Patran

Patran Information

Vendor: MSC Software web site
Category: 3-D mechanical computer-aided engineering
Help and Support : From the Patran main menu bar, select Help for access to the user's guide and reference manuals. For context-sensitive help, press F1 from any Patran form.

Patran Description

Patran is an open-architecture, 3-D mechanical computer aided-engineering software package. Patran incorporates interactive graphics to provide a complete CAE (viewing) environment. It is used to link engineering design, analysis, and results evaluation functions. Patran can be used for finite element modeling in order to conceptualize, develop, and test a product through computer-based simulations. The modeling, meshing, and post processing tasks can be used with several finite element solvers including ANSYS and ABAQUS.

Patran Usage

What It Does

Through an interactive pull-down menu, point and node geometry is created. Elements, solids, and surfaces may be created to incorporate large geometric areas. The entire model can be meshed with different constraints to apply different loading patterns. Analyze the full model before using it in a finite element solver.

How It Is Used

Patran is available on Linux workstations, and can be accessed from Windows computers using the NX Client. In Linux or in the X-Session terminal, type patran at a shell prompt. New files can be created or previous CAE designs may be imported. It is important to specify what type of finite element output file should be created.

Trouble opening a Patran file or creating a new file?

If you experience trouble opening a Patran file, try 1) finding a machine that is lightly utilized; or 2) moving your file to /var/tmp/yourdir on the local machine. Be sure to copy all files that you want to keep back to your home directory (H: drive) when you finish running Patran. Files in /var/tmp are not backed up and are cleaned out at the end of every semester. You are responsible for moving the file to permanent storage.

1. Create a directory in your home directory for Patran files and put Patran-related files in that directory.
mkdir problem1where problem1 is the directory you are creating

2. Create a directory in /var/tmp to store your output Patran files. This is temporary space which is NOT backed up and is deleted at the end of every semester or sooner if the disk fills up. You must copy any files you want to keep back to your home directory.
mkdir /var/tmp/name where name is the directory you are creating. You can use your login name to name this directory.

3. Copy your Patran files to /var/tmp/name
cp xxx /var/tmp/name where xxx are the files you want to copy.

4. Change to the /var/tmp/name directory
cd /var/tmp/name

5. Run Patran. Type patran at the command prompt.

6. When you have Patran results, copy those files to your home directory
cp xxx /path where path is where you want to store these files.
If you choose to store them in the directory created in step 1 above, use cp xxx ~/problem1

updated: 23 December 2008