Non-Structural Mass (Nastran)

Use the Non-Structural Mass command to apply a non-structural mass to selected elements or their associated physical property tables. Non-structural mass is mass that is present in the model and affects the model’s dynamic response but which is not a part of the model’s structural mass. Non-structural mass is mass that is not associated with the geometric cross-sectional properties of an element.

Examples of nonstructural mass include:

• Insulation

• Roofing materials

• Special coating materials

You can use the options in the Non-Structural Mass dialog box to define both distributed and lumped non-structural masses.

• For distributed non-structural masses, the software spreads the mass evenly over all the elements or over all the elements associated with the selected physical property table.

• For lumped non-structural masses, the software applies the mass directly to each element you select or to each element associated with the selected physical property table.

You input non-structural mass as:

• Mass/length for 1D elements.

• Mass/area for 2D elements

Corresponding Nastran commands

The bulk data entry that the software creates when you export or solve your model depends upon the options you select in the Non-Structural Mass dialog box.

• If you select the Lumped Mass on Elements or Lumped Mass on Physical Property Tables option from the Type list, the software creates the NSML or NSML1 bulk data entry.

• If you select the Distributed Mass on Elements or Distributed Mass on Physical Property Tables option from the Type list, the software creates the NSM or NSM1 bulk data entry.

For more information, see the following topics in the Simcenter Nastran Quick Reference Guide:

• NSM

• NSM1

• NSML

• NSML1

Supported element types

In Pre/Post, you can define a non-structural mass on the following specific types of 1D and 2D elements:

Supported Nastran 1D elements	Supported Nastran 2D elements
CBARCBEAMCONRODCRODCTUBE	CQUAD4CQUAD8CQUADRCSHEARCTRIA3CTRIA6CTRIAR

Supported physical property tables

In Pre/Post, you can define a non-structural mass on the following physical property tables:

Supported Nastran physical property tables
CONRODPBARPBARLPBEAMPBEAMLPBENDPCOMPPRODPSHEARPSHELLPTUBE

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisite	A Simulation file as the work part and displayed partSimcenter Nastran or MSC Nastran as the specified solver Structural as the specified analysis type
Command Finder	Non-Structural Mass
Simulation Navigator	Right-click the Loads container→New Load→Non-Structural Mass

Learn more

Static acceleration load

Enforced axial deformations for 1D elements (Nastran)

Distributed Force load

Enforced motion load

Enforced motion loads from external files

Fluid Penetration Pressure

Force or moment loads from an external file

Nodal pressure loads (Nastran and ANSYS)

Quick links

Command reference

Pre/Post video examples

Bulk Entry Descriptions

Simcenter 3D tutorials

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Non-Structural Mass (Nastran), Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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