View Manipulation Group

Interactive Triad Design Exploration

Transform Tools Materials

Geometry Primatives Material Dependency

Geometry Create Tools Beams

Geometry Edit Tools 2D Element Properties

Meshing Tools/Meshing Control Tools 3D Element Properties

FEM Edit Tools/ID Management Tools Sheets/Stacks

Loads and Constraints/Initial Conditions Modal Damping

Loads and Constraints/Constraints Parameters and System Cells

Loads and Constraints/Structural Loads Keyboard Shortcuts

FEA Model Build

Loads and Constraints/Gravity, Rot. Force and Accn.

Loads and Constraints/Dynamic Loads

Loads and Constraints/Thermal Loads

Attribution Tools/Properties

Cheat Sheet
Interactions/Interactions and Ties

Interactions/Discrete Connectors

Interactions/Bolts

Sensors and Instrumentation

Coordinate System
MSC Apex and MSC Nastran
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View Manipulation (Mouse) Transform Tools 3 Points Circle Creates a circle by specifying three points on its circumference.

Move or copy selected geometric components of a model to a

Drag MMB Rotates the model Transform 3 Points Arc Creates an arc by specifying three points along the arc.
new location and orientation (translation, rotation or mirror).

Drag RMB Pans the model Point Defines points by specifying their locations.

Geometry Primatives Chamfer Creates a chamfer of a given length at a specified location.

Drag MMB
Regular zoom. Zooms the model from/to center of screen
+LMB together Creates a rectangular piece of solid geometry with specified
Box Split Splits a single sketch object into two objects at the selected point.
length, width, and height in selected coordinate system.

Scroll wheel Scroll wheel zoom. Zooms the model from/to cursor location Cylinder Creates cylindrical primitive geometry. Edit Edits dimensions of an existing sketch.

Click LMB +
Fit view. Fits the entire model contents into the viewport Sphere Creates spherical primitive geometry.
RMB together
Hold down Ellipsoid Creates elliptical primitive geometry. Geometry Edit Tools
LMB + RMB Fit isometric view. Fits the entire model contents into the viewport
together for AND orients the model into the default isometric view Vertex/Edge
Edits curves or surfaces by dragging their vertices and edges.
400 ms Drag
Drag LMB + Window zoom. Lets you draw a rectangle to which you can zoom
Geometry Create Tools Filler Fills geometrical holes and gaps in geometry.
RMB together once you release your fingers from the mouse
While dragging Rectangle with Stitch Stitches curve bodies and/or edges of sheet bodies together by
Creates a rectangle by selecting two opposite vertices.
MMB if you 2 Points Geometry selecting the bodies you wish to connect.
Toggle pan/rotate. Lets you toggle between panning and rotating.
click LMB or Modifies geometry by pushing and pulling solid faces, 2D
Polyline Creates a rectangle by selecting two opposite vertices. Push/Pull
RMB surfaces, or the edges of solid bodies.
Center Point Creates a circle sketch by specifying the center point and a point The defeature tool removes holes, fillets, and chamfers from your
RMB click This launches the context menu. Defeature
Cirlce on its circumference. model by clicking on the feature.
Defines an ellipse by specifying a center point and points on two
Ellipse Curves Creates curves using multiple creation methods.
axes.
Geometry Provides options to perform selected geometry cleanup
Interactive Triad Center Point Arc Sketches an arc by specifying a center point and end points.
Cleanup operations with specific tolerance values.
View normal to Merge, Subtract, or Intersect existing solid geometry to create new
Click axis label Fillet Sketches an arc by specifying a center point and end points. Boolean
plane geometric entities.
Rotate about Geometry from Creates faceted geometry and optionally analytical and NURBS
Click axis Trim Sketches an arc by specifying a center point and end points.
axis Mesh geometry from CAD-like mesh or STL imported as mesh
View isometric Projects vertex, node, curve or surface entities onto the current Creates a surface through the selected curves or edges with start
Click ball Project Surface Loft
orientation sketch plane. and end tangency matching existing geometry.
Rectangle with Create a datum plane by the location on geometry, or 1-3 points,
Creates a rectangle by selecting three vertices. Datum Plane
3 Points or a coordinate system axis.
Creates a spline with continuous curvature through selected
Spline Split Surfaces Surface splitting tool providing three methods.
points.

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Geometry Edit Tools (Cont.) Meshing Tools/Meshing Control Tools FEM Edit Tools/ID Management Tools
Add/Remove Adds an additional vertex to selected geometry, or removes a Creates a bar mesh on curves, edges, or other one-dimensional
Curve Mesh Node Move Moves nodes by dragging to adjust the mesh.
Vertex topologically insignificant vertex by clicking on it. geometry.
Splits curves at intersections with selected faces, curves, or MSC Nastran Entity: depends on specified properties (e.g. CBAR/CBEAM, Merges selected adjacent nodes within a tolerance distance of
Split Curves Node Merge
points. Keyword linear/quadratic elements) each other into a shared node to create a continuous mesh.
Revolves geometry about an axis or sweeps it along a path to Creates a mesh of quadrilateral or triangular elements on Distributes the selected nodes evenly along a path between the
Revolve/Sweep Surface Mesh Node Align
create higher order geometry. surfaces or the faces of solid geometry bodies end points or along a specified curve.
Suppress/Unsup MSC Nastran Entity: depends on specified properties (e.g. CTRI/CQUAD, Splits existing elements at selected geometry or along a path
Suppresses or unsuppresses edges and vertices. Element Split
press Keyword linear/quadratic elements) defined by nodes.
Creates a point nearest the cursor location on the selected curve Element Reverses the element normal direction of the selected shell
Points Solid Mesh Meshes solid geometry with tetra, hex and/or pyramid elements.
or surface, or at an X-Y-Z position entered. Orientation elements.
MSC Nastran Entity: CTETRA/CHEXA/CPENTA/CPYRAM, linear/quadratic Element Allows you to separate elements to rearrange the model structure
Extend Surfaces Extends surfaces to intersect with adjacent geometry.
Keyword elements Separate to better match the need of users.
Shrink Wrap Creates a watertight mesh from multiple disconnected bodies Renumber Renumbers nodes or elements for selected parts and/or
Split Tool Splits existing geometry along an existing surface or plane.
Mesh that are in close proximity of each other. Entities assemblies by providing either a starting ID or an offset value.
Converts Imported STL or other organic shaped Facet bodies to MSC Nastran
Facet to NURBS Entity: CTRI/CQUAD, linear/quadratic elements
NURBS. Keyword
Creates a node at the cursor location, at a selected arc’s center,
MidSurface Tools to create midsurfaces from solid geometry. Node Create
or at an intersection of two selected curves.
MSC Nastran
Entity: GRID
Keyword
Defines the mesh density along a selected edge by specifying the
Seeding
size or number of elements to be created.
This tool allows you to define seed points and mesh control
Mesh Control
curves to control the mesh on a surface.
Feature Mesh Defines meshing parameters for features, allowing control over
Settings the meshing of different auto-recognized regions of the model.

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 Loads/Constraints Follow the link for
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Constraint 1D Axial Defines enforced axial deformation for one-dimensional

Loads and Constraints/Initial Conditions Combine multiple constraints.
Combination Deformation elements.
Initial MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Defines constant initial temperature for selected entities. Entity: SPCADD Entity: DEFORM
Temperature Keyword Keyword
MSC Nastran
Entity: TEMP, TEMPD, TEMPP1, TEMPN1 Bolt Preload Defines properties for Bolt Preload.
Keyword
MSC Nastran
Initial Strain Defines initial equivalent plastic strain values. Loads and Constraints/Structural Loads Entity: FORCE
Keyword
MSC Nastran
Entity: IPSTRAIN Force Applies a force load to the model at the selected locations.
Keyword
Initial Disp. MSC Nastran
Defines Initial displacement and velocity for the selected entities. Entity: FORCE, FORCE1, FORCE2 Loads and Constraints/Gravity, Rot. Force and Acceleration
and Velocity Keyword
MSC Nastran Applies gravitational acceleration with a specified magnitude and
Entity: TIC Pressure Applies a pressure to a selected face in the model. Gravity Load
Keyword direction.
Initial Beam MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Defines Initial beam temperature for selected entities. Entity: PLOAD, PLOAD2, PLOAD4 Entity: GRAV
Temperature Keyword Keyword
MSC Nastran Load Scale Rotational
Entity: TEMPRB, TEMPB3 Applies a load scale factor to the model at the selected locations. Applies a rotational force to the model at the selected locations.
Keyword Factor Force
MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Initial Stress Defines initial stress values. Entity: DAREA Entity: RFORCE
Keyword Keyword
MSC Nastran Beam Dist. Applies a beam distributed load to the model at the selected Acceleration
Entity: ISTRESS Defines static acceleration loads.
Keyword Load locations. Load
MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Entity: PLOAD1, PLOADB3 Entity: ACCEL, ACCEL1
Keyword Keyword
Creates a lug load where a force is distributed over a curved
Loads and Constraints/Constraints Lug Load
surface.
Constrains the selected locations in the specified degrees of MSC Nastran
Constraint Entity: PLOAD4 Loads and Constraints/Dynamic Loads
freedom. Keyword
MSC Nastran Applies a dynamic load to the model by selecting the excitation
Entity: SPC, SPC1 Moment Applies a moment load to the model at the selected locations. Dynamic Load
Keyword loads.
Exclude DOF Defines a set of degrees of freedom that will be excluded from the MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Entity: MOMENT, MOMENT1, MOMENT2 Entity: RLOAD1, RLOAD2, TLOAD1, TLOAD2, ACSRCE
AUTOSPC AUTOSPC operation. Keyword Keyword
MSC Nastran Enforced
Entity: AUTOSPC (SPCOFF), AUTOSPC (SPCOFF1) Applies enforced motion to a point in your model.
Keyword Motion
MSC Nastran
Support Defines the reference degree of freedom for rigid body motion. Entity: SPCD, SPCR
Keyword
MSC Nastran Load
Entity: SUPORT, SUPORT1 Combine multiple loads.
Keyword Combination
MSC Nastran
Entity: LOAD, DLOAD
Keyword

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Loads and Constraints/Thermal Loads Interactions/Interactions and Ties Sensors and Instrumentation
Applies a constant or spatially varying temperature to the selected Defines interaction, such as glued, touching and self-contact, Monitors output of specific degre of freedom channels at a
Temperature Interaction Point Sensor
entities as a thermal load. between multiple parts independent of their existing mesh. specified location.
MSC Nastran MSC Nastran Entity: BCBODY1, BCONECT, BCONPRG, BCONPRP, X-Section Defines a cross section location for a cross section force sensor
Entity: TEMP, TEMPD, TEMPP1, TEMPN1
Keyword Keyword BCONTACT, BCPARA, BCTABL1, BSURF Force Sensor to demonstrate transmitted loads in post processing.
Beam Applies a temperature to the beam elements for determination of Creates a rigid or compliant tie between multiple points and a
Discrete Tie
Temperature thermal loading. single point.
MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Entity: TEMPRB, TEMPB3 Entity: RBE2, RBE3 Coordinate System
Keyword Keyword
Mesh Defines a relationship between edges and faces of seperate parts Coordinate Allows you to create a user defined rectangular, cylindrical, or
Dependent Tie to ensure a congruent connected mesh between them. System spherical coordinate system with location and orientation.
MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Attribution Tools/Properties Entity: N.A. (Model Build Concept-Only) Entity: CORD2C, CORD2R, CORD2S
Keyword Keyword
Auto- Uses original solid geometry to automatically define thickness Assign Coord. Specifies an existing coordinate system to be used as the
Thickness and offset section properties for midsurface elements. System analysis coordinate system for specific entities.
Thickness and Applies thickness and offset field values to selected entities in the
Offset Field model.
Interactions/Discrete Connectors
Material Creates a connector, based on multiple types, between entites in
Applies material orientation to selected entities in the model. Connector Group
Orient. Field your model.
Defines an interface with associated degrees of freedom for MNF MSC Nastran Entity: CELAS2, CDAMP2, CBUSH1D, CBUSH, RBAR, CBAR,
Interface Group Creates a group for arbitrary entities.
Export. Keyword CGAP, CFAST
MSC Nastran Creates joints with specific degrees of freedom based on the
Entity: ASET1, SET3 Joint
Keyword selected joint type and orientation.
Nonstructural MSC Nastran
Applies mass per area or length to selected entities in the model. Entity: RBE2, RBE3 Design Exploration
Mass Keyword
MSC Nastran Design The Design Variables are named entities that can define a single
Entity: NSM1, NSML1
Keyword Variable value, a continuous range of value or a discrete set of values.
Applies the specified mass and inertia properties at the location
Point Mass
specified, connected to one or more existing nodes.
Interactions/Bolts
MSC Nastran
Entity: CONM2 3D Bolt Defines properties for 3D bolt.
Keyword
Defines composite panels by arranging plies of specific materials MSC Nastran
Panels Entity: BOLT1
with specified othickness and orientation. Keyword
MSC Nastran
Entity: MAT8, PCOMPG Bolt Preload Defines properties for Bolt Preload.
Keyword
MSC Nastran
Entity: FORCE
Keyword

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 Properties, Damping and Parameters Follow the link for
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Beams 3D Element Properties Parameters and System Cells

MSC Nastran MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Type Description Type Description Type Description
Keyword Keyword Keyword
Shape - Defines The Properties Of A Bar Element By Interface Nonlinear Element Used To Simulate Parameters,
PBAR PCOHE Numerous Refer To Documentation
Numeric Bar Numerical Values. Cohesive Zone Delamination. Bulk Data
Shape - Defines The Properties Of A Beam Element By Nonlinear Parameters,
PBEAM PLSOLID Nonlinear Hyperelastic Solid Element. Numerous Refer To Documentation
Numeric Beam Numerical Values. Hyperelastic Case Control
Shape - Defines The Properties Of A Beam Element By Nonlinear Additional Nonlinear Properties Of Solid
PBEAML PSLDN1 System Cells Numerous Refer To Documentation
Standard Cross-Sectional Dimensions. Solid Elements.
Shape - Defines The Properties Of A Rod Element By
PROD Solid PSOLID Properties Of Solid Elements.
Numeric Bar Numerical Values.

2D Element Properties Sheets/Stacks

MSC Nastran MSC Nastran
Type Description Type Description
Keyword Keyword
Nonlinear Nonlinear Properties For A Plane Strain/Stress Or Orthotropic material for isoparametric shell
PLPLANE Sheet MAT8
Plane Axisymmetric Element. elements.
Defines global ply IDs and properties for a
Shear Panel PSHEAR Properties Of A Shear Panel. Stack PCOMPG
composite material laminate.
Nonlinear
PSHEARN Nonlinear Properties Of A Shear Panel.
Shear Panel
Membrane, Bending, Transverse Shear, And
Shell PSHELL Modal Damping
Coupling Properties Of Thin Shell Elements.
Nonlinear Additional Nonlinear Properties For Shell MSC Nastran
PSHLN1 Type Description
Shell Elements. Keyword
Nonlinear Additional Nonlinear Properties For A Plane Crit. Damping TABDMP1 Defines modal damping as a tabular function of
PSHLN2
Plane Ext. Strain/Stress Or Axisymmetric Element. Fraction (TYPE='CRIT') natural frequency.
Equiv. Viscous TABDMP1 Defines modal damping as a tabular function of
Damping (TYPE='G') natural frequency.
TABDMP1 Defines modal damping as a tabular function of
Quality Factor
(TYPE='Q') natural frequency.

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 Materials & Material Dependency Follow the link for
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Temp. Dep. Shell Orthotropic Material Temperature

Materials Material Dependency MATT8
Shell Ortho. Dependence
MSC Nastran MSC Nastran Temp. Dep. Solid Element Anisotropic Material Temperature
Type Description Type Description MATT9
Keyword Keyword Solid Aniso. Dependence
Thermo Elasto- Temperature-Dependent Elasto-Plastic Material
Shape Memory MASTSMA Material Properties For Shape Memory Materials. Fluid MAT10F Frequency-Dependent Material Properties. MATTEP
Plastic Properties.
Isotropic Freq. Failure Time Temperature, Strain Rate, Or Other Type Of
Isotropic MAT1 Material Properties For Linear Isotropic Materials. MAT1F Frequency-Dependent Material Properties. MATTF
Dep. Dep. Variation Of Material Failure Properties.
Material Properties For Fluid Elements In Coupled Freq. Dep. Temp. Dep.
Fluid MAT10 MAT2F Frequency-Dependent Material Properties. MATTG Temperature Variation of Interlaminar Materials
Fluid-Structural Analysis. Shell Aniso. Gasket
Shell Material Properties For Linear Anisotropic Freq. Dep. Temp. Dep.
MAT2 MAT8F Frequency-Dependent Material Properties. MATTHE Hyperelastic Material - Temperature Dependence
Anisotropic Materials For Two-Dimensional Elements. Shell Ortho. Hyperelastic
Planar Material Properties For Linear Orthotropic Freq. Dep. Thermo-
MAT3 MAT9F Frequency-Dependent Material Properties. MATTTORT Thermoelastic Orthotropic Material
Orthotropic Materials Used By The Ctriax6 Element Entry. Solid Aniso. Elastic Ortho.
Isotropic Constant Or Temperature-Dependent Thermal Table User- Specifies Table Variation of User Defined Generic
MAT4 Elasto-Plastic MATEP Elasto-Plastic Material Properties. MATTUSR
Thermal Material Properties For Thermal Analyses. Def. Mat. Materials
Anisotropic Thermal Material Properties For Anisotropic Failure Model Properties For Linear Elastic Viscoplastic or
MAT5 Failure Models MATF MATVP Viscoplastic Or Creep Material Properties.
Heat Transfer Materials. Materials. Creep
Shell Orthotropic Material For Isoparametric Shell Iso Poroelastic Frequency Dependent Properties For Isotropic
MAT8 MATF1
Orthotropic Elements. Freq. Dep. Poroelastic Materials.
General Linear, Temp-Independent, Anisotropic Material Fatigue Fatigue Material Properties For Time Domain-
MAT9 MATFTG
Anisotropic Properties For Solid Isoparametric Elements Properties Based Analysis.
Digimat Defines Material Data For Advanced Composites Material Stress Stress-Dependent Properties For Nonlinear
MATDIGI MATS1
Composite With Digimat. Dep. Materials.
NL Elastic Advanced Orthotropic, Nonlinear Elastic Materials
Gasket MATG Material Properties For Gaskets. MATS3
Ortho. Axisym. For Axisymmetric Elements.
Specifies Hyperelastic Material Props For NL Elastic Advanced Orthotropic, Nonlinear Elastic Material
Hyperelastic MATHE MATS8
Nonlinear (Large Strain/Rotation) Analysis. Shell Ortho. For Shell Elements.
5th Order Material Properties For Nonlinear Hyperelastic NL Elastis Advanced Orthotropic, Nonlinear Elastic Material
MATHP MATSORT
Mooney Rivlin Analysis Of Rubber-Like Materials. Ortho. Shell for Shell Elements.
Isotropic Temp
3D Orthotropic MATORT 3D Orthotropic Material Properties. MATT1 Temperature-Dependent Material Properties.
Dep.
Isotropic Material Properties For An Isotropic Poroelastic Temp. Dep.
MATPE1 MATT2 Anisotropic Material Temperature Dependence.
Poroelastic Material. Shell Aniso.
Hypoelastic Specifies User-Defined, Generic Material Temp. Dep.
MATUSR MATT3 MAT3 Material Temperature Dependence.
User Sub Properties For Hypoelastic Material Models. Planar Ortho.
Cohesive zone Material Cohesive Properties For A Fully Nonlinear Temp. Dep.
MCOHE MATT4 Thermal Material Temperature Dependence
properties Element Used To Simulate Delamination. Isotrop. Thrm.
Temp. Dep. Thermal Anisotropic Material Temperature
MATT5
Aniso. Therm. Dependence

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 Keyboard Shortcuts Follow the link for
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This unhides the faces that were hidden by the 'H'

Keyboard Shortcuts Picking SHIFT + H Snap box Z Increases the size of the snap box.
key.

Tool Shortcut Functionality Picking ESCAPE + H Unhides all faces that were hidden by the 'H' key. Snap box C Decreases the size of the snap box.

On mesh Double Seeding & Launches the pop up with mesh &
This launches the properties panel. Switch between allowing ability to pick occluded SPACEBAR
objects clicking meshing tools seeding properties.
Picking P edges & vertices AND disallowing the ability to
Toggles between showing and hiding the Model pick occluded edges & vertices.
Model Browser A Application F11 Fullscreen mode.
Browser.
Alt + Double Selects entities that are contiguous with the point,
Model browser Picking Application CTRL + N New Model.
Double Click curve, or surface picked.
individual This launches the render panel and leaves it up.
clicking
color button Sketcher F Bring sketch grid parallel to the screen. Application CTRL + O Open Model.

Meshing & Push Pull F Tab through options in COPs. Application CTRL + I Import Geometry Files.
Double Double clicking on the copy button keeps you in
Seeding pop
clicking paste mode until you press ESCAPE. As you push pull and you hold ALT down, it will
up copy button Push Pull ALT Application CTRL + F Import FEM Files.
snap up to targets.
Transform Unlocks manipulator so you can reposition or
U When you select a face you want to push pull Application CTRL + G Import Generative Design Results.
Tool reorient it, then relock it by pressing U again.
Push pull X through a solid to cut it, pressing 'X' will
Transform automatically cut through the solid.
T Switch to Axes Manipulators. Application CTRL + S Save.
Tool
Transform
R Switch to Rings Manipulators. When dragging, pressing SHIFT down will force the Application CTRL + W Close Model.
Tool
Vertex Drag SHIFT adjacent edges attached to the dragged vertex or
Transform edge to be straight.
T Alternate between Manipulator Axes. Application CTRL + Q Exit Application.
Tool
Transform General for all Reverts to initial state of tool. Also clears
R Alternate between Manipulator Rings. Selection CTRL Toggle Accumulation multi selection. ESCAPE
Tool tools selections.
Transform Makes splines straight lines while holding SHIFT
SPACEBAR Bring up the transform pop up. Selection SHIFT Pure accumulation multi selection. Curve tool SHIFT
Tool down and creating curves.
Transform Holding CTRL while transforming copies and Does a general undo, up to a maximum of 50
CTRL Selection SHIFT + CTRL Pure removal multi selection. Undo CTRL+Z
Tool moves the object. steps.
Switches between inclusive and exclusive mode In Manual model, clicking MMB will advance to
Redo CTRL+Y Does a general redo.
for rectangular picking to select entities that are the next selection stage, therefore SHIFT + MMB
Picking L Surface split SHIFT + MMB
either entirely within the picking box or touched by will reverse transition to the previous selection
it. stage.
Surface split During path creation, holding down forces the
When you are preselecting, you can press 'O', and SHIFT
by path path straight instead of spline.
Picking O it will cycle through entities that the aperture is
Up and down
touching. Picking Traverse model hierarchy.
arrows
When you are preselecting over a face, you press
Picking H Picking Left and Right Traverse entity dimensionality.
'H' and it will hide that face.

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