A number of utility modules exist in MSC.Fatigue to help in the proper set up and interpretation of fatigue analysis. These utilities are a subset of the test-based fatigue software, nSoft, (created by nCode International, MSC’s fatigue technology partner) packaged for the FE-fatigue analyst. They are broken into six main categories:

A brief description is given of each of these categories in this chapter with examples where appropriate. For full details of a module’s operation, see the MSC.Fatigue User’s Guide. Most of the modules described here can be accessed by typing their program name at the system prompt. For example, to invoke MASD, type masd. They can also be accessed from Pre & Post under one of the five pull-down menus found in the Tools |Fatigue Utilities pull-down menu, or from MSC.Patran, under one of the five pull-down menus found in the Tools | MSC.Fatigue pull-down menu.