MSC Nastran > Running an Analysis > 3.11 Non-Structural Mass Properties
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX''">XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX''">   
3.11 Non-Structural Mass Properties
MSC Nastran non-structural mass (NSM and NSML) are now supported in Patran.
Note: NSM and NSML are used to define masses that affect the behavior of specific element types but are not directly part of the structure of the model. NSM and NSML support:
Line Element Types
Surface Element Types
Property Types
CBAR, CBEAM, CBEND, CONROD, CROD, CTUBE
CCONEAX, CQUAD4, CQUAD8, CQUADR, CRAC2D, CSHEAR, CTRIA3, CTRIA6, CTRIAR
CONROD, PBAR, PBARL, PBCOMP, PBEAM, PBEAML, PBEND, PCOMP, PCONEAX. PRAC2D, PROD, PSHEAR, PSHELL, PTUBE
NSM and NSML forms are available through the Tools menu.
Selecting NSM Properties displays the NSM Properties form. NSM Properties forms are MSC Nastran preference specific.
NSM mass can be applied as Lumped or Distributed.
Non-structural mass can be applied to elements or property sets.
A Select form has been added to allow for the selection of NSM properties. Multiple sets of NSMs can be defined in the model. Only the selected sets will be used in the analysis.
The following examples display results of applying lumped and distributed NSMs.