Effects of the WTMASS Parameter in NEiNastran

1. Introduction
This example demonstrates the use and effects of the WTMASS parameter in NEiNastran. The model
shown in Figure 1 is a 7 in diameter steel plate with a thickness of 0.125 in. The mesh is comprised of 6
elements along the radial and 24 elements around the circumference.

Figure 1. Disk model

2. Model Properties and Conditions

The disk is constructed of steel that has a Youngs Modulus (E) of 3.0E7 (psi), and a Poissons Ratio (nu)
of 0.3. As is common in English units, the Mass Density will be entered as a Weight Density, in this case
0.3 (lbs/in3). The plate property defines a thickness of 0.125 (in). The boundary conditions for this
example are a fixed condition around the perimeter of the disk. Constrain all 6 Degrees of Freedom at
each node on the disks perimeter.

3. Effect on Mass Properties and Gravity Loading

First, a load of 1 g in the negative Z-direction is applied to the model. Because the mass density on the
material definition was entered in weight units, the gravity load must be applied in factors of g; in this
case, the magnitude of the gravity load is 1.
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The total weight of the model can be readily calculated as the volume of the disk times the weight density
of the material. The weight of this model is 1.44 lbs. Under a 1 g load, the resultant load vector should
be the weight of the model, in this case -1.44 in the Z-direction.
NEiNastran reports a total mass in the results summary file of:
TOTAL MASS = 1.426740E+00
And a load vector resultant of:
SUBCASE

T1

T2

T3

R1

R2

R3

0.00000E+00

0.00000E+00

-1.42674E+00

0.00000E+00

0.00000E+00

0.00000E+00

The 0.7% difference from theory is attributed to the discretization of the disk. Adding more elements
around the circumference would better approximate the curvature of the perimeter, therefore improving
the accuracy of the model. For most all FEA analysis, this error is acceptable.

4. Effect on Normal Modes Analysis

The WTMASS parameter plays an important role in performing dynamic analysis. Often, as in this case,
the FEA model is built for a stress analysis, and for convenience, weight density is used in place of mass
density. This presents a problem when a dynamic analysis is required of the model. Dynamic analysis
requires that the density be supplied in mass units. The WTMASS parameter can be specified to convert
the global mass matrix from weight to mass units.
To convert weight to mass, the weight must be multiplied by a factor of the reciprocal of the gravitational
acceleration in the correct units. In our example, the weight density is in lbs/in3. The WTMASS
parameter for this model is:

1 1 1 ft
1
2
=
= 0.002588 s in .

=
ft
g 32.2 s 2 12in 386.4 in s 2

Table 1 shows a comparison of this model run with the WTMASS parameter correctly specified, as
compared to the theoretical natural frequencies of this disk.

Table 1. Disk model frequencies

Mode # Theoretical (Hz)
NEiNastran (Hz)
1
986.3
994.7
2
2050.0
2086.9

Error (%)
-0.85
-1.8

If the WTMASS parameter is not specified for this model, errors of 95% result. The WTMASS parameter
is very important to the accuracy of a dynamic solution when the density has been entered on the
material card in weight units.

5. Discussion of NEiNastran vs. MSC.Nastran WTMASS parameters

The WTMASS parameter is specified in identical manners in both versions of Nastran. However, the
versions differ in how the WTMASS conversion is used. Both versions of Nastran modify the mass
matrix with the scalar value specified with the WTMASS parameter. In MSC.Nastran this modified matrix
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is used in the calculations of gravity loads, and generation of mass properties. This results in output that
has all been converted to mass units, leaving the user to back out the conversion factor to return to load
factors, and model weight. In NEiNastran, this matrix modification is done after the mass properties and
gravity loads are calculated. This results in more user friendly output; total mass is reported in the
expected weight units.