MSC Nastran/Patran on Strauss

Description

The steps to run MSC Nastran and Patran on Strauss are presented below. This is not a tutorial on Nastran or Patran and is only meant to supply the minimum number of steps to initiate their execution. Please consult the online Nastran documentation and Patran documentation for complete information.

Nastran non-interactive execution

The following command will start Nastran


     nastran input_data_file

where input_data_file is the name of your Nastran input data file with .dat extension. For example, the same results can be produced for ex1.dat as described in the Nastran graphical execution by typing


     % nastran ex1

The output displayed will be similar to the following


     MD Nastran V2006.0 (SUN SPARC SunOS 5.9) Thu Feb  1 14:30:36 2007

     *** USER WARNING MESSAGE (pgm: nastran, fn: validate_lcl_keywords)
         The disk identified by "dbs=." is remotely mounted.

         This could result in significant elapsed time penalties.

     *** SYSTEM INFORMATION MESSAGE (pgm: nastran, fn: estimate_job_requirements)
         Starting ESTIMATE, please wait...

     *** USER INFORMATION MESSAGE (pgm: nastran, fn: estimate_job_requirements)
         Estimated DOF=3
         Estimated memory=32.0MB
         Estimated disk=1.2MB
     MD Nastran beginning job ex1.  PID: 17969.

A successful job will produce a set of files like this one:


      % ls ex1.*
      ex1.DBALL   ex1.dat     ex1.f06     ex1.pch
      ex1.MASTER  ex1.f04     ex1.log

NOTE: The output files will be created in the directory where you started Nastran, not necessarily the directory where the data file resides. Therefore, it is a good idea to create a separate directory for each run, and cd to that directory before running Nastran. If the output files already exist when Nastran tries to create them, it will name the new output files by appending a number to the filenames (e.g. ex1.f01.1, ex1.f04.2)

Nastran interactive (graphical) execution

The steps described here invoke the "interactive" (graphical) mode of Nastran. You must be at a Sun Ray terminal or running an X server package (such as Cygwin or Exceed) order to run Nastran interactively. This interactive version of Nastran may not be available in future releases. Alternatively, you can run Nastran in non-interactive mode.

Type the following command:
```
         xnastran

      
```
The Submit MSC.Nastran Version window will open overlapping the Submit MSC.Nastran interactive window behind it.

NOTE: The Submit MSC.Nastran Version window should disappear in a few seconds. Make the Submit MSC.Nastran window larger before proceeding.
Select the Setup -> MSC.Nastran Version menu item at the top of the Submit MSC.Nastran Version window to display the Setup MSC.Nastran Version window.
In the Run Command box, type /opt/bin/nastran and click the Accept button.
Click the Select File button next to the Input Data File box to select your Nastran input data file. In this example, the input data file ex1.dat is selected. Click the OK button.

The window will disappear and /home/usra/0c/00000/ex1.dat will be displayed in the Input Data File box of the Submit MSC.Nastran window.
To submit the job, use the scroll bar to move to the bottom of the Submit MSC.Nastran window and click the Submit Job button.

This will display the MSC.Nastran window for job ex1.

The last two lines in the window should display
```
     MD Nastran job ex1 completed.
     <EOT>
     
```
Press Return or Enter to close the MSC.Nastran window.
A successful job will produce the same set of files for ex1.dat as described in the Nastran non-interactive mode.
To exit Nastran, select File -> Exit at the top of the Submit MSC.Nastran window.

Patran interactive

Patran is a graphical-only program - there is no "non-interactive" mode as there is in Nastran. You must be at a Sun Ray terminal or running an X server package (such as Cygwin or Exceed) order to run Patran.

Type the following command:
```
     patran

      
```
The MSC.Patran Startup window will open the windowing environment.

NOTE: The MSC.Patran Startup window should disappear after a while and the MSC.Patran 2005 r2 window will be displayed.
To quit Patran, select File -> Quit at the top of the MSC.Patran 2005 r2 window.

Nastran documentation

Nastran documentation can be viewed on the web at

NOTE: This documentation is only viewable by University of Delaware users with a valid UDelNet ID and password. When prompted to login, type your UDelNet ID and password.

Patran documentation

Online help is available from within Patran by selecting the Help menu item at the top of the main window.

Help

Help -> Contents and Index

Displays the entire contents of the Help system.

Help -> PCL

Accesses all PCL Help with a separate contents list and index.

Help -> On Help

Provides additional details on using MSC.Patran Help and navigating the contents.

Help -> Technical Support

Directs you in obtaining the technical support you might need.

Help -> What's New in MSC.Patran

Reports the key hightlights and describes all the new features for MSC.Patran.

Help -> About MSC.Patran

Opens a separate window containing the version and legal notices for the MSC.Patran product software. Click the Cancel button to close the window.

Patran documentation can also be viewed on the web at

http://www.udel.edu/topics/software/special/statmath/msc/naspat/patran-docs/wwhelp.htm

If you still need help

If you need help quickly, call the University of Delaware's IT Help Center at 831-6000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Or you can submit a question via a web request form or e-mail.

MSC Nastran/Patran

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