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The MSC/PATRAN FAQ

8. Materials

Q8.1 : Is there are library of properties for standard materials?

No.

Q8.2 : I have an object which consists of 2 different materials. How do I specify the different materials?

Create 2 separate Geometry groups and construct the geometry separately. Using the Materials form define the 2 materials. Then post one geometry group only and using the Properties form select the appropriate material from the form which comes up when you click on Input Properties.... Both materials will be listed in th box marked Material Property Sets.

When assigning this set of properties to the geometry select the `geometry' icon from the `select menu'.

Now post the other geometric group and repeat the above steps.

Q8.3 : I am doing a plane stress analysis and the geometry even though consisting of a single material has 2 regions with different thicknesses. How do I specify these?

Define the material properties in the usual manner using the Materials form.

Create 2 separate Geometry groups and build the geometry with different thicknesses separately.

Click on the radio button Properties. Give the property set a name and then click on the Input Properties... button. Select the previously defined material from the Material Property Sets and enter the appropriate thickness in the box marked Thickness. Click on OK.

In the original form in assigning this set of properties to the geometry select the `geometry' icon from the `select menu'.

Now post the other geometric group and repeat the above steps.

Q8.4 : What constitutive models are available?

Click on the radio button Materials and click on the option Isotropic Object. This will reveal the following options :

Isotropic
2d Orthotropic (Lamina)
3d Orthotropic
3d Anisotropic
Composite

Click on the button marked Input Properties.... Then click on Elastic for the Constitutive Model category. This reveals the following choices if Elastic was chosen.

Elastic
Hyperelastic
Viscoelastic
Deformation Plasticity
Plastic
Failure
Creep
Thermal

If a selection other than Elastic is made on the original form then an appropriate subset of the above constitutive models will be available for selection.

Q8.5 : How can I check what different materials have been assigned to the finite element mesh?

In the form Properties make the following selections :

Action :  Show

Existing Properties : Material Name

Display Method : Marker Plot

Select Group : Select the finite element mesh group

Then click on Apply.

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