Idealizations

This is where all element physical properties are grouped in the Model tree. The Idealizations branch consists of up to four sub-branches:

• Solids
• Shells
• Beams
• Concentrated Masses

To access the Idealizations dialog, take one of the following two actions:

• Click Idealizations in the Prepare panel of the Autodesk Inventor Nastran ribbon tab.

  

• Right-click Idealizations in the model tree and select New.

The dialog shown below appears:

The following sections are available in the Idealizations form:

• Name: Enter a name for the property in this field, for example, Solid Property.
• ID: The ID of the property is automatically updated by Autodesk Inventor Nastran, similar to Materials.
• Type (default is Solid Elements): Select the type of property for the part:
  • Solid Elements: 3D linear and parabolic tetrahedral elements.
  • Shell Elements: 2D quadrilateral and triangular elements.
  • Line Elements: 1D elements with 6 degrees of freedom.
• Line Element Type: Three types of line elements are available.
  • Bar
  • Beam
  • Pipe
• Add to Analysis: This checkbox automatically puts assigns this Idealization to the current analysis (it appears within the Analysis branch of the model tree).

  You can define a material or idealization having it participating in an analysis. These items always appear in the Model branch of the tree (bottom half). From there, you can copy them to the active analysis. The Add to Analysis checkbox is activated by default.

• Material: This allows defining the new material in the same physical property dialog, as well as assigns the defined material. It puts it automatically under physical property.
• Color: Allows you to pick the color of the physical property which reflects as mesh color on the screen.

  

• Associated Geometry: When this option is NOT activated, the properties are assigned to the entire model (all faces, parts, or sketch entities). Activate the Associated Geometry option for Shell elements to select one or more specific faces, parts, or sketch entities to which you want to assign the Idealization properties. This option is applicable to the following element types:
  • Solid Elements: The Associated Geometry option is applicable to assemblies. Choose the part or parts within the assembly to which to assign the Idealization properties.
  • Shell Elements: Choose the face or faces to which to apply the Idealization properties.
  • Line Elements: Under Input Type, choose the sketch entities to which to apply the Idealization properties:
    • Property Input
    • Cross-Section
    • Structural Member

  For Structural Members, the cross-sectional properties are dictated by the Inventor Frame Generator.

The other sections in this form vary sightly depending on the Type of element selected and the Input Type chosen. Click the links at the bottom of the page to see more info on these topics.

Idealizations can be dragged and dropped, or copied and pasted, from the Model branch of the tree to the Analysis branch.

Once a new Idealization is added to the Analysis it appears under the appropriate sub-group (Solids, Shells, or Beams).

If you right-click on an Idealizations sub-group in the Analysis section of the tree (Solids, Shells, Beams, or Concentrated Masses), the following options are available from the context menu: