Physical Property Definitions

Physical property data is defined using the command 'PROPERTY PHYSICAL ...', and applied to parts or sets using the command 'PROPERTY ATTACH ...'. Solid elements do not require physical property definitions, Beam/Truss, Shell/Membrane, Point Mass, Spring and Damper elements do require properties. The following physical property types are available under the 'PROPERTY PHYSICAL' command:

• SHELL-TH (for Shell/Membrane Elements)
• SEC-AREA (for Truss Elements)
• MASS-PRP (for Point Mass Elements)
• BEAM-PRP (for Beam Elements)
• SPRING (for linear Springs)
• PSPRING (for elastoplastic Springs)
• NSPRING (for nonlinear Springs)
• DAMPER (for linear Dampers)
• NDAMPER (for nonlinear Dampers)

The SHELL-TH property type requires a single thickness value, some additional arguments being optional. The SEC-AREA property requires a single cross-sectional area value and the MASS-PRP property requires a single mass property. The BEAM-PRP property type can have two sets of values depending upon the beam type (Hughes-Liu or Belytschko-Schwer) to which the property is to be attached.

The optional arguments that are not defined or that are assigned zero will take their default values in the DYNA3D input deck.

The SPRING and DAMPER property types require a single value. The PSPRING property type requires three values and the NSPRING and NDAMPER property types need a list of data points. Up to 20 data points (displacement-force or velocity-force pairs) can be entered.

The interface writes the SHELL-TH, SEC-AREA and BEAM-PRP properties as part of the material records in the DYNA3D input file. The properties for Point Masses, Springs and Dampers are written in a separate record entitled 'SPRINGS, DAMPERS AND POINT MASSES'.