MSC.FlightLoads and Dynamics is invoked using the p3fld or the mscfld command. These two commands are the same as the command that invokes MSC.Patran except that it uses the -ifile option to replace the use of the init.pcl file with the init_fld.pcl file that MSC.FlightLoads and Dynamics needs. This displays the familiar MSC.Patran main form. Users can still run MSC.Patran from these two commands.

When a new database is opened, the New Model Preferences form displays and the user can access FlightLoads by selecting Aeroelasticity as the Analysis Type; this allows for immediate aeroelastic modeling and analysis. If the user chooses an Analysis Type of Structural or Thermal, FlightLoads is subsequently accessed in an existing database through the Preferences/Analysis menu. FlightLoads coexists with the available structural and thermal analyses in the MSC.Nastran Preference as an aeroelastic analysis.

After the Aeroelasticity preference is picked, a menu customized for MSC.FlightLoads and Dynamics displays.

Many of the options available in a Structural analysis type (such as LBCs and Materials) disappear from the main menu. The Geometry switch is available to assist in the definition of the aerodynamic model. If the FlightLoads switch is selected, the MSC.FlightLoads and Dynamics main menu displays.

This main menu has six modules. Select an option to display the main form for that module.

Most of this MSC FlightLoads and Dynamics User’s Guide is devoted to an explanation of the menus that are accessed from this main menu. The next five chapters of this manual gives detailed information on each of the options. Note that the Options module is as part of the Model Management section of Chapter 3.

A general description of each of the MSC FlightLoads and Dynamics main options follows.

Chapter 3 - Aero Modeling module allows the user to define the aerodynamic geometry, including wings, bodies and control surfaces. The release supplies the aerodynamics currently available in MSC.Nastran to perform static aeroelastic analysis, namely the Doublet- Lattice (subsonic) and ZONA51 (supersonic) aerodynamics and flutter. See Panel Aerodynamics (App. A). Aero Modeling includes the management of various aerodynamic models, the creation and subsequent processing of the aerodynamic lifting surfaces and bodies, the definition of control systems, and various other model visualization and verification tools.

Chapter 4 - Aerodynamics module allows the user to define the aerodynamics as steady or unsteady and set global data.

Chapter 5 - Aeroelasticity module is used to couple and subsequently analyze the aerodynamic and structural models. MSC.FlightLoads and Dynamics provides for model evolution (i.e., beam - stick to 3D FEM Structural models) and for the coexistence of multiple aerodynamic mesh representations. Data reuse is also supported. Aerodynamics and aeroelastic data can be archived for subsequent reuse in analysis. A variety of static aeroelastic analyses can be performed, including flexible trim, rigid trim and the calculation of flexible load increments.

Chapter 6 - Results Browser is a key feature of MSC.FlightLoads and Dynamics. It allows the user to view external loads on the aerodynamic and structural models, providing insight into the flight environment. The graphical display of these loads is extremely useful in spotting modeling errors or areas for model refinement. External loads data can reside in an aerodynamic or aeroelastic database, an MSC.Patran database or an MSC.Nastran results file.

Chapter 7 - Import/Export is used to support the extensive legacy information that exists for MSC.Nastran aeroelasticity. The user can now import aerodynamic and spline models from an existing MSC.Nastran bulk data file and subsequently manipulate this data using the Aero Modeling module.