down the functionality of HyperMesh to what is relevant for generating models in Bulk Data Format for
RADIOSS and OptiStruct.

Step 2: Import a Finite Element Model File in HyperMesh

1. Click File > Import > Solver Deck.
An Import tab is added to your tab menu.

2. For the File type:, select RADIOSS (BulkData).

3. Select the Files icon button.
A Select RADIOSS (Bulk Data), OptiStruct file browser will open.
4. Browse for sshield.fem file.

5. Click Open > Import.

6. Click Close to close the Import tab menu.

Step 3: Review Rigid Elements.

Notice there are two rigid "spiders" in the model. They are placed at locations where the shield is bolted down.
This is a simplified representation of the interaction between the bolts and the shield. It is assumed that the bolts
are significantly more rigid in comparison to the shield.
The dependent nodes of the rigid elements have all six degrees of freedom constrained. Therefore, each "spider"
connects nodes of the shell mesh together in such a way that they do not move with respect to one another.
The following steps show how to review the properties of the rigid elements.

1. Click Mesh > Edit > 1D Elements > Rigids to open the Rigids panel.
2. Click review.
3. Select one of the rigid elements in the graphics region.
In the graphics area, HyperMesh displays the IDs of the rigid element and the two end nodes and
indicates the independent node with an 'I' and the dependent node with a 'D'. HyperMesh also indicates

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Tutorial 11: Normal Modes Analysis of a Splash Shield.

the constrained degrees of freedom for the selected element, through the dof check boxes in the Rigids
panel. All rigid elements in this model should have all dofs constrained.
4. Click return to go to the main menu.

Step 4: Setting up the Material and Geometric Properties.

The imported model has three component collectors with no materials. A material collector needs to be created
and assigned to the shell component collectors. The rigid elements do not need to be assigned a material. Shell
thickness values also need to be corrected.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Click the Materials icon

.
Select the create subpanel using the radio buttons on the left-hand side of the panel.
Click mat name = and enter steel.
Click card image = and select MAT1 from the pop-up menu.
Click create/edit.
The MAT1 card image appears.
6. For E, enter the value 2.0E5.

7. For NU, enter the value 0.3.

8. For RHO, enter the value 7.85E-9.
If a quantity in brackets does not have a value below it, it is off. To change this, click the quantity in
brackets and an entry field will appear below it. Click in the entry field, and a value can be entered.
9. Click return.
A new material, steel, has now been created. The material uses RADIOSS linear isotropic material
model, MAT1. This material has a Young's Modulus of 2E+05, a Poisson's Ratio of 0.3 and a material
density of 7.85E-09. A material density is required for the normal modes solution sequence.
At any time the card image for this collector can be modified using Card Editor.
10. Click return to exit the Materials Create panel.

11. Select the Card Editor toolbar button

.
12. Click the down arrow on the right of the entity shown in the yellow box, select props from the extended
entity list.
Click the yellow props button and then check the box next to design and nondesign.
Click select.
Make sure card image= is set to PSHELL.
Click edit.
The PSHELL card image for the design component collector appears.
17. Replace 0.300 in the T field with 0.25.

13.
14.
15.
16.

18. Click return to save the changes to the card image.

19. Click return to go to the main menu.

Applying Loads and Boundary Conditions to the Model (Steps 5 - 7).

The model is to be constrained using SPCs at the bolt locations, as shown in the following figure. The constraints
will be organized into the load collector 'constraints'.
To perform a normal modes analysis, a real eigenvalue extraction (EIGRL) card needs to be referenced in the
subcase. The real eigenvalue extraction card is defined in HyperMesh as a load collector with an EIGRL card
image. This load collector should not contain any other loads.

Step 5: Create EIGRL card (to request the number of modes).

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Tutorial 11: Normal Modes Analysis of a Splash Shield.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Click the Load Collectors icon

.
Select the create subpanel, using the radio buttons on the left-hand side of the panel.
Click loadcol name = and enter EIGRL.
Click card image= and select EIGRL from the pop-up menu.
Click create/edit.
For V2, enter the value 200.000.
For ND, enter the value 6.
If a quantity in brackets does not have a value below it, it is off. To change this, click on the quantity in
brackets and
an entry field will appear below it. Click on the entry field, and a value can be entered.
8. Click return to save changes to the card image.

Step 6: Create Constraints at Bolt Locations.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Click loadcol name = and enter constraints.

Click the switch next to card image and select no card image.
Click create > return.
Click BCs > Create > Constraints to open the Constraints panel.

Selecting nodes for constraining the bolt locations.

5. Select the two nodes, shown in the figure above, at the center of the rigid spiders, by clicking on them in
the graphics area.
6. Constrain all dofs with a value of 0.0.
7. Click Load Type= and select SPC.
8. Click create.
Two constraints are created. Constraint symbols (triangles) appear in the graphics area at the selected
nodes. The number 123456 is written beside the constraint symbol, if the label constraints is checked
ON, indicating that all dofs are constrained.
9. Click return to go the main menu.

Step 7: Create a Load Step to perform Normal Modes Analysis.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Click Setup > Create > LoadSteps to open the LoadSteps panel.
Click name = and enter bolted.
Click the type: switch and select normal modes from the pop-up menu.
Check the box preceding SPC.
An entry field appears to the right of SPC.
5. Click on the entry field and select constraints from the list of load collectors.

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Tutorial 11: Normal Modes Analysis of a Splash Shield.

6. Check the box preceding METHOD(STRUCT).
An entry field appears to the right of METHOD.
7. Click on the entry field and select EIGRL from the list of load collectors.
8. Click create.
A RADIOSS subcase has been created which references the constraints in the load collector constraints
and the real eigenvalue extraction data in the load collector EIGRL.
9. Click return to go to the main menu.

Submitting the Job.

Step 8: Save the database.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Click File > Save As > Model to save the hm file.

Use the browser to select set the directory in which you want to save the file.
For the File name:, enter sshield_complete.hm.
Click Save.

Step 9: Running Normal Modes Analysis.

1. From the Analysis page, enter the Radioss panel.
2. Click save as following the input file: field.
A Save As browser window opens.
3. Select the directory where you would like to write the file and, in File name:, enter
sshield_complete.fem.
4. Click Save.
Note that the name and location of the sshield_complete.fem file shows in the input file: field.
5. Set the export options: toggle to all.
6. Click the run options: switch and select analysis.
7. Set the memory options: toggle to memory default.
8. Click Radioss.
This launches the RADIOSS job.
If the job was successful, new results files can be seen in the directory where the RADIOSS model file
was written. The sshield_complete.out file is a good place to look for error messages that will help
to debug the input deck if any errors are present.
The default files written to your directory are:
sshield_complete.html

HTML report of the analysis, giving a summary of the problem

formulation and the analysis results.

sshield_complete.out

RADIOSS output file containing specific information on the file set up,
the set up of your optimization problem, estimates for the amount of
RAM and disk space required for the run, information for each
optimization iteration, and compute time information. Review this file for
warnings and errors.

sshield_complete.h3d

Hyper 3D binary results file.

sshield_complete.stat

Summary of analysis process, providing CPU information for each step

during analysis process.

Review the Results using HyperView.

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Tutorial 11: Normal Modes Analysis of a Splash Shield.

Eigenvector results are output by default, from RADIOSS for a normal modes analysis. This section
describes how to view the results in HyperView.

Step 10: Load the Model and Result Files into the Animation Window.
In this step, you will load a HyperView .h3d file into the HyperView animation window.
1. Click the HyperView button in the Radioss panel.
HyperView is launched and the sshield_complete.h3d file is loaded.
2. Click Close to exit the Message Log menu that appears.

Step 11: View Eigen Vectors.

It is helpful to view the deformed shape of a model to determine if the boundary conditions have been defined
correctly and also to check if the model is deforming as expected. In this section, use the Deformed panel to
review the deformed shape for last Mode.
1. Click on the animation selector switch in the lower toolbar

and select Set Modal Animation Mode

.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Select the Deformed toolbar button

.
Leave Result type: set to Eigen Mode (v).
Set Scale: to Model units.
Set Type: to Uniform and enter in a scale factor of 10 for Value.
This means that the maximum displacement will be 10 modal units and all other displacements will be
proportional.
Using a scale factor higher than 1.0 amplifies the deformations while a scale factor smaller than 1.0
would reduce them. In this case, we are accentuating displacements in all directions.

6. Click Apply.
7. Under Undeformed shape:, set Show: to Wireframe (The point 2 has to come after the point 3).
A deformed plot of the model overlaid on the original undeformed mesh is displayed in the graphics area.
8. In the Results Browser pull-down menu, you can change the view between various subcases using the
Load Case and Simulation Selection drop-down menus, as shown below:

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Tutorial 11: Normal Modes Analysis of a Splash Shield.

9. Select Mode 6 - F=1.496557E+02 from the list to view Mode 6.
10. To animate the mode shape, click Start/Pause Animation
in the animation toolbar.
11. To control the animation speed, use the Animation Controls on the animation toolbar, as shown below:

12. Review the other mode shapes.

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