Axisymmetric analysis in Nastran

Axisymmetric analysis is supported in the Simcenter Nastran Structural, Thermal, Axisymmetric Structural, and Axisymmetric Thermal environments, and the Simcenter 3D Multiphysics Thermal environment.

To use axisymmetric elements, you must define the 2D Solid Option when you create a new FEM or Simulation. In Nastran, you have these choices:

• None (Structural and Thermal environments only) – No axisymmetric elements can be used.

• ZX Plane, Z Axis (Simcenter Nastran and MSC Nastran) – If axisymmetric elements are used, they must be on the ZX plane. The axisymmetric rotational axis is Z.

• XY Plane, X Axis (Simcenter Nastran only) – If axisymmetric elements are used, they must be on the XY plane. The axisymmetric rotational axis is X.

Plane stress and plane strain elements in Simcenter Nastran

The Structural and Axisymmetric Structural environments support plane stress and plane strain elements. To use these elements, you should create them on the ZX or XY plane as defined for the 2D Solid Option, or on a plane parallel to ZX or XY in the absolute coordinate system.

For plane stress elements, you first create the mesh, and then you define element thickness, as well as the number of instances for the mesh, using options in the Mesh Associated Data dialog box. The thickness applied should be the total amount of material that the element would see when rotated 360 degrees.

• You can use plane stress elements to model blades for a gas turbine. Select the Thickness Source option, and then enter a value for the Number of Instances option, which defines the number of blades when the model is rotated.

• You can use plane stress elements to model holes in an axisymmetric model. Set the Thickness Source to Holes to calculate the amount of material to subtract from the model for the hole. Use the Centerline Definition option to define the location of the centerline of the hole.

• You can use plane stress elements to model bolts in an axisymmetric model. Set the Thickness Source to Bolt to calculate the amount of material to add back to the model. Use the Centerline Definition option to define the location of the centerline of the bolt.

Note:

To view the centerline from the holes or bolts, select the Display Centerline check box in the Mesh Display dialog box. If the centerline orientation is incorrect, select the Transpose Centerline check box in the Mesh Associated dialog box to rotate the centerline.

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Axisymmetric analysis in Nastran, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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