Appendix A

Additional Exercises
The following exercises are provided for the advanced user who would like to practice on more practical engineering problems. The descriptions are intentionally brief without the step-by-step description provided in the first set of exercises. For the problems in Appendix, the user is expected to run the complete analysis and verify the results provided. Some of the problems have theoretical and text book results, others are results obtained from making a MSC.Patran model and running it. (Hint: Dont be surprised if you cant get the textbook answers). Either way, a description as to the source of the solution is provided. Users should not attempt these exercises unless they can construct geometry, create a finite element mesh, apply loads, materials and element properties, run the analysis and post-process the results or if they are willing to make a few mistakes and take a few wrong turns while trying. MSC.Patran is intended to be self-explanatory so it is okay to explore and try different techniques to complete each exercise, especially with a qualified instructor present to help when you get lost. An experienced MSC.Patran modeler should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete each problem, including the analysis.

MSC.Patran 301 Exercise Workbook

A -1

Plate with circular hole

This exercise illustrates the affects of a stress concentration factor. The model is a flat plate with a circular hole in the middle.
Things to learn:
s s

Model constraints Discretization error

Model:

1. 100 psi

4.

100 psi

s s s

Thickness =.125 in.

E = 30, 000, 000 psi = 0.3

Answer (Theory of Elasticity, Timoshenko & Goodier, 3rd edition, page 95):

The answer given is the maximum at two points on the plate (Where?).
s s

P -- K f = 100. ( 4.3 ) A xx = 430 psi

A-2

MSC.Patran 301 Exercise Workbook

Cantilever Beam
The classic cantilever beam is the model most studied in Strength of Materials in college. A seemingly simple problem, it is rich in underlying theory and surprisingly hard to model with the finite element method.
Model:

100 lbf

1 10 1

s s

E = 10, 000, 000 psi = 0.3

Hints:
s s

Compare results for beam, shell, and solid elements For a shell, try both planes

MSC.Patran 301 Exercise Workbook

A-3

Answer:

The answers are given as the maximum at any point in the beam.
s

c xx = M I
0.5 12. = 10. 100. ------------------ 1

s s s s

= 6000. psi 3 Pl y = ---------------3EI = 0.04

= 100 12 1000 ----------------------------------30, 000, 000

P- h A - xy = -------- -- -Ib 4 2
= ( ------------------ 0.25 0.5 ) = 150. psi 100 12 1

s s

A-4

MSC.Patran 301 Exercise Workbook

Coffee Cup
The coffee cup is a real-life problem which requires using a field to define the fluid pressure load.
Model:

3 1/2 3

3/4 1 3/8

Cup:
s s s

8 E = 470, 000 psi

-t = 1 in.

= 0.333 lb f density = 0.0362 ------3 in Pr HoopStress --------t --------------------= 0.1 3 8

4 = 0.6 psi
MSC.Patran 301 Exercise Workbook A-5

Coffee:
s

Answer :
s s s

A-6

MSC.Patran 301 Exercise Workbook