Patran, one of the world’s most widely used pre- and post-processing software for Finite Element Analysis (FEA), introduces new capabilities in version 2024.1. This release expands Patran’s rotor dynamics capabilities, adds HDF5 support, MSC Nastran Card support, supports the new high-performance solver in SOL400 and enhances the graphic interface.
Patran 2024.1 Release Highlights
- Rotordynamics
The new Rotor dynamics capabilities offer faster, more user-friendly solutions. The updated graphical interface eases the flow of analysis and adds additional functionality.
A completely new user interface facilitates job setup for rotordynamics. The interface guides the user through multiple steps, allowing them to specify all relevant parameters, including rotation speed and rotor ID, which makes identifying the rotor in the post-processing phase easier.
Multiple rotors can now be included in the same analysis. Different rotors can also be modelled using different techniques, mixing 1D, 2D, and 3D models. The reference rotor can be easily identified, and different rotational speeds can be assigned to the rotors in the model. The correct critical frequency can also be assigned to each rotor.
Patran also completely supports nonlinear harmonic response for MSC Nastran SOL 128. In Patran 2024.1, harmonic elements (CQUADX/TRIAX/PAXSYMN) and rigid connections via RBAX3D connectors are now supported. Users can now specify loads and boundary conditions in a variety of formats (tabular, product, power, radial gap, squeeze film damper, and 3D bush loadings).
- Model Import via HDF5:
Users now have several options for handling model and results data from HDF5 files. Users can import the model and attach the results from the HDF5 file in a single step (method: “Both”), attach only results (method: “Result Entities”), or only import model data (method: “Model Data”)
- Composites enveloping:
Patran is now able to visually identify which elements (in each ply) have the maximum or minimum values of stress, strain, or any other available result.
- New Nastran Card Support: NLMOPTS,NLSSEL options for NLPERF:
- New Nastran Card Support: ACCEL and ACCEL1 Support:
- ACCEL1: This load type is applied at specified nodes, offering localized control over the analysis.
- ACCEL: ACCEL is uniformly applied across the entire model without specifying any application region.
- New Nastran Card Support: MDLPRM OFFDEF:
- Standard Nastran offsets (ELMOFF)
- Large Rotation offsets (LROFF)
- Graphical enhancements: Supports property and material-based rendering:
Patran now supports property and material-based rendering in addition to entity type and group rendering. The render/display option provides more than 16 colours through new rendering methods. This version also includes model browser tree improvements and improved performance.
- Graphical enhancements- The streamlined ribbon menu corresponds with legacy Patran:
The “Classic Mode” of Patran guides the user through the modelling workflow, with options conveniently arranged in sequential steps flowing from left to right. The new ribbon menu mimics this behaviour and corresponds to the familiar “Classic Mode” view of Patran.
- Removal of legacy support for importing BDF and attaching OP2:
MSC Nastran deprecated the i4 format, making Patran 2023.4 the last version which used the i4 toolkit to import MSC Nastran files and attach OP2 files. These capabilities are now removed from Patran 2024.1.
Quick References
- Documentation
