MSC Sinda for Patran consists of 7 parts:

The MSC Sinda for Patran Preference is the Patran GUI specially designed for MSC Sinda. It is developed based on Patran core and PCL programming. Patran consists of one common core and many preferences. Each preference has a specific translator to create an output file for its specific solver. Therefore, MSC Sinda for Patran is an integral part of Patran. The MSC Sinda for Patran Preference behaves the same way as other Patran preferences. Many specialized features are added into this preference, such as P-Shape geometry (Primitives), new thermal materials and properties, new loads, and new convection correlations. The MSC Sinda for Patran Preference can set up parameters for the MSC Sinda solver, call pat3sdb, sdb2sg, MSC Sinda, import results back, and create the .ini file which consists of solution parameters.

PAT2SDB is the Patran db reader and SINDA DB writer. It reads primitives, materials, properties, nodes, elements, coordinates, fields, loads, and boundaries data from the Patran db, and then processes and stores these data into the SINDA DB.

SINDA DB is an HDF5-based binary format database. HDF5 stands for Hierarchical Data Format version 5. API functions are developed for storing and retrieving thermal objects in large groups or by random access. HDF5 has proven to be much faster than text format files.

SDB2SG retrieves thermal objects from the SINDA DB, further processing and converting them into MSC Sinda input format. In addition to converting the finite element model to its equivalent conductor-capacitor network, SDB2SG also generates thermal radiation models and helps manage the radiation solution process.

The MSC Sinda (MSC Sinda = Systems Improved Numerical Differencing Analyzer/Gaski) software system is especially well-suited for solving large (and possibly nonlinear) thermal problems, especially those that arise from finite element modeling systems like Patran. Iterative numerical schemes make MSC Sinda more efficient in time and memory requirements than the equivalent direct matrix method typically used in finite element solvers.

Thermal Studio is an innovative new way to manage MSC Sinda models and results, including those created with MSC Sinda for Patran. Once created, reports and plots can be dynamically linked to the results, and are automatically updated when the model is rerun.

The user can choose one of the many options for radiation solvers to complete this suite of tools. MSC Sinda for Patran is designed to be independent from the radiation solver. Models built and solved using one radiation solver, through a common PATRAN basis, can be converted to run with any other supported solver with compatible features.

In this User’s Guide, we will introduce MSC Sinda for Patran by the order of Patran GUI icons, from left to right. Rather than introducing all Patran features here, we’ll focus on those features used for thermal analysis. A basic working understanding of Patran is assumed of the user.