2.

5-1

Gap Contact - Cantilever

BASIC ANALYSIS

2.5

2.5-2

Gap Contact - Cantilever

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-3

Model Description:

The model consists of a cantilever beam; 10 in long, divided into 10 elements, fully fixed at one
end and subjected to a vertical bending load of 30 lb at the free end. The beam has a square crosssection and the element properties are as follows:

A = 0.04 in2
I1 = I2 = 1.333x10-4 in4
J = 2.25x10-4 in4
The material is AISI 4340 Steel, the properties can be obtained from the MSC/NASTRAN for Windows material library.

BASIC ANALYSIS

This example uses a simple cantilever beam model with a gap element to demonstrate the nonlinear
gap contact capability within MSC/NASTRAN for Windows. The cantilever model, under the
applied bending load, deflects until the gap closes, and continues to deflect with the gap closed.

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-4

Exercise Procedure:
1. Start MSC/NASTRAN for Windows 3.0.2 by double-clicking on the MSC/NASTRAN for
Windows icon.
For this exercise, you will select the New Model option.

New Model

Open Model File:

2.

The modeling steps to create the model are as follows:

Create the cantilever beam.

Geometry/Curve - Line/Coordinates...
X:

Y:

Z:

OK

X:

10

Y:

Z:

OK

Cancel
View/Autoscale
3.

(Ctrl+A)

Define the mesh.

Mesh/Mesh Control/Custom Size Along Curve...
ID:

OK
Num Elements:

10

OK
Cancel
4.

Now define the material properties.

Model/Material...
Load...
Library Entry:
OK

AISI 4340 Steel

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-5

OK
Cancel
Create the section properties.
Model/Property...
Title:

Property_1

Material:

1..AISI 4340 Steel

Elem/Property Type...
Line Elements:

Beam

OK
Shape...
Shape:

Rectangular Bar

H:

0.2

Width:

0.2

Orientation Direction (y):

Up

The polar moment of inertia is not calculated automatically and has to be entered manually.

BASIC ANALYSIS

5.

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-6

OK
2.25E-4

Torsional Constant, J:
OK
Cancel

6.

Mesh the curve, and define the element orientation vector to be parallel to the
basic y-axis.
Mesh/Geometry/Curve...
Pick Node 1 (left end) from the graphics screen.
OK
Property:

1..Property_1

OK
Base:

X:

Y:

Z:

Tip:

X:

Y:

Z:

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-7

Preview
OK
BASIC ANALYSIS

7.

Apply the 30 lb end load to the free end of the beam.

Model/Load/Nodal...
End Load

Title:
OK

Pick Node 11 (right end) from the graphics screen.

OK
Highlight Force from the load type list.
Load:

FY

Value:

-30

OK
Cancel
8.

Create the gap element.

Model/Node...
X:

Y:

-0.5

Z:

OK
Cancel

This will be the position of the "stop" when the gap closes under the applied loading.

9.

Create the gap properties.

Model/Property...
Title:

Gap Property

Elem/Property Type...
Line Elements:

Gap

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-8
OK

Initial Gap:

0.5

Compression Stiffness:

1,000,000

Tension Stiffness:

0.0001

These properties will define a gap which, at the start of the analysis, will be open with the ends of
the gap 0.5 in apart. When the gap is closed it has a high stiffness (1,000,000.), and when it is open
it has a very low stiffness (0.0001). Care must be taken when selecting these stiffness values. The
difference between the open and closed should be great enough so that the gap functions properly,
but not too great to cause numerical problems in the solution.

OK
Cancel
10. The gap element can now be created.
Model/Element...
Type...
Line Elements:

Gap

OK
Property:

2..Gap Property

Nodes:

12

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-9

Vector...

Base:

X:

Y:

Z:

Tip:

X:

Y:

Z:

Preview
OK

OK
Cancel
11. Apply the constraints. Completely fix one end of the cantilever (Node 1) and the
bottom of the gap element (Node 12).
Model/Constraint/Nodal...
Title:

Fixed End and Stop

OK
Pick Nodes 1 and 12 from the graphics screen.
OK
Fixed
OK
Cancel
The model should now look similar to the following:

BASIC ANALYSIS

This dialog box requests information to create the gap orientation vector, as the gap is connected in
the basic y-axis, a suitable vector definition would be the basic x-axis.

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-10

12. Set the nonlinear solution parameters.

Model/Load/Nonlinear Analysis...
Solution Type:

Static

Defaults...
Number of Increments:

10

Intermediate:

3.ALL

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2.5-11

OK

13. Analyzing the model.

File/Analyze...
Analysis Type:
Additional Info:
Output Types:

10..Nonlinear Static
Large Disp
2..Displacements and Stresses

OK
When asked, "OK to Save Model Now?," select Yes.

Yes
File name:

Gap Contact.mod

Save
When asked, OK to Read Nonlinear Stresses and Strains?," select Yes.

Yes

BASIC ANALYSIS

It is possible to change the nonlinear solution parameters, to select solution strategy overrides for
example, but usually unnecessary. For certain problems however, the default settings may not lead
to a solution convergence.

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-12

When the MSC/NASTRAN manager is through running, MSC/NASTRAN will be restored on

your screen, and the Message Review form will appear. To read the message(s), you could select
Show Details. Since the analysis ran smoothly, we will not bother with the details this time.

Continue
14. Process the results.
View/Select...
Deformed Style:

Deform

Deformed and Contour Data...

Output Set:

10..Case 10 Time 1.

Deformation:

1..Total Translation

OK
OK
Present the model to actual scale.

View/Options...
Category:

PostProcessing

Options:

Deformed Style
% of Model (Actual)

Scale Act:

OK
This ensures that the deformed shape is set to the actual scale.

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-13

BASIC ANALYSIS

The deformation shape indicates that the gap did close under the applied loading.

View/Select...
Contour Style:

Beam Diagram

Deformed and Contour Data...

Contour:
OK
OK

3141..Beam EndA Pt3 Comb Stress

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-14

You should now have the following figure in your view screen.

15. Animate the beam.

This beam diagram can be animated right through the loading process.

View/Select...
Deformed Style:

Animate-MultiSet

Deformed and Contour Data...

Output Set:

1..Case 1 Time 0.1

Final Output Set:

10..Case 10 Time 1.

OK
OK
The animation can be controlled with the following menu.

View/Advanced Post/Animation...
Use the Next > or < Previous buttons at your discretion.
It can be observed that the highest stresses do not occur at the maximum loading position, but at the
position just before the gap closes.

Gap Contact - Cantilever

2.5-15

BASIC ANALYSIS

OK
Stop the animation.

View/Select...
Deformed Style:

None - Model Only

Contour Style:

None - Model Only

OK
16. Finally, exit the program.
File/Exit
When asked of you wish to save the model, select Yes.

Yes

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Gap Contact - Cantilever