The Materials application provides the ability to define groups of analysis code specific material properties. Materials or “material models” are created as named groups of individual properties. Each group is intended to provide only the information necessary to define a material for use with a specific analysis code, analysis type, and possibly a specific element type. There is no intent to provide a complete material specification or database “undo.”

A single Material may, however, have multiple Constitutive Models associated with it. Thus, a material might have an elastic representation and an inelastic one under the same name. The specific representation of a given material used for an analysis is controlled via the Material Status. Patran will attempt to use all Active Constitutive Models when an analysis is submitted. To use a simple elastic model for check runs, set all other Constitutive Models Inactive. To use a more complex model for detailed studies, set the simpler Constitutive Models Inactive.

Material property data may be obtained directly from the Patran Mvision material databases through the Patran Materials, as well as input directly. There is also the capability to define and assign materials in name only. This permits property data to be included in run files external to Patran.

Material Property Fields can be created which define distributions of any property with respect to any combination of temperature, strain, or strain rate. Materials remain in the database unless specifically deleted and thus provide an archival record. The ability to display properties versus temperature, strain, and strain rate is provided in either tabular form or as XY plots. Resultant stiffness and compliance matrices can also be displayed.

Material Names: The material name may be assigned as a character string or an integer (e.g.,18, m:18 or MATRL.18). Use a number if the material number is significant to the analysis code, such as a pointer to a materials library.

Material Property: A material property is any information used to create a material model that is required by a specific analysis code. These include items such as density, specific heat, elastic modulus, Poisson’s ratio, etc.

Material: Also called a Material Model. A group of material properties that, when combined, provide all necessary information to define a material as required by the selected analysis code. Materials have an associated name and description. These are supplied by the user.

Material Property Fields: A Material Property Field is a distribution of a material property with respect to temperature, strain, strain rate, time or frequency. It is defined by tables that are input in the Fields top menu selection. An example would be the dependence of an elastic modulus on temperature.

XY Plot: Virtually all material properties can be displayed as XY Plots with the X-axis being temperature, strain, or strain rate. For bivariate properties, additional curves can be plotted at different values of the third variable. See Overview of the XY Plot Application (Ch. 1) in the Patran User’s Guide for more information.

The Materials application has the capability of creating, deleting, modifying, and showing materials.

Materials are created and stored in the database as named groups of property data. Each group has a unique name and is associated with one analysis type (e.g., structural), one analysis code (e.g., MSC Nastran), and in some cases one element type. Multiple models involving different Constituent Models can be created under the same Material name. The particular model used for an analysis is controlled by the Constituent Model Status.

Materials can be visually displayed as XY Plots of a selected property plotted as a function(s) of temperature, strain, or strain rate. Multiple curves can be created and included in the same plot, permitting comparisons to be made between materials. Properties can also be displayed as tables. Both stiffness and compliance matrices which result from the input values can be displayed.

The Materials function provides a straightforward and convenient means for taking property data, whether from fields or direct input, and grouping it in specific formats for code dependent element property definition. These data are grouped as a named Material. Materials can be created, deleted, modified or shown. Key features of the Materials function are: