Nastran In-CAD: Understanding Data

Conversion, Data Type, and Contour Type

Issue
When creating a contour plot of a result, what is meant by "Data Conversion", "Data Type", and "Contour
Type"?

The options in the drop-downs are as follows:

1. Data Conversion: "Average", "Maximum", or "Minimum"

2. Data Type: "Corner" or "Centroidal"
3. Contour Type: "Nodal", "Elemental" with averaging ("No Averaging" unchecked), or "Elemental"
without averaging ("No Averaging" checked)

Understanding Data Conversion.docx rev 1 page 1 of 5

Cause
Some types of results have multiple results calculated at the same node. How the multiple calculated
results are displayed is controlled by the three selections.

Solution
Data Type:
When a result has values at the nodes and centroid, the data type lets you select which result to use for
the contour plot. If the result only exists at one location, both options behave the same.

• "Corner" = use the calculated results from the nodes.

• "Centroidal" = use the calculated results from the centroid of the elements.

Data Conversion:
When multiple calculated results are available, the Data Conversion lets you choose how to combine the
result to use in the display. If there is only one result, all options behave the same.

• "Average" = use the average of all results from the location.

• "Maximum" = use the largest of all results from the location.
• "Minimum" = use the smallest of all results from the location.

Contour Type:
Now that the result values are selected, you can choose where to display them on the model. The contour
plot then smooths the colors between the values shown at the chosen location.

• "Nodal" = display the result value at the nodes. In most cases, you want to display the nodal
results (the corners) at the nodes.
• "Elemental" and "No Averaging" is checked = display the result value over the entire element.
• "Elemental" and "No Averaging" is unchecked. This option gives the same result as “Nodal”.

Background:

• Some types of results have a single value at a node. Displacement results are an example. All
elements connected to the node have the same amount of displacement.
• Some types of results have multiple values at a node. Stress results are an example. The
displacement of the element creates a different stress at each node on the element. Because
each element displaces differently, the calculated stress in the element at a common node can be
different in each element.
• Nastran also calculates a stress result at the centroid of the element.
• If you could view the stress results without any manipulation (that is, look at the "raw" results or
"unsmoothed" results), they would look like the following image. In this image, the elements are
separated to help visualize that the results at a common node are different, and the stress at the
centroid is underlined.

Understanding Data Conversion.docx rev 1 page 2 of 5

 • The difference in the stress result at a node from one element to the next element changes as
follows:
o When in the same part, the stress should change very little when the mesh is sufficiently
fine. If the stress changes by a large magnitude, the mesh size needs to be smaller.
o When in different parts, the stress can change. The above example shows a step-change
in the stress due to the change in thickness of the shell elements.
• When viewing the contour or probing on the results, the value displayed is controlled by the
options chosen for the "Data Conversion", "Data Type", and "Contour Type".

Examples:
Using the raw stresses from the figure above, some common settings and example results are as follows:

Average stress at a node, smoothed across part boundaries

The raw nodal stresses from all elements in all parts attached to the node are averaged to create one
value. The average value is shown at the node.

Data Data Contour No Averaging Examples (see figure above)

Conversion Type Type
Average Corner Nodal - 20.542 at A = (31.571+7.835+9.157+33.603)/4
7.568 at B = (8.574+7.207+7.309+7.183)/4

Raw stress at centroid

The raw stress from the center of the element is displayed over the entire element.

Data Data Contour No Averaging Examples (see figure above)

Conversion Type Type
Average Centroidal Elemental Checked (results 7.647 at C
not averaged)

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 All combinations of “Data Conversion”, “Data Type”, and “Contour Type”

Data Data Type Contour No Description Where Examples (see figure above)
Conversion Type Averaging displayed
Average Corner Nodal - Raw nodal stress At node 20.542 at A =
from all elements (31.571+7.835+9.157+33.603)/4
across all parts 7.568 at B =
attached to node (8.574+7.207+7.309+7.183)/4
are averaged as one
Average Corner Elemental Unchecked Same as above At node Same as above
(results
averaged)
Average Corner Elemental Checked Raw nodal stress Entire 7.811 at C =
(results not from all nodes on element (6.940+7.895+8.574+7.835)/4
averaged) element are
averaged
Average Centroidal Nodal - Raw centroid stress At node 31.813 at A, part 1 =
from all elements (31.110+32.515)/2
attached to node 7.880 at A, part 2 = (7.647+8.112)/2
are averaged, each 7.529 at B =
part treated (7.647+7.357+6.998+8.112)/4
separately
Average Centroidal Elemental Unchecked Same as above At node Same as above
(results
averaged)
Average Centroidal Elemental Checked Raw centroidal Entire 7.647 at C
(results not stress element
averaged)
Maximum Corner Nodal - Maximum of raw At node 33.603 at A = max of (31.571, 7.835,
nodal stress from 9.157, 33.603)
all elements across 8.574 at B = max of (8.574, 7.207,
all parts attached to 7.309, 7.183)
node
Maximum Corner Elemental Unchecked Same as above At node Same as above
(results
averaged)
Maximum Corner Elemental Checked Maximum of raw Entire 8.574 at C
(results not nodal stress from element
averaged) all nodes on
element
Maximum Centroidal Nodal - Maximum raw At node 32.515 at A, part 1 = max of (31.110,
centroid stress 32.515)
from all elements 8.112 at A, part 2 = max of (7.647,
attached to node, 8.112)
each part treated 8.112 at B = max of (7.647, 7.357,
separately 6.998, 8.112)
Maximum Centroidal Elemental Unchecked Same as above At node Same as above
(results
averaged)
Maximum Centroidal Elemental Checked Raw centroidal Entire 7.647 at C
(results not stress Element
averaged)

Understanding Data Conversion.docx rev 1 page 4 of 5

Data Data Type Contour No Description Where Examples (see figure above)
Conversion Type Averaging displayed
Minimum Corner Nodal - Minimum of raw At node 7.835 at A= min of (31.571, 7.835,
nodal stress from 9.157, 33.603)
all elements across 7.183 at B = min of (8.574, 7.207,
all parts attached to 7.309, 7.183)
node
Minimum Corner Elemental Unchecked Same as above At node Same as above
(results
averaged)
Minimum Corner Elemental Checked Minimum of raw Entire 6.940 at C
(results not nodal stress from element
averaged) all nodes on
element
Minimum Centroidal Nodal - Minimum raw At node 31.110 at A, part 1 = min of (31.110,
centroid stress 32.515)
from all elements 7.647 at A, part 2 = min of (7.647,
attached to node, 8.112)
each part treated 6.998 at B= min of (7.647, 7.357,
separately 6.998, 8.112)
Minimum Centroidal Elemental Unchecked Same as above At node Same as above
(results
averaged)
Minimum Centroidal Elemental Checked Raw centroidal Entire 7.647 at C
(results not stress Element
averaged)

See Also
Depending on the result (displacement, stress, safety factor, etc.), some combinations of the options from
the three drop-downs produce the same result. Which combinations provide different results and which
provide the same result can be difficult to know.

It is not possible to display the raw stress values from the element nodes.

It is not possible to display the average nodal stress without averaging across the part. This can be critical
where the stress has a step-change due to differences in each part.

Safety factor is not correctly reconciled in Autodesk Nastran In-CAD

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