A new module, MODB, for the data reduction of NASTRAN results is described. NASTRAN analysis results can be filtered and sorted for minimum/maximum values and the printed output resulting from large NASTRAN runs can be limited based on a number of available user options. The sorting is done on stresses, forces and vector quantities like displacements, velocity, and acceleration. The module can be accessed via DMAP alters to existing rigid formats, and has been used on a large number of statics and dynamics problems resulting in considerable savings in cost, time, and the amount of printing

Gallo, M.

Mittal, S.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

A NEW NASTRAN CAPABISiTY FOR DATA REDUCTION 
Michael Gallo and S. Mittal 
Bell Aerospace Textron 
SUMMARY 
A new m. -e, MODB, for the data reduction of NASTRAN results is described. 
N.4STRAN analysis results can be filtered and sorted for minimum/maximum values and 
the printed output resulting from large NASTRAN runs can be limited based on a 
number of available user options. The sorting is done on stresses, forces and 
vector quantities like displaceme?ts, velocity, and acceleration. The module can 
be accessed via DMAP alters to existing rigid formats, and has been used on a 
large number of statics and dynamics problems at Bell Aerospace resulting in 
considerable savings in cost, time, and the amount 3f printing. 
INTRODUCTION 
The high computational speed and large storage capacity of modern computers 
have enabled the analysis of large and complex structures. As a consequence, the 
structural engineer devotes much of his time to visually scanning, processing, and 
interpreting a larse amount of finits element analysis results. This process is 
both time-consuming and error-prone. The way to alleviate the problem is to 
ackomate, whenever possible, the scanning and interpretation of the results, and to 
give the analyst the option to reduce the antount of coctputer output according to his 
engineering requirements. 
The need for these capabilities has been felt for some time and a number of 
proprietary ,~ost-processors have been developed by various NASTRAM users. However, 
none have been integrated into COSMIC/NASTRAN for general use. Bell Aerospace has, 
therefore, developc3 an engineering-oriel-ted module for data re3uction which h ~ s  
been intc.grated into and offered to COSMIC/NASTRAN. M03B is currently in SOSMIC/ 
KASTRAN release April, 1984, at Bell Aerospace Textron. No new Case C ~ r i  31 or 
Bulk Data cards are required for input definition, only existing PARAM ,.. .d DTI cards 
are used. 
This papec describes the dat? reduction module and its capabilities and deman- 
strates its application on an actual analysis. 
DESCRIPTION 3F MODB 
MODB can process any real or complex OFP data block in SORT1 format. This 
includes eiemmt stresses, element forces, loads, displacements, forces of SPC, 
eigenl xtors, velocities, and accelerations. MODB currently contains coding for 
the 75 elemiits that existed in NASTRAN release April, 1982. The code is easily 
modifiable to include new OFP data blocks hnd elements as the need arises. 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19850017563 2020-03-22T19:18:15+00:00Z
User requests are processed to m t e  program conC~ls usat2 to suppress 
elements and to iderrtify vector or el-t type components to be used for 
filtering and/or sorting. For corrplex wectors, stresses, or forces, the user can 
specify a real w n e n t  n-r. T3te vector mrpontnt specified for either real 
or complex vectors rcst be in the range of 1 to 6. Fcr bcth real b-rd -1ex 
stresses and forces, t h  aser irwt component nuher is checke to determine if 
it is in :he ta~.qe of valid coqomnt r.uk?rs for that p&rtlcular element. The 
input data block undergoes a nmber of checks to insure it is valid f ~ r  the current 
version of !UXIB. 
The stress, force, or vector quarhtities in the OFP data block are filtered 
and stored in ccmpatt form in -ry for mbseqwmt use. The packed data is 
sorted and efficiemt data reduction is performed in accordance with the user's 
requiraents, The filtered/sorted data black is output in stan&ard OFP faxmat 
with appropriate labels and printed bf the exiscing CrP aodule, 
llDWl m y  be run either in conjamction vith NASTRAN as c single job or as a 
separate rur. f9llouing a regular WSTRAN analysis for which the n+cessary OPP 
data blocks to be filtered/sortcd have been saved via CHECICPT or by using 
2aAsTmK.s OVrPVfil or otm'ulT2 dules. 
m e  following is a brief description of the different capabilities presently 
available in KiUB: 
c)utput Selection 
NASTRkN Case Control Set cards are used to define lists of node point n e r s ,  
elerent nubers.or frequencies fcr use in output requests in the normal aanner. 
The ml08 user can then limit the data reduction process to selective element 
types and caqomnts t h u g h  Direct Table Input ;UFI) if ht so desires, 
The user has the option to filter/sort element stresses and forces or1 any 
selected stress or force amporrent. Vectors can also be filtered and/or 
sorted on a user specified ccnvponent. In all cases, a default coqmmnt will 
autolatically be selected by the program dependiny on the valw of ~ther 
filter/sort parameters input by the user. 
C )  Mrting: Output in a Preferred Sequence 
Sorting on laaxiru  magnitude, linimm mgnitude, raxiru algebraic valw, or 
minimwn algebraic value is possible, as uell as no sorting in cases whre only 
filtering is desired. Wltiple sorts in the same run m y  be requested. 
D) Filtering: Envelopes of Stresses, Forces, and Vector Quantities 
The user ray define a value which defines a lower bound beyord which the 
search for sorting is to begin. Stresses and forces are filtered on a 
specified stress or force amponent, Vecclors are initially filtered using all 
SIX ooqonents and then or. the user selected omponent, All line it- falling 
below the filter value are not printed. 
El racased output 
The user can contF~l the nvmber of Zincs of printed output. A lutivr of N 
lines w j  11 be output after filtering and,'or sorti? ha - been performed. 
The main input to llOOB coles from MASTECXN OFP type data blocks generated by 
the regular analysis. 2'3e Case Control deck SET cards define the actual elcvmt 
identification nrrkrs and ride .~tabers to be output for each suttase in the 
usual ranncr. The Bulk Data deck contains the main inforamtion requ;~-ecl for 
Qta reduction by mDB, *is infomation is i-t ttrrougA the use of existing 
PARM and DTI cards u.rlass defaults are used, 
In order to use m08, the following DHW staterents lust be inclrded in the 
Emmatiw Control deck either as a replacement for or an addition to the existing 
WP rodule in an-1 rigid format that uses .-l type OF3 data blocks. 
The data block and parameter nares used in the 3bove #UIP statestents rust be 
chanqed depending on the particnrlar rigj-d f o m t  rlsed and CFP *ta block to be 
processed by MKB, The Appendix contains a description of the ixzput ant! output 
data blocks, and parareters used by HUDEL 
A listing of the caqlete input and a sample of the output generated by mDB 
are given in figures 1 and 2. 
Scanning of analysis results and data reduction aay be perforred with the 
aid of HODB in an autmted fashion, thereby eliainating possible errors and 
waste of valuable man hours, hth of which occur rrher~ performing Qta reduction 
in a manual and/or visual ma, As a result, tha analyst is free to devote a 
larqer portion of his time to engineering-oriented dczision rraki~g based upon 
results cbtained in an organized and mmprehensive form. 
The use  of MODB provides the analyst with an efficient and convenient tool for 
the study of KSTRNU analysis results and their presentation for project docu- 
mentation. 
1, W a l l ,  S. E, (&d) : s m  ~ r o g r m r s '  Ibnual. B R - 5 0 ,  September, 1976, 
2. Raibbtein, A, I,; and P i p ,  IS.: RINA - An Interactive System for the 
Rapid Interpretation of tW3TRM Results. Sixth NASTRAiO U s e r s '  Colloquium, 
NASA CP-2018, October, 1976, 
APPENDIX 
ENTRY POIN-l': MDB 
PURPOSE 
To filter and/or sort SORTl OFP formatte3 data blocks. 
M A P  CALLING SEQUFNCE 
IWDB O F P D , I N D T I / O F P D X / C , Y , N I ~ = + O / C , Y ~ B I G E R = O . O / C , Y , S R = O  C,N,STRELTYP=O $ 
INPUT M A  BLOCKS 
OFPD--- Any of the following OFP SORTl data blocks. 
Elenent forces (Majo-: ID = 4 or 1004) 
Element stresses (Major ID = 5 or 1005) 
Displacements (Major ID = 1,1001,15 or 1015) 
Lcads (Major ID = 2 or 1002) 
Force of SPC (Major ID = 3 or 1003) 
Eigenvectors (Paior ID = 7,1007,14 or 1014) 
Velocities (Major ID = 10,1010,16 or 1016) 
Accelerations (Major ID = 11,1011,17 or 1017) 
INDTI--- User input DTI vhich can co3trol the elenents and components to be 
sorted. INDTI may be purged. 
The DTI table consists of pairs of values B .  and C.. 
1 1 
i - Element type identification number (Integer). If the 8 .  value is 0, then the 1 
correspondirig C. value is assumed to be a vector component. 
1 
C. - Stress/Force compnent identification number on which sorting is to be per- 
1 Lonned (Integer) , 
If the C. value is -1, the element type will be suppressed on the output file. 
1 An exampAe of this feature could be as follows: If an element type is to be 
sorted on two different values and output twice, this can be accomplished by 
two calls to WDS with two mique DTI tables. 
NCTES: 
a- Data block OFPD must be Soft",* real or complex. 
b. If OFPP is purged 9r not recognized by MODB, then a non-fatal error will be 
generated and MODB will retura. 
c. If I!JTrI is purged, the defarxlt sorting code will be determined by the value 
that satisfies the condition defined by parameter SRTOPT. 
d. INDTI can be used to modify the SORT codes as follows: 
APPENDIX, con't, 
e. %ch entry is one of the following: 
1) For element types with existing data, two (2) words are used: 
a) Element type code (vectors tise a zsro). 
b) Stress item code. 
f, The data item "ENDRECn must appear following tbe last wrd of the last entry 
input. 
g, A limit of 100 stress items may be handled. New element types having more 
than 1CO items of stress data per element entry cdnnot be handled, The 
TRPLTl elencents have 65 items per element entry. 
t 
OUTPUT DATA BLXKS 
OFPDX--- Filtered and sorted OFP data block. 
1 
Note: OFPDX may not be purged. 
-
0 D7I ' 
PARAMETERS 
I 1 INDTI 
NUm3VT--- Ifiteqer-input-default=O, NiJHOUT controls the number of output lines. 
I 
MJMOUT=O implies that all items will be output after filtering and/or 
sorting has ken  done as controlid by parameters SRTOPT and BIGER. 
! 
I DTI 
NUHCfJT=+N implies that only a maximum of N lines will be output after 
filtering and/or sorting has been done as controlled by parameters 
SRTOFT and BTGER. 
INDTI 
BIGER--- Real-input-default=O.0, BIGER is the filter value below which items 
will not be output, 
1 
Since magnitudes are compared against BIGER, the default value of BIGER 
resalts in IIO filtering. 
+A 
(en 
Stresses and Forces are filtered versus a specific stress or force 
compnen t . 
et~. 
rryl) 
Vectors are filtered initially only if all six (real) degrees of 
freedom are less than BIGER and later, on only the component deter- 
mined by default or IjTI inpat. 
+B 
etc +B 
I (eqtry2) 
. 
+A 
etc. 1 
j +z 
+Z etc 
. 
I L i 
. i ~ N D R E C  i 
L 
i 
APPENDIX, con't. 
SRTOPT--- fntegrr inpct-default=O. Controls the sorting option to be performed. 
Value 
-
Descripti2il 
-1 WI s-~rting, 
0 Sort oil maximum magnitude. 
1 Sort on minimum magnitude. 
2 Sort on maxknum algebraic valve, 
3 Sort or. minimum algebraic value. 
STREI-TY P--- Integer-input-default=O, Controls the element type ta be processed 
for stresses and forces, 
'.fa lue 
-
Description 
C All element types will be processed. 
,GT.O Only element type STRELTYP will be processed. 
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SPHERICAL SHE1.l. U17H PRESSURE LOADING, NO MOMkNTS ON BOUNDARY FEBRUARY 1 1 ,  t Y B 5  RELEASE ACR. 1984 
hASTWAN DEl4ONClRATlON PROBLEM NO. 1-2 
SORTED OW MAXIMUM MAGNITUDE VAI.lIF. . COBPONENT 7 , BIGER 8 .0  , NUMOUT -1  
S T R E S S E S  I N  L E N E R ~ L  ~ R I A N G U L A R  E L E ~ E N T S  ( C I N I A 2 )  
( I N  ELEMENT COORDINATE SYSTEM) 
ELEMENT 
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Sf'HEHICAL SHCLL UITH I'RESSLIHE LUADINL. NO Ml1Ml:NTS ON BOUNLARY FELkUARY 11, 1985 RELEASE APH. 1984 
PASTRAli DLtlONSTKATION PR0BLI:M dO. 1-2 
MIWE GALLO 
S T R E S S E S  I N  G E N E H ~ L  T R I A N G U L A R  E L E N E ~ T S  ( C T R I A Z )  
( I N  ELEHENT COORDlNATE SYSTEM) 
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ID. DISTANCE NORMAL - X  NORMAL-Y SHEAR-XY ANbLE Hb JOR MINOR 
1 -1.500000E+00 -9.680287Et00 -6.203754Et01 4.088985E*QI 28.6850 1.269313E+01 -8.441093€*01 
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NAK 
SME AP 


A New NASTRAN Capability for Data Reduction

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